We must be simple beings as both are among the cheapest wines at our local supermarket!! The red wine is liked by both my sons too.
All this proves expensive wines are wasted on us!
5 Feb 2024
Sophisticated wine tastes? - NOT amateur radio
4 Feb 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 2036z. So far, the usual suspects have spotted me.
UPDATE 2117z: The table shows the stations spotted here in the last 2 weeks. If the earth-electrode "antenna" has directivity, this is hard to discern. Judging by comparisons with others with more conventional antennas and earths, I would assume my antenna is definitely a few dBs worse. Nonetheless, it works!
Ultra QRPP
It seems to me that, when conditions are good, very little power is needed to be spotted on WSPR. I tried 10m WSPR with 500uW and was spotted in the USA. I tried running legal ISM powers on 22m and, again was spotted widely.
What's next?
Ultimate questions - NOT amateur radio
From time to time I ask myself ultimate questions. As a teenager, I had quite a strong (if unconventional) Christian faith. These days I am far less sure. To me, I cannot square up the Christian faith with a vast universe. Life on Earth seems so tiny. Christianity seems so narrow.
I also cannot square that here on Earth what we believe seems to be an accident of where I live. If I was born in Saudi Arabia I might well have ended up a devout Muslim. If I was born in Israel, I would probably be Jewish. If born in Siberia, I would probably have no faith at all!
There are some mysteries than our human brains just cannot ever understand. My philosophy is try to leave this life making it a little better than we found it and do to others as you would have them do to you. Be kind to everyone.
Everyone is different and they must be free to believe as they want.
By King's - NOT amateur radio
22m (HiFer) ISM band (Sunday)
Keeping to the ISM rules (very low milliwatts) I am on 13.5539MHz USB dial QRPP WSPR. Any reports (local or DX) appreciated.
UPDATED 1200z: I am totally surprised! 3 EU stations have already spotted me! I was not expecting HiFer spots from Europe.
UPDATE 1225z: The chances of me spotting others is very low. The 17dB attenuator is in circuit on RX too, so if a station is running low mWs it would effectively be running 17dB less for me!
UPDATE 1629z: All my 22m spots (lots!) have been by 3 Europeans. My gear will remain on 22m (HiFer band) for several hours. It is not clear to me when my best time would be to be spotted in the USA. It seems my chances will diminish after dark? I am no propagation expert.
UPDATE 1714z: Looks like I have missed my chance of being spotted in the USA on the HiFer (22m) band today. I was quite hopeful as with the same small power I had been successful on 10m every time I tried recently. I guess local noise levels could be more of a problem as the frequency is reduced? On very weak signals, I could just be buried under noise!
UPDATE 1757z: My last 22m spot was over an hour ago. No USA today then I think!
Window display - NOT amateur radio
They always have great window displays. In the photo it shows toy snakes for the children. Our grandchildren love it.
10m WSPR 10mW ERP (Sunday)
Yet again, I am on 10m QRPP WSPR this morning and already 3 stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1117z: 7 stations spotting me. It would see any power would do!! 10mW ERP QRPP WSPR seems to work just fine!
Plans for Sunday
In a few moments, I expect to again go on 10m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. After lunch I shall probably try the 22m (HiFer) band with ISM conditions. I shall probably use my G3XBM call still as I know that works with WSPRnet.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
In all, 22 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 630m in the last 24 hours. No astounding DX, but a good haul.
3 Feb 2024
Crab apple jelly - NOT amateur radio
In the end we turned to Amazon who had some. We ordered it and it was delivered next day. Some are dead against online shopping. There is little doubt our shopping habits are changing. Having things delivered to the door next day is very convenient!
Having used them for many years, I have never been disappointed.
630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 10mW ERP WSPR was turned on about 1855z.
Clunch cottage - NOT amateur radio
On the way to the shops today, we noticed this cottage that had been stripped of its rendering. It looks really good.
Clunch is quite strong, but needs to be protected to stop weathering.
10m 10mW ERP WSPR (Saturday)
Yet again, I am trying 10m with 10mW ERP. 7 stations have spotted me at 1257z. Every day for several days now DX spots have been obtained.
UPDATE 1450z: It seems 10mW 10m WSPR gets me spotted in the USA daily!
Birdwatch - NOT amateur radio
22m ISM band
WSPRnet includes the 22m ISM band. In the last couple of weeks, there are plenty of reports, mostly from stations using a few milliwatts. I have never tried this band. I guess if you have a 20m antenna it will work just below the band.
Personally, I find this sort of propagation research far more rewarding than chatting on 80m about carrots with commercial gear. If legal, I shall give it a try next week with the call probably 22M3ISM.
UPDATE 1055z: Reading IR2030 /1,/2 it would appear it is legal to run a device with an output less than 42 dBµA/m at 10 m in the 22m band. Does anyone know what that represents as an ERP please? In the EU the spec is EN300 330. I think if you later intend to place a product on the market (only) then you have to submit a product for type approval. Otherwise I think you can self-declare compliance.
UPDATE 1440z: According to Rik Strobbe ON7YD, this is equivalent to 7.5mW EIRP.
UPDATE 1444z: Starting tomorrow, I shall try WSPR beaconing in the 22m ISM band (so called HiFer band). Need to find out the best frequency for WSPR beaconing.
UPDATE 1515z: It would appear 13.5539 MHz USB dial is the setting for 22m ISM WSPR. I shall start beaconing properly on Sunday, but it is on now.
UPDATE 1550z: See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_radiated_power.
2 Feb 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Friday)
My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1950z. All the usual suspects have spotted me.
UPDATE 2138z: 2 spots already from Norway.
Evening light - NOT amateur radio
In the UK, the days have extended by almost an hour in the evenings since the shortest day. Even in the mornings things are getting better.
It will be a few months before spring really comes, but the light has changed for the better. We may yet have snow and ice, but it is as if a corner has been turned.
The end?
For several years now, I have been predicting the decline of our hobby. In this case I hope I am very wrong! An undeniable fact is that ours is (mostly) a hobby that interests older males. In itself, this is no bad thing: people retire, want new interests and tend to have more disposable income as children leave home and education.
What bothers me is we are all getting older. As we age fewer rigs will get bought, there will be little (or no) profit in our market. Dealers will disappear, magazines will shrink or stop.
Already our hobby is less about self-training and research and more about appliances and who has the deepest pockets.
What do I think will happen?
- Fewer new rigs
- Fewer and smaller magazines
- CB and amateur radio will merge (possibly ISM too).
- Amateur radio (as we knew it) will go.
- Callsigns (for those that want these) will be issued by national societies.
- Organisations like OFCOM and the FCC will wash their hands.
- A free for all will follow.
Am I worried? No.
Personally, I have always preferred research. Those that want to do this will still carry on in a deregulated world. In some ways it could be better.
Views?
630m QRP WSPR overnight
My 10mW ERP 630m from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was on again last night. In all, 14 stations spotted me with the furthermost DL4RAJ (990km).
10mW 10m WSPR (Friday)
This morning I am continuing my 10mW WSPR TX on 10m. Already I am being spotted well by 2 stations, I confidently expect to be spotted in the USA for a 4th day in a row.
UPDATE 1427z: 6 stations have spotted my 10mW 10m WSPR today. It seems stations in the USA copy my 10mW 10m WSPR every day.
UPDATE 1935z: 7 stations spotted my 10mW 10m WSPR today, including 3 in the USA.
1 Feb 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
My 10mW ERP was turned on at 2050z.
UPDATE 2133z: 6 spots of me tonight. Furthermost is GM3YXM (425km).
Pauline's Swamp - NOT amateur radio
It was created several years ago in memory of someone's wife. What a way to remember them!
Sunday rally
The following rally has been notified to me. The usual caveats apply about contacting before travelling far.
Sunday February 4th - Canvey Island Rally, Essex, SS8 9QS. Contact g7oed@icloud.com .
630m 10mW ERP WSPR overnight
20 stations spotted me overnight using 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
10m 10mW WSPR (Thursday)
Yet again, I am trying 10m WSPR with 10mW, simulating the 8m ISM rules. On the first transmission already spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1027z: EA8BFK has already spotted my 10m 10mW WSPR 7 times!
UPDATE 1541z: For 3 days in a row, my 10mW 10m WSPR has been spotted in the USA. So far today, I have been spotted in the USA on 8 occasions and I have been spotted 96 times already at 10mW.
31 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
My 10mW ERP 630m from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1640z. So far, 3 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2145z: So far this evening, I have been spotted by 10 stations on 630m QRP WSPR with the furthermost LA1TN (1305km).
17m WSPR at 10mW ERP (Wednesday)
As my Par end fed antenna is a good match, I tried 10mW ERP on 17m. So far, 4 stations have spotted me after about 20 minutes.
As frequency is reduced, local noise floors will become more significant with weaker signals buried in the noise. At higher frequencies this will be less of an issue.
UPDATE 1635z: 10 stations have spotted my 10mW WSPR
International conflicts - NOT amateur radio
On the whole, I prefer a quiet life.
In many of the conflicts in the world, the West is shown as the good, whereas "the axis of evil" is shown as the bad. The truth is more nuanced.
Often we support regimes that are corrupt and evil. Time and again, we get involved only when our (often dubious) vested self interests are threatened. Russia was able walk into Crimea in 2014 with most of us in the West barely noticing.
What I think I am saying is this. We can only act as the world's policemen if we are morally right. Where this is in doubt, we often do more harm than good.
We like to think we get an honest, unbiased view of world affairs. I somehow doubt this.
Yesterday - NOT amateur radio
10m 10mW ERP WSPR (Jan 31st)
Once again, I am trying 10m WSPR at 10mW ERP. Already, after a few transmissions, spotted by 3 stations although these would not have spotted me on 500uW.
UPDATE 1524z: 12 stations have spotted me so far when I was running 10mW ERP. Most of these were via F2 including some in the USA.
30 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" was turned on at 2220z.
UPDATE 2225z: 2 stations have spotted me so far.
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