Hamsphere and similar

Hamsphere and CQ100 have been around for many years. They behave as ham radio (simulated rigs, bands,antennas, contests ,etc, but use the internet as the communications medium rather than the ionosphere. 

I guess both have their places for some although I have never really been interested. It is just too easy for me and lacks the element of research and experimentation. Each to their own.

Bowling Green - NOT amateur radio

 

Our local bowling club is under threat of closure. There are too few people to look after the grass as people age. The grass looks perfect at the moment.

They had a stay of execution last year, but I don’t know the future.

10m 500uW WSPR (Sunday)

 Talk about a sucker for punishment!  Once again I am trying 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). No spots.

UPDATE 1456z:  No spots.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR overnight. LA1TN (1305km) was on the list last evening, but is not there now for some reason.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on just before 1000z. So far, just a couple of English stations are spotting me.

UPDATE 1153z:  7 English stations spotting me. On RX here, many stations, widely, across Europe spotted. F2 backscatter or Es?

Stations spotting me

Stations spotted here

UPDATE 1442z:  11 stations (all in England and Wales) have spotted me. Both the stations spotting me and those spotted here by me are shown on the maps.

UPDATE 1712z:  13 stations spotting me with the furthermost HB9SHD (780km).

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday, we did a short walk in the village. 

This well kept garden (seen on our walk) has lots of daffodils.

Sunspots - Sunday March 10th

 Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 99.  A=12 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 630m 10mW ERP WSPR has been on since teatime. So far, 15 stations have spotted me with the furthermost Norway (see table).

'Local' 8m TX?

A station in the adjoining county has applied for an 8m TX permit. I hope he is in range.

10m QRPP WSPR (Saturday)

 My 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR is on, but no spots. It is sync'd to internet time daily (at least).

UPDATE 1703z: No spots.

630m QRP WSPR recently

The map from WSPR.rocks by Phil VK7JJ, shows where I have been spotted in recent weeks. 

Despite 10mW ERP on 630m, I seem to be widely copied.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on at about 0945z. So far, 3 English stations  have spotted me.

UPDATE 1652z:  18 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 including OZ9QV (861km). 

UPDATE 2150z: Several 6m FT8 spots of my QRP including several in Scandinavia.

Yaesu cashback - last hurrah?

 MLS is again offering cashback on some Yaesu products. When they get it right, Yaesu create some great products, but I get the distinct impression they have lost their way in recent years. They now follow others whereas a while back they were clear leaders.

It is my contention that manufacturers and dealers are only really interested in profits. Once the amateur market ceases to deliver profits, they will move on or close.

In my view, MLS will be around longer than most, but both Japanese manufacturers and dealers will be questioning their options. The amateur market is OK now, but for how many years?

I hope I am very wrong.

Naming of policeman murderer

A judge has allowed an accused policeman to be named. He is not due to be tried for several months. According to UK law a person is innocent until proven guilty. There have been several cases of people being named before trial.

In my view nobody should be named until they are proven guilty. 

Sunspots - Saturday March 9th

Solar flux is 129 and the SSN 91. A=11 and K=2. 

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Overnight, my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was spotted by 20 stations. As usual, my "antenna" was the earth-electrodes in the ground. Best were 3 spots by OHLSQ (1733km) again.

Alstroemeria - NOT amateur radio

We have some of these in pots in the garden, but these cut ones are in our hall. They are good flowers that last.

OFCOM

A reminder that OFCOM publishes and updates the data it holds regularly. It also has a number of publications. See the OFCOM website for details.

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR is turned on this evening again.  So far, 15 spots of me.

Walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went for a walk around the nearby village of Lode.   Lode backs on to Anglesey Abbey.

The daffodils are early. In a few weeks, most will be dead! 

Lode has many thatched cottages and delightful lanes.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

In all, 16 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight. No great DX.

10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)

There's nothing like a challenge!! Once again my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR is on.

For me, it is easy. For the station at the far end the signal will be weak and in the noise probably. In the last 2 weeks I have had 2 DX spots, but nothing yet today.

UPDATE 1504z:   No spots.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and V2000 omni vertical antenna.  Just 4 English stations spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1248z:  11 spots of me from the UK and Eire

UPDATE 1633z:  17 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 including some in Scandinavia.

UPDATE 1916z: 21 stations have spotted me today.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

My birthplace and where I lived as a child and teenager was in South Devon. We can trace our family back to the mid 1500s continuously in a village near this photo and we have a record of land being owned in the next parish in 1427!  It is pretty certain that some of my ancestors were hereabouts thousands of years ago. The photo is of Bolberry Down which is very close to where I lived.

8m TX

At the moment my inclination is NOT to apply for a special permit to TX on 8m (costs £50 per year!) but to instead try 40.680MHz WSPR using ISM rules. 

In the UK, this means 10mW ERP and compliance with IR2030. Anyone, even an SWL, may do this without a licence. The callsign can be made up. I shall use one that WSPRnet can accept, so I can see where I am being spotted.

Having either worked or been spotted on 8m FT8 by most active stations, this will be a new challenge in the Es season. My antenna needs attention first. 

Judging by tests at similar ERP on 10m, much of Europe should be in range at times, assuming there are people monitoring!

It would be good if others tried this too.

Sunspots - Friday March 8th

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 99. A=11 and K=2.

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

At about 1845z, I QSYed from 6m FT8 to 630m WSPR. At 1905z, 2 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 1956z:  Plenty of stations spotting me, but it is disappointing that there are so few UK stations on 630m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 2216z:  13 stations spotting me.

Rally this Sunday

The following has been notified to me. Usual caveats apply.

Sunday March 10th - Hack Green Radio Surplus Hangar Sale. Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Contact coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk .

Another amazing photo - NOT amateur radio

What I really enjoy about 365project (no affiliation at all with Microsoft) is seeing the variety of photos from all over the world. Some use it as a visual diary, others as a way to be creative. It is absolutely free, although ace membership (paid for) offers some privileges.

This amazing cloudscape was posted a few days ago by a friend.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Shortly, I intend to try 6m FT8 again with 2.5W and the vertical V2000 omni antenna. At present I am on 630m QRP WSPR. 

UPDATE 1336z:   In tidying up the shack I destroyed the coax connection to my V2000 antenna used on 6m.  I shall have to mend this later, although soldering is now quite hard for me. Moral: do not tidy up shacks! Mind you, I found things I had forgotten I had! 6 English stations had spotted me before disaster struck.

UPDATE 1402z:  Coax mended. Back on 6m FT8. Now 8 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE  1627z: 12 English stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1826z: 14 English stations have spotted me.

10m QRPP WSPR (Thursday)

After my surprise spot yesterday with 500uW (0.5mW) on 10m WSPR, I am again on with the same power from my beacon. 

The beacon must be re-synced to internet time. This is done daily although it probably is good for several days. 

UPDATE 1817z:   1 spot early this morning. My beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W even though with the PA off it is actually only 500uW (0.5mW).

Spring collage - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo was recently posted by a friend on 365project. It certainly captures springtime.

Sunspots - Thursday March 7th

 Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=2.

Are we on the long, slow, slide or will we see a second peak?

630m QRP WSPR overnight

A successful period on 630m QRP WSPR with 26 stations spotting my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR. Best DX was a spot (again) by OH1LSQ (1733km).

West Bank homes - NOT amateur radio

If only people could live together peacefully. 

It is reported on the BBC website that many thousands of homes for settlers have been approved in the occupied West Bank by the state of Israel. Surely this just stokes the fire.

Whilst what happened by HAMAS in Israel on October 7th was evil, surely the response by the state of Israel is over the top? 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68490034 .

630m QRP WSPR

My 10mW ERP was turned on at about 1855z. So far, spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost PA3BAK (317km). 

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 In a few moments I shall go on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and vertical V2000 omni antenna.

UPDATE 1648z: 12 stations have spotted me with the furthermost SM5EPO (1344km).

10m QRPP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX is on. No spots now for several days. As you can see, I like making things hard!

UPDATE 1655z:   EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my 500uW (0.5mW). I was not really expecting this.

Nearly spring? - NOT amateur radio

 

According to the UK Met Office we are already in spring. I agree. 

The photo collage shows Cambridge yesterday. Lots of daffodils out.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Overnight my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 24 stations with the furthermost Germany (see table).