Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. There are signs of autumn everywhere now. 

In many ways November is the dullest month with miserable days and few lights. At least after Christmas the days start to get longer and there are a few positive signs.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 5th

 Solar flux is 242 and the SSN 191. A=14 and K=1.

The future of the 8m band

At the moment the 8m band is in great shape. We are around the sunspot maximum and 8m behaves like 10m quite often. 

8m is a great research band and it is a great pity more PTTs are not granting amateur radio access. Instead, in many countries  people have to pay to do research.

In a few years, the conditions will be very different.  Now is the best time to do propagation research.

Propaganda , ever so subtle - NOT amateur radio

You are probably unaware of just how subtly we are subject to propaganda. 

The "others" are always the "bad guys" and we are the "good". Actually, the truth is somewhere in between. Many times in history we have been the "bad guys". Remember we are subject to propaganda as well, although we may not realise it.

The answer is get your data from multiple sources, often with radically different ways of seeing a situation. In reality, the truth is an amalgamation of inputs from various sources. 

Don't believe at face value what you are being fed in the news.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W to a low wire dipole in on. So far spotted by G4FKI (60km) only on TX. Just 9K2YM (4721km) spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1511z:  16 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today. When the sunspots are good 8m behaves like 10m.

UPDATE  1756z: 18 stations have been spotted on 8m FT8 today. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 

My QRP 10m is on. I think most of my 19 spots are either F2 or F2 back-scatter.

UPDATE 1031z:  36 stations have spotted me with the furthermost RA0SX (5904km).

UPDATE 2117z:  Spotted by 104 stations today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. QRT.

Hollow tree - NOT amateur radio

What is it about hollow trees that fascinate us? We love looking through them. This tree at Anglesey Abbey yesterday had holes on both sides and begged a photo!

Monday plans

 As yesterday was so successful, I think I shall do the same as yesterday i.e. 500mW 10m WSPR TX and 2.5W 8m FT8. Let's hope for more E-W F2 propagation on 10m and 8m,

Sunspots - Monday November 4th

 Solar flux is 241 and the SSN 220. A=11 and K=4.

Danish stations on 8m

Bo OZ2M reports that a number of OZ stations are now active on 8m using a LMR licence that has to be paid for and applied for. There are some restrictions. 

I am totally surprised that so many PTTs seem dead against even a very narrow amateur radio 8m band, especially around solar maximum when much propagation research would be possible. 

Perhaps they will grant it ....too late, years after solar maximum! I can imagine many committees, quangos and much bureaucracy!

Hamlife pages

If you are like me, Japanese is not a language I have a clue about! 

I am told that this website often has the latest news on amateur radio. Perhaps we can just look at the photos or use Google translate!

See  https://www.hamlife.jp/ . 

The American Dream? - NOT amateur radio

One of the things that those in the USA seem to be excited about is "the American dream". 

This seems to be a belief that anyone can "make it" under capitalism. It is interesting that in the states of the old Yugoslavia, most I have met preferred it when all had a house and a job under Tito's liberal communism. Society was fairer.

Now, no system is faultless, but I am not in favour of greedy capitalism if this means trampling over others. I cannot condone any form of society where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor. 

Yes, all should have equal opportunity, but I want to live in a fair society, where wealth and privilege do not bestow advantage.

In my view everyone is equal, whether you are a king or dustbin collector.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My QRP 10m WSPR beacon has not been on long at 0943z. Already spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 1450z:   So far today, spotted by 74 stations on 10m WSPR.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 40.680 MHz FT8 (2.5W to wire dipole) is active. G4FKI (60km) has spotted me. On RX I have spotted G9PUV(158km) and S57TW (1236km).

UPDATE 1401z:  16 stations have spotted me on 8m QRP FT8 (see map) and I have spotted 32. 1 QSO with a station in the Canary Is.. I have never before seen 8m so busy.

UPDATE 1500z: 34 stations spotted here today on 8m FT8.

Sunday Plans

 As 6m was so good yesterday, I may try 8m QRP FT8 today as well as 10m WSPR.

Fungus? - NOT amateur radio

This was seen at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

How few parts?

One of the aspects that I enjoyed was seeing how few parts were needed to make QSOs. This is one of the simplest circuits.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .

MFJ

The owner of MFJ, Martin Jue, has retired. In my view, other amateur radio players will go.

See https://eu.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2024/10/27/mfj-enterprises-in-mississippi-closes-leaves-hole-in-ham-radio-world/75136781007/ .

Years ago I owned an MFJ Cub 15m QRP CW transceiver.

Sunspots - November 3rd

 Solar flux is 251 and the SSN 242.  A=13 and K=2.

VOTE!! - NOT amateur radio

In any democratic society, we are given the right to vote for the government every few years that we believe best serves us . 

In the next week the people of the USA vote for their president. This is their decision. 

The important thing is to vote.

Solar Data

Early in the month I enjoy looking at the forecast for the solar cycle on my favourite site for such data. At the moment the peak for sunspots in cycle 25 looks like August 2024, but it depends on the smoothing period. 

What should be the case, is solar conditions should be good for some time yet. I wanted to link to the image on the solan website but failed. Clearly the copyright is with solan.

https://www.solen.info/solar/

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

 This is the windmill next door in the autumn mist .

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR with my beacon. No spots yet today at 1000z.

UPDATE 1130z:  Spotted by 17 stations, by what I assume is F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1600z: Furthermost today is again F61695 ((9729km) in the Indian Ocean. 72 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today.

UPDATE 1940z:  QRT. Furthermost was PP5DZ (10174km) in Brazil.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My QMX+ is again on 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. At 1008z, spotted by 15 stations in England.

UPDATE 1145z:  Spotted by 27 English and Welsh stations. 

UPDATE  1417z:  5 spots of me from the USA and Canada on 6m QRP FT8. 46 spots of me overall. It is good to see F2 E-W opening up on 6m. I suspect this is as the SSN is currently high.  Next year I hope the E-W MUF reaches 8m if not 6m.

UPDATE 1449z:  84 stations have spotted my QRP, which is the most this year, with lots from the USA. 

Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1712z:  133 spots of my 6m FT8 QRP, most in the USA. See map.

UPDATE 1933z:  Now QRT with 136 stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today. This must go down as one of my best days ever on 6m QRP FT8. 

Our local garden nursery - NOT amateur radio

 This was our local garden nursery earlier this week.

Sunspots - Saturday November 2nd

 Solar flux is 256 and the SSN 210. A=7 and K=1.

Money to burn?

The price of amateur gear surprises me. 

A major UK dealer is advertising a second hand receiver for £3299. 

I am not judging others who have a perfect right to spend their money as they see fit. 

Just count me out!

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

This image reminds me just how ephemeral childhood is. 

In a couple of years they will be grown up and "flown the nest".  

We think these days will last forever, but know they will not.

Website reminder

 A reminder that most of my projects are detailed on the G3XBM website. There are some videos on my YouTube channel.

Rallies this Sunday

The following rallies this Sunday have been notified to me. The usual caveats apply.

• Bushvalley ARC annual rally, Limavady, N.Ireland, BT49 0DF.
• Holsworthy Radio Rally, Holsworthy, EX22 6DN. Contact boltoncycles@gmail.com . 

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My stand-alone 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on since mid-morning and my QRP has been spotted by 52 stations at 1230z including North and South Americans.

UPDATE 1644z:   92 spots of my little 10m WSPR beacon today.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 

Already my 6m QRP FT8 is being spotted in Asiatic Russia and Canada. In total, 58 stations have spotted me by 1227z.

UPDATE 1651z:  65 stations have spotted me today. I was expecting lots of USA and Canadian via F2, but nothing here apart from the station in Newfoundland. I guess this could have been F2 or even Es. I reckon my output is about 3W.

Sunspots - Friday November 1st

 Solar flux is 270 and the SSN 187. A= 9 and K=1.

Cambridge Art Gallery - NOT amateur radio

This was an art gallery in the Grand Arcade, Cambridge this morning. 

They always seem to have unusual paintings on display.

Village History - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we walked to our village garden nursery to buy some plants. 

Opposite was a plaque to an old Jewish cemetery. It is called "Jerusalem Gardens".  I cannot imagine a Jewish community here centuries ago in the time of King Henry II.

UPDATE Nov 1st:  I did not realise King Henry II was in the 1100s AD.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

 After returning from Cambridge, I turned on my stand-alone 10m W5OLF WSPR TX beacon. Plenty of USA spots plus F61695 (9729km).

UPDATE 2042z:  In all today 74 stations have spotted me.

At last! 6m F2 "across the pond"

 When I returned from Cambridge after lunch, I turned on my QRP 6m FT8.

For the first time in many years this autumn, 6m was filled with USA and Canadian signals on 6m FT8. This looks like F2 propagation.  

Even my 6m FT8 QRP was reaching Canada and the USA. See map. On RX there are several USA stations active.

UPDATE 1550z: My QRP 6m FT8 spotted by 4 Canadian and 1 USA stations today. No QSOs sadly.

UPDATE 2045z:  Spotted by 76 stations so far.

Sunspots - Thursday October 31st

 Solar flux is 270 and the SSN 200. A=15 and K=1.

Village tree - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday we did a  nice walk to our local garden nursery to get some plants and passed this tree.

What happens when we die? - NOT amateur radio

It has been estimated that there are 10 billion stars in our galaxy alone. In the observable universe there are trillions of galaxies. The "average" star has at least one planet, meaning that there are a huge number of planets!

Somehow I cannot believe this life alone is "it".  Some estimate there are 10 to the power of 25 planets. This is a truly staggeringly large number.

Most religions are very "Earth centric". What is certain is we only can know very little with our small brains.