10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0915z.  Yesterday, 55 stations spotted me. 

UPDATE 1432z:  So far today I have been spotted by 24 stations.

Back on 6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 At the moment I am back on 6m FT8 with the IC-705. So far, at 0930z, 3 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0936z: 6 English stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1151z:   Spotted by 13 stations.

UPDATE 1912z:   19 stations have spotted me today (see map).

RF in the shack?

 As reported yesterday, I have an issue using my IC-705 on 10m FT8. There was no problem on 6m. 

It suddenly occurred to me that this might be due to RF in the shack as I use an end-fed antenna on 10m. Later I will try adding some RF chokes to see if this cures it.

Times Radio - NOT amateur radio

Most days, I watch the YouTube videos from Times Radio.  Often they interview a wide range of experts on a host of world affairs. It is hard to find unbiased sources of world news, but this is pretty good.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 17th

Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 90. A=28 and K=2.

"Early doors" - NOT amateur radio

Until this year I had never heard of this phrase. This year, I have heard it several times. Maybe I have led a too sheltered life!  

I am wondering if it was a common phrase in the UK before?

OFCOM updates

A reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. It also has announced more about the auctions of 26GHz and 40GHz spectrum.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Before it went funny I was briefly on 10m QRP FT8. 20 stations spotted me before I moved to 10m QRP WSPR with my beacon.

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR was turned on earlier this morning. At 1101z, 8 stations had spotted me.

UPDATE 1311z:  20 stations have spotted me. See table.

IC-705 FT8 issue?

After working faultlessly for several days on 6m FT8, I am getting an error message when I try to TX on 10m FT8 with the IC-705.  

I checked the COM ports and audio selection (all fine). I re-installed WSJT-X v2.6 (same issue). The next thing is to re-install sound cards on the IC-705 and try again.

New version of WSJT-X released

Apparently WSJT-X 2.7.1 is now on general release. There is a YouTube video all about it.  I shall have to download the new version and have a play.

UPDATE 1050z:  No it is not!! I just looked and I could only see this as a release candidate. I expect it soon will be on general release. 

Sunspots - Monday December 16th

Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 97. A=12 and K=3.

Another dull day - NOT amateur radio

Apart from yesterday, we have had a string of dull days. 

Today was much the same, although at sunset it was a little better (see photo).

One way or two way?

Over the years my interest in amateur radio has changed. 

Like very many others, I enjoyed chatting and chasing DX. Since my 2013 stroke, speaking is hard work for me. I still use voice modes, but not as often these days. Doing so is good for me. Instead I prefer digital modes like WSPR and FT8 which do not involve my voice.

It is not purely because of my poor voice. 

These days, I get as much pleasure from seeing where my QRP on various bands can be received. Many purists will say, "that is not amateur radio" and I can understand where they are coming from. Use of just digital modes means newcomers will not chance upon amateur radio as I did.

I hope amateur radio will still be here as it was. However, it would not entirely surprise me if it evolves as PTTs grow tired of amateur radio administration and its lack of revenue generation. I am pretty sure any administration costs are greater than any revenue generated. This is not a sustainable position.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Starting at about 1020z, I am on 10m QRP FT8. At 1025z (i.e after just a few minutes) my QRP was spotted by 54 stations - it is too easy! At this rate, I shall soon stop.

I guess I am running about 3W from the IC-705.

UPDATE 1640z:  135 stations have spotted me today (see map). Now QRT.

Making tiramisu - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday our grandsons made tiramisu and had fun doing it. 

It tasted good but will soon be gone!!

How?

 

For this price both the manufacturer and AliExpress make profits. I am amazed. In the UK one could not buy even the crystal for this!

Some years ago I bought a Pixie kit from AliExpress. It cost a few pounds, but worked perfectly when fired up on the air.

Sunspots - Sunday December 15th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 86. A=10 and K=3.

Sunday plans

Tomorrow I plan to try 10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705. 

If I have time, I shall try to use PuTTY to put my QMX+ on 8m FT8 TX. I think the RX would need HW changes to the RX BPF. I intend to convert the 20m TX settings to 8m. This should only need me to change the frequency  and low pass filter selected.  The 6m LPF should do.  As my fine motor skills are poor, I shall have to accept the (poor) RX sensitivity.

Chinese - just how do they do it?

Just seen this on AliExpress.  It is a Chinese copy of a UK designed radio. The moral is register your design. What amazes me is the price. 

This is what the big Japanese manufacturers are up against. In my view, if the Japanese want to remain in the amateur market, I suspect the answer is to design in Japan, but make products in a low cost country. In the future this may not be China.

Ely Train Station - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows Ely rail station with Ely cathedral in the background.

Memories - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife and I met in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in 1968. I see it is now part of a UK set of stamps.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1050z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE  1524z:  28 stations have spotted me. Furthermost Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was on all night. Lots of European spots. Was this the Geminid shower?

UPDATE 2108z: 81 stations in Europe have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday December 14th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 82. A=11 and K=3.

Humour - NOT amateur radio

As someone pointed out , perhaps you should pack a ladder 🪜 if staying at this hotel in Cambridge!😉😉.

Geminid meteor shower

 Throughout the year there are meteor showers. At the moment we are at the peak of the Geminid shower. Often the ionised trails enhance VHF signals.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

UPDATE 1455z: 19 stations have spotted me so far today.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 As an experiment I left my QRP 6m FT8 on overnight. 19 stations spotted me in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 1452z:  55 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours. See the comment below. It could be linked to MS.

Sunspots - Friday December 13th

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 91. A=6 and K=0.

Proud grandparents - NOT amateur radio

One of my granddaughters was awarded a place with the Royal Ballet against very stiff competition. 

Recently she performed at Westminster Abbey in front of 2 future UK kings. It was recorded and is being broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve.

I am not a royalist, but am extremely proud, as she is still very young. I would post a photo, but it is probably copyrighted.

Pixie transceiver kits

 A few moments ago I looked at AliExpress for Pixie transceiver kits. The lowest price I found was £1.28 with free delivery from China!! The term "free delivery" seems to be a bit odd as most seem to charge for "shipping". 

I just do not know how they do it and make profits.

Village Christmas Tree - Not amateur radio

Every year a Christmas tree 🌲 is erected outside our post office.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since late morning. At 1334z 17 stations had spotted me with several in the USA and Canada.

UPDATE 1657z: 29 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My QRP has been on 6m FT8  since about 1215z.  At 1230z 8 stations have spotted me, all in England.

UPDATE 1641z:  18 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today.

Sunspots - Thursday December 12th

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 114. A=6 and K=2.

Changing times

Back in the 1960s, 2m was almost exclusively AM and 70cm was the frontier. These days many (probably most)  prefer digital modes like FT8. When first active in the late 1960s people used to come on just to chat. 

These days there are many other ways to do this not involving amateur radio or licences. Radio is no longer magic for most: video chats across the world for free on the internet are easy. My wife talks to a friend in Australia on video as if she is in the next room.

Back in the late 1960s I really wanted a Heathkit Twoer HW30 kit. This was a 5W AM transceiver with a super-regen RX. In those days of very low activity, this was probably all you needed. Selectivity was poor, not that it really mattered most of the time.

Interesting reflection - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was taken by my wife some years ago. It is of a glass on a restaurant table.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My QRP  6m FT8 has been on since about 1100z. So far, I have been spotted by 14 English stations at 1133z.

UPDATE 1444z:  23 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8, mostly English.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My stand-alone 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for a little while.  At 1125z, I had been spotted by 3 Finnish stations.

UPDATE 1445z:  21 stations have spotted me today.