RSGB proofreading (NOT!!)

One of my Christmas presents was a book on the history of the G-QRP Club that has been going for 50 years. I was more interested in the content than the cover, but was horrified to see the spine had a glaring spelling error which will be seen every time it’s put on a shelf!  Is this not checked?

I once noticed an obvious spelling mistake on the front cover of RadCom.

To be honest I am appalled that such basic errors occur. I know the organisation depends heavily on volunteers, but this is not excusable. It gives the impression the RSGB is incompetent.

Come on RSGB!!

Sunspots - Monday December 30th

 Solar flux is 255 and the SSN 209. A=5 and K=2.

Highlight of Christmas - NOT amateur radio

There’s no doubt that the highlight for us this Christmas, and our moment of greatest pride, was seeing our youngest granddaughter performing ballet in front of 2 future UK kings and many royal and other guests in Westminster Abbey in Kate’s carol service. 

Apologies for the lines, but this was a TV screen grab.

If it was me I would have been extremely nervous. She was not at all!

6m FT8

Most days I go on 6m FT8 with my QMX+ transceiver. I think that every day I have been on recently I have been spotted somewhere in continental Europe. 

If I am able to do this with just a few watts and a vertical omni antenna, it proves how useful 6m can be. Imagine if you had a reasonable beam and more power. You would have an ERP increase of several dB improving the chances of being copied even more.

In the last 30 minutes I have been spotted in Latvia, Germany and Holland on 6m FT8.

Working Russians

Well before the end of the USSR, I remember working loads of stations in the USSR and getting QSL cards. 

I have no problem at all with the people in Russia and am happy to work them or get reports on FT8 or WSPR.   

In a small way, amateur radio breaks down barriers. I like to think that whatever the race, colour, wealth or nationality, it makes no difference. After all, we all share this planet and are all human beings.

Nice pile - NOT amateur radio

As a young child, I spent my childhood living in Salcombe, Devon. 

This property is on the market not far from Salcombe, so I could move back. 

Just one problem!  It is on the market for £8.5 million, so I think I shall give it a miss!

After Christmas - NOT amateur radio

My younger son and his kids have gone home and Christmas is almost over for another year. 

We have given the birds the leftovers.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on about 0950z.  5 stations have spotted me at 1051z.

UPDATE 1532z:   28 stations have spotted me. Spots from the USA started at just after 1200z.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My gear has been on since about 0950z. So far, just English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2015z:  31 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 including one in the USA. On RX a couple of stations spotted in the southern USA.

Very clever people

Somehow I missed this on Amateur Radio Weekly. It describes how someone hacked a Casio wristwatch to act as a transceiver on 70cm and 33cm. 

As I said, there are some very clever people. I would not know where to start!

Mid winter Es

Don’t ask me why as I don’t know the answer, but there’s a small Es peak in the northern hemisphere around now so it is worth keeping an eye on 6m . I suppose this could link up with F2 propagation further south to result in some spectacular DX on 6m.

Sunspots - Sunday December 29th

 Solar flux is 260 and the SSN 213.  A=4 and K=1.

Stiff competition

Since the Yaesu FT817 was introduced almost a quarter of a century ago, a lot has changed. There was serious competition e.g. the ICOM IC-705, many Chinese radios, plus the offerings by QRP labs, HF signals and Elecraft,  There are others.

At one time Yaesu had a captive market. This is far from the case today. There are still loyal Yaesu fans around, but the new FTX-1F will have to be very good and keenly priced for volumes to be high.

I was puzzled when ICOM introduced their microwave transceiver as I could not see many being sold.

No, the amateur radio market is changing and fierce. Many will fall by the wayside in the next 10 years.

Simple WSPR beacon

At  the end of the year Amateur Radio Weekly shows the most popular clicks of the year. 

One of these was a simple WSPR beacon.

Shetland sunset - NOT amateur radio

This was posted on 365project recently by a friend who lives in the Shetland Islands. It shows the ferry arriving on a calm sea.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 

My 500mW beacon has been on since about 1020z.  At 1053z, spotted by 4 Europeans. See table.

UPDATE 1130z:  Just spots by 6 Scandinavian stations.

UPDATE  1415z: The map from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ shows where my 10m 500mW WSPR has been spotted today.

UPDATE 2040z:  QRT. 21 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My QMX+ was turned on at about 1020z. So far (at 1032z) just  9 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1129z:   So far just 15 English and Welsh stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1404z:  23 stations have spotted me including 2 in France. 

UPDATE 2051z:   QRT. spotted by 25 stations today. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday December 28th

 Solar flux is 259 and the SSN 233. A=4 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My QRP 10m, WSPR beacon has been on since about 1036z, but no spots of me yet.

UPDATE 2125z:  30 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on about 1038z. At 1042z 5 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2113z:  23 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today. Now QRT.

zBitx

Steve G1KQH has brought my attention to the zBitx from HF signals which is due in February. It has some very impressive features built in.

It looks remarkable value and far less expensive than the IC-705 and probably the FTX-1F.

Yaesu has a real battle on with their new FTX-1F.

Faroe Is - NOT amateur radio

This fabulous photo was recently posted on 365project by a friend who lives in the Faroe Is. The days are short and the nights are long at this time of year.

See https://365project.org/mubbur/365/2024-12-25 

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands 

Rally on Sunday

 This rally has been reported to me. Check details.

• Sunday December 29th -  Sparkford Radio Rally, near Yeovil, BA22 7QX. Contact m3vhv@hotmail.co.uk.

Christmas rose - NOT amateur radio

 

The rose in the photo is just outside our front door. We usually have several flushes a year from this bush.

Sunspots - Friday December 27th

 Solar flux is 256 and the SSN 211.  A=3 and K=0.

SSTV from the ISS

 Apparently, there will be slow scan TV from the International Space Station over the holiday period until January 5th. I have never tried to receive this from the ISS. Maybe I should try?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My QRP TX beacon has been on since about 0930z.  Spots so far from Italy and Portugal.

UPDATE 2016z: 30 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My QMX+ was turned on at about 0930z. So far just English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2019:  20 stations have spotted me. See map.  QRT soon.

Sunspots - Thursday December 26th

Solar flux is 253 and the SSN 218. A=5 and K=0.

This Christmas - NOT amateur radio

 

Found this earlier. It says it all. 

New QSL card from Antarctica

The operator at the German base in Antarctica has a new QSL card for DP1POL. 

I have been spotted down there on 10m 500mW WSPR,

My last actual SSB QSO was with 10W SSB with a station on the British base in the 1980s. I think they had a big Rhombic antenna if I recall. It was a very solid QSO.

Made in China - NOT amateur radio

We are all guilty.  

My daughter-in-law kindly bought me a bobble hat. A look inside at the label said, "made in China". It seems most things now are made in China!  

In the USA, if they slap a tariff on Chinese imports it is inevitable costs for USA consumers will go up i.e. inflation will increase. 

If we make goods in the USA or Europe it is inevitable inflation will go up.

I have no idea what the answer is.

Merry Christmas - NOT amateur radio

 May I wish everyone a very happy Christmas.  The basic lesson is to share kindness. People appreciate kindness, as do we. 

The most basic message, whatever your beliefs, is sharing kindness is the most powerful thing in humanity. 🎄🎂🧑‍🎄

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My QMX+ has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE 2000z:  622 stations have spotted me today. See map. In all, QRP 10m FT8 can give worldwide reception. Tomorrow I think I shall go back to 6m FT8.

Proud grandparents - NOT amateur radio

Last night our young granddaughter was performing ballet in front of 2 future kings and many famous people at Westminster Abbey. 

It was recorded a few weeks ago and on UK ITV1 television last night. 

Watch out for YouTube copies.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 25th (Christmas Day)

 Solar flux is 259 and the SSN 219. A=10 and K=3.

UV5 (8) handheld

One of my birthday presents was this dual band, 5W, portable. At well below £20 delivered by airmail it is hard to go wrong . 

I am aware there are several firmware upgrades possible, but for now I am just finding out how to do basic things! 

Remember for an old timer like me things take a bit longer, HI. 😉

Seen earlier - NOT amateur radio

 This was seen earlier .  Very appropriate for Christmas. Whatever your beliefs or none, this is a time to think of those that mean a lot to us.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

This morning I am on 10m QRP FT8 with my QMX+ . It was turned on at about 0930z. At 1000z, 63 spots of me.

UPDATE 1811z:  532 stations have spotted me. See map. Basically a few watts FT8 is quite enough.

Birthday cards - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was my birthday. According to the single candle on my cake I am aged one!