Our local windmill - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live right next door to a fully restored windmill. We can see it from the lounge and breakfast table. 

The windmill is part of our local museum, which is probably one of the best local museums in the whole country.

Wayback machine

Amateur Radio Weekly reminded me that the Wayback Machine has loads of stuff of relevance to radio amateurs. For those unfamiliar with this, the Wayback Machine archives old websites and much old material such as magazines.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

As 6m FT8 was good, I decided to switch my QMX+  to 8m QRP FT8. The output on 40.680 MHz is about 2W.

UPDATE 1223z:  LX5JX (468km) has spotted me. I have spotted him too - with my deaf RX he must have been strong! Also spotted by a station in Austria.

UPDATE 1544z:   4 stations have spotted me with the furthermost HI0SDR (7062km).

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

The first amaryllis plant of this group has just come into flower. 

We had one much earlier that grew very tall. 

They are great fun.

6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ (Saturday)

 My QRP gear was turned on at about 1015z. 

UPDATE  1027z:    8 stations have spotted me.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 1010z.

UPDATE 1242z:  44 stations have spotted me so far.

Sunspots - Saturday January 18th

 Solar flux is 227 and the SSN 149. A=21 and K=2.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

For a very brief time before turning my QMX+  off, I went on 6m FT8 for about a minute. In all, 3 English stations spotted me.

Eating the nuts - NOT amateur radio

 

Another post from 365project by a friend.

See https://365project.org/carole_sandford/365/2025-01-16 .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

My 500mW beacon has been on since about 1300z. So far, 21 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1900z:  Now QRT. Furtherrmost was ZD7GB (7607km). See WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ.

OFCOM consultation

 At the moment OFCOM is consulting on licence free services. I noticed this:

"Amateur Radio Full (Temporary Reciprocal) – this would enable the use on a short-term basis of Radio Amateur equipment by people visiting from certain countries"

Please see the OFCOM website for details of how to respond to the consultation.

Signs of spring? - NOT amateur radio

Before lunch we went for a walk 🚶 at nearby Anglesey Abbey. There are a few signs of spring but really we are in the middle of winter still.

Back on 8m QRP FT8 TX (Friday)

 Since about 1300z,  I have been on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX with a few watts to my low dipole from the QMX+.

UPDATE 1914z:  No spots of me all day.  QRT.

Sunspots- Friday January 17th

 Solar flux is 208 and the SSN 105. A=14 and K=3.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR beacon was turned on mid-morning. So far, 11 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 2231z: 17 stations have spotted me. QRT shortly (see table).

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1327z: 26 stations have spotted me .

UPDATE 1720z:  Spotted by 36 stations. All are in Europe.

UPDATE 2222z: Spotted by 38 stations (see map).

Lighter evenings - NOT amateur radio

Every season has good and bad points. However, I look forward to lighter evenings and spring . Birds sing for mates or to claim territory.

Maldives QSL card

Don't think the Maldives have ever been worked by me. If I have, it would have been nearly 40 years ago! 

This QSL card was seen yesterday.

Sunspots - Thursday January 16th

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 102. A=16 and K=2.

2200m beacon

This was my LF beacon, before I managed to blow it up last year! It could do QRSS and normal speed CW. I may have a go at trying to replace the FET.

There is a YouTube short of it.

Rip off? - NOT amateur radio

As a local resident, we are entitled to a pass that usually grants you access to any Cambridge college, not just King's. 

Several years ago it lasted several years. 

This year it has risen by 33% and only lasts a year. To me this seems like a rip-off when King's College, Cambridge has plenty of money.

You would have thought they would want to encourage locals!

Waiting for the bus - NOT amateur radio

We go into Cambridge by bus as it’s free if you’re old! 😉. This was at the bus station in the city. 

Note how many are on their devices!! I think everyone!

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear (IC-705 and V2000 vertical omni) was turned on at about 0925z. 

Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 2110z:  Spotted by 37 stations. QRT now.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0925z.

UPDATE 2122:  Spotted by 26 stations with the furthermost ZD7GB (7607km). QRT now. See table.

Rose Crescent, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a pedestrian walk in the heart of the city. At this time of year it is quiet.

Wednesday Plans

 Later this morning I think I'll try 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon and 6m QRP FT8 with the IC-705.

Cambridge in winter - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the Wren library in Cambridge in winter. Brave folks on the punt!

70cm activity contest yesterday

Last evening I took part for about 20 minutes in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). 

As usual, I was running 10W to my 144MHz big-wheel omni. 

3 stations were worked, with the furthermost a portable in Wales.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 15th

Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 106. A=12 and K=3.

FT8

This digital mode is like the UK yeast spread Marmite in that some love it whereas others hate it. 

Personally, I am somewhat ambivalent. Because of my poor voice following my 2013 stroke WSPR and FT8 get used mostly.  FM and SSB even AM get used as well, but less frequently.

This is an introduction to FT8 for beginners.

The danger with FT8 is people cannot chance upon amateur radio as many of us did.

Winter - NOT amateur radio

 

In many ways I quite like this time of year. Nights start to get shorter and we have spring to look forward to with new life and new hopes.

Nice sunrise - NOT amateur radio

 

We were treated to a lovely sunrise over our Close.

Is this a good omen or bad? 

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear (IC-705 and V2000 vertical omni antenna) was turned on at 0845z.  So far (at 0855z) just 3 English spots.

UPDATE 1010z:  So far this morning I have been spotted by 15 stations with the furthermost HB9SHD (780km).

UPDATE 1127z: 19 stations spotting me. See map.

UPDATE 1853z:  Spotted by 57 stations. QRT soon.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0844z.

UPDATE 1925z:  25 stations have spotted me with the furthermost ZD7GB (7607km).

Amaryllis forest - NOT amateur radio

We have several amaryllis plants on the point of flowering. 

We put a new one out yesterday (front right) that looks like it has buds.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 14th

 Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 100. A=11 and K=2.

Nearly out - NOT amateur radio

We have several amaryllis plants on the go. 

This one looks on the point of coming out within the next week. They are great fun.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My IC-705 was turned on just after lunch. 

UPDATE 1825z:  35 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8. QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 500mW stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon was turned on late morning.

UPDATE 1825z:  22 spots so far today. QRT.

Monday plans

 At the moment I propose to try 6m QRP with the IC-705 and 10m 500mW WPSR TX with the stand-alone beacon. 8m has been a bit disappointing over the weekend. At least on 6m FT8 there are English spots.