This is St Martin’s church in Canterbury, UK which is supposed to be the oldest church in continuous use in the English speaking world.
2 Apr 2025
Oldest church in continuous use? - NOT amateur radio
This is St Martin’s church in Canterbury, UK which is supposed to be the oldest church in continuous use in the English speaking world.
1 Apr 2025
April fools
At first I believed this!! Then I noticed IC-0104 and realised it was an April Fool’s joke!
2m activity contest tonight
Starting at 1900z is the activity contest organised by the RSGB. This is the 2m leg for April.
Almost spring - NOT amateur radio
The ornamental cherry is almost in blossom with the windmill behind. The blossom is ephemeral lasting about 2 weeks.
31 Mar 2025
Apt quote?
This was seen yesterday in a comment about the RSGB, the national radio society in the UK.
“Given the hobby is dying on its feet due to elderly white males popping their clogs you'd think they'd take all the users and spectrum they could muster.”
It is probably quite true.
10m 6W FT8 (Monday)
My IC-705 at reduced power was turned on at about 0820z.
UPDATE 1040z: 50 spots of me with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km).
30 Mar 2025
10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
As I was having no success on WSPR I QSYed to FT8 with 6W from the IC-705.
Amateur radio deregulation
The FCC in the USA is asking for comments on their latest document calling for deregulation and reduced burocracy. They do not talk about amateur radio specifically. In the USA amateur radio callsigns pre-date the FCC.
In many countries amateur radio costs money and generates no revenue. For this reason, I can see why the FCC and OFCOM, and others too around the world, would like to totally "wash their hands" of amateur radio.
One possibility is to "open up" amateur radio, much like CB, without the need for any involvement. The only stipulation is that only radios that comply with national standards may be used and no interference must be caused. In most cases, amateur radio has become like CB: using commercial radios to chat. True research does not matter to the vast majority, who do not even know how their transceivers work!
This is my personal view of what will happen. I may well be wrong.
- In the USA the FCC will deregulate amateur radio in some way. People will not need to have callsigns. If they do, these will be allocated by the ARRL.
- In the UK, OFCOM will also deregulate amateur radio. As in the USA, callsigns will not be mandated and allocated to those that want them by the RSGB.
- Other countries will follow.
There is a video on the FCC proposals. The "writing is on the wall".
8m disappointment
It is very disappointing that, in the UK, we have to pay to do research at 8m. In the USA, they appear to have stopped permits for 8m altogether!
In the past the RSGB would have "fought our corner" with OFCOM, who would probably have granted, on application, a very narrow, perhaps time limited, 8m amateur band by NoV for a dedicated few. Instead those of us that want to do genuine 8m propagation research have to pay!!
As sunspot numbers decline, such NoVs would have less value.
All this has left a very bad taste in my mouth. When my current (paid for!) 8m TX permit expires I have no intention of renewing it.
Self training and research??
Quantum entanglement - NOT amateur radio
A very long time ago I did quantum mechanics as part of my degree. One of the things I remember is that all things can be described as a wave function that exists in all space and all time. This is a strange idea to grasp. There is a video that tries to explain quantum entanglement.
10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)
My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1324z: No spots. After all this time, I am puzzled. The DC power is connected, the antenna is connected, I thought time was sync'd. I have re-sync'd time to see what's happening. I notice Angola is being worked from the UK on 6m FT8 , so I am surprised by the total absence of 10m WSPR spots.
UPDATE 1358z: Still no spots.
6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My IC-705 set at 6W was turned on just after breakfast.
UPDATE 1258z: 13 UK stations spotting me.
Weak signal modes
One of the questions people ask is how effective various weak signal modes are. This link may provide some answers. This table is extracted from the article.
29 Mar 2025
Oscar 100
This geosynchronous satellite has been up now for several years. Many would like a "solution in one box", which is almost possible with the DX Patrol full duplex unit. You still need rigs for TX,RX, a fixed dish and LNB plus a GPS antenna. Overall, it is still not cheap.
There is a video of this from TX Factor.
Powerful autocrats - NOT amateur radio
There is an interesting piece in The Knowledge today about the most powerful men in the world (Putin, Trump, Erdogan and Xi Jinping).
They all seem to have had a difficult childhood. In some way they all seem to be "damaged" people.
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 500mW stand-alone WSPR beacon has been on since about 1410z.
UPDATE 1437z: No spots yet.
UPDATE 1449z: Mind you, it helps to turn the PSU on! Still no spots.
UPDATE 1911z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) and TA4/G8SCU (3010km) spotting me.
6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
Since about 1410z, I have been on 6m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W.
UPDATE 1453z: 6 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1912z: 16 stations have spotted me including one in Germany. QRT soon.
8m permits in the USA?
If I am correct 8m TX permits in the USA are granted by the FCC. With all the changes in the USA of late, I am wondering if 8m permits in the USA are more, or less, likely?
In my view the FCC in the USA and OFCOM in the UK have been stupid over 8m.
Old trees - NOT amateur radio
Western Democracy - NOT amateur radio
If I was in Africa looking for a politics to follow would I look towards the USA currently? The USA (sadly) comes across as a big bullying nation at present. I say sadly as EVERY person I have ever met from the USA has been kind and generous, in the true spirit of democracy.
Whilst I understand that free trade means lower costs and making things where labour costs are low, I cannot believe that making everything in the USA will be as low cost for consumers. Also, why fall out with your friends and allies?
None of us is perfect I do accept.
10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0930z. So far, mostly eastern Europe and Middle East stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1413z: 67 stations have spotted me on 4 continents.
Putin portrait of President Trump - NOT amateur radio
Apparently (according to the BBC) President Trump has received a portrait of himself sent by Vladimir Putin.
Changed market
Since the FT817 was introduced about a quarter of a century ago a lot has changed. At that time Yaesu had a totally unique product that sold really well across the world.
These days there are several competitors and the Chinese are coming up fast.
In my view Yaesu are now playing "catch up" and the longer they delay getting the FTX-1F to market, the harder it will be.
28 Mar 2025
Where I come from - NOT amateur radio
Until I left university, I lived in South Devon, not far from where the photo was taken. I have definitely been hereabouts since the mid 1500s (family history research) and probably for thousands of years before that. On the promontory in the distance is an iron age fort. One of my distant ancestors probably manned it!
Although I have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, I still feel my spiritual home is in South Devon.
zBitx
This radio represents incredible value for money. It is available ready built from India. Even if you add duty and VAT it is still remarkable value.
Satellites
Years back I recall receiving North Americans via Oscar 6 and 7 late at night when the passes were favourable, tracking the passes with a hand made device that showed the passes and what I might expect to hear. Usually the passes were brief of about 10 minutes.
Apparently Oscar 7 is still working after all this time.
OFCOM's 3 year plan
Perhaps I am getting even more grumpy in my old age! OFCOM has published its 3 year plan and I am not impressed. To me it is full of "motherhood" statements: the sort of thing you would expect to see in a quango trying hard to justify its existence.
Bring back the GPO with adults.
10m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0925z.
UPDATE 1541z: 93 spots of me.
Old bakery - NOT amateur radio
This property in a nearby village has been empty for some years. A long time ago it was a bakery. If sensitively restored it would make a fine home. Not much seems to be happening.
27 Mar 2025
Thatched cottages - NOT amateur radio
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As mentioned, we did a walk around Lode. It has no shortage of "chocolate box" thatched cottages.
Lode walk - NOT amateur radio
We went for a walk around the nearby village of Lode, with plenty of thatched cottages and daffodils.
Rally this Sunday
The following has been notified to me. I always advise being sure of the details before travelling far.
- Sunday March 30th - Pencoed and District ARC Rally, Sam Bridgend, CF32 9NY. Contact Iewan Jones 07791 709691.
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