Lunch in Ely - NOT amateur radio

This week, we have had our wedding "best man" staying with us. 1971!! He always treats us to lunch out as a way of saying thank you. 

He is a very old and good friend. 

We ate by the river in Ely.

Back on 8m FT8 QRP TX (Thursday)

 For the Es season I am back on 8m FT8 (40.680 MHz) QRP TX with 2.5W to a low dipole. DF is about 1950 Hz.

UPDATE 1516z: Just spotted by EI3KF (574km).

UPDATE 1937z: QRT.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since mid-morning.

UPDATE 1510z: 4 spots of me with the furthermost Namibia.

UPDATE 1942z:  QRT.

Rallies this holiday weekend

The following have been notified to me:

• Sunday May 4th - Hamfest 2025,Tattershall Thorpe, LN4 4PL.
• Monday May 5th - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL . Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com.

Thursday plans

 I think it’s time to try 8m again, so will probably try QRP 8m FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR later.

Sunspots - Thursday May 1st

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 77.  A=12 and K=3.

Newcastle markets - NOT amateur radio

Last week we spent a few days in Newcastle and Durham. 

We were very impressed with the fine indoor markets in Newcastle and the food prices there.

Overall, Newcastle was a pleasant surprise.

Ferrite rod antennas on TX

It is many years since I tested my own ferrite rods as transmit antennas. Quite by accident I came across this photo from 2012.

In my view these will work as TX antennas as long as the ferrite does not saturate. With modes like WSPR and FT8 on very low power I would expect to be spotted, even though the antenna might be well down on a "proper" antenna.  

As an E-field antenna made of ferrite sort of magnifies space within it it acts like a bigger antenna.

See G3XBM4 - Ferrite Rod TX antennas

It gets worse (Google AdSense) - NOT amateur radio

Every now and again I get a message from Google AdSense. Most of these messages mean nothing to me! Take this one received today (attached). 

Basically, I just ignore these. I am awaiting a message in plain English. No doubt I shall be dead before this comes!!

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My IC-705 at 6W FT8 was turned on mid-morning. 

UPDATE 1428z: 90 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1636z: 105 stations have spotted me today. See map.

UPDATE 1934z:  115 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1943z:   QRT.

Wednesday plans

 Probably 10m QRP FT8 later.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 30th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=3.

Quansheng TK11 portable

This product had passed me by until today. It looks like an improved UV5 portable coving more bands and modes. It is available from AliExpress.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on just after lunch. So far just spots by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is.

UPDATE 1500z:  One spot from Brazil in addition to the multiple spots from the Canary Is..

UPDATE 2004z:  4 stations have spotted me with the furthermost the German base in Antarctica. See map.

6m 6W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 was turned on just after lunch.

UPDATE 1255z:  Just 8 spots from English stations. See map.

UPDATE 1515z: Spots also now from Eire and the north of Scotland.

Tuesday plans

 Later I expect to go on 6m FT8 with 6W and 10m WSPR at 500mW.

Lilac - NOT amateur radio

The lilac next door is fully out.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 29th

 Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 134. A=4 and K=0.

10m 6W FT8 (Monday)

Stations spotting me at 1010z

My IC-705 was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1231z: Spotted by 68 stations with the furthest Australia.

UPDATE 1903z: QRT. 102 stations have spotted me today.

Our close in spring- NOT amateur radio

 

This was our close yesterday. Our bungalow is just out of sight.

8m FT8 during the Es season

During the Es season I expect to be active on 8m with my usual QRP FT8 using either the FT817ND or the QMX+. 

To be honest I have become disillusioned by the negative attitude to real experimentation at 8m by the FCC, ARRL, OFCOM and the RSGB. 

When my TX permit expires I currently have no intention of renewing it. I refuse to pay to do genuine propagation research any longer. Sad. Self training? 

After this year I doubt we'll see much F2 activity, apart from TEP N-S on occasions. Most useful research would have been around sunspot maximum. Too late!!

Sunspots - Monday April 28th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 119. A=6 and K=2.

London Marathon - NOT amateur radio

 

As someone who struggles to walk 2 miles I have nothing but admiration for my niece who is running 26 miles in the London Marathon for the Mind charity. 

Also it’s hot today!!

She has a Just Giving page to raise money for the charity.

See Anna Moore is fundraising for Mind

UPDATE 1833z: She did it!!

FT8 beginners guide

FT8 is like the UK spread Marmite: some really love it whereas others hate it. Because of my poor voice I use it, but understand both sides of the debate. There is no doubt at all that it is a very effective mode for basic QSOs, but it it not designed for keyboard chats. JS8call may be used for this.

This YouTube video may be of help to newcomers to FT8.

10m 6W FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 was turned on at about 0830z.

UPDATE 2140z: Spotted by 98 stations. Furthermost Reunion Island (9727km). QRT.

Newcastle bridges - NOT amateur radio

 

The River Tyne has many famous bridges.

10m QRP FT8 yesterday

 After coming back from Newcastle yesterday I went on 10m FT8 with 6W. 241 stations spotted me. See map.

Newcastle kittiwakes - NOT amateur radio

Apparently Newcastle has the most inland colony of breeding kittiwakes in the world. They are like dainty small seagulls.

See Tyne Kittiwakes - Natural History Society of Northumbria

Sunspots - Sunday April 27th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 169. A=7 and K=1.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since arriving back home on late Saturday afternoon, I have been on 10m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W. So far, 181 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 2116z:  238 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.

Swallows and house martins - NOT amateur radio

Whilst away in Newscastle and Durham I saw 1 swallow and 5 house martins. One swallow was seen down here before we went away.  

It was great to see 5 house martins on the wing simultaneously over the River Wear in Durham. Swifts usually appear later.  I shall keep my ears and eyes open as one often hears swifts screaming first.

These are all migrant birds back from Africa.

See House Martin Bird Facts | Delichon Urbica

Italy on 8m in 2025

 Italy has again been permitted to use 8m amateur radio in 2025 . Why oh why can’t OFCOM do the same? Idiots!!

Going home - NOT amateur radio

We’re on our way home after a few days in Newcastle/Durham. It was a good trip. Everyone in Newcastle was SO friendly. I can imagine it is a great place to be at university.

UPDATE 1822z:  Been home for a few hours.

Sunspots - Saturday April 26th

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 169. A=5 and K=2.

Durham Cathedral outside - NOT amateur radio

 This impressive Norman cathedral was built almost 1000 years ago before they had heavy lifting gear and CAD.

MLS prices

 I’m sorry but I don’t get it. Why do people waste so much on amateur radio gear? 

MLS is proudly advertising amateur gear at reduced prices, but still far more than I am prepared to pay! 

Each to their own  but I  have had as much fun with homemade gear costing a few pounds as anyone spending thousands.

Hotel breakfast -NOT amateur radio

This was my breakfast today with toast.

Weathered wall - NOT amateur radio

 This weathered sandstone wall was near Durham Cathedral yesterday.

Rally this Sunday

 Sunday April 27th - Cambridge Repeater Group Rally, Foxton near Cambridge ,  CB22 6RN. See www.cambridgerepeaters.net .

Durham Cathedral yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we visited Durham Cathedral and an old school friend of my wife.

Apparently this was where Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 prisoners were kept hundreds of years ago. To keep warm they burned wooden things, but spared the clock as it has a small thistle.