Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

3 Jun 2025

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My W5OLF beacon was turned at 0756z.

UPDATE 0857z: Just one spot by HB9TMC (905km) presumably by Es.

Es reminder

In the northern hemisphere, we are now in the peak Es season. If you want a quick look at how well Es is doing in Europe look at the Es map.

Lightning risk

At this time of year and throughout the summer there is an increased risk of lightning in the UK. I usually check the risk using the lightning map.

Although the chances of a direct strike are (thankfully) low I usually disconnect antennas, PSUs, PC etc until the danger has passed. Even surges in the mains supply or antenna lead when a storm is near can cause damage.

If the storm is within 20 miles I usually disconnect.

Trying 6m FT8 at 10mW (Tuesday)

At the moment I am trying 6m FT8 at 10mW using my IC-705 with an attenuator right on the output of the IC-705 and setting the 6m power at an appropriate level.

UPDATE 0900z: Now on 6m FT8 with 10mW FT8. No spots!

UPDATE 1422z: Even with just 10mW, via poor coax to a V2000 vertical omni, 6 stations have spotted me on 6m FT8, some very strongly. As I keep saying, 10mW ERP is enough to be spotted across Europe. If it works on 6m it will work on 8m without a licence for anyone using ISM rules.

UPDATE 1500z: It gets even better! Now spotted by 14 stations across Europe with just 10mW 6m FT8. Who needs much power when Es is good!

UPDATE 1837z: Superbly better! Now spotted by 79 stations. today. Amazing for just 10mW! See map.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 3rd

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 103. A=69 and K=5.

2 Jun 2025

Philosophical questions - NOT amateur radio

It is impossible (I think) to know if there is a world outside of what we experience, or if this is all just for me and no-one else experiences what I experience.

All our experiences suggest a world and universe beyond, yet we die and everything we used to experience this dies with our body (or does it?).

We always assume we live just one life. It is possible that everything is possible and every fork is explored yet we are only aware of one path.

This is a philosophical stuff.

A good job we are all different

This is video by a man with my views. Some in the USA love the new FTX-1, whereas I feel, like this man, that it is overpriced and lacks some features.

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 500mW beacon was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1100z: Just V51RS (8481km) spotting me.

I only really use WSPR as I can do it without tying up the PC. If I use other modes I need the PC, so I can only use one band at a time if I did this. Using 10m QRP WSPR with the beacon I can also go on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1242z: Just V51RS and one HB9 spotting me.

UPDATE 1845z: 30 stations spotting me today. See table.

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

My gear was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1315z: 47 spots of me including several in the south of Europe, that I assume are Es.

UPDATE 2110z: 239 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 today. See map. Maybe tomorrow I should try 10mW again?

Blackberries - NOT amateur radio

We are very lucky to have a wild blackberry bush about 15m from our home.

At the moment it is flowers, but in the summer it is laden with blackberries.

I often pick some to have with breakfast.

Heathkits

My whole career and amateur radio hobby really started with a Heathkit Electronics Workshop that my late dad bought for Christmas in 1961. Little did I know then what it would lead to.

These days kits are often too expensive whereas in the 1950s and 1960s kits were often far less expensive and you had the satisfaction of saying, "I made that". Kits often made the hobby affordable.

You may be interested in this video about the company and its origins.

Sunspots - Monday June 2nd

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 97. A=69 and K=5.

1 Jun 2025

Gathering storm? - NOT amateur radio

In many ways we have been the fortunate generation. Certainly in the UK and USA we have avoided war, although we did live under a constant threat of nuclear war.

Now, we seem to be returning to the cycles of wars , that really serve no purpose at all. Yet again, greed comes to the fore. In many nations we seem to be ruled by idiots who have their eyes on other nations. Sadly, it appears human nature is to fight and not live in peace.

Most wars seem to be the result of some childhood trauma in the leaders. It is a great pity that we cannot live in peace with our neighbours and put our efforts collectively for the benefit of the planet rather than weapons.

It is likely future world wars could be different from those in the 20th century. War is likely to involve cyber warfare and possibly biological warfare. Perhaps these will be countered by the MAD (mutually assured destruction) definition meaning "if you do it to us we can do it to you".

8m TX permit expired

Even though it wasn’t issued to me until far later, OFCOM said it had to run from when I applied!! Really “switched on” logic 😢. £50 for far less than 12 months! OFCOM or OFCON?

I have now given up on 8m.

Delph End - NOT amateur radio

This property is one of the older ones in our village. I have no idea when it dates from.

There is a mix of old and new properties in Burwell, UK.

Solar activity

At the start of each month I like to take stock of solar activity by looking at my favourite site for solar data.

It still looks like were on the start of the slow decline, although we can expect HF conditions on the higher bands to be good for some time.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW beacon was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1906z: 11 spots of me. All are probably via Es.

My impression is there are fewer people using WSPR these days. Even though I am using 10dB more power on 6m FT8, I am getting about 10 times more spots than on 10m WSPR.

Birthday - NOT amateur radio

Last week was our granddaughter’s birthday. We had some cake 🎂 in the garden.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 5W was turned on before breakfast. So far, 19 stations have spotted me, many I guess via Es. See map created at 0830z.

UPDATE 1900z: 139 spots of me. I have spotted 186 here.

Sunspots - Sunday June 1st

Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 96. A=126 and K=7.

31 May 2025

AI and circuit design

For some time now software engineers have being using AI to generate code. It would appear that hardware designers could also use AI to design circuits. It would appear that AI is capable of doing everything as well as humans (and more?) , if trained.

The future is indeed scary. When we eventually meet intelligent life in outer space how do we know if it is conscious?

Where will AI be on Earth in 50 years' time?

Geostationary amateur satellite - inputs wanted

AMSAT-DL is seeking inputs on a possible future geosynchronous amateur satellite covering Europe and much of North America.

The take-up would probably be low, although coverage of much of North America might help. It might appeal to real enthusiasts.

Based on the experiences with Oscar 100, a lot of effort seems to be needed to get a station together, then people lose interest. The lack of commercial products puts many off.

See https://amsat-dl.org/ .

FTX-1 versus IC-705

In the USA the FTX -1 is now on sale.

People have reported some bugs with the Yasesu radio and I am not sure if these have been corrected with latest firmware. Certainly in the UK, the Yaesu radio is far more expensive that the IC-705.

In my view the ICOM IC-705 represents far better value. There is certainly (at least) one video on YouTube comparing the two.

I am definitely NOT rushing out to buy the FTX-1F. Personally, I still think Yaesu is floundering again.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 500mW W5OLF beacon was turned on at about 0844z, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1327z: 4 stations spotting me.

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

Stations spotting me today

My gear was turned on at about 0844z. So far just 8 English spots of me.

UPDATE 1035z: 56 stations have spotted me. Plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1858z: 220 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost Kuwait 9K2NO (4689km) in the Gulf. On TX I have been spotted by 214 stations. See map.

At first we are glad to see European openings on 6m Es. Then we keep an eye open for inter-continental DX. As yet, I have not seen South America or North America on 6m this spring, although I have spotted the Caribbean.