.jpeg)
Some years ago I wrote an article in SPRAT and a follow up article last year. To my surprise it was awarded a prize!
28 Feb 2026
Sixbox transceiver
Some years ago I wrote an article in SPRAT and a follow up article last year. To my surprise it was awarded a prize!
Sibling reunions
Her elder brother sadly died, so we created this photo for her remaining brother who will be here in a few weeks.
Russian Rouble
It looks like the Russian Rouble could fall heavily this year as Russian oil sales fall .
With the war against Iran by the USA and Israel, we could be in for a rough ride in the world in the months ahead. Maybe this will help Russia?
DXpedition
.jpeg)
As mentioned before, chasing DX is no longer important to me, whereas to others it may be.
Lightbeam experiments (2012)
.jpeg)
In 2012 I was trying to receive G4HJW’s 481THz (red light) signal over the horizon. It was very strong.
10m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at 0803z RX only.
UPDATE 0900z: 187 stations have been spotted.
UPDATE 1019z: 434 stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1443z: 1167 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. See map by Phil VK7JJ.
UPDATE 1950z: So far, 1851 stations have been spotted here.Conditions seem very good today.
27 Feb 2026
Hungry squirrel
.jpeg)
This was yesterday. This squirrel was more interested in the chips in the bin than in me!
Russian losses in the war with Ukraine
This war has been going on now for 4 long years and is now entering the 5th with no clear end in sight. It would seem President Putin is trying recreate the USSR and does not see Ukraine as a legitimate state. He has shown no willingness to stop the fighting.
10m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)
UPDATE 1203z: After a brief session on FT8 TX, I am 10m FT8 RX only. 102 stations spotted so far. See map.
UPDATE 1337z: 167 spots on FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1944z: 988 stations spotted with the best Hawaii.
26 Feb 2026
The USA and Iran
Things are moving very fast. I am sure President Trump would like regime change in Tehran, but at the same time does not want "forever" wars with no clear end. With the mid-term elections coming up, if he was to get embroiled in a war with Iran this might be really bad for his prospects.
10m 2.5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear has been on since lunch. The impression I get is there is far more FT8 activity than WSPR on 10m.
UPDATE 2026z: 563 stations spotted on RX from all corners of the planet. During the brief TX periods my signal has been spotted by 15 stations. The map shows the stations spotted on RX here.
Free Project Scrapbook PDF
Over the years this hobby has given me lots of fun and I hope you get as much fun as I did. Thankfully we all get fun in different ways.
It is well overdue for an update!
Amaryllis
.png)
In all, they probably provide about 4 months of fun. Now they are almost over for this season. Those that remain are top-heavy and easily topple over. Still, spring on Sunday!
Notice the windmill behind.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0915z. Later, I might give 10m 2.5W FT8 a try.
UPDATE 0925z: No spots yet.
25 Feb 2026
The light
I think it is the light you notice most. Also the birds sing to establish territory and to find a mate.
These next few months are my favourite ones. The world has new hope and new starts as it has done for millions of years.
Later in the spring I look out for returning, screaming, swifts after their long flights back from Africa.
.jpeg)
State of the Union
Whatever views you hold, President Trump is the leader of the largest and biggest economy in the world.
My personal view is that leaders really need to be "in tune" with their people. I struggle to see how rich billionaires in any country can really understand how the common person feels.
Increasingly the world seems to be run by very rich people. I hope they are all fighting hard for their common citizens.
Antarctica
My 200mW 10m beacon has reached the German research base in Antarctica several times recently. Hopefully their noise floor is low!
10m 200mW WSPR
My beacon was turned on at about 0640z.
Nearly spring
24 Feb 2026
Russia-Ukraine conflict
This has now been going on for 4 years.
No nation is perfect, but I really wish this would end fairly and end soon.
My worry is the USA will just walk away. Clearly Europe is concerned about President Putin's aims beyond Ukraine, for example in the Baltic and Finland. At one time an attack on one NATO nation was the same as an attack on all NATO members and was a strong deterrent. Would the USA join?
The Ukrainian people have put up a stalwart defence.
How?
I know things are more integrated but both Aliexpress and the manufacturer make profits!
The future
It appears that the USA is moving towards an economic model in which they become self-sufficient in their hemisphere or (ideally) within their own borders. At a pinch the EU could do this and Russia. In the case of China I am less sure.
I think the "big" players are getting nervous of long supply chains.
The UK is very vulnerable. It is very dependent on long supply chains for most things. As long as international trade works the UK is OK. If this is disrupted the UK is in deep trouble.
Forty-9er transceiver
This was a design for a tiny QRP CW transceiver for 40m CW. This short video shows the radio with a digital display, which was non-standard.
See https://www.norcalqrp.org/files/49erOrigMnl.pdf
Kits are still available.
Christ's College, Cambridge, UK
Today the scaffolding had been taken down, so I took this photo.
We see this several times every week for free. Others travel across the planet to see some of these sites.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at breakfast.
UPDATE 1636z: So far, 40 spots. See table.
UPDATE 1922z: Spotted by 43 stations today with the best AE5AU (7209km) who has spotted me 11 times! Now QRT. Map by Phil VK7JJ.
23 Feb 2026
Heathkit
In the late 1960s Heathkit made some great radios. Take, for example, the SB101.
Then the Japanese started making transceivers that meant there was little difference in making a kit. Most bought a ready made transceiver instead.
“Lord of the flies “ TV series
This famous book by William Golding is being serialised by the BBC. It tells the tale of children isolated on a remote Pacific island following a plane crash. They revert to savages and hunt for food.
Much of western civilisation depends on inter-connected trade these days. It would take very little for western civilisation to collapse and us having to return to savagery . There’s a message here.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002qk4w/lord-of-the-flies
Bouvet Island DXpedition
For many years I have not actively chased DX. We are all different thankfully, so this might be important to you. I think this was delayed.
British politics
In case you are puzzled by the British political system, this diagram may help. I found it earlier.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0945z .
UPDATE 1721z: Spotted widely even though the SSN is zero! See table.
22 Feb 2026
More like spring
.jpeg)
The evenings are lighter and the weather today has been mild with some sun.
Xiegu G106
There are quite a few transceivers from China now. I expect we will see more in the years to come. I think the Japanese monopoly on amateur rigs is drawing to a close.
QDX-M on 10m FT8
It has only been used on FT8 but it seems to copy loads (over 1100 stations yesterday).
I run mine via suitably rated diodes in the power lead to ensure I am below 12V when using a 13.8V PSU so I reckon the output is about 2.5W.
At this power it has been spotted in the USA multiple times, although sometimes you get clobbered by a QRO station. Unlike my WSPR beacon it does not change frequency randomly between TX bursts.
It is very small and probably is smaller than a pack of cards. If, like me, you have a poor voice, it is ideal. I think the 10m version also covers 12m and the 11m CB bands, although I have not explored these.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
