USA future - NOT amateur radio

Tomorrow the new USA president is sworn in. I hope that President Trump is magnanimous and his followers respect democracy.

Me in 1959 - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories today was this photo of me taken at a junior school sports day in 1959, when I still had hair! I am on the left. Some changes since!

6m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

It is now 1042z. For the last few minutes I have been on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 omni vertical. 2 spots of me so far with the furthermost M0AGP (122km).

UPDATE 1102z: Now spotted strongly by OL7M (1128km). Winter Es or aircraft? Probably aircraft.

UPDATE 1112z: 5 stations have spotted me so far. Amazing. No spots on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1152z: Just one station spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today: G4FKA (206km).The photo shows the stations spotting me today so far. 

UPDATE 1424z:  Now 4 stations spotted on RX with furthermost being G8EEM (208km).

Sunspots Tuesday January 19th 2021

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 13.  A=4 and K=2.

2m FT8 (QRP) Monday

I am mainly on 2m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and big wheel. When briefly on TX at 2.5W the report on G0LRD's (26km) grabber was poor, suggesting something is wrong either with the rig or antenna. On RX things seem to be as expected. Odd. The output power seemed low as if the SWR was poor.

The SWR looks fine, so this might be another fault in the FT817ND. Tomorrow I might try with a dummy load, and then the FT991A.

Village collage - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a collage of village scenes seen yesterday on our walk. It was cold, but sunny.

20m FT8 RX

 It is now 1205z. For about an hour I have been on 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the indoor loop. So far, 188 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1434z:   Now on 2.5W TX too. So far today, 424 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1900z:   2 stations have spotted me on TX and 503 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Monday January 18th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 23.  A=2 and K=0.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At 1954z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using the usual 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 5 stations have spotted me with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). This sort of range is always possible even with my QRP set-up. It is now 2002z. Nothing spotted on RX yet.

UPDATE 2225z:  After 4 QSOs this evening, now QRT.

QSY to 20m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

As 10m was pathetic here I QSYed to 20m FT8 at about 1517z using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. 

At 20m this is so tiny that it does not look like it could ever work! 

At 1525z lots of USA stations already spotted. So far, 23 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX, but nobody has yet spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1810z: 1 station has spotted me on 20m FT8  QRP TX and 59 stations spotted on RX. The stations spotted are shown on the map. 

Church bells - NOT amateur radio

One of the things I've missed recently is hearing the local church bells ring. As well as the clock that strikes on the hour, there is a peel of bells used for change ringing. 

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

For about 30 minutes I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1440z:  Still no spots today.

Sunspots - Sunday January 17th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 15. A=4 and K=2.

"A journal of the plague year" by Daniel Defoe - NOT amateur radio

For Christmas, my wife bought me this book.  Although things were very different in 1665 (and the death toll higher then), it is surprising just how similar things were to the current pandemic. It is available in many formats from Amazon.

Earlier, I read Defoe's book about his trip around Britain, which was fascinating.

This book on the plague was harder reading, but worth it.

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/Journal-Plague-Year-Illustrated-Daniel/dp/B086M2VZYN

2m FT8 grabber

This has been mentioned before, but I find the 2m FT8 grabber just west of Cambridge run by David G0LRD very useful.  If you want to see what your 2m FT8 signal looks like near Cambridge, this is your chance. 

My signal at 26km is usually +9 to +12dB S/N. If you are far away, it will probably be much weaker. 

Most times there are signals from all sorts of places coming through. Even in flat conditions I can usually see German stations.

If you are in range, you too might find it of use.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

New radios

Buying a new transceiver here is a big decision for me. 

When I buy one, it is usually kept for many years. I quite fancy the IC-705 as a QRP enthusiast, but it seems expensive. I do not expect the price to drop unless they get real competition.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/new

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

It is now 1257z and I have just turned on my 2m QRP - 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1449z: 18 stations have spotted my QRP 2m signal so far today (see photo).

UPDATE 2125z:  QRT.  28 spots of me in 6 countries with the furthermost being a spot by EI2FG (565km).

Hornet tree - NOT amateur radio

This tree was felled last year. It is at nearby Anglesey Abbey owned by the National Trust. 

For years there was a hornet's nest in the tree. For all I know, it could still be there.

Another successful Zoom talk

Last night, the Cambridge radio club (CDARC) had another well attended Zoom talk. Yet again this included a member in Canada. The talk was by Ray G4FON on learning Morse code, using his highly successful training course based on the Koch method. The secret seems to be to hear the sound of the letters much as a foreign language and not to try to write it down.

I am a great fan of Zoom as we can enjoy the talks from the comfort of our own homes. Also, people around the world can take part. Of course, by holding "virtual" meetings, we miss the face-to-face contacts, but Zoom with video is far better than I expected.

See http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer2.php

Promise - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey we saw this hellebore. Yet another promise of better days ahead. 

It is still mid-January and as I write we have cold driving rain.

136kHz beacon TX

This is the beacon TX I used on 136kHz at the old QTH some years ago. At this QTH I have only been (briefly) on 136kHz RX. Taht was with Opera weak signal software using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. If I was fitter I ought to try some 136kHz RX again.

Sunspots - Saturday January 16th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 13. A=3 and K=2.

E-field probes

There is a common myth that VLF, LF and MF antennas have to be big. Whilst this is true for radiated TX antennas, this is absolutely not true on RX. 

In the past I have used E-field probes very successfully on 136kHz RX and good ones can be quite as good (or better) than large antennas and can work from VLF to 30MHz despite being very tiny. Typical ones are just a few cms long.

One of mine, used taped to the window, is shown in the photo. Normally they are placed outdoors away from noise sources. They work because as antennas get smaller the signal level falls, but so does the noise. At low frequencies external noise usually dominates.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/efp.

Winter promise - NOT amateur radio

January can be a miserable time of the year: days are short and cold and the evenings are dark and long. Everywhere looks dead.

However there is a promise of better days ahead. Soon it will be the daffodils, which are around until late spring.

Already snowdrops are pushing up and coming into flower. Promise. 

Then the buds start to appear and you sense stirrings......

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 1125z and I have been on 2m FT8 for about 10 minutes. So far, my 2.5W to the big-wheel has been spotted by 11 stations on TX and 1 station spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1225z: 12 stations have spotted my QRP on TX and 14 stations in 4 countries spotted here on RX. 1 QSO.

UPDATE 1630z:  24 stations in 5 countries has spotted me so far today on 2m QRP TX with 2 QSOs.

UPDATE 1826z:  27 stations in 6 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP so far today.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday evening)

Last evening I was on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Although as usual I was spotted in EI and GI, not a single station was spotted here on RX. I am pretty sure all was working here. Odd. 

Sunspots - Friday January 15th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0. 

Amateur radio cartoon

This was on Messenger from Steve G1KQH although I have no idea where it originated. 

OFCOM report

 OFCOM has published a report on emerging technologies. See the OFCOM website for more details.

ICOM IC-705

These QRP radios are now widely available in Europe. The price is still high and, if like the IC-7300, will not drop unless they face real competition. 

The nearest competition is the Yaesu FTDX10, but this is not a 5/10W radio and does not have 2m and 70cm, but does have an ATU and 4m.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705.

Art with Ed - NOT amateur radio

Previously I mentioned the YouTube video made by my grandson Edward who is 11 years old. The collage shows some of the pages. 

See youtube.com/watch?v=sVmWwYbh8Co

15m FT8

At 0854z I went on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 

So far (0935z), 8 RX spots. It is a dreadful day outside: cold and rainy. 

I get the feeling 15m is only just open today. I have seen far better days. 

UPDATE 1322z:  9 spots of my 2.5W QRP FT8 so far.

UPDATE 1526z: 16 spots of my 2.5W with the furthermost K1CA (5246km). On RX 156 stations spotted with the furthermost YB3LZ (12245km).

UPDATE 1925z: 26 spots of my 2.5W to the indoor loop antenna today on 15m FT8 TX. 

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Anglesey Abbey a few years ago. 

Old House - NOT amateur radio

One of the oldest houses in the village is this one shown in the photo. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 14th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A =4 and K=0.

Wymondham, Norfolk - NOT amateur radio

Some of my wife's ancestors came from Wymondham in Norfolk. The town is just west of Norwich. 

It has an unpretentious town centre and a fine abbey with 2 towers. 

Some of the family moved to industrial Sheffield in the 19th century for work - what a contrast!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wymondham.

Art video - NOT amateur radio

My 11 year old grandson has produced an educational video as shown. Although I am a bit biased, I think it is good. He is a very good artist and there some examples of his work on my main website. These are now some years old.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/home/art.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

Since about 1825z, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 4 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. No stations yet spotted on RX and no QSOs yet.

UPDATE 2103z:  10 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8 so far tonight (see map). I keep an eye on my signal at http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/.

UPDATE 2107z:  Spotted by 14 stations in 4 counties so far. No QSOs.

432MHz activity contest

Every month the RSGB organises an activity contest on the second Tuesday of the month on 70cm. Better stations were working Germans. As usual I was on with my poor voice, 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna.  In 40 minutes I managed 4 SSB QSOs out to 105km. .Then I gave up!

Sunspots - Wednesday January 13th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0.  A=9 and K=1.

Aurora

In Scotland, there was a visible aurora last night. The BBC was full of pictures of this today. 

I am not sure how far south it was visible. I have not heard if there were VHF QSOs via this aurora. When access to 6m was first granted I recall having a 6m auroral QSO using 1W CW and a wire dipole.

Another 8m winter Es QSO

This afternoon there was another DX QSO on 8m between EI and 9A.  This was winter Es.

I expect this band to be available more widely in the years to come.  At first it will be individuals asking their local authorities for spot frequencies. Sandwiched between 10m and 6m, this could be a most interesting allocation. Even a very narrow allocation and low power initially would be useful.

Sonic boom - NOT amateur radio

Years ago we used to hear the sonic boom from Concorde at my parents house in Devon every night. At lunchtime we heard another loud bang that turned out to be a sonic boom. An RAF Typhoon jet was scrambled to escort a civilian plane that had lost communications into London Stansted airport. It was very loud and we thought at first it was something on our roof.

G3KKD Silent Key

One of the regulars on our Monday night East Cambs net died of a heart attack last night. Ian G3KKD was a regular who rarely missed.  As we get older more and more of us will be SKs. Still sad though. None of us expected this. Ian was keen right to the end.

He was especially keen on ATV and had recently experimented with digital.

Church Lane - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year every thing appears dead.  There is mud everywhere!

Look more closely and there are signs of new life. 

Only this morning I saw a field of winter wheat and snowdrops are beginning to flower as in the lane leading to our local church. Another month and there will be daffodils common and buds just starting to appear.

January is one of the most depressing times of the year. At least days are getting longer and spring is coming.

OFCOM Communications Monthly

 OFCOM has updated its statistics in its Communications Monthly. See the OFCOM website for details.

15m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the tiny indoor loop. 27 stations already spotted after just a few minutes with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).

UPDATE 1212z: 219 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1520z:  Recently, I decided to go on QRP TX on 15m FT8. So far 7 stations have spotted me. 437 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop.

Stations spotting me

UPDATE 1850z: 36 spots of me and 2 QSOs - amazing for such a tiny indoor loop and true QRP (see photo of the spots of me an hour ago). 651 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX today.

Stations spotted here 
today on 15m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1926z:  662 stations in 5 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX today.

Dayton 2021 cancelled

My friend Steve G1KQH has forwarded me an announcement that the Dayton Hamvention, perhaps the biggest ham gathering in the world, has been cancelled for 2021. This is obviously as a result of fears over Covid-19. I guess we all feared this. They hope to hold it again next year. 

This is the place where many manufacturers announce new products.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0 . A=14 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Since late Monday afternoon I was on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. All the usual stations were spotted.  DL6YBF (410km) was the furthermost on RX with EI2FG (565km) my furthermost on 2.5W TX. In all, 15 stations spotted me. At 2130z, I went QRT.