My 2013 stroke left me outwardly looking fine, but it has had a lasting impact on me. Before I was quite active and healthy, but these days things are far harder.
In many ways I am more fortunate than many. My voice is poor and driving, and being driven, is far harder. A few years ago I could drive 300 miles to Devon. Even 10 miles is hard these days.
As an experiment I tried to join the CDARC (Cambridge club) 80m net this morning with my 2.5W and the earth-electrode antenna. Although I had no problem hearing people, I could not be heard. My noise level is very low on this antenna, but I needed more power to overcome noise others were probably suffering.
The SWR is too high for the auto-ATU on my FT991A. It just says "High VSWR" and gives up. On the FT817ND it works fine.
Often the skies are amazing and the land watery. My wife took this photo a few days ago.
One of my ideas is for an ultra simple crystal controlled FT8 transceiver for 10m probably. Another option is 15m. Crystals can be quite expensive, but bought in quantity the price comes way down.
My health rather precludes me designing and building one these days, but I would be more than happy to share my ideas with anyone who could take this on seriously. Ideally, a PCB could be made as a simple kit.
In my mind this could be a really simple rig that would be able to work the world very soon once 10m really gets going. Don't forget that 10m is always good in the Es season at any part of the solar cycle. Even very low power FT8 would get all across the world. 10m is an excellent band with small antennas and QRP. I can imagine such rigs being incredibly simple and low cost. In this version I used a 2N3866 PA, but I would use paralleled 2N3904s as these are far less expensive. For greater TX power, further 2N3904s PAs could be paralleled with low value emitter resistors. This is a very low cost way of getting useful output.
Very few controls are necessary, probably none! It would need a BNC connector and probably something to show it is on RX or TX. I can imagine it fitting in a low cost, small, plastic box.
QRPguys are offering something similar on lower frequencies. Maybe they will offer higher frequencies later as the sunspot cycle gathers pace?
See https://qrpguys.com/ .
UPDATE 2020z: Steve G1KQH has told me of some low cost crystals that would certainly work: https://kc9on.com/product/14mhz-hc49u-tall-crystals/
156 stations in 9 countries spotted by teatime.
UPDATE 2250z: QRT.
Being on Zoom, speakers can be anywhere and this time the speaker was in Canada!
I like Zoom talks as these can be seen all over the world. As well as the speaker, there was someone else in Canada taking part I believe.
Zoom has surprised me. By sharing the screen, slides can be seen as easily as in a room. Also, all taking part can chat, by video or just mic if they prefer to wear their bedclothes!
At 1905z I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.
So far, 3 stations in 3 countries have spotted my QRP TX. On RX 10 stations in 2 countries spotted here so far.
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| Stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening |
Some years ago, when I was still working, there was a small risk of batteries being damaged and catching fire.
When battery packs catch fire the result can be dramatic. LiIon batteries were especially vulnerable, especially if dropped or abused. The incidence was probably about 1 in 150,000 packs. Failures, especially causing fire, cause customer alarm. In the limit, this can warrant a product recall. Recalls can be very expensive. You can imagine the cost of recalls if you sell mobile phones or laptops. A manufacturer will do everything possible to deny this and avoid the cost of a recall.
According to the BBC, Hyundai is replacing 82000 batteries in some electric cars at crippling cost. I pity them. This must be a nightmare for manufacturers of electric vehicles.
From personal experience, LiIon battery packs can be little bombs. I never, ever, risk leaving them charging without supervision. One person we have met left her mobile phone charging and burnt down her flat. Such incidents are rare, but they do happen. Modern technologies may be safer, but treat all batteries as potential bombs.
The 15m FT8 QRP gear was turned on just before 1030z. As usual, I am using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1055z: Just EA8ACW (2988km) spotted so far.
UPDATE 1240z: Just 3 EA8s spotted on RX. Nobody has spotted me on TX.
UPDATE 1538z: Just 7 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today and nobody has spotted me on QRP TX. A few South Americans only spotted.
UPDATE 1844z: So far, 1 station has spotted my QRP (2.5W) TX: EA8BFK (2881km). On RX, 10 station have been spotted. Quite a poor day.
One thing I am sure about is that in 100 years people will look back at us and think, "did they believe that?".
In the last century our ideas of the universe and of subatomic particles have changed enormously. I am sure they will change again in the next. Just think of the changes to our thinking as a result of quantum theory and Einstein.
Whatever I think is hardly likely to be correct, but I am often intrigued by scale. The visible universe is unbelievably huge with probably huge numbers of habitable planets. The subatomic world is incredible. Time is a puzzle. What if all these were linked and whole universes were inside each of us?
It is all a matter of scale. There is no reason whatsoever that universes have to be on the scale we know. Somehow I have the feeling that the macroscopic and microscopic worlds are somehow linked. One thing is certain: we know so little.
Everything remains a mystery.
Using the earth-electrode "antenna" I stayed on 60m FT8 RX overnight. In all, 467 stations were spotted in 5 continents.
I am suspicious of the UK's motives.
Dubai is an important trade partner of the UK and the sheikh in charge there is friend of the Queen. In the UK race industry he is high up and he is reported, by the BBC, to be a big UK landowner.
It rather looks like we are choosing to look away.
Recently it was reported that the sheikh's daughter Latifa was kidnapped. 20 years ago his daughter Shamsa was reportedly kidnapped in Cambridge and returned to Dubai.
Now, I have no way of knowing the truth in all this. What I will say is this: nobody should be above the law and I hope the UK government and Queen will not want trade done with any country that does not have basic human rights. If we have to lose valuable contracts, so be it.
In the case of Dubai, all the ruler has to do is allow his daughters to chose their own futures. If he is not prepared to do this all trade should stop.
I hope the UK government does not put trade above people. We seem to like to trade with Saudi Arabia and have proxi wars fought on our behalf. We like to export our "dirty" industries to places like China.
Need I go on?
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56188745
Although interest rates are at historical lows - basically you earn nothing now by saving - the UK is in huge debt as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The focus in the short term is economic recovery and this will no doubt be the focus of the UK budget next week.
In the longer term, debts have to be repaid and interest rates will go up. The UK chancellor has a difficult job now and in the years ahead. I hope he can come up with a fair way.
Using the information supplied by Keith, I am looking on 5.357MHz FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I have been looking since 1205z. Nothing spotted yet.
UPDATE 1426z: 8 stations in 5 countries spotted.
Using the earth-electrode "antenna" I stayed on 40m FT8 RX overnight. In all, 601 stations were spotted here.
As WSJT-X does not list the 60m FT8 frequency, I decided to give 40m FT8 a go with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At this high a frequency, I think my theory of a "loop in the ground" is unlikely to hold. The SWR is quite high, but I am still copying loads of stations. Already, within just a few minutes, 104 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1945z: So far this evening, 210 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2220z: 364 stations in 4 continents spotted so far on 40m FT8 RX. I am amazed this "antenna" works at all at 40m.
Ghislaine Maxwell is accused of helping sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a prison cell in 2019, with procuring under-age girls for sex. She denies this and is trying to get bail.
Her lifestyle in prison must be a million miles from the lifestyle she was used to. She is the daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell. Epstein was well connected.
If convicted, she could spend 35 years in jail according to the BBC.
At about 1013z, I turned on 15m FT8 using 2.5W and the indoor loop on the shack windowsill. No spots yet at 1022z. To be honest, it sounds very quiet. Either HF is poor or the band has not yet "woken up".
UPDATE 1328z: 7 stations have been spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me on 15m FT8 QRP TX with the furthermost now in Brazil on RX.
UPDATE 1424z: 11 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YC1JEL (11777km). In QRP TX, still 3 stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1812z: Today has been quite poor on 15m. There were no USA stations spotted and just 1 in S.America. Soon be time to go QRT.
My recent article in RSGB RadCom postulates that FT8 is opening up scatter for QRP set ups.
This becomes possible at any time with really low ERPs. Unlike aircraft scatter, this seems possible whenever I go on suggesting it is troposcatter. DX is possible without lifts!
My ERP is probably less than 5W. I use the FT817ND and a big-wheel omni. Ranges over 450km are possible every day, even with my set up! It has totally transformed 2m possibilities for me: no towers, no beams, QRP ..... and DX! GI and EI are possible every day from JO02 (East Anglia) even with my QRP.
We are looking forward to doing this again soon.
At about 1930z, I turned on 472kHz WSPR RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, no spots. It is now 1952z.
I notice the noise floor on 472kHz with the PC charger on was S8, whereas with the charger off it is S2. As WSPR bandwidth is only about 6Hz, I wonder what difference this makes? I am no theory man, so I do not know the answer.
If I get a decent trade on my FT991A, I might be tempted...
Several dealers are selling them ex-stock now.
As of yesterday, they had put hardcore down. I am not sure what goes on top.
Other than a brief test with the earth-electrode "antenna" on RX, I have never yet tried 136kHz at this QTH.
My old site (links may not work as this old site is not maintained) has a description of the E-field probe RX antenna and other tests at 136/7kHz.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/136k .
See also http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2013/01/137khz-e-field-probe-mag-mount.html for more on the LF EFP.
A year ago few of us were aware of the crisis ahead of us. It seems to have gone on for ever.
With warmer weather, better treatments and Covid-19 vaccines, there is some hope in 2021.
In England, the Prime Minister usually addresses the nation when there is something important to say. Today, he is to give a "roadmap" out of lockdown. It is expected schools will return March 8th, although the path back to reality could be a long one.
The last thing we all want is a return to lockdown after it has been eased. Mixing in cafes and pubs? Holidays? We can all hope!
One of our favourite places was the National Trust place called Ickworth about 17 miles away. Usually, we walked in the grounds, but occasionally we went in the house and famous rotunda shown in the photo.
If you book in advance you can still walk around the grounds. We enjoy walking around nearby National Trust grounds. Sadly, houses are closed at the moment.
At 1103z, I decided to try 160m FT8 QRP with 2.5w and the earth-electrode "antenna". It is now 1109z and so far no spots, although it is daylight.
(UPDATE 1434z: 3 G spots of my 2.5W QRP 160m FT8 TX. No spots yet on RX.
UPDATE 1532z: The first DX has started to appear with DK3UA (869km) on the Baltic coast of Germany about 70 miles north of Berlin. Still just 3 G spots of my 2.5W FT8 160m QRP.
We saw several black bears and black bear cubs. Coming from the UK this was really exciting. The one in the photo was only a few metres from the car.
We are now over a year since the end of solar cycle 24 and the start of cycle 25.
So far, we have got off to a slow start. HF conditions are a little better, but it will be some while before we really notice a difference.
I suspect this autumn we will see widespread openings from Europe to the USA on 10m again.
With modes like FT8 we are finding openings more often. FT8 is not a mode for chatting. SSB and even 10m FM and AM are better for this. As much as I like FT8 because of my poor voice, I do hope people still stick with speech modes.
My very unscientific look suggests activity is similar to a few weeks ago. This was the situation on Sunday PM UK time.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/asuseee. As this is my old website, the links may well not work still!
