This is the inferior 10m loop which is probably 6dB worse than my other loop but easier to tune. The loop I used was probably 10dB down on an external dipole.
I could probably have had more spots, but I had to go to bed!
Most of this was Es.
15 May 2021
10m FT8 yesterday
10 years ago on 137kHz
Ten years ago I was copied in Holland on 137kHz despite running just 50uW ERP. At 328km, this was my best DX. I think this was with my large outside loop. The morse in QRSS says XBM XBM XBM.
Lonely tree - NOT amateur radio
Pity I didn't take it! It was taken by someone called Jan. I was very impressed.
365project is where you post a picture a day. It is totally free unless you want additional albums or privacy. I have done it for about 8 years.
See https://365project.org .
14 May 2021
Cycle 25 predictions
We are now on the up-slopes towards the solar peak of cycle 25. I have not seen very recent forecasts but this forecast suggested it looks as if it will be very similar to the last peak i.e. quite low.
10m FT8 QRP (Friday)
10m is wide open this morning with Es. I am told 6m is good too, It would not surprise me if Band 2 FM broadcast opens too. 2m? Probably too high.
I am on 10m FT8 RX at the moment after a brief period on QRP TX with 2.5W, then 1W, and the indoor tiny loop. 115 stations spotted on RX and 16 stations spotted me in my very brief TX period.
UPDATE 1028z: 255 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today and I have been spotted by 27 stations on TX, most with just 1W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Probably going down to 500mW soon.
UPDATE 1055z: Now TXing with 500mW. 2 spots of my TX so far. 280 stations spotted so far on RX.
UPDATE 1222z: 338 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Even with just 500mW TX I have been spotted by 4 stations.
UPDATE 1342z: 397 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with just the indoor tiny loop today. Fantastic Es conditions. Just a handful in Asia and Africa (probably Es).
UPDATE 1439z: 517 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. This is definitely the best day yet this Es season. One was W1JR (5267km). This latter one was probably Es.
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| Spots of my 1W (sometimes 500mW) 10m FT8 TX with the tiny indoor loop |
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| Stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX |
Felled tree - NOT amateur radio
More of where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio
My brother plays golf nearby.
The South West Coastal Path runs through here.
13 May 2021
Species? - NOT amateur radio
Webcams - NOT amateur radio
There are vast numbers of webcams around the world allowing locked-down people to travel the world virtually. One of these is the webcam of the peregrine falcons at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, UK.
See https://www.elycathedral.org/welcome/peregrines-nesting-in-the-cathedral .
2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)
At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1004z and I have spotted 3 stations on RX and I have been spotted by 7 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km) on TX.
UPDATE 1228z: 7 stations spotted on RX and 12 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost EI2FG (565km).
See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ for a local (to Cambridge) 2m FT8 grabber.
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| Stations spotting my 2m FT8 QRP to1256z today |
UPDATE 1256z: Now my QRP has been spotted by 13 stations.
UPDATE 2040z: Practically all the spots this evening were G stations. This suggests most of the propagation was "flat band tropo" rather than scatter. Now QRT. I wonder if scatter is linked to no rain. Today was pretty wet.
Hackers? - NOT amateur radio
The number of visitors to this blog has jumped today.
I am not aware that my posts have suddenly attracted new people. I try to post things of interest, but I have already seen more visits today than I would normally see by teatime! I suspect, again, hackers are seeking soft targets. This happens quite often.
Exeter Rally postponed
The Exeter rally has been postponed until September 12th. Hopefully by then things will be more normal in the UK.
70cm FT8 yesterday
For a long time I have suspected that scatter modes might be better on 70cm than on 2m. Last night there was a sort of contest.
Last evening 29 stations were spotted in 6 countries (see map) with just a 2m (144MHz) big-wheel omni antenna. 2 of these were 479km away! Imagine what would have been possible with even a small beam.
If there was regular 70cm FT8 activity I think surprising distances would be worked at any time.
Devon - NOT amateur radio
This spot is good for birds.
12 May 2021
70cm FT8 RX
I think there is a 70cm FT8 activity session this evening. So, I am on 70cm FT8 RX with the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.
UPDATE 1712z: 6 stations spotted so far. Furthermost is ON7ZJ (302km) in Belgium.
UPDATE 1828z: Now 16 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DL5EBS (479km). Nobody has spotted my 1W on TX. I have had one QSO with G4NBS (22km). Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotted.UPDATE 1856z: 20 stations in 6 countries spotted on 70cm FT8 RX this evening.
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX this evening |
Am I being thick?
Before turning on my new webapages, I want to take a backup copy of my old pages. The old pages are in Google Classic Sites.
When I looked I could not see how to do this. I shall look again, but if you know how, please let me know.
UPDATE 1222z: I think you go to Classic sites and download to your Google drive as a zip file in "takeout". Haven't tried yet. This must have changed as I am sure this wasn't the case a few years ago.
UPDATE 1256z: I tried it. When I unzipped I could see the images but only some of the webpages! Now, this may just be me being thick, but..... So far, I am still trying to find a way. All I really wanted to do was make a backup copy just in case.
New website - not quite ready
Last weekend I was hoping to "go live" on the revised web pages. There are still omissions and I want to find a way to have clearer schematics for those that want them.
My best estimate is in about a weeks' time.
See www.g3xbm.co.uk . At the moment this still points to the old pages. I shall say when it is done on the blog.
DX Summit
It has not been used here as I have not been DX hunting actively for many years.
10m FT8 RX
In the last few days I have started to have an S8 noise level on the higher HF bands on AM. Up to now, these bands have been fairly quiet. I guess someone locally has a new gadget with a noisy PSU.
I don't think it is a problem with FT8. Maybe the noise is on specific, narrow, frequencies? At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0715z and no spots yet.
UPDATE 1510z: No spots yet.
11 May 2021
70cm UKAC
OFCOM Communications Monthly - May
As usual, OFCOM has updated its "Communications Monthly" with the latest statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for details.
15m FT8
It is now 0750z. At the moment, I am on 15m FT8 RX using the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop.
Yesterday, on 10m FT8 I did not have both pre-amps on. This may have reduced sensitivity and may have resulted in fewer 10m FT8 spots being obtained.
UPDATE 0717z: No 15m spots yet.
UPDATE 1247z: 17 15m FT8 stations spotted on RX. I am back on the FT817 at the moment. I am suffering horrendous local noise for the first time too. The USB lead from the PC to the IC-705 was introducing noise, although I think it was the external noise that was the real culprit. NN4X (7001km) is the furthermost.
UPDATE 1438z: 30 stations in 4 continents spotted today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop.
160m FT8 last evening
Tame pheasant - NOT amateur radio
Obviously not feeding it enough.
10 May 2021
Californian lilac - NOT amateur radio
Changing times
Mechanically, they were lovely with a great case and a dial with silky smooth tuning.
Electrically, they were dreadful. As I recall, the whole 10m band occupied about 1.5cm of dial. With a low IF the image rejection on 10m was appalling. It used OC171 germanium transistors.
By comparison with modern receivers it was bad, really bad. It is some time since I looked, but at one time the second hand price was about twice the retail price when they were first launched, which was £48. I have no idea why I wanted one looking back.
There is a page about these receivers on my website. See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ec10 . Please be aware this will change when the "new" site is released. If in doubt use www.g3xbm.co.uk as this will always point to the right pages.
The photo shows the Mk II version with an S meter. I had the Mk I version.
UPDATE 0845z: A quick look on eBay showed a Mk II at £78. No doubt the transistors would have become leaky and in need of replacement, unless this has been done. I suspect most are bought as collectors items these days.
Odds and bobs shop - NOT amateur radio
They always manage to have an interesting window display as the photo shows.
10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna
Since before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. It is now 0815z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1540z: No spots so far today. On the local WSJT-X screen there are a few stations showing, but these were not loaded to PSKreporter maps. This could be problem at their end or the internet was off here. I have restarted WSJT-X "just in case".
UPDATE 1630z: 2 stations spotted. I am suspicious that when I restarted WSJT-X I started to see my spots on PSKreporter. G0LRD has had 155 spots today on his dipole. Even assuming my loop is several dB poorer than David's dipole, I would still have expected better here.
UPDATE 1655z: Now 9 stations spotted, most in the last hour. Odd. Must try to get my dipole up this week!
First swifts seen - NOT amateur radio
On a walk about the village yesterday we saw 4 swifts. These are migrant birds back from Africa. These were the first seen this year. Usually these are heard before seen. Not this time.
IC-705 goals this week
This week, I have 2 main aims:
- To get D-star (DV) working;
- To get WiFi working.
9 May 2021
160m FT8
This evening, I am on 160m FT8 with QRP and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 12 stations have spotted me with the furthermost IZ2QPP (956km). On RX 11 stations spotted with the furthermost UA3GT (2630km).
Oscar 100 (geosynchronous) activity
Every few weeks I take an unscientific look at the narrowband transponder on this satellite. There is still plenty of space!
My last look was on a Sunday afternoon in Europe, when you might expect activity to be probably quite high, not that it was!
My impression is you could easily double the number of stations at least.
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| Quite low activity really |
Sex in older years - NOT amateur radio
Have you noticed that most leaders in politics are old men?
The current president of the USA is 78 and his predecessor was 74. This is older than me! There is no way I'd want to lead a country at my age.
As a younger person, sex was important. In old age it is less so. If you had told me this 10 years ago I would not have believed it. I am sure this is not universally true, but it is probably far more common than is talked about. I often wonder if our leaders really connect with younger people to whom this is so important?
Some would say with old age comes wisdom.
Propagation predictions
When I operate I tend to take pot luck. Others make use of propagation predictions, in which case this site may be of use. There are others.
Swan on nest - NOT amateur radio
Swans seen on our walk earlier.
10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop
At 0900z, I went on 10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop. Even with ferrite chokes on the USB lead I was still getting RF feedback from the loop to the rig on 10m, so I am RX only on that band until I get the outside antenna up. 2 French stations spotted after 10 minutes.
UPDATE 1104z: 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. All Es.
UPDATE 1350z : 21 stations spotted on RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna and the IC-705.
Crabapple - NOT amateur radio
2m FT8 QRP
Just before 0700z I turned on my 2m FT8 gear with 5W from the IC-705 and the big-wheel omni antenna. No QSOs yet, but spots by 5 G stations so far. It is now 0710z.
UPDATE 0832z: One QSO with G4IVV (18km) who offered plenty of help when I had problems with the IC-705 yesterday (many thanks - true ham spirit) and I have been spotted by 9 Gs so far. At the moment I am RX only. Probably going on 10m FT8 RX shortly with the tiny indoor loop. Once again the grabber at G0LRD has been useful. See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ . David also offered me some suggestions - thank you too.
Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio
8 May 2021
2m UKAC activity contest last Tuesday
10m FT8 RX with the IC-705
Since about 0820z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna and the IC-705. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1037z: No spots.
FT8 TX and the IC-705
My new USB leads have come and I still can't TX FT8 with the IC-705. This is most probably finger trouble. It is just possible it is a rig issue. When less tired I shall investigate. CAT control seems fine and RX.
UPDATE 1604z: I am still struggling! I have had two offers of help, but so far no luck. One person has offered help over Zoom, and I may have to avail myself of his help if all else fails. I have reloaded the drivers, swapped leads to make sure they are carrying data, rechecked settings in the IC-705 and WSJT-X. At the moment, I just cannot understand why it does not work. RX works fine. Darn my muddled brain! Years ago this would have been so easy to fix, or at least understand why it is not working.
UPDATE 2045z: Solved!! My problem was RF getting back into the rig. When I tried 2m on the external antenna all was well. It seems that 10m on the internal loop is not acceptable. Now I know what the problem was, I can try chokes on the USB lead. It seemed odd that despite everything I was doing seeming OK things still would not function. First 2m QSO on FT8. Now QRT.
South Hams - NOT amateur radio
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