Inland beauty - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago we drove from Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway in western Canada. Even though it was June, there was plenty of snow still and the scenery was perhaps the best ever seen inland. 

6m FT8 RX yesterday (Monday)

Although fewer stations were spotted, there was DX from the Caribbean copied on the FT817ND and the V2000 omni antenna. In all, 293 stations spotted. Better equipped stations were working plenty across the Atlantic. 

12 year old grandson's art - NOT amateur radio

This still life painting was done by our 12 year old grandson. He is very talented. 

Sunspots - Tuesday June 15th 2021

 Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=2.

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

 

At least one of these photos has been on before. It shows one of grandchildren this weekend. 

They all like coming to Burwell.

6m FT8 RX (Monday)

Since breakfast I have again been on 6m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the V2000 vertical omni. It is now 1042z and so far 129 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1414z:  238 stations spotted on RX including 2 in the Caribbean.

UPDATE 1530z:  252 spots on RX so far today on 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Monday June 14th 2021

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 22. A=7 and K=1.

DX soundbites

You may like to hear what some DX stations sounded like. These recordings were made last year. There is a link on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/dx-soundbites-2020 .

Photo time - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons earlier today.

Picnic time - NOT amateur radio

We have had warm, sunny weather for some days. Yesterday my son had a picnic with his daughter to enjoy it. 

Last night they slept outside under the stars.

Online orders - NOT amateur radio

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, a lot of us have turned to orders online. We have ordered stuff from various suppliers and all have done well delivering the correct packages to the door within a few days. No car journeys, no heavy lifting, convenient. 

When things return to more normal, I can see lots of people staying with online orders for speed, choice and convenience. The high street suppliers that will survive have to either offer something unique or change their business model. 

This had already started before the pandemic, but the last 12-15 months have speeded up the change process. I still enjoy browsing and having a coffee whilst my wife spends our money, but things will be different. 

One thing is certain: high streets will be very different. I suspect the changes will take some time. In the end I can see more city centre flats and fewer, different, shops.

Windose??? - NOT amateur radio

Just now (well actually 20 minutes ago!) I turned on my Windows 10 PC as this has all my RSGB activity contest details stored. I am still waiting for Windows updates to install. In this time, I could have cut the grass, had breakfast, washed the car, etc...

18 months ago I bought a Chromebook and this must be 20 times faster. I am totally pleased with my choice.

I thought the Windows 10 PC needed a defrag, but apparently this already happens automatically every week! The PC has gathered bloatware it does not need, I suppose. It is about 4 years old.

Anyone have recommendations what to do please?

BTW, after 30 minutes of my life - zzzzzz - I am still waiting for this heap of junk to start! It now tells me it is "cleaning up". More waiting..... zzzz.

BTW, I use Avast anti-virus.

PW 2m QRP contest today (Sunday)

Later, I hope to be on 2m SSB briefly to give away a few points in the PW QRP contest. I entered last year and will do so again, although with no chance! It is on 0900-1600z. I know G2XV will be active for the Cambridge Club (CDARC)

See http://www.pwcontest.org.uk/ .

UPDATE 1533z: as we had a family BBQ I only worked G2XV.

6m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Monitoring 6m FT8 again with the FT817ND and the V2000 omni vertical antenna. Most are UK so far this morning with just a couple of EU stations by Es. 

UPDATE 1530z: 99 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX (see map).

UPDATE 1805z:  183 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1929z:  252 stations spotted today.

Sunspots - Sunday June 13th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 0. A=10 and K=3.

New Chinese portable transceiver?

It looks like the Chinese manufacturer Xiegu is going to launch a new product called the X6100. 

Apparently their quality control on earlier products was not good. At the moment this still puts me off Chinese made amateur radio products. If I was spending good money I would expect it to be reliable. 

They'll get there, but still not there yet. 

OK I failed

This photo was taken in 2010.  It shows our grandson who was 2.5 years at the time in my workshop at the back of the garage in our old QTH. 

He is now 13 and shows no inclination towards engineering! 

Oscar 100 activity

Regular readers will know that every few weeks I check activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. 

The last time I looked was at 0832z on a Saturday, which is when I would have expected it to be quite busy in Europe, being a weekend Saturday morning. 

It was quiet. If anything, activity is lower than it was with very few stations on. I guess it is just too hard for black box operators!! I have no doubt that if Yaesu or ICOM made a simple solution then activity would suddenly rocket!

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Yesterday (Friday) on 6m FT8 RX and Japan on 6m maybe?

The Es season is in full swing. 388 stations spotted yesterday. 

This is the time of the year when better equipped 6m EU stations make contact on 6m with Japan. This regularly occurs at this time of year and may be linked with the formation of noctilucent mesospheric clouds that form at this time of year.

6m FT8 RX (Saturday)

Once again I am monitoring 6m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and V2000 omni. So far, in the last 2 hours, 10 stations spotted.

Another bee - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I posted a photo of a bee. I couldn't resist this one. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 13.  A=10 and K=4.

Bee on iris - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo of a bee on an iris was taken this afternoon at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

6m FT8 RX (Friday)

Since about 0830z, I have been on 6m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and faulty V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far (at 0842z) 43 stations spotted today.

UPDATE 0915z:  76 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Furthermost is 4X1YS (3595km) in Israel.

UPDATE 1238z: 179 stations so far spotted today on 6m FT8 with the furthermost 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania, West Africa.

UPDATE 1703z:   279 stations so far spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. 

UPDATE 2013z:  376 stations spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

Ducks - NOT amateur radio

On our walk yesterday we saw quite a few ducks. This one (I think it was a mallard cross breed) was sleeping with its mate on a river bank. 

My wife took the photo. It was not amused! 

We were looking for some cygnets recently born, but saw none.

Antenna issues

It is like busses, with all issues happening at once! 

Now my big-wheel omni (2m) has developed a high SWR. It probably just wants a good clean as some of the joints may have oxidised. Sadly, I need help these days. I think the coax is still fine. Well I hope so!

Earlier, my V2000 developed issues. Despite trying hard, G3TFX was unable to get the bottom part off. I think a new antenna and coax are called for before the poorer weather sets in. The V2000 must be very old. It was up at the old QTH before going up here for nearly 8 years, so I have had my money's worth.

With some luck, all my antennas will be in good shape again before autumn.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

This collage shows some of the roses seen on our walk yesterday. 

Gilbert and Sullivan

The English have a love affair with G&S comic opera. These were written in Victorian times. 

Until Covid-19 times a local group performed every year in a local barn. I hope this returns next year (2022). It was part of our year. 

6m FT8 in the last day

 In all 844 stations have been spotted on RX with the V2000 vertical omni antenna in the last 24 hours on 6m FT8 RX . The V2000 is faulty and has a high SWR on TX. 

Sunspots - Friday June 11th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 29.  A=4 and K=3.

Visit Ely - NOT amateur radio

Ely is about 12km north from here. 

Recently a free booklet has been produced called, "Visit Ely" promoting Ely as a good base to explore the area. 

The world famous university boat race took place here earlier in the year and it has a wonderful cathedral. It makes a good base.

See www.visitely.org.uk. 

SPRAT 187

The GQRP Club produces an excellent quarterly magazine called SPRAT that is always packed with ideas and projects. It is, without fail, excellent. 

They also offer SPRAT 1-184 on a DVD or Flash stick for £5 plus postage - excellent. 

If ALL other magazines had to stop, I'd keep SPRAT. 

See www.gqrp.com. 

Rally news

The East Suffolk Wireless Revival (Ipswich Radio Rally) has been postponed until July and the Junction 28 Rally has been cancelled this year, hopefully on in 2022.

OFCOM appoints new Chief Technology Officer

Apparently OFCOM is appointing a new Chief Technology Officer who used to work at Amazon. This person seems well qualified in business. Let's hope this person really understands technology too.

See the OFCOM website for details.

6m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since about 0830z, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. It is now 1104z and 41 stations spotted so far. Surprising number of UK stations, suggesting some tropo?UPDATE 1132z: 55 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today so far.

UPDATE 1538z:  256 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1755z: 427 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost WP4G (6803km) in Puerto Rico.

UPDATE 1936z: 646 stations spotted today on RX with the furthermost PV8DX (7830km) in northern Brazil. Not bad for a VHF band with an omni antenna with a poor SWR!

UPDATE 2116z: 815 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX today (see map)

Fault finding my Par endfed 102040 antenna

Since taking it down I have realised I can check if the coax was faulty by connecting a 10m dipole (endfed at the shack) and running the wire down the garden. If it is the coax I can replace it and get on 10m, 20m and 40m.  

With this antenna I had 10m spots from all over the world (including Australia and Antarctica) with 500mW WSPR.

Flag iris - NOT amateur radio

These flag iris were seen earlier in the week. 

Sunspots - Thursday June 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 79 and the SSN 27. A=4 and K=1. 

70cm 4el yagi on website

Last evening I had to use my homebrew 4el 70cm yagi in the activity contest. This was mounted on a PVC "mast" in the shack and turned by hand.

Even with this "Heath-Robinson" antenna and 10W, I was able to make over 100km QSOs on SSB.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/70cm-4el-yagi .

Garden in Early Summer - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of our garden in early summer. 

Sadly the frost has killed the pear blossom and I doubt we will see many this year. 

OFCOM updates

As usually happens early in the month, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly with the latest information it has. See the OFCOM website for more information. 

6m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since mid morning I have been on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical with the poor SWR. At 1225z 35 stations spotted on RX so far. 

UPDATE 1555z:   75 stations spotted..

UPDATE 1639z:  121 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1941z:  201 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2147z:  QRT. 

Orchids yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 Seen on our walk yesterday. 

V2000 issues

Yesterday and this morning G3TFX tried to fix my very old V2000 triband vertical antenna. Sadly, we could not remove the bottom collar despite trying everything. It may be possible, but not in situ. Possibly in a vice if the coax is cut this may be possible. I may have to get a new antenna. They are quite expensive.

Meadow walk - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we did a nice walk through a nature reserve. We saw several orchids and heard 2 cuckoos. I am not sure why, but we have heard more cuckoos this year than for several years. The photo shows me next to some flag iris flowers.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 34. A=5 and K=2. 

Painting time - NOT amateur radio

Our windmill next door is 200 years old. It was fully restored in 2013. 

At the moment, it is being repainted by volunteers.  I guess you have to have a head for heights! 

If you look at the photo, you can see someone painting the sails.

V2000 faulty

A local friend Richard G3TFX kindly tried to mend my faulty V2000 vertical. This covers 6m, 2m and 70cm. I must have had it for almost 20 years. Recently it developed a high SWR. When Richard investigated it looked like water had got in and there was some corrosion. He came back today to see if he could loosen the collar at the bottom which he could not release due to corrosion. At the time of writing, this is stuck fast.

At the moment it is about 75cm off the ground without radials and horizontal. Despite this, I have still spotted 172 station on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX spotted A92GE (5036km) in Bahrain!!

70cm activity contest (UKAC) this evening at 1900z

A reminder that the 70cm leg of the RSGB activity contest is this evening. As my 2m big-wheel is faulty I am trying with my homemade 4el yagi in the shack.

70cm UK beacons

At the moment, I am not sure which 70cm UK beacons are operational. 

Last night GB3LEU at Leicester (432.490MHz) popped up with the indoor 4 el yagi, pointing out the window. Most of the time it is below the noise floor. 

Every time some tree surgeons were working about 50m away, I could hear a sprog on 432.432MHz!

It seems few (none?) of the UK beacons have FT8 or WSPR sequences. PI4 which several beacons use, seems to require special software. Personally, I think it would be good to have time synchronised beacons with an FT8 TX slot so there could be more monitors.

See https://www.microwavers.org/indexb.htm .