2m FT8

At the moment I am on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 7 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 2020z:  11 stations spotted me this evening. Now RX only. Furthermost with 2.5W TX to the big-wheel was GI4NSA (491km).

UPDATE 2050z:  8 stations spotted on RX including G5ART (132km). I was not aware G5*** calls were now being issued.

Finiteness - NOT amateur radio

Today, my son and 2 of our grandchildren from Kent visited the place where I grew up, Salcombe in Devon, UK. My father and his father lived there over 100 years ago. It was almost like handing over a baton. 

It is now their turn to enjoy it, not mine.

6m FT8 (Monday)

 Apart from a very brief TX period at 2.5W, I am on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Even my brief TX period was spotted by 2 Gs and I have spotted 3 stations on RX. It is now only 0655z.

UPDATE 0710z:  7 spots already on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1015z: 73 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost HZ1SK (4759km).

10m WSPR TX

As my 10m antenna is not being used, I am again on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). This W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon is on 100% TX, but randomises the TX frequency for every transmission. This ensures you are not always underneath a strong carrier. I have had this for many years and it has been faultless. It is tiny and totally self contained with no PC needed. Apart from initially syncing the clock, nothing is needed. Truly wonderful.

UPDATE 0700z: 3 spots from Germany already. These were by DC7TO (888km).

UPDATE 1035z:  18 stations have spotted me so far. All are in Europe. Nothing from South America yet.

UPDATE 1314z:  No further spots. Odd.

Cartoon - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon appeared as a FB memory today. It is 8 years ago now, but still gave me a chuckle. 

Sunspots - Monday July 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 23. A=4 and K=2.

Hollyhocks - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Church Lane in our village. The hollyhocks look good but they do self seed and spread! 

10m WSPR TX

I keep forgetting that when on 6m FT8, the 10m antenna is free. As this is the case, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) at the moment. Already (at 1015z) 11 unique stations spotting me and I have not been on that long! It seems every slot I get several 10m WSPR spots.

Stations spotting
me to 1315z today

UPDATE 1318z: 36 stations have spotted me so far today on 10m WSPR. My impression is there are more stations on 10m WSPR than last year.

UPDATE 2142z:  Spotted by 66 stations today on 10m WSPR.

Sunspots - Sunday July 11th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 24. A=6 and K=1.

AM operation

It is some while since I was on 2m or 6m AM. 

There has been something of a revival in AM, although AM should not be used on busy bands. There are AM nets on 160m, 80m and 40m. I am looking forward to again hearing 10m AM from the USA just above 29MHz.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhf-am .

Devon rain - NOT amateur radio

When I was growing up I lived in Devon. We had a saying, "come to sunny Devon where it rains 6 days out of 7".  This photo was 4 years ago .... in the rain! 

Dad's seats - NOT amateur radio

 We visited Devon in 2017 when this photo was taken.

6m FT8 today (Sunday)

After breakfast I hope to go on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Yesterday I was on 10m FT8 and spotted and worked plenty. 

UPDATE 0939z:  I have been on 6m FT8 RX since 0848z. 98 stations spotted with the furthermost HZ1SK (4759km).

UPDATE 1011z: 126 stations spotted so far o 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1825z: 781 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX including 14 in the USA and 2 in the Caribbean.

UPDATE 2146z: 801 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Time - NOT amateur radio

Over 50 years ago I did a very mathematical course at university on quantum mechanics. It was fascinating. 

One thing I remember was that everything can be thought of as a wave function existing in all space and all time. What we experience here and now is just most probable. Tunnel diodes only work because there is a finite probability of electrons existing the other sides of a wall by a process known as quantum mechanical tunnelling.

Now, I may have some things wrong, but what this taught me is that a very radical view is equally possible. We experience time as going from the past into the future, whereas this may be totally wrong. What if memories are new every day? What if time is just an illusion? One thing is sure: in the next 150 years some of our views and assumptions may prove to be quite wrong. Think how are views have changed in the last 150 years. In the future I am sure we will look back in amazement.

What we know today is fuzzy. As time goes by we may change our world view radically.

Yesterday - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandchildren is mad on churches and has been since he was 2. He is now 13. Yesterday we visited 2 locally by car. Odd, as he and his family are not in the least religious. 

10m FT8 Grabber

 If you want to see what I am spotting here on 10m FT8, look at the grabber on my website. This uses embedding, so may not work on some browsers. If so, you may have to go straight to PSKreporter.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-ft8-grabber .

Linseed - NOT amateur radio

Agriculture is changing in the UK. 

At one time fields of sweetcorn were rare, as were sunflowers. These days we are used to the yellow fields of rape and purple linseed. 

This field was in East Anglia near Westley Waterless.  It was filled with purple flowers for as far as the eye could see.

10m FT8

 At present, I am on 10m FT8 with my old Par antenna and 2.5W. So far this morning, 15 stations have spotted me on TX, and I have spotted 114 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1552z:  40 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 412 stations on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost ZD7JC (7606km).

UPDATE 2037z: 42 stations spotting my 2.5W 10m FT8 TX today, with the latest W4WIN (6038km) in Virginia, USA. On RX, 508 stations spotted.

South Africa - NOT amateur radio

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to is South Africa. I was expecting dry and dusty, but it had all sorts of scenery from Scotland to almost desert. 

To this day, I am tickled by seeing baboons on the beach at the Cape. 

It really is a world in one country.  It makes a good place for a holiday, but I would not like to live there.

This photo was taken by a friend and appeared on 365project earlier today.

2m operation

Occasionally I have a go on 2m. Mostly I use FT8 because of my poor voice, but most weeks I also go on FM nets and SSB in the activity contest.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/2m-operation .

10m WSPR (last Thursday)

The last time I was on 10m WSPR was on Thursday when I was spotted by 62 different stations in Europe and South America. And I thought most were now using FT8!! Not bad with 500mW and a low wire antenna. 

In the last week, 74 stations have spotted me on 10m WSPR.

Sunset - NOT amateur radio

This sunset from 2016 was a Facebook memory today. As I recall it was taken in a friend's garden. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 23. A=5 and K=3.

OFCOM annual report and accounts

 If you look on the website you will see OFCOM has published its annual report and accounts.

Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio

 

These are the wild flowers by "our" windmill next door. They look stunning.

10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

 For a change, I am on 10m FT8 today. Power is 2.5W. Let us see what happens. All quiet at 0630z. 

Sunspots - Friday July 9th 2021

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 23.  A=5 and K=0.

More cancelled rallies

This has not been a good year for radio rallies again, with most cancelled or postponed. Let's hope 2022 is better. 

The weekend another two have been cancelled: the East Suffolk Wireless Revival and the McMichael Rally.

Video channel

From time to time I like to remind readers of my video channel. This gives more details on some of my projects and some of my non amateur radio videos.

See https://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM .

Almonry, Ely - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we went to Ely with my wife's brothers and wives. We had a snack in the Almonry, which has been serving drinks and meals since the 1200s.  I suspect the scones are not as old! 

This photo was in the Almonry Garden.

See https://www.elycathedral.org/visit/the-almonry-restaurant .

10m WSPR TX

For several hours I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. Nobody has spotted me yet at 1400z.

UPDATE 1530z:  All day had gone by without a single spot, despite my 2.5W 6m signal getting to Newfoundland and lots of 6m stations being copied. I was getting suspicious, so I reset the 10m WSPR beacon. Suddenly lots of spots! All very odd. Perhaps something with my timing was off. Anyway, all fine now. 

It seems that every time I try, I get spotted in South America on 10m WSPR. Not bad with a self contained unit (no PC needed) about the size of a pack of cards and a low wire antenna. My thanks to Jay, W5OLF for such a wonderful unit. It continues to give me hours and hours of fun.

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

We were in Iceland 10 years ago. There were lots of wild lupins and waterfalls. 

6m FT8 today (Thursday)

Stations spotting me to
1455z on 6m FT8 TX

Already spotted across the Atlantic on 6m FT8 TX as well as lots of spots nearer. 56 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1455z:  182 spots of my 2.5W to the omni vertical V2000 so far. On 6m FT8 RX plenty of stations from North America and the Caribbean.

1620 pub - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday lunchtime we ate lunch at a pub nearby that has been a pub since at least 1620! 

It is amazing to think this was serving ale when the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America 400 years ago!  The bit on the right was added about 150 years ago. Most is thatched.

The food and service were excellent. There were quite a few tables occupied, which is always a good sign.

See http://www.redlionsoham.com/ .

Sunspots - Thursday July 8th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 25. A=6 and K=1.

Amateur radio cartoon

 

This came to me via Steve G1KQH. 

I have no idea where this originated. 

Talk a lot? Radio amateurs? Surely not. Well maybe 80m nets! 😉

Phaser kits

These are QRP SSB phasing transceivers for FT8 designed by Dave Benson K1SWL. I have one (unbuilt) for 10m. My intention was to have a go at building it for the Es season, but I guess I shall miss this based on the time I get around to it!  Since my 2013 stroke, I have found building things far harder. Maybe it will have to be a winter project.

I think these are meant to be about 3-4W pep and take about 6 hours to build. That means 26 hours for me! The idea is to have a rig that can be on, but freeing up the "big rig" for other things.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-phaser .

Ely with sibs earlier - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken earlier in Ely and shows my wife with her brothers. Ely Cathedral is in the background, 

2m activity contest (UKAC)

Every month the RSGB organises a 2m activity contest on Tuesday evenings. Last evening, I went on for far shorter than normal (because of the sibling reunion) with 5W and the big-wheel antenna.

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

 

10 years ago we went to Iceland for a holiday. We expected it to be barren, but it was green and beautiful with lots of wild lupins. This was the church at Vik. 

Sibling reunion - NOT amateur radio

Every year for 18 years bar two because of my stroke and Covid-19 we have had a sibling reunion with my wife's brothers and wives. We take it in turns to host. From next year we will meet in hotels as we are getting older! 

OFCOM updates

Every month, OFCOM updates its "Communications Monthly" which shows the statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for the July edition.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 7th 2021

 Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 52. A=8 and K=1.

Out pedestrian portable

Before I had a stroke, I quite enjoyed operating pedestrian portable. That is with a rig with a whip antenna on the set, not out portable with large antennas such as SOTA or POTA operations.

When the weather is good (it is raining here at the moment!) it is great fun. Seaside operation with good take-offs can be surprisingly good. If you have high noise levels at home, you can choose quiet places.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/pedestrian-portable .

Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio

The ground next to the path near "our" windmill next door has been left so wild flowers can grow. It looks great.  

It was such a good idea. It encourages bees and looks good. I was amazed how quickly they grew.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

 As the antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX again. Nobody has spotted me yet today.

UPDATE 1026z:  No spots yet today.

UPDATE 1152z:  So far today, spots from 2 stations with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km).

6m FT8 today (Tuesday)

It is much quieter so far today. 

I have been on for about 30 minutes with 2.5W and the V2000, but only 3 stations spotted on RX and 4 stations spotting me on TX. 

Yesterday the FT8 slot at 50.313MHz was busy with plenty of Far East stations on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 0958z:  9 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 12 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1155z:  18 stations have spotted me on TX and 22 stations spotted on RX. No super DX here today.

Homebrew 70cm antenna

This appeared as a FB memory today. It shows the antenna made from an old coat hanger for 70cm 8 years ago. The map shows the contacts with it. 

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

Yesterday on 6m FT8

For the first time since 2017, I spotted Japan on 6m. This time it was  FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.  Last time, with the same antenna, it was JT65.

With a beam at a decent height, I would expect to spot stations some 10dB weaker. I suspect I would copy Japanese stations every year on 6m FT8. 

Nonetheless, I was very pleased to spot Japanese stations on 6m FT8 yesterday with the V2000 omni antenna.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 6th 2021

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 43. A=7 and K=2.