SPAM - NOT amateur radio

Gmail does a pretty good job fighting SPAM. 

About 1 in 1000 is classed as SPAM but isn't, so I usually check. Every day I must get 10-20 SPAM emails, usually telling me I have a vast sum in my bank account (or about to if I just share my details), Bitcoin credits or offers of great sex with no strings. 

Several times a day these all get deleted. You can usually tell which are SPAM.

Overall, I can recommend Gmail. It is free and you can log in from anywhere with 15GB storage free. 

See https://mail.google.com/ .

Rally News

As always at this time, please check beforehand with the organisers to make sure the events are on and not changed, postponed or cancelled. 

• BATC online convention - part 2.
• Essex CW Boot Camp Registration from 8.30am Saturday October 16th.
• Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally 10am Sunday October 17th
• Hack Green Radio Suplus Hangar Sale, 10am Sunday October 17th.

Quiet on the River Cam - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the River Cam in Cambridge UK last Friday. There are fewer foreign visitors this year, although Cambridge was about twice as busy as the last time we went in the summer. A hopeful sign.

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

My 10m FT8 RX was turned on at 0750z.  So far, 2 stations spotted at 0850z. The furthermost is 4X1QQ (3550km).

UPDATE 0927z:  6 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1316z: 80 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost PY5JO (9890km) in Brazil.

UPDATE 1428z: 106 stations in 5 continents spotted today so far.

UPDATE 1910z:  141 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2211z:  QRT. 

Sunspots - Thursday October 14th 2021

Solar flux is 84 and the SSN 27.  A=6 and K=2. 

Coffee break - NOT amateur radio

We have been getting the garden ready for winter planting winter flowering plants and bulbs. 

We enjoyed coffee outside, but for not much longer! 

King's College Chapel - NOT amateur radio

This is a collage my wife made of King's College Chapel in Cambridge last week. 

10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

My RX was turned on at 0835z. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1021z:  So far today, 23 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost HS2KYA (9693km) in Thailand.

UPDATE 1337z:  57 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX, mostly in Europe.

UPDATE 1540z:  92 spots on 10m FT8 RX so far today.

In Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Last week we went to Cambridge to take some photos and shop. In the photo we are having a light lunch opposite St John's College.

Note this outdoors in a UK October!

Shield bug - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2017. It shows a shield bug in our garden on my arm. As you can see it's very iridescent. 

481THz test

OK, these are tiny steps. Yesterday I did a test reflecting my optical beacon from the kitchen, off the museum roof, to the RX in the lounge. I would guess the total path was only about 0.2km. The reflected signal was extremely strong, so I might try receiving the reflected signal at my son's house further away.

Unlike many years ago I am extremely giddy now. At one point the TX crashed to the floor. Luckily, nothing was broken.

I am just too wobbly for field work, but I want to do what I can. Receiving 10wpm CW at my son's house would be a great achievement for me nowadays.

10m WISPY

Although both the TX and RX were built, I never got around to boxing and testing the full transceiver version. It should work, but I have not tried it. You may want to use it for your own ideas.

I have been surprised by the WSPR activity still on 10m. Back in the Es season my beacon was widely spotted most days. The same basic idea would also work on FT8. It depends on finding suitable, low cost, crystals.

Please note there was an error on the schematic: the main winding on the inductor in the oscillator collector should have 22 turns and not 9 turns.

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

Sunspots - Wednesday October 13th 2021

Solar flux is 84 and the SSN 26. A=45 and K=3.

70cm (432MHz)

This is a band that seems to have sadly gone out of favour. This evening is the October leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB (UKAC). Activity on SSB can be quite good and people are friendly. It starts at 1900z and lasts for 2.5 hours. Even if you just come on for the fun, I can recommend it. I only managed 3 QSOs with 5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna (see map).

Unlike lower VHF bands, brief tropo lifts in certain specific directions can be quite common. I suspect aircraft scatter is also more effective than on 2m. It is a pity more stations are not active as it is an interesting band. Antennas look like TV antennas and interference (QRN) is usually much less of an issue.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/70cm-operation .

Winter flowering primroses - NOT amateur radio

After the summer the garden can look a bit dull, so we plant winter flowering primroses to bring a bit of colour. These are the primroses in the front garden. We have some pansies in the back garden and some bulbs to plant.

Spiders web - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a season of dew. This spiders web is highlighted by the dew.

You may have to click the image to see the web more clearly.

481THz

Since my stroke in 2013, I have been too wobbly for field work, which is a pity. Some months ago I promised myself that I'd try some experiments at home. The first thing I could try is "windmill bounce" using the nearby windmill as a reflector with the TX in the kitchen and the RX in the lounge or even down the street.

For the uninitiated, 481THz is red light. I have homemade gear.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon .

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

It is now 0755z and I shall shortly go on 10m FT8 RX. If it is like recent days, l can expect mostly Europeans and African stations before lunch with the Americas later in the day.  UPDATE 0840z: The RX was turned on at 0804z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1002z: 4 European stations spotted so far on RX with the furthermost IZ7NLJ (1770km).

UPDATE 1232z:  64 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.  All stations were is Europe apart from 1 in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1353z:   83 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.  Nothing from the Americas yet today.

UPDATE 1543z:  104 stations spotted. Just a few South Americans spotted.

My new QRP radio

A photo of my next QRP radio? 

Cosy - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandchildren loves staying here. He is with us quite often. I think he likes it as we are pretty even tempered and the house is cosy. We know he will change, but I hope he has good memories which he can enjoy all of his life.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 12th 2021

Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 35. A=13 and K=5.

University of the Third Age - NOT amateur radio

One of the joys of being retired is learning purely for the sake of learning. No exams! 

We are lucky in Cambridge having a huge range of courses on all sorts of subjects. Some are in Cambridge and some are on Zoom. Often they are given by ex-university people and are excellent.

Today, I had my first lecture. It was on Zoom and called "The Pale Blue Dot" about all aspects of the Earth. It was good to have this from an ex-university lecturer whilst drinking coffee at home.

On Friday I go on the bus into Cambridge for my course on Medieval History. As an engineer, this is a subject I know little about! Learning can be fun.

See https://www.u3ac.org.uk/ .

10m FT8 RX

Since about 0910z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 39 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost ZS1J (9744km) in the Western Cape, South Africa.

UPDATE 1809z: 124 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Interestingly, nothing from North America. Furthermost was VP8LP (12773km) in the Falkland Is.

More King's College - NOT amateur radio

About 200m from the world famous King's College Chapel in Cambridge are some of the rooms. 

Years ago I went to a weekly meeting in room X6. 

The river is the Cam. 

Antennas for 10m

10m is waking from its slumber: after several years when it has been more like a VHF band, it is again a great F2 DX band. In recent days it has opened well to North and South America.

One of the great things about this band is antennas are small and even a short distance above ground is significant in terms of wavelengths. CB half wave verticals can work well on 10m and a dipole is very small.

In the past I used a small wire halo which I called the Homebase-10 as most parts could be got from the local hardware shop. It has been on the blog before but with 10m "waking up" now might be a great time to have a go.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/homebase10-10m-halo .

Scones - NOT amateur radio

Four years ago I first made these savoury scones. I must make some more. 

Intelligent life "out there" - NOT amateur radio

As far as I am aware the SETI project has been looking for intelligent life in the universe for almost 60 years. As far as I know, nothing has been detected. Maybe our methods are flawed?

What seems probable, but not certain, is that "out there" somewhere intelligent life does exist. Even with pessimistic estimates there are 10s of intelligent civilisations in our galaxy. There are trillions of galaxies in the observable universe, so the probability of intelligent life existing somewhere goes up. They may be so far away that we cannot interact with them, but with time we may detect some of them.

All this makes me puzzled. All religions seem too small and too human-centric.  Life is a total mystery.

See https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-many-alien-civilizations-are-out-there-new-galactic-survey-holds-clue .

Sunspots - Monday October 11th 2021

 Solar flux is 85 and the SSN 38. A=9 and K=3.

Simple radio project

My original post was banned by the censors as it violated blogger guidelines, probably as the algorithm saw certain words.  Talk about nanny state!! In the gaps, insert letters!

With my own ch***n, I totally failed to get them interested in amateur radio! In 2 weeks time my gran###n is here.  His d*d has asked me to work with him on a radio project.

I have ordered a TA-7642 (ZN414) TRF chip from GQRP club sales, but realise I shall also need a small slab ferrite rod, a high impedance crystal earpiece and a 1.5V battery holder. My building skills are really poor compared with before my stroke: what would have been really easy is now hard.

If I cannot find these parts, I shall have to build an LED signaller instead.

It would be good to see another novice operator. Oh look, there's another flying pig.  😉 

10m FT8 RX

At about 1350z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX as 6m seemed so dire. So far, 7 stations have been spotted with the furthermost CO8RH (7231km) in Cuba. 

10m seems to be reliably opening to the USA and Canada again via F2. 

UPDATE 1526z: So far this afternoon, 83 stations have been spotted on 10m FT8 RX, mostly in the USA.

UPDATE 2003z: 368 stations spotted this afternoon on 10m FT8 RX. 10m F2 propagation is definitely back in a big way! QRT.

King's College Chapel, Cambridge, robes - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows the rear of King's. These are the choir robes I think.

Dartmouth Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Dartmouth a few years ago. 

6m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Just before 1100z, I turned on 6m FT8. After a short time (minutes) on 2.5W TX, I am RX only using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, no spots on RX, but spotted by G0PQO (50km) on TX. 

It would be a pleasant surprise to spot anybody on 6m today. Although Es does occur, it is far less common at this time of year.

UPDATE 1335z:  Just 2 Gs spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. As 6m seems so poor, I shall probably QSY, probably to 10m FT8 RX.

2m FT8 (Sunday)

After a brief few minutes with 2.5W TX to the big-wheel (7 stations spotted me) I am RX only now. On RX 14 stations spotted in 5 countries with the furthermost MI0IHH (473km). Judging by the strength, I think this one in N.Ireland was aircraft scatter.

UPDATE 1038z: 28 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. It never fails.

10m WSPR QRP (Sunday)

At about 0920z, my 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1040z:   So far spots from 3 unique stations with the furthermost by TA4/G8CSU (3010km).

Bolt Tail - NOT amateur radio

 

I can trace my family history back to the mid 1500s in this Devon village (Hope) near here. This is Bolt Tail. It is possible my ancestors manned this Iron Age fort built here thousands of years ago. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 10th 2021

Solar flux is 81 and the SSN 14.  A=5 and K=2.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At about 2030z, I went on 2m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on TX for about 5 minutes and was spotted by 11 stations. Since then I been RX only and spotted 14 stations.

10m WSPR TX

For the first time in many months, I am on WSPR TX with 500mW using my W5OLF stand-alone beacon. The beacon was turned on at 1300z.  

As 10m is moving to a decent F2 daytime DX band, it will be interesting to see where this beacon is spotted. 

I think more people are now on FT8 than WSPR, but I was surprised by how much WSPR there still was on 10m back in the Es season.

I have been spotted by local G4KPX (14km) so I know it is working.

UPDATE 1318z: 4 spots already with furthermost FY5KE (7110km).

UPDATE 1417z: Someone pointed out an error on the WISPY TX schematic. Where it shows 9t, it should be 22t with the oscillator collector resonating at 28MHz, the second harmonic of the crystal. 35 spots of me so far today on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1806z:  EA8BFK (2880km) has been spotting me as strongly as an incredible +11dB S/N. This implies he would spot me at uW levels.

UPDATE 1919z:   4 unique stations have spotted me today. The furthermost is PY1EME (9453km).

Inside King's - NOT amateur radio

King's College Chapel in Cambridge is world famous. It dates back centuries.

This is a view inside with the famous Ruben's painting over the altar.

The photo was taken from under the organ.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we practically had the place to ourselves.

As locals, we can get free entry. 

Oscar 100 SSB activity

It gets worse!  

As you know I periodically have a peek at activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. The last time I checked was a Saturday morning in Europe, which I would have expected to be one of the busiest times. Sadly, there was hardly anybody active! I saw just 2 signals! 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Salcombe rainbow - NOT amateur radio

This was where I spent my childhood. The rainbow was last Sunday. This was the view from my school window - less the rainbow! 

Sunspots - Saturday October 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 92 and the SSN 13. A=4 and K=2. 

10m FT8 RX (Saturday)

 At 0745z, I switched on my 10m FT8 RX. No spots yet.

UPDATE 0820z: Just 1 spot on RX of OZ1RH (824km). Could be Es or aircraft.

UPDATE 0941z: 32 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX in 3 continents with furthermost ZS6AF (9141km). Most propagation on 10m seems to be F2 now.

UPDATE 1206z:  66 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

6m AM Sixbox

If you are after ideas for a cross town natter box, you may get some ideas from my Sixbox. This is not a DX transceiver, but is useful for chatting locally with friends. If you are making several as a winter project, you may want to do a PCB, although I did not bother.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox .

King's, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of one of the most famous places in the world. As locals, we get free entry. 

Tree - NOT amateur radio

For about 5 years now we have been following this tree at nearby Anglesey Abbey through the seasons. As there is a severe fuel shortage (none in 5 garages yesterday) in this part of the UK, we feared we might miss it this autumn, but our son took us yesterday. It was stunning.

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

Since 0755z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far (at 0825z) no spots.

UPDATE 1524z:  So far today, 213 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

I failed

The photo shows one of our grandchildren some years ago. It shows him in my workshop some time ago. He is now a teenager and is not at all interested in amateur radio. 

Sunspots - Friday October 8th 2021

Solar flux is 86 and the SSN 13.  A=5 and K=1.