Usually I have time to kill, so I grab a bite to eat and a coffee at this small cafe opposite St. John's College. Service is fast and the views are to die for. I am so lucky to be able to have this view for free.
24 Oct 2021
St John's College, Cambridge
Pixie and Micro80
One such is the Pixie or the Micro80. These are compromise rigs, often let down by the RX, which tends to be the weak link. They work and I have had QSOs on 80m and 40m with mine. At one time you could buy 40m Pixie kits from China for a few pounds. I bought one of these and it went together well and worked. I have not looked recently to see if these are still available. With the Pixie and Micro80 I am afraid of calling CQ over a weak station.
There are other rig alternatives although with something simple, you usually have to accept some weakness. The "holy grail" is a simple, low cost rig that really is not a compromise. If you know of any, let me know. My target is a complete transceiver that can be made for less than £5 that really works without compromise.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .
160m FT8 RX in the last day
In the last 24 hours, 247 stations spotted on top band FT8 RX. Just 2 in the USA spotted overnight.
The futility of war - NOT amateur radio
All of the people who fought in WW1 are dead. Most of those who fought in WW2 are dead.
Looking back, you have to ask were the dead and maimed worth it? In my view, wars achieve very little in the longer term. I think much more is achieved by talking.
23 Oct 2021
160m FT8 RX
Just before 1900z, I turned on my 160m FT8 RX. So far, 23 stations spotted. Still using the outer of my 2m big-wheel and ferrite rod "ATU".
UPDATE 1950z: 76 stations spotted with the furthermost RV0AR (5548km) in Asiatic Russia.
Radio for Grandson
On Monday, we have one of our grandsons here. Whilst he is here, he wants to build a radio as part of his Design and Technology (DT) work. I have plumped for a TRF circuit based around the TD7642 IC, which is like the ZN414 of old.
Very many years ago I built two around a ZN414 for my boys. The plan is to build it myself first to prove it all works, then disassemble it so my grandson can build it after some soldering practise. In the past this circuit worked fine with a ferrite rod antenna.
I am finding things far harder now: my eyes are finding close work more problematic and my fine motor skills are poorer.
He wants to do a design brief and we can draw the schematic together. I can explain how it works in simple terms. Hopefully he can take it home.
You can get (almost) anything on eBay - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 RX (Saturday)
My gear was turned on about 1010z. So far, 40 stations have been spotted, all in Europe.
UPDATE 1104z: 127 stations spotted with the furthermost YB1BUL (11796km) in Indonesia.
Jabs - NOT amateur radio
We have just had our Covid-19 booster and flu jabs. No adverse reactions so far.
160m FT8 RX yesterday
If I can do this I am sure you can too.
Magdalene College, Cambridge
It is located on Bridge Street, just north of the River Cam.
22 Oct 2021
Worries? - NOT amateur radio
Perhaps this is natural as you get older? As I age, I seem to be worrying more about other people: for example I worry about people dying such as my wife, my brother, my sons, neighbours and friends, and so forth. The list is now very large.
Clearly I have no control over these and just worrying about them does no good. People tell me not to worry about things I cannot control.This is easier said than done!
160m FT8 QRP (Friday)
For a change, I decided to go on 160m FT8 with 2.5W to the coax of the 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod loading coil. I had 1 QSO with G3VAO (229km) and 24 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with furthermost R2AL (2417km). 3 Gs spotted me on TX although I am now RX only.
UPDATE 1936z: 82 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.
UPDATE 2130z: 183 stations spotted with furthermost UN9L (4119km).
10m FT8 RX (Friday)
My system was turned on at 0750z. No spots yet.
472kHz WSPR RX last night
This proves that for RX nothing special is necessary. BTW the only ground was the mains plug! I guess the coax to the big-wheel is about 10m long and only 5m above the ground at its highest. The coax is just 0.5m above the ground near the shack. As I said nothing special at all!
Central Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
Friday is the day I travel in to Cambridge for my University of the 3rd Age lecture. The photo shows last Friday.
21 Oct 2021
472kHz WSPR RX
As my son managed to cut my earth-electrode "antenna" return wire, I may try the coax outer to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU on 472kHz WSPR this evening. I shall stay on until late tonight.
Amazing DX on 2m
EI7GL's blog has a report on the excellent 2m (144MHz) QSOs between Argentina and the Caribbean recently via TEP.
Seee https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .
Galashiels Rally cancelled
This rally was due to take place on Sunday October 24th, but I believe it has been cancelled, presumably because of Covid-19 concerns. I have no details. You may want to confirm this with the organisers.
Best yet at $447k - NOT amateur radio
If only this SPAM was true! Apparently I have $447k in my account if I just verify my details. Looks like I won't then! 😁😁
Oldest British bookshop - NOT amateur radio
It is the oldest bookshop in Britain.
10m FT8 RX (Thursday)
My system was turned on at 0751z.
UPDATE 0929z: 5 spots on 10m FT8 RX. 3 look like F2. Furthermost is R6FX (3236km).
UPDATE 1046z: 52 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today with the furthermost 4Z5TK (3515km).
UPDATE 1548z: 109 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 1725z: 116 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1836z: Still 116 stations spotted, so this is probably the end of 10m DX today.
U3A Zoom - NOT amateur radio
20 Oct 2021
Earth-mode VLF
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/vlf-using-earth-mode/g3xbm-earth-mode-blog .
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ytg1yoyiezffsfSqdL2kWZW_Fx3sbru/view?usp=sharing .
10GHz (3cm)
Some take microwaves very seriously and regularly achieve some remarkable distances, often by rain scatter. Others play at 10GHz with WBFM.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/10ghz .
Climate change - NOT amateur radio
There is evidence all around us that the climate is changing. Winter snow in East Anglia is rare now and it is far far wetter. At some point very soon we have to take this very very seriously. Yet in the UK, we seem to be doing very very little. What we do is usually too little and too late. We seem to be reactive rather than proactive in most things sadly.
Get real!
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58971131 .
10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)
As there is no sign at all of thunderstorms anywhere for hundreds of miles, I think I shall turn on my 10m FT8 RX later. According to the thunder map all storms are very distant indeed.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org.
UPDATE 0847z: The storms appear to have come this way, but tracked north and missed us, so I have turned my system on at 0840z. So far, 5 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1000z: 6 Europeans spotted with the furthermost OE4KSF (1285km). Most of these Europeans I think are E layer rather than F2 backscatter. If it was backscatter I would expect to see some further afield stations such as Israel, European Russia and Ukraine via F2. I am seeing none of these. Perhaps a brief patch of E layer ionisation forms allowing a very brief opening and then disappears?
UPDATE 1118z: 34 stations spotted today so far. Furthermost is 5T5PA (3791km).
UPDATE 1725z: 242 stations spotted today. It looks as if the F2 propagation on 10m is now ending as it is getting dark.
UPDATE 2152z: QRT. In the end 243 stations spotted, but I missed some late ones as I had to go out.
Malborough, Devon, UK 1927 - NOT amateur radio
Several ancestors (going back centuries) are buried in the churchyard.
Dalham - NOT amateur radio
481THz line of sight
For the uninitiated, 481THz is red light.
My main interest in lightbeam communication was over the horizon beaconing (NLOS), but I did have one speech QSO line-of-sight over about 11km. As mentioned before, all my optical gear was homemade in the back of the garage. Most of the test gear was also homemade. In fact, optical gear is easier than microwaves and there are plenty of sources of ideas on the internet. My own page may trigger some ideas. The circuit above was used in the speech QSO.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/line-of-sight .
19 Oct 2021
Not on tomorrow morning probably
As the UK Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms tomorrow morning it is unlikely I shall be on until after lunch.
That's a pity - NOT amateur radio
If all the SPAM I get daily was true I would be very rich!
Today, I had several placing life-changing amounts into my bank account. Sadly, not one of these is true. Guess I shall still have to draw my pension! Never mind. 😀
Autumn garden - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
My 10m FT8 RX gear was turned on at 0810z. No spots in the first 30 minutes.
UPDATE 1222z: 47 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost PY5JO (9890km). South Americans just appearing. F2?
UPDATE 1853z: 202 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Several in South America with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km). As there have been very few spots in the last 30 minutes, I suspect that is probably it for the day.
Lesotho - NOT amateur radio
11 years ago we had a holiday in South Africa and visited Lesotho. It was an eye opener.
8m NoV
As some know, I have applied to OFCOM (RSGB copied) for a time limited, 5W, digital only, permit to operate next March to October 2022 at 8m (40MHz). I expect this will take some time, although I very much hope it is accepted as there are no 8m stations operational in the UK at this time as GB3RAL is looking for a new site.
In my view there is a good justification for this NoV, especially when OFCOM can find a whole 2MHz for DTV experiments and I am probably after just 50Hz with QRP for part of 1 year. In my view. this would really contribute to radio propagation science.
I am awaiting their verdict....
4m transverter
4m is increasingly popular on modern rigs as the band is now widely available in Europe. When I was first on the band in the late 1960s there were very few countries on.
This transverter may give you some ideas for a winter project. It is well capable of reaching many European countries by SSB in the Es season. I am sure it can be improved.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .
Oscar 100 activity
As regular readers of the blog know, every few weeks I take a peek at activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. When I as looked (mid afternoon on Monday in Europe) it was very quiet. If anything, I think there is less activity that a few months ago.
10m FT8 RX yesterday
In all, 236 stations were spotted yesterday on 10m FT8 RX. In the end a string of South Americans were spotted. Yesterday Jan was wondering if the Europeans were F2 backscatter. Indeed this is possible, although I would have expected more pure F2 stations from Ukraine, Russia, Lebanon and Israel if this was F2 backscatter. Mind you, I am no expert!
Cambridge eatery - NOT amateur radio
18 Oct 2021
Mind boggling numbers - NOT amateur radio
When we talk about the universe, the numbers are truly mind-blowing.
The Milky Way has an estimated 1000000000 stars and at least as many planets. It is estimated there could be 2000000000000 galaxies in the observable universe.
If there are just 2 intelligent civilisations in our galaxy, there could be 4000000000000 intelllgent civilisations in the observable universe!
My brain hurts! 😁
Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio
This is a wild fen owned by the National Trust. It is quite close to us. My wife went there yesterday with some friends.
10m FT8 RX (Monday)
In a few moments, I intend to turn on my 10m FT8 RX system. With the SSN being 0 and the solar flux being lower than for a while, I am unsure how it will be today.
UPDATE 0908z: System on at 0807z. 8 spots so far - all in Europe. I suspect with suspect with a higher antenna (possibly a beam) I might spot signals 10dB weaker. No doubt the "big guns" will be working 10m FT8 signals I cannot even spot! I have absolutely no intention of erecting a mast and beam. If I miss some does it matter? No.
UPDATE 1020z: 42 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with furthermost 9G5FI (5189km).
UPDATE 1200z: 79 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Furthermost is A65BR (5454km).
UPDATE 1253z: 97 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. 94 have been in Europe. Many (possibly most) of these will be via Es propagation, underlining the value of FT8 in showing there is still Es well outside the traditional Es season. If things go as previous days, the Americas will start to come through shortly.
UPDATE 1545z: 149 stations with nothing from the Americas yet today.
UPDATE 1621z: 154 stations spotted. At the moment, this more like E layer than F2.
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