Village Cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage is in our village. We have a real mix of old and new houses. 

Steam trains - NOT amateur radio

Back in the late 1950s these were a common sight in my trainspotting days in Devon. 

This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Sunday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. So far just local spots. 

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations spotted. Furthermost is TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 2200z:  QRT. 

8m tests continue

At the moment I am on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, just 1 local spot of me. Later I shall be just on RX. 

UPDATE 0836z:  RX only now on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Nobody spotted. I hope more stations in Europe manage to get 8m permits this Es season.

UPDATE 0941z:  Nobody spotted.

UPDATE 1135z: G9PUV (158km), near Brighton, spotted on 8m FT8 this morning.  At the strength I got him (off the side of the dipole) I don't think he would spot me. Maybe on WSPR?

UPDATE 1507z:  Still on 40.680 MHz (8m) FT8 RX. Just 1 station spotted today so far.

UPDATE 1947z:  QRT soon. One possible first (to be confirmed) is the reception on 8m of an EI station by VP8ADR/40 in the Falkland Islands. It would be good if VP8s could TX on 8m, but I am not sure what the law there says.

Redundant church - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago, I did a blog of the local churches that we visited. It is some years since I updated the blog.  One visited was this one in Cambridge.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk

UPDATE 0948z: Church blog updated!

Sunspots - Sunday April 10th 2022

 Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 37.  A=19 and K=4.

Crazy? - NOT amateur radio

This week, my watchstrap broke. It was cheaper to buy a new Casio digital watch than the wrist strap alone for the old watch! If the battery on the old watch needed replacing, the Casio watch makes even more sense. I am not after a fashion statement and any watch is fine.

I now see I could have bought one £2 less!!

WhatsApp this morning - NOT amateur radio

This was forwarded to me by WhatsApp earlier. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

 At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF WSPR beacon. So far, spots from 2 stations with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 1343z:   So far today my 500mW beacon has been spotted by 5 different stations, in 4 countries.

8m testing

 At the moment, I am on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. Just 2 local stations spotting me. I shall be going to FT8 RX shortly.

UPDATE 0901z:   FT8 RX only now on 40.680 MHz USB dial. EI4GNB (-9dB S/N near Dublin)  spotted on 8m FT8 RX. Was this aircraft?

UPDATE 1146z:  No further 8m FT8 RX spots.

Walkie-talkie Building - NOT amateur radio

This skyscraper in London is known as the walkie-talkie building. 

Sunspots - Saturday April 9th 2022

Solar flux is 109 and the SSN 55. A=9 and K=4.

Zoom meetings

In the last few years, we have all got used to Zoom video meetings. 

Speaking personally, I have been very impressed with Zoom meetings. I cannot really drive at night - well I certainly do not like it - and Zoom meetings suit me well. When screens are shared it is like being in the same room.

Every two weeks, the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) arrranges a Zoom talk. Tonight's talk was watched from a campsite in Scotland and a few weeks ago we had someone in Canada watching.  A few months ago he gave the talk!

I hope the CDARC continues with Zoom meetings after they return to meetings in person.

4m and Es

Within a few weeks (certainly in May) we will be back in the sporadic-E (Es) season in the northern hemisphere. 4m is now allocated in several European countries and my transverter is certainly capable of working across Europe on SSB. It is certainly capable of improvement, so do not be afraid to experiment.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

10m Tenner QRP CW transceiver

This design is now quite old, but it goes to show that things do not have to be complicated to work. It was derived from my Pipit 15m transceiver.

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

Rape seed oil - NOT amateur radio

In recent days the fields of rape are coming in to flower. This is a fairly recent sight suggesting farmers are now planting this more. 

10m WSPR TX beacon

At about 0750z I hope to be on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. 

UPDATE 0755z:  Now on TX. No spots yet.

8m today

In about 5 minutes (it is now 0748z) I will be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. I hope to be on 8m FT8 RX after lunch on the same frequency. 

UPDATE 0758z: Now on 8m FT8 TX.  Just 2 local spots.

UPDATE 1537z: Until now, I have been on 8m FT8 RX all afternoon, but nothing spotted. Back on TX again, but only local spots.

UPDATE 1800z:  Just local spots of me.

UPDATE 1918z:  QRT on 8m.

London colour - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a very colourful building near the Old Bailey in London. 

Sunspots - Friday April 8th 2022

 Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 61.  A=14 and K=1.

London icons - NOT amateur radio

Some may recognise this clock seen yesterday on our day tour of London escorted by our 14 year old grandson. 

Upcoming Rallies?

The following rallies were notified to me earlier. I have no idea if these are taking place or not, so suggest you check with the organisers to confirm before you travel.

April 9th (Saturday) - 36th QRP Convention, Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA.  Contact Rodney on 01935 825791.

April 10th (Sunday) - Lincoln Spring Rally, Market Rasen, Lincs, LN8 3HT.  Contact Steve 07777 699069

Who would have thought 2 years ago we'd still be thinking about Covid-19!

OFCOM has a new head of UK "airwaves" (sic)

Apparently we have a new head of the Spectrum Group at OFCOM. He is supposed to be very experienced. Let us hope he understands RF and not just how to manage.  

His name is Dan Lloyd. See the OFCOM website for details.

10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW (Thursday)

 At the moment I am on 10m WSPR with the 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. It is now 0720z and so far today just local spots. 

UPDATE 0835z:  4 different stations have spotted me with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 1232z:   5 different stations have spotted me.

8m FT8 TX ( Thursday)

Since about 0645z I have been on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far today just 2 local spots. Paul G9PUV has a much higher ERP than me. 

UPDATE 0839z:  Still just the 2 local spots of me. I have yet to be spotted at any distance on 8m.

UPDATE 1448z:   Now 8m FT8 RX only on 40.680 MHz, hoping to spot Paul G9PUV on the South Coast of the UK.

Sunspots - Thursday April 7th 2022

Solar flux is 117 and the SSN 61.  A=8 and K=4.

10m WSPR yesterday

 Not a bad day in the end with my 500mW being copied over 3000km away and by 6 stations. Not on today.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 6th 2022

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 75.  A=6 and K=2.

10m WSPR QRP (Tuesday)

I still have to sync the time, but I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from my W5OLF WSPR beacon. It is now 0835z.

UPDATE 0955z:  Just 5 spots from local G4KPX (14km) so far.

8m tests today

As G7PUV on the South Coast has got now his 8m TX permit, I shall try to receive him on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 today. At the moment I am also on 8m FT8 TX (TXing in the first period) on 40.680 MHz. Later, I shall be RX only to give Paul the best chance of being copied up here.

UPDATE 0850z:  2 local spots of me so far this morning. Now RX only on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1346z:   Just switched to 40.680 MHz WSPR TX. Back to FT8 later.

UPDATE 1528z:  Back on FT8 (TXing first) on 40.680 MHz. So far, 3 local spots of me. Thank you.

UPDATE 1650z:  With grateful thanks to local G3TFX, my 8m dipole has now been raised in height. S/N on local signals is considerably better.

UPDATE 2000z:  QRT. Just local spots.

Tree roots - NOT amateur radio

I like the texture of these roots seen on our walk yesterday. 

Sunspots - Tuesday April 5th 2022

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 86.  A=11 and K=2.

English springtime - NOT amateur radio

The bell ringing grandson has a couple of YouTube channels. One is called Ringer Luke (check it out). On one, he added this video yesterday. 

Solar data update

My favourite site for solar data has been updated. It still looks like future forecasts have been upgraded, suggesting this could be a better solar cycle than was once expected. 

Bell ringing - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandchildren is mad about bell ringing. 

Yesterday we visited Fulbourn church so he could ring.  This is about 15km from us.

The photo shows him on the rope on the left, although he is not very clear in the picture.  He is mad on bell ringing!

10m WSPR beacon

 At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW QRP from the W5OLF beacon. So far, just local spots. 

UPDATE 1053z:  3 different stations have spotted me. It looks like there was some Es earlier.

UPDATE 2100z: 9 different stations have spotted me today.

8m experiments continued

All being well, I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again later on 40.680 MHz. At the moment I am on 8m MSK144, although I am not being spotted. Over the weekend I was spotted by 4 locals. Tests with Borat in Central Europe were not successful this time, but I am sure we will exchange reports soon. 

At one time I was expecting to be on 24/7, but for the moment I am only coming on in the day unless someone wants a test at night e.g. in a meteor shower.

I am not doing crossband contacts. Personally I think OFCOM should have created a very small 8m amateur band available by NoV. Just 5 kHz would have been enough. 

UPDATE 0935z:   After initially being on 8m MSK144 (no spots), I am now on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX (2 local spots) and RX.

UPDATE 1013z:  Just 8m FT8 RX only for a while. Back on 8m FT8 TX shortly.

UPDATE 1056z:   Back on 8m FT8 TX.  2 local spots.

UPDATE 1108z:  I have heard that Paul G7PUV on the south coast has now got his 8m permit.  As he has a beam and more power, I am hopeful of copying him on FT8.

Sunspots - Monday April 4th 2022

Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 129.  A=12 and K=2.

Ely (Friday) - NOT amateur radio

 

We did a nice walk in Ely on Friday. My wife made this collage. We had all sorts of weather!

The world famous university boat race between Oxford and Cambridge was held near here last year. It is usually held on the River Thames.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

I keep forgetting that when the 10m antenna is free, I can go on 10m WSPR QRP TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. It is now 1330z and, so far,  14 spots by 3 stations with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1900z:  QRT soon. 5 different stations spotted me today.

UPDATE 2110z:  QRT.

8m TX tests (Sunday)

So far, I have had reports from 4 different local stations on 8m FT8. One station asked me to try 8m WSPR and he got 4 spots from me, even though I was only using 1W at the time. Reports suggested that even at 100mW he would have copied me. 

At the moment I am on 40.680 MHz MSK144. This is more suited to aircraft and meteor trail reflections, but is less good locally.

UPDATE 1419z: Despite being on 8m MSK144 for several hours, nobody spotted me, but 4 locals spotted my FT8 earlier. At the moment I am on MSK144 RX hoping to spot someone off aircraft or random meteors. G7PUV on the South Coast of the UK (if his 8m licence has come through yet!) has a beam and higher power. I should copy bursts from him.

Sunspots - Sunday April 3rd 2022 is

Solar flux is 143 and the SSN  118.   A=22 and K=2.

Solar data update

Early in the month, my favourite site for solar data usually updates the information. It is now April 2nd 2022 and the data has not yet been updated. So far, the signs are quite encouraging that this cycle will be at least as good as the last. Mind you, the last one was quite weak! I have not seen recent forecasts.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

As the 10m antenna is free, I am on QRP WSPR TX at 500mW using the W5OLF beacon. So far, I have had 4 reports from G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1600z: 3 unique stations spotted so far today as the table shows. Still on TX. Furthermost is EA8BFK (2880km).

Transmitting 8m FT8

Since just after breakfast, I have been transmitting FT8 at QRP on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, 2 local spots have been received for which I am very grateful. I shall remain on TX. The dipole is quite low still.

As far as I know these are the first reports of a UK, non beacon, station on 8m.  As part of my research I welcome reports by PSKreporter or email. My T&I licence does not allow conventional QSOs, but I would like to know who you are and where you are . In my view, 2-way 8m FT8 exchanges are legal if you have a permit for 8m TX. 

UPDATE 1338z: 3 local spots so far. Thank you.

UPDATE 1644z:  Now QRT on 8m.

Any amateur radio or SWL station, anywhere on the planet, has my express permission to receive my test signals on 8m and give me reports.

Railway - NOT amateur radio

 Until the 1960s we had a railway in Burwell. Then the line was axed. Today the station is houses. If the line was still there, a lot of people might commute on it to Cambridge. 

Sunspots - Saturday April 2nd 2022

 Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 109.  A=17 and K=4.

8m dipole erected

The 8m dipole is erected, so tests can start tomorrow. In the past this would have been trivial work for me. Now it is major work. 

The SWR is good, but the dipole is not at full height as I am wobbly on ladders these days. Hopefully, my son can help over the weekend.

I am told all FT8 activity is on 40.680 MHz USB dial, so I shall QSY there over the weekend.

10m FT8 RX

 Since mid-afternoon I have been on 10m FT8 RX. It is again at full height since attaching my 8m dipole.

UPDATE 1955z:  73 stations spotted today. I suspect that is it.

OFCOM updates

Early each month OFCOM updates the data it holds. See the OFCOM website for details. It is even available in Welsh if you are desperate.