Buttercups - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the view outside our village post office with lots of spring flowers. 

Sunspots - Tuesday May 3rd 2022

Solar flux is 112 and the SSN 69. A=6 and K=2.

Springtime - NOT amateur radio

All the seasons have their own beauty, but spring is my favourite. Everything  has a promise with new growth, new flowers etc.. 

The flowers and new growth were seen on walks recently.

GS3PYE/P

The Camb-Hams group is in Scotland again on the Isle of Skye (EU-008) until May 6th. They are being widely worked on VHF.

10m WSPR TX

With 500mW from the W5OLF beacon, I am on 10m WSPR TX. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1523z:  6 unique stations have spotted me so far today. This looks like a mix of Es and single hop F2 propagation.

8m experiment (Monday)

 After a brief period on FT8 TX (40.680 MHz USB dial), I may try WSPR TX at 0900z on 40.662 MHz. 

UPDATE 1730z:   A very quiet day. No spots given or received. Most of the day I was on FT8, sometimes TX and sometimes RX.

Sunspots - Monday May 2nd 2022

 Solar flux is 109 and the SSN 36. A=9 and K=2. 

Quantum Mechanics - NOT amateur radio

 Quantum mechanics is hard and in many ways counter-intuitive. This YouTube video may help.

Outside King's Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went to Cambridge with our grandson. He was hoping to ring the bells in St Edward King and Martyr church which preached one of the first sermons of the English reformation. He was unsuccessful sadly as they were not ringing the bells. 

We had brunch opposite King's where we saw these postcards.

See http://stedwardscambridge.co.uk/ .

10m QRP WSPR TX

Most of the day I have been on 10m WSPR Tx with the W5OLF WSPR beacon at 500mW. 4 unique stations have spotted me. Most appear to be single hop F2 propagation.

8m experiment (Sunday)

My 8m adventure continues. 

As I was out most of the morning I was on 40.680 MHz QRP USB dial FT8 TX earlier, but RX only until a few minutes ago. No spots given or received.  

I am again on FT8 TX (it is now 1215z).

UPDATE 1356z:  EI9KP (649km) in the west of Eire has, again, spotted me. Currently, I am RX only on 8m FT8.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity levels on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite. Activity levels seem very low. My peek was at breakfast time in Europe on Sunday when I thought it might be better. 

It seems to me that this has not "taken off" (no pun intended!). When it was first put in orbit, people had high hopes that, alas, have not been matched. 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

St Ninians Isle (Shetland) - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on 365project yesterday. 

Solar forecast

My favourite site for solar data is usually updated early in the month. Based on the last few days, things are looking promising. It has been updated earlier today.

At the moment, this solar cycle looks a bit better than the last one.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots - Sunday May 1st 2022

Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 50. A=18 and K=3.

Fuel prices - a con? - NOT amateur radio

Since early March fuel prices have dropped considerably. Have retail prices followed suit? NO!!! 

Whilst I can understand retailers trying to claw back losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope retailers follow suit and drop their prices too.

It seems to me that consumers are being taken for a ride - well actually not as the fuel is too expensive!! 

The last ones - NOT amateur radio

These daffodils were at Anglesey Abbey yesterday. I suspect these will be the last ones until next winter. Anglesey Abbey is owned by the National Trust and has extensive grounds.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)

For about 45 minutes (it is now 0901z) I have been on 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW W5OLF beacon. Just local G4KPX (14km) currently spotting me.

UPDATE 1304z:  Still just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. So far, Richard has spotted me 123 times today.

8m experiments (Saturday)

It is now 0857z. I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.  No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 0941z:  Currently RX only. As far as I know the following countries have granted limited access to TX on 8m:

  USA (a limited number of special permits issued by the FCC)

  Canada (1 special permit)

  South Africa (special permission?)

  UK (a limited number of special T&I licences)

  Slovenia (allocated 40.66-40.70 to amateurs on a secondary basis)

  Croatia (special permission?)

  Eire (full allocation to the amateur service)

  Denmark (beacon only).

Others may be active, but I am unsure of their legality. I am unsure of the legal position of operating with very low ERP in the ISM band in almost any country.

UPDATE 1220z:  Still no spots today.  Will be on FT8 TX at about 1240z.

UPDATE 1243z: Now on 8m FT8 TX (40.680 MHz USB dial). Reports welcomed.

Shetland sunshine - NOT amateur radio

There cannot be many perfect days on the Shetland Islands. Often it is cold and windy. This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

Yesterday on 10m WSPR TX

Yesterday, I was spotted by 15 stations on 10m WSPR TX when running 500mW. The Es season really has started. 

Sunspots - Saturday April 30th 2022

Solar flux is 124 and the SSN 90. A=15 and K=5.

G3XBM video channel

This is my usual reminder that I have a G3XBM video channel which has more data on many of my projects. Many of these videos are years old, certainly before my 2013 stroke.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/video-channel .

Ely cathedral - NOT amateur radio

They call this "the ship of the fens" and you can see why. It can be seen from miles away standing high on the Isle of Ely. There has been a church here for well over 1000 years. 

It is the only medieval wonder in England. It truly is a splendid piece of architecture, built way before our times with lots of tools and machines.

Mill leat - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the view looking down the mill leat at Anglesey Abbey earlier. 

Local museum - NOT amateur radio

We are very lucky to live right next door to a windmill and local museum. These are open Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until the end of October.

Recently, the vehicle shed has been redone. There are plenty of old vehicles in here!

The photo shows me volunteering at the museum cafe yesterday.

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

10m Es

For about an hour, I have been on 10m WSPR QRP TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. Already, there have been 9 unique people spotting me. The Es season is underway!

UPDATE 1130z:   12 unique stations have spotted me so far. Definitely mostly, if not all,  Es.

Low cost modules for experimenters

My Facebook memories for today showed the low cost 70cm AM modules that you can buy on eBay. Others have used the HB100 10 GHz Doppler radar modules. Others have used 5.6GHz modules for TV. I am sure there are others. 

Since my 2013 stroke, I have been unable to do much building work. For serious experimenters there is a lot of choice.

These modules could form the heart of many projects and are well worth a look.

8m experiments (Friday)

My QRP signal has now been copied in 4 countries (UK, Eire, Portugal and Croatia).  With the Es season upon us now, I should reach Slovenia OK. If I am copied further, that would be an unexpected bonus.

Earlier today (around 0650z) my 40.680MHz FT8 gear was turned on. This was spotted by EI9KP (649km). It is now on RX only (no spots).

My rig is a widebanded FT817ND and the antenna a low wire dipole.

UPDATE 1232z:  S59F (1205km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX. Definitely Es.

UPDATE 1527z: EI9KP has copied me more than once today and at times very strongly Currently QRT (TX cooling!), but will be back on FT8 TX shortly on 40.680 MHz USB dial.

Sunspots - Friday April 29th 2022

 Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 118. A=14 and K=4.

Rally news

The following rallies have been notified to me.  As always, it is worth checking with organisers to ensure that the information is correct and the rallies are taking place.

       Sunday May 1st - Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre (not sure of the name). Contact 07956 654481

       Monday May 2nd - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon. Contact 2E0RPH@gmail.com. 

Still no swallows (barn) - NOT amateur radio

Last year I saw just 2 all year.  It is already April 28th and I have seen none at all. In the past I had definitely seen some by the middle of the month. Perhaps it is climate change or fewer nest sites? 

The next milestone will be the swifts arriving. They are usually a common sight and sound by mid-May. Will they be here next month? 

There are some swallows around, but I suspect there must be far fewer this year.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/ .

Shack 2015

 

When clearing some old photos yesterday, I cam across this photo of the shack in 2015. 

How time flies!

10m QRP TX (Thursday)

 Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far just local G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1033z: Just local spots still. I think even Richard has given up!

8m experiment continued (Thursday)

My 8m TX experiments are continuing today with FT8 transmissions on 40.680 MHz USB dial regularly. 

UPDATE 0903z:   Sadly no spots given or received so far. Currently on RX, but expect to be on 8m FT8 TX again at 0930z.

UPDATE 1030z:  Still no spots.

UPDATE 1702z: FT8 exchange with 9A2Y (1567km).

Sunspots - Thursday April 28th 2022

Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 95.  A=21 and K=3.

Grand Arcade, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

The Grand Arcade in central Cambridge is a covered, pedestrian only, shopping area. 

It is one of the few places with a Raspberry Pi shop. Well, it is Cambridge!

80m FETer transceiver

It seems like yesterday, but this was designed in 2008. Starting from the 40m design by W2UW (SK) I wanted to see how simple a transceiver could be made for 80m. The result was the 1 FET FETer transceiver. My main issue was netting on RX. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver  .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 As my 10m antenna is again available, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far just 1 spot by TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 1617z: Just 3 unique stations spotting me all day. Nothing further than the TA4 above.

8m experiment (Wednesday)

At about 0742z, I turned on 8m FT8 TX QRP at 40.680 MHz USB dial. 

UPDATE 1035z: No spots so far today. RX only now.

UPDATE 1620z: Despite further TX periods, no spots TX or RX all day.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 27th 2022

 Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 126.   A=3 and K=2.

10m WSPR QRP TX

 At 0852z, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. Nobody has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 1902z: 5 unique stations spotted me today with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).

8m experiment (Tuesday)

 At 0845z, i went on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1857z: Disappointing. No spots today on RX or TX.

Family history - NOT amateur radio

My family history can be traced back continuously to the mid 1500s in South Devon. One of my earliest ancestors was William of Hope. The photo shows the village of Hope Cove probably in the late 1800s or early 1900s. There is an Iron Age fort on the promontory nearby known as Bolt Tail. It is quite possible that one of my ancestors helped man it.  Quite humbling.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_Tail .

Sunspots - Tuesday April 26th 2022

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 94.  A=5 and K=0.

Saffron Walden - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday, we went to Saffron Walden and Audley End in Essex as the collage shows.  At one time it was famous for its saffron - hence the name. 

The door in the top middle led to Oliver Cromwell's HQ at one time.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

At the moment (0946z), I am on 10m WSPR TX at 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 2 unique stations spotting me so far with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

8m experiment (Monday)

 After a period on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680MHz USB dial, I am now on RX. No spots. It is now 0950z. 

At the moment I have been spotted in 3 countries despite my QRP and low wire dipole. During the Es season, I hope to increase this. Es openings can be very strong.

UPDATE 2030z:   QRT.

Sunspots - Monday April 25th 2022

Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 112.  A=5 and K=1.

Lightning risks

The chances (in the UK) of being hit by a direct lightning strike are (thankfully) low, but not nil. Many years ago a work colleague in a very ordinary house was struck and he had a lot of damage.

More common issues are power surges of the mains supply when lightning and thunder are nearby.

Perhaps I am paranoid, but if there is a threat of lightning nearby I unplug PSUs from their sockets and disconnect all antennas. If a power surge is around my gear is not going to experience it!

Unless you have a very good grounding systems, it is very unlikely your gear will survive a direct hit.

Now, I am no expert on lightning protection, so please make your own judgements on this by reading expert opinion. DO NOT rely on me!!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .