Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 153. A=12 and K =3.
18 May 2022
17 May 2022
LinkedIn - NOT amateur radio
LinkedIn is useful to me to find out how old colleagues are doing. Occasionally, I get job offers. As an old man this is flattering.
Most weeks I get requests from people I don't know asking me to be their friend. These requests are ignored!
10m WSPR QRP TX (Tuesday)
In a few minutes time, I shall be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. Yesterday was dire. Let's hope today is better!!
UPDATE 0915z: No spots.
8m experiment (Tuesday)
In a few minutes time I shall be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX (first period).
Although I have been widely spotted across Europe mainly by Es, it seems unlikely I shall be copied further with my low ERP.
As my TX seems to lose power after a while, I shall probably stop my experiment for much of the Es season later this week.
Someone suggested a 24/7 WSPR beacon. This is a good idea. My issue is building it: my fine motor skills are poor now, making building impossible. Otherwise I would be on 8m WSPR all the time TX!
UPDATE 0912z: Been on TX since 0856z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1935z: Just EI9KP (649km) spotting me again.
Best pasties? - NOT amateur radio
Pasties originally started in Cornwall as meals for miners. One half was savoury and the other sweet. In my view, the best pasties are made by Ivor Dewdney.
16 May 2022
"Lab" books
Years ago, in my working life, I used to keep lab books detailing all I had done. When I retired and was still fit, I carried this on. It is surprising what you forget!
Also, you never know when this data will be useful in the future. The notes don't have to be neat.
I must admit, I haven't written in my lab-book for many years, but I can recommend getting into the habit.
10m QRP WSPR TX
About 10 minutes ago I turned on my 10m 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. At 1055z, nobody has spotted me yet.
UPDATE 1225z: Still no spots today.
Hidden disability - NOT amateur radio
People look at me and often say, "you do look well". Little do they know that for almost 9 years I have felt giddy all my waking hours, I feel tired and my voice is rubbish. It can be extremely frustrating!
I'm not after a sympathy vote, but next time you see someone think how they feel on the inside. Never judge by the "outside of the tin" as they say.
Often people are struggling with a hidden disability be it physical or mental. In my case it is physical.
117 years ago - NOT amateur radio
My ancestors lived in this Devon village in the 1500s. This is a photo of the village 117 years ago.
In Iron Age times a hillfort was built near here thousands of years ago. Maybe one of my ancestors manned it?
Near us - NOT amateur radio
This cottage is near us in the village of Balsham. Thatchers often have trademarks. The ducks on the roof are made of straw.
8m experiment (Monday)
Although I expect to be on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial at times during the day I suspect my operations will soon be scaled back.
I seem to have proved that all of continental Europe is within range, even with my very modest station, although my low ERP seems to preclude me being copied outside of the local area in the UK.
UPDATE 1024z: A few minutes ago, my 8m FT8 RX was turned on.
UPDATE 1226z: No spots today. Currently rig is off cooling. Hope to be back on at 1300z.
Thurlestone, Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is near where I come from in South Devon. It is very beautiful still.
I still miss it, even though I have lived away from the area for over 50 years. In some ways it still feels like "home".
Maybe the fact that my ancestors have probably been hereabouts for thousands of years gives me a "pull" deep within my soul.
Dayton hamvention rumours?
This is next weekend and I was wondering if their are rumours of new rigs being announced? As one of the biggest showcases in the world, this is a place to shout from the rooftops.
15 May 2022
10m QRP WSPR TX (500mW)
In all, 2 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR beacon so far today.
UPDATE 2033z: QRT.
8m experiment (Sunday)
Although I was on 8m FT8 TX and RX for about 40 minutes, no spots. The rig is now off, but I hope to be on again at about 1200z.
UPDATE 1326z: No spots all day. I think my experiment on 8m is drawing to a close. Most of Europe is in range via Es. What else can I learn?
UPDATE 1855z: EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me this afternoon. I have lost count how many times Phil has spotted me on 8m.
UPDATE 2030z: QRT.
Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio
Sitting on my dad's seat on Bolberry Down in Devon in 2016. He worked for the National Trust with young people on a job creation scheme.
BOF?
Yesterday, the June RadCom arrived. In it stated that I had been an RSGB member for 60 years!! That means I must officially be a "boring old fart" (BOF).
Looking back, I just wonder where those years went.
I can honestly say that I enjoy amateur radio as much now as in 1962. Things have changed a lot over those years, but there are still challenges and ways to have fun.
Dayton Hamvention, Ohio, USA
This is May 20-22nd. It is the biggest ham gathering in the world. I have never been. This year it is in person once again. Often major manufacturers announce new products here.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/get-to-2022-dayton-hamvention.htm#.Yn_-7CHMLrc .
14 May 2022
What is working DX?
"Each to their own", as they say. These days, the boundaries are blurred and it is a long time since working DX meant HF bands and QSB. An example is DMR which allows users to talk with others around the world on their VHF handhelds.
In the depths of the last sunspot minimum, many of us bought network radios that used the internet as the backbone. Mine looked and behaved just like a VHF handheld complete with antenna and PTT. With it, one could connect with repeaters on the far side of the planet.
I never enjoyed mine and prefer to work stations the "old" way. Now the sunspot numbers are climbing, this is more possible again.
Now, I am not saying one is any better than the other. As they say, "each to their own". Ours is a hobby of self training. I am sure there is as much to learn from DMR and network radios as from working DX the "old" way!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/network-radio .
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
Quiet 10m day so far
It is already 1545z and my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has not been spotted at all despite being on all day. No Es apparent here.
UPDATE 1835z: No spots today.
Lower cost homes? - NOT amateur radio
In our part of the UK, homes are expensive. We noticed these static mobile homes being built on our walk yesterday. Some will be for holidays and some permanent homes I expect.
8m experiment (Saturday)
In a few moments I hope to go on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX (first). The photo shows my 8m dipole.
UPDATE 0902z: TX turned on at 0823z. No spots.
UPDATE 1709z: Just been spotted by EA3ERE (1153km). So far, I have been spotted in 6 European countries on 8m mostly via Es. All the continental Europeans have been via Es. With my setup I think it very unlikely I shall be spotted outside Europe.
UPDATE 2045z: QRT.
13 May 2022
Is OFCOM a QUANGO and a waste of money?
Regularly, I get emails from OFCOM. I look at these and get the distinct impression they are trying to justify their very existence. The impression I am given is of a group that largely does not understand RF and is only interested in money.
This is my personal view and you may feel differently. Experiences 10 years ago and in the last few months have re-enforced my view that it is in radical need of an overhaul. I ask myself, if it wasn't there would it be missed? Probably not!
24 GHz
This is one band I have never tried. Like 10 GHz , there are Doppler radar modules that could be "repurposed" for WBFM (wideband FM) on this frequency. I have not searched for 24 GHz WBFM, but I am sure circuits must exist.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/24ghz .
Results published for 144MHz UKAC (03/05/22)
The results of the latest 2m activity contest run by the RSGB have been published. In the low power section I have climbed from 81st to 70th place. At this rate I might win the section by 2060!!
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2022 .
Wind? - NOT amateur radio
10m WSPR QRP TX
Yesterday was very successful with my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon being widely spotted across Europe. It is on again now (0821z). No spots yet.
UPDATE 1310z: Well it helps to remember to turn the PA on!! For the first 30 minutes I forgot. Doh. Mind you, still no spots.
UPDATE 1954z: Apart from the 2 stations spotting me multiple times, presumably by F2, no others spotting me. No Es apparent here today.
Es season
In the coming months we will be in the Es season in the northern hemisphere. This brings lots of short skip DX on bands like 10m, 6m and 4m. Occasionally it even reaches 2m although this is rare. Sometimes we get very long distances via the E layer, but I suspect many of these openings are some kind of chordal E propagation. Enjoy it whilst it lasts!
8m experiment (Friday)
With my QRP, I am running out of stations with whom I can realistically exchange reports.
My problem is I do not know who else, without a TX permit, might be looking for me. There is an outside chance that I could be spotted in the USA, but I think it is unlikely that I will be spotted in South Africa.
I remain totally baffled by OFCOM and the RSGB who seem dead against even a very tiny allocation of an amateur band at 8m, by NoV, digital only, when this could really help propagation research and self training!! I find their OBSTRUCTIVE attitude unbelievable. Contact OFCOM and the RSGB to persuade them they are so WRONG!! Even 5 kHz would be useful, say at 40.680 USB dial. Having to buy a T&I licence seems so wrong and totally the opposite of "self training".
UPDATE 0810z: 8m TX turned on 40.680 MHz USB dial at 0805z. FT8 first period TX.
UPDATE 1420z: There are lots of stations monitoring on 8m. Sadly, nobody has spotted me today and I have spotted nobody on RX.
Grandson's art - NOT amateur radio
12 May 2022
8m experiment (Thursday)
At 0830z I propose to go on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX (TXing in the first period).
UPDATE 1221z: EI9KP (649km) has spotted me and I have spotted him.
UPDATE 1315z: QRT on RX and TX whilst rig cools Back on at 1345z on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX (first period).
10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)
I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1521z: 15 unique spots of me today, mostly Es.
There are far more people monitoring 10m WSPR than I was expecting. Great.
Oscar 100 (lack of) activity
Every few weeks I take a look at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. I last looked at 1230z on a Wednesday. It has never been quieter! When I looked there was nobody at all active! Now, I may have just caught this at a bad time.
Xiegu X6100 HF/50 MHz transceiver
In this month's Practical Wireless is a review of the Chinese Xiegu X6100 transceiver. Like many things made in China, quality still seems to be a bit "hit and miss". They report an issue with the auto-ATU that is not fixed with the latest firmware. What seems clear is these are low cost.
My concern is what happens if it goes wrong? Who will fix it? Is the guarantee really worth it? Given time, I am sure the major Japanese manufacturers like Yaesu, ICOM and Kenwood will feel a chill, with more, better quality, and far lower cost offerings starting to appear from China and other countries.
I am quite surprised that one (or more) of the major Japanese manufacturers is still there if I am honest. It all hinges on volumes and markets. I would expect to see items that could sell in high volumes worldwide coming from China rather than niche products. Over time, quality will shoot up.
At the moment I still feel nervous about buying Chinese amateur radio products. But...
They are coming......
11 May 2022
FT8 activity contest on 70cm
This evening is the FT8 activity contest on 70cms. Already at 1730z, several Gs are getting ready.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsgmac .
In all, 37 stations spotted on a 2m big-wheel omni antenna!!
70cm activity contest (UKAC)
3 QSOs were made before I stopped because of my poor voice with the best being G4CLA (105km).
10m WSPR QRP TX (Wednesday)
At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1740z: I think there is some Es around today. 4 unique stations have spotted me.
Endings - NOT amateur radio
All my life I have not been good at endings. At this stage in life, I am feeling that lots of things we have just taken for granted are coming to their ends.
At the end of next month I hope to travel to Devon, where I come from, to see my brother who is 77. How long will he and his wife be there in good health? My wife and I are ageing. What happens if one of us dies? Lots of our relatives, friends and neighbours are now older. I can no longer drive a long way.
It seems we have no choice but to accept that everything passes. Life as we know it is an illusion of stability. Everything changes. I guess we have no choice but to accept this.
Spring sprung - NOT amateur radio
In a few weeks it will be past its best.
8m experiment (Wednesday)
The last few days have been poor here with no Es evident here and no spots on RX or TX. Let us hope today is better!
UPDATE 0803z: On 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 first TX at 0757z. Ever hopeful!
UPDATE 1120z: EI9KP (649km) in the west of Eire has again spotted me.
UPDATE 1742z: No further spots given or received today. Better than the last few days, but still pretty poor. Now QSYed to 70cm FT8 RX.
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