The photo shows the view looking from Corfu Town across to Albania and mainland Greece.
21 May 2022
Corfu view - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows the view looking from Corfu Town across to Albania and mainland Greece.
OFCOM news
OFCOM has announced consultations on licence proposals affecting 5G and updates to its weekly updates. See the OFCOM website for details.
Dayton news
It is now early Saturday in central Europe. The big (huge) Dayton Hamvention is on its middle day of 3. I have not yet heard any announcements of new commercial gear in the offing. Have you?
Corfu shop
The cherries and kumquats were on sale in Corfu Town yesterday. The whole shop was a riot of colour.
20 May 2022
Rally
The Dunstable Downs RC rally is in Stockwood Park, Luton this Sunday May 22nd. Check before travelling if there is any uncertainty.
Corfu - NOT amateur radio
We're having a week in Corfu. We have not been abroad since 2019. Everything seems normal again.
The first photo shows the view looking from our hotel room. The collage shows scenes from Corfu Town.
Well, someone has to do the hard tasks!! 😉😉
Solar peak - better than we thought?
The recent solar data (flux and sunspots) are better than expected. Does this point to maximum greater than we expected? I hope so. Are we heading for a peak higher than 200?
19 May 2022
8m DX
The better equipped 8m stations have been getting spots from a very long way away such as Argentina, Chile, South Africa and off Angola. With my low ERP I think this will be well beyond my expectations.
My experiment is to find out what is possible with low ERP QRP and modest, low wire dipoles. So far, my conclusions on FT8 and WSPR is that locals and Es stations can spot me, but I have had no success, so far, with other G stations on 8m.
By the way, FT8 or WSPR were used for these DX spots.
The favourite spot seems to be 40.680 MHz USB dial and the favourite mode FT8.
In my view, it seems a pity that all beacons don't have FT8 as part of their cycle and were all at 40.680 MHz USB dial so they all could be monitored 24/7. Of course they would all be on different audio spots so they were separated.
Imagine the excitement of seeing the spots after you'd been out of the shack for a while! I suspect if they were all on a single dial setting then more would be spotted at unusual times.
Birketts
Many will have bought components from John Birkett in Lincoln. Sadly he has died at aged 93. I have no news about the shop, but I saw it in Lincoln last September. I hope his family carries on the business.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/john-birkett-g8opp-sk.htm#.YoYAHo7MLrc .
18 May 2022
Jay W5OLF
Although I have tried to email him on 3 occasions, I have not had any response. Does anyone have any news please?
RF-zero
I guess a PA could be added to reach a higher power out for a beacon for example.
See https://www.rfzero.net/ .
Dayton reminder
Now in its 70th year Dayton Hamvention, Ohio is this weekend May 20-22nd. This is massive with trade stands and flea market.
10m WSPR TX beacon
Later this morning I shall be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF TX WSPR beacon.
UPDATE 0640z: Turned on.
UPDATE 1004z: Spotted by 12 unique stations via Es.
More Devon - NOT amateur radio
This is another view of where I come from in South Devon. As you can see, it is pretty good. The photo was taken in 2016.
8m experiment (Wednesday)
Later today I expect to be on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday I was spotted again by EI9KP (649km). If the Es is like yesterday I may be spotted by others.
UPDATE 0637z: TX turned on.
UPDATE 1000z: As you can see by the comment below Ken G4APB has received his T&I 8m licence now and has been active. I am not sure how many UK 8m permits have been granted. The KST chat (50 and 70 MHz) seems useful for skeds etc..
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 .
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