This photo was posted on 365project recently. I think it is of the Great Lakes in Canada at sunrise.
30 May 2022
Canada Great Lakes - NOT amateur radio
This photo was posted on 365project recently. I think it is of the Great Lakes in Canada at sunrise.
29 May 2022
8m experiment (Sunday)
As I am busy setting up with 10m FT8 on the IC-705, it is unlikely I shall be testing on 8m FT8 today. Maybe at teatime?
It would appear that by Es my QRP 8m FT8 signal can be widely copied across Europe. Unlike many of the better equipped stations on 8m, I have not been copied outside Europe.
UPDATE 1245z: On 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680.
FT8 with the IC-705
A while ago I tried FT8 with the IC-705 using a USB cable from the PC. As the noise level was high, I stuck with the FT817ND and SignaLink instead. As I have now got a good screened and choked USB cable, I shall try again later.
UPDATE 0858z: Well it works on TX with a spot by G0FWX (160km), and I think it works on RX, although nobody spotted yet. At the moment it gives 5W without the ALC coming on. Assuming all is fine, I shall probably download WSJT-Z, which goes back onto CQ TX after a QSO. With WSJT-X it goes to RX after a QSO.
UPDATE 1005z: Working on both RX and TX. Initially I was seeing none of my RX spots on PSKreporter, but there are lots now as well as lots of TX spots. Best DX on TX is a spot of me by ZS6KVZ (9120km). No QSOs yet. I wonder how much better FT8 is than SSB? Having worked ZL with 10W SSB some years ago, I am pretty sure I can get DXCC on 10m FT8 if I tried. Not sure I really want to try. 10m FT8 at 5W seems too easy!
Many years ago in the back of the garage
This is my grandson in 2010 (I think) "helping" me in the back of the garage. He is now 14 years old.
Final Dayton report
For those who went to Dayton, Ohio, USA, I think it is fair to say that reactions were mixed. Many enjoyed the huge fleamarket, but many were disappointed with the new "toys" being launched.
There were few real eye openers and Kenwood was not there at all. I think they are already leaving the amateur radio market. In my view others will follow as there is no longer a mass market with juicy profits.
See https://k9zw.wordpress.com/2022/05/25/dayton-xenia-hamvention-2022-jeff-ke9vs-final-report/
Sunspots - Sunday May 29th 2022
Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 34 (low compared with recent days). A=24 and K=3.
28 May 2022
Disappointing HF conditions here
Certainly, up to now, 10m and 8m have been very disappointing here with no spots at all on TX or RX. I think conditions are disturbed, but I am seeing no evidence here of F2 or Es propagation.
8m FT8
At about 0745z, my QRP 8m FT8 TX was turned on on 40.680 MHz USB dial. No spots on TX or RX.
UPDATE 1317z: No spots on TX or RX 8m FT8 today.
UPDATE 1611z: Yet again, 8m FT8 spots were exchanged with EI9KP (649km). With a received report of -10dB S/N I can only conclude that this was either aircraft or Es. I have lost count of how many times he has spotted me on 8m FT8. He is by far my most regular reporter. He was also copied here (again).
10m QRP WSPR TX
Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. No spots yet. What I thought was today was yesterday.
Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio
The windmill next door is looking very festive with lots of bunting hung for the special holiday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the queen being on the throne.
The wild flowers outside the windmill next door look really amazing.
Yesterday on 8m FT8 TX
The 3 countries in which my QRP was spotted are shown on the map.
27 May 2022
OFCOM updates
As usual, OFCOM has updated the statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for details.
Bougainvillea - NOT amateur radio
This is probably one of the last photos of my break in Corfu. It shows a bougainvillea in the garden of our hotel.
W5OLF SK?
My fears are growing. I have written to Jay twice and not had a response.
He may just be on a long vacation, but I have heard no news. In the past Jay has been very helpful to me and I owe him a lot.
If he is around and reading this, please be assured that I wish him well.
Has anyone had any news please?
10m QRP WSPR TX
Now that I am home again, I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF WSPR beacon. Several F2 spots, but none that look like Es.
8m FT8 TX
As I am now home again, I hope to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 after breakfast. I have not been on 8m for a week.
UPDATE 0902z: Been on 8m FT8 QRP TX for about 45 minutes, but now RX only on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8. Spotted by EI9KP (649km). Nobody spotted on RX.
UPDATE 2117z: My 8m FT8 QRP signal was spotted by stations in Portugal, Spain and Eire today, and I spotted 1 G station on RX.
26 May 2022
Not a monarchist, but... - NOT amateur radio
In my bones I am not a monarchist.
Personally, I find rank and status simply because of who you are, or your ancestors were, is totally wrong. Having said all that, I cannot think who a UK president could be. Nobody springs to mind who is liked by many and has integrity. Most politicians fall at the first fence as many are in it for personal gain and are born liars.
Queen Elizabeth of the UK has been monarch for most of my life. I cannot remember anyone else. By comparison, her son Charles has a lot of respect to gain.
No, Queen Elizabeth is not perfect, but during her long reign she has commanded respect.
Corfu chilling - NOT amateur radio
It is meant to reach 32 degrees C later.
It feels very hot and sunny already.
Weatherwise it has been perfect. It was just not a long enough break!
Rally
The following rally is due to take place on Sunday May 29th. As always in these strange times, it is advisable to check with organisers first if travelling far.
Sunday May 29th - Durham District ARS Radio Rally, Bowburn Community Centre, DH6 5AT. Contact dadrs@gmx.com .
Back on 8m FT8 TX Friday
All being well, I intend to be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX on Friday after a week away. It would appear there were some good Es openings that I missed!
Corfu desserts - NOT amateur radio
Our hotel has kindly extended our room checkout to 5pm, so we effectively have another day rather than waiting around for hours for our late flight.
Oscar 100 activity
As you know I take a regular peek at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Today's peek was at 0610am central European time. 30 minutes later there was nobody active at all!
Now, this seems to show that outside Europe, e.g. India and the Gulf states there is very little interest. OK, it is a work day and very early in Europe.
My over-riding impression is that activity levels are very low. In some ways I am surprised, but in other ways I am not.
Our hobby has largely evolved into "appliance operators" who buy an HF rig, and maybe a linear, tower and HF beam. There are far fewer real experimenters. With no real "black boxes" available there is a certain threshold to have success with Oscar 100. For most, this threshold is just too hard. Based on recent evidence, I cannot see geosynchronous amateur satellites having a bright future.
Sunspots - Thursday May 26th 2022
Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 93. A=6 and K=1. The sunspot number has dipped below 100 for the first time in a while. The number is still pretty high.
25 May 2022
Cheers Corfu - NOT amateur radio
Tomorrow is our last day. It seems only a blink since we arrived! This is our fourth time on Corfu and in this hotel. Health allowing, I somehow think it won't be the last time.
Ideas
Now is not the usual time to think about projects. The usual time is as the nights start to draw in and winter approaches.
I am still hoping my G3XBM Scrapbook will be available as a free PDF download by the end of May, but June is next week!!
In the meantime, take a look at my main G3XBM website. Hopefully you will find some ideas there.
As soon as that book is ready, I shall post a link here. At this rate, I suspect the book will be available mid June unless May is extended by Royal decree!!
Failed by the RSGB and OFCOM?
For 60 years I have been an RSGB member, but I feel I am being failed. Let me explain.
OFCOM is on record as saying they will NEVER allow UK radio amateurs on 8m. Why?
The RSGB has (it would appear meekly) said "OK" to this. Wouldn't it have been nice if, for once, they had said "rubbish!!"?
In my view they should have said a very few kHz wide band at 40.680 MHz USB dial, narrow digital modes only, by NoV, strictly non-interference would have actively encouraged self training and propagation research. Personally I would happily lost a few kilohertz off any band for a few kilohertz around 40.680 MHz.
Instead we can talk about hernias and potted plants with 400W and commercial gear on 80m! Absolute madness!!
RSGB and OFCOM please wake up.
24 May 2022
10FT8R 10m FT8 RX
This design is over a year old. It is very simple, but works well. It allows monitoring of 10m FT8 without tying up the main rig. You will not miss much.
See the 10FT8R webpage for details.
I am sorry that the link was initially wrong. Hopefully it is now correct!
Old photo - NOT amateur radio
OFCOM - money?
OFCOM has made it easier for mobile operators to trade spectrum around 3.6 GHz. See the OFCOM website for more details. Me a cynic? Surely not!!
Greek food - NOT amateur radio
This was our "snack" yesterday in Corfu! Excellent. Well, we all have to help the Greek economy.
Ferrite rod TX antennas
 |
| W5OLF 1 inch 10m ferrite rod antenna |
A few people have experimented with transmitting antennas made with ferrite rods.
As long as the ferrite is suitable for the frequency and does not saturate it should work. This usually means very low power.
With modes like WSPR great distances can be covered with very low power.
Looking back at past blog posts I saw that Jay W5OLF achieved good results on 10m WSPR with a 1 inch ferrite rod antenna and 500mW RF.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/ferrite-rod-tx-antennas.
23 May 2022
1970 university photo - NOT amateur radio
It seems hard to believe that this photo is 52 years old. It was taken in 1970 in my final year. In those days I had hair!!
Corfu Beer
8m beacons
There is a growing interest around the world in the 8m band for propagation research.
The band is between 10m and 6m, at the transition between HF and VHF. Sadly, the few beacons there are there are on different frequencies and modes.
In my view, they would be far more use if they all included an FT8 sequence and were all on a single USB dial setting (different audio tones so they are not on top of each other). They could be on 24/7 and widely monitored with ease by many.
Personally, I think we would all benefit from this. Propagation research would be greatly advanced.
FT8 works with weaker signals than CW, WSJT-X software is free, and even very brief openings get spotted.
22 May 2022
Ultra simple RX for 80m or 40m
This is one of the most simple designs that you will ever find for 80m or 40m RX. It will readily scale to 160m or 60m. I went on to make a transceiver version based on an idea from W2UW (SK). Imagine that - a complete transceiver using just 1 FET (see the FETer).
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-or-40m-regen-rx .
Corfu food - NOT amateur radio
My wife had sea bream caught in the morning and I had slow cooked lamb shank.
Both were perfect as was the tzatziki Greek starter of yoghurt and cucumber.
70cm activity contest
Results for this activity contest organised by the RSGB have just been published.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2022 .
EI7GL's blog
John's blog always seems to have interesting stuff on it. He has news of the 40 and 60 MHz bands as well as much more. On the web version of my blog is a link to the EI7GL blog is on the right.
21 May 2022
ICOM at Dayton 2022
This is a video of the ICOM stand at the Dayton Hamvention. I am underwhelmed.
The VHF transceivers look "same as", the linear looks big, and the SHF concept looks like it will never happen. Where is the truly handheld version of the IC-705?
If Yaesu is similar I can see them both leaving this market within 5 years. I suspect they both can see the writing on the wall.
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