Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I was brought up as a child. I have no idea when this was taken. 

Lunch guest - NOT amateur radio

We had lunch in our Garden Room and were joined by an uninvited guest, namely what I have always known as a wood wasp. I tried to take a photo, but it had already gone behind the radiator. It is about an inch long (25mm).

I think it is actually something else as the images of a wood wasp look different. It has a body which is separated from its head. If I can find what it is, I shall post a photo and link.

That free PDF book - this week?

Barring last minute issues, my personal aim is to complete my free PDF Scrapbook this week. The trouble is, I still think of things to add!  If I think of any more, they will have to wait for a future update.

My hope is that this collection will lead to your own ideas and be a springboard. At least producing a free PDF book allows you to make updates whenever you want and if the grammar and spelling are not perfect, too bad. 

After all, good engineers are usually poor at grammar and spelling. This is in my opinion from work days. I guess it is something to do with how our brains work. Tell me the last time you can remember a good engineer who was also good at poetry? I have known at least one, but these are the exceptions.

Acceptance - NOT amateur radio

As we get older, I sense a change.  Every day is a gift. What the future holds nobody can know. It seems right that we appreciate each moment for what we have. The past has gone, but enjoy the now.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

As the antenna is available, I am again on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW to the W5OLF beacon. So far, spots from OE3XOE (1233km). As this is early, this is promising.

UPDATE 1131z:  12 stations have already spotted me today.

UPDATE 2120z: 35 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR.

8m experiment (Sunday)

My QRP FT8 8m station was turned on a 0844z on 40.680 MHz USB dial (first) with an audio offset of about 2 kHz. Let's hope for some Es.

UPDATE 0856z:  There is some Es to central Europe on 10m - hopeful sign.

UPDATE 1009z:  Spotted in the Algarve, Portugal again by SWL HC02 (1808km).  Gear now off whilst it cools.

UPDATE 1129z:    2 stations have spotted me now, despite my QRP.   The latest is 9A2TN (1481km).

UPDATE 1850z:  6 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 QRP TX.

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

As regular readers know, every few weeks I take a look at activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Activity levels remain low considering my last peek was on a European weekend morning. when I would have expected activity to be quite high.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Sunday June 5th 2022

 Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 75. A=4 and K=1.

Jubilee party - NOT amateur radio

We had a local party to celebrate 70 years of our queen on the UK throne. Of course, just as we were about to start, being the UK, it decided to rain. 

Luckily, we had the family room at the adjacent museum in case of rain. In the end we had food and drinks indoors and sat outside in the sunshine. It was a good, happy occasion.

ICOM SHF transceiver?

The EI7GL blog has quite a bit about this. 

Sadly, I cannot see this ever coming to market. Surely the big manufacturers are only really interested in making money. I can only see this selling in low numbers, hardly covering development costs.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2022/04/icom-shf-microwave-project-for-24-ghz.html .

10m WSPR TX beacon

Assuming that I remember, I shall be on 10m WSPR TX later with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. I keep forgetting that when the 10m antenna is available I can use it to go on 10m WSPR TX. Yesterday was good with plenty of Es about. 

UPDATE 0757z:  Beacon turned on at 0753z.

UPDATE 2030z: 41 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m WSPR.

8m FT8 QRP TX

Later today I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again with my FT817ND and low wire dipole on 40.680 MHz USB dial.  Yesterday was my best day yet on the band with my first spot outside Europe by EA8BFK (2881km) in the Canary Islands. 

UPDATE 0756z: TX turned on at 0753z.

UPDATE 1745z: My QRP 8m FT8 has been spotted by 2 stations in the Iberian peninsula and I have spotted 6 stations in 4 countries. When Es is good, it really is!!

Amateur radio stamps?

Back in the 1960s there were stamps issued in the USA with an amateur radio theme. This got me thinking - I wonder which other countries issued similar? Googling would probably tell me the answer, but perhaps you already know. 

It will never catch on

This photo appeared as a Facebook memory from several years ago. 

I have no idea where it originated. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 4th 2022

Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 52. A=4 and K=1.

SNOTEL - NOT amateur radio

 A lot of people on 8m in the USA are troubled by the SNOTEL system, that is an automated snow monitoring system, using random meteor scatter to send the data. Low VHF is ideal for this. I have not been troubled by similar 8m systems in Europe if they exist.

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

ICOM IC-705

For about a year now, I have owned an IC-705. As I only ever run QRP, this was a good choice for me as it is multi-band and 10W. It is mostly used on VHF and UHF FM nets and SSB. Until recently I had not used it for FT8 as it picked up lots of noise from the PC when the USB cable was connected. I continued to use my FT817ND and SignaLink interface for FT8.

I was recommended a screened, choked, cable by Jason M0NYW, and this seems to have done the trick. I am being spotted from across the world on 10m FT8 using the IC-705 at 5W and on RX I am spotting plenty. Thank you Jason for the good suggestion. My FT817ND is now almost exclusively used for 8m FT8 TX now.

The IC-705 is still far too expensive. As I rarely buy gear, I looked at it as an investment. The only thing that disappoints is the lack of 4m, which all were expecting.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-705 .

Knitted butterflies and flowers - NOT amateur radio

These were on our local church earlier.  

They are a cascade of knitted butterflies and flowers. 

Someone has done a lot of work creating these.

I suspect it is part of the jubilee celebrations over the weekend. 

Granddaughter at our local museum - NOT amateur radio

Our local museum and windmill is right next door. The photo shows one of our granddaughters yesterday. She still loves going. 

8m experiment (Friday)

Today was my best day yet on 8m with several Es spots. 

So far this year, the Es season has been poor here. All being well I shall be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX later. I usually TX in the first period.

UPDATE 2105z: 6 stations have spotted my QRP today on 8m FT8 by Es. I have spotted stations in Eire, Slovenia and Croatia here. The station in Spain spotted me very strongly. EA8BFK (2881km) is my first report from outside Europe. I think this was double hop Es.

Corfu chilling - NOT amateur radio

Certainly the people in Corfu know how to chill. The photo shows some enjoying the warmth and cloudless skies. This is a café on the Liston. 

6m FT8 RX 4 years ago with the omni antenna

 

This was 2018 on 6m FT8 RX. 

Sunspots - Friday June 3rd 2022

 Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 59.  A=5 and K=1.

Flowers by the windmill - NOT amateur radio

If this has been on before, I make no apology as it is the queen's platinum jubilee and the colours seem right. They do look good. 

Our house from the windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of our house from the windmill next door. 

Rally

 The following rally is meant to be on, but always check with the organisers first if travelling far.

Sunday June 5th - Spalding Radio Rally, Holbeach, PE12 7PR .   Contact Graham rally2022@sadrs.org.uk .

8m experiment (Thursday)

At the moment it is 1347z. I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX for about 20 minutes. Spotted in Slovenia and Croatia so far, presumably by Es. Today looks more hopeful than recent days.

UPDATE 1615z:   4 stations in 3 countries have spotted me and I have spotted 5 stations in 3 countries on RX.

10m FT8

 At about 0735z, I turned on my 10m FT8 using the IC-705 at 5W. So far, 2 stations have spotted me after about 5 minutes by what looks like Es.

If the Es is promising, I shall try 8m FT8 on 40.680 later.

Plane app - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I mentioned my free plane tracking app. Here is a photo of it. 

I am very impressed. There are several versions with similar names. Mine is called Flightradar24. 

Sunspots - Thursday June 2nd 2022

 Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 59.  A=6 and K=1.

Mugs?

The latest MLS video is all about a flight tracking radar that starts at £599. I have a free app that tracks planes that cost me nothing at all. It would appear some people (obviously from the planet Zog) have money to burn. 

Now, how you spend money is your business and not mine, but I smell "profits" and "mugs".

10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705

As 8m FT8 was useless (no spots all morning), I have QSYed to 10m FT8. Immediately I spotted a station in Spain and I was spotted by a station in the Balearic Is. - EA6FA (1513km).

Family history - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter is doing some homework on family history. I can trace ours continuously back to the mid 1500s with 1 record in the 1400s. I shall have to dig these out!

Solar data updated

 My favourite site for solar data has been updated. It is worth checking it out.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

8m experiment (Wednesday)

It is now 0840z. For about 20 minutes, I have been on 8m FT8 QRP TX (first) on 40.680 MHz USB dial. No spots on RX or TX so far.

UPDATE 1103z: "p***ing in the wind" was the phrase my dad would have used in his colourful language! I have been on 8m TX for over two hours and I have not been spotted once. On RX, not a soul has been spotted. I am on FT8. I have never been closer to stopping my experiment.

Higher than expected solar peak?

At the moment, we are on target for a solar peak higher than we expected. 

This could cause higher disruption to telecoms infrastructure, but openings stronger on the higher HF bands and 6m. For radio amateurs, this could be good news.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 1st 2022

 Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 39.  A=9 and K=2.

2m FT8 QRP

As 10m seemed dire, I decided to go on 2m FT8 with 5W from the IC-705. Immediately, I was spotted by a couple of stations.

UPDATE 1605z:  Already my 5W to the big wheel omni antenna has been spotted by 9 stations including a couple in Northern Ireland. Who needs beams and high power?

UPDATE 1844z:  20 stations have spotted me so far. On 2m FT8 RX the furthermost spotted is DL2ART (499km).

10m FT8 (5W QRP)

At about 1515z, I QSYed to 10m FT8. So far, no spots on RX and TX. 

SLF amateur DX

Today, I heard about some remarkable experiments at 270Hz using earth-electrode antennas.

Hello OM'S! 

After  successful 470 Hz transmissions, we (DK7FC, DL3JPN and DL7NN) tried to  push to even longer wavelengths. The next goal is/was 270 Hz, i.e. 1111  km wavelength. First, the existing ground loop at the transmitter site  had to be resonated by enlarging the series capacitor. After all, 116 µF  was required.

According to the wavelength / 2 PI definition, in  this case we reach the far field after 178.8 km. The distance between  our locations is 324 km, which is far field by definition. Since  Stefan's reception was exclusively in the E-field, a simple coupling of  the magnetic field could be ruled out. After an integration time of 4.5  hours, Stefan achieved a carrier S/N of 17.84 dB in a bandwidth of 62.2  µHz. Even in the spectrogram heavily overlaid with summery QRN, the  carrier was still visible. For comparison, the 270.005 Hz transmission  at a distance of 4 km from the transmitter on the DL0HOT grabber with a  bandwidth of 3.8 mHz. 

This may have been the first successful detection of far-field SLF transmission by radio amateurs.

73

Albrecht

DL7NN

10m WSPR QRP TX

As my 10m antenna (not the PC) is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW W5OLF beacon. Nobody has spotted me yet. I first turned it on about 0928z. 

At the moment, I have not seen evidence of Es here.

UPDATE 1243z:   Nobody has spotted me yet today.

UPDATE  1954z:  Back on 10m WSPR again with my 500mW beacon. There is a little Es about with spots of me by OE3XOE (1233km).

Heathkits

When I was young (OK a long time ago!) Heathkits were popular. They sold some very good kits that made some classy pieces of equipment including VHF and HF transceivers.

In recent years, they tried to make a comeback, but their range was poor and overpriced.  Their website still exists,  although goodness knows how! They must have some very dedicated followers.   With low cost kits from China, making kits for radio amateurs must be very hard these days unless the kits are good and the price is very competitive.

As mentioned yesterday, I coveted the valved HW30 2m AM transceiver. I realised that my website did not have a page on this, so I have added one.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/hw30 .

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathkit for the whole Heathkit story.

My whole professional career and hobby of 60 years owes a lot to Heathkit since my dad bought me a Heathkit Electronics Workhop for Christmas 1961.

8m experiment (Tuesday)

Later, I hope to again be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.  I usually transmit in the first period with signals about 1.95 kHz HF. It would be good to have some QRM, HI!!

It seems I need Es or aircraft scatter to have QSOs beyond the local area. When the band is open via Es, I get widely copied despite my QRP. This a bit limiting! 

UPDATE 0936z:   My FT8 TX was turned on at about 0928z. No spots yet on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1200:  At the moment I am letting the rig cool, so I am disconnected. On the transmission earlier, nothing spotted on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1447z:  After another day so far without spots on RX or TX, I am seriously considering going QRT on 8m and perhaps concentrating on 6m FT8 or 10m FT8. I have already found out my limitations and doubt much more can be learnt unless I increase my ERP, which is not my aim. 

UPDATE 1546z:   Now QRT on 8m and QSYed to 10m FT8 QRP.

UPDATE 1900z: Since about 1855z, I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. I shall probably stop in about an hour.

Bunting - NOT amateur radio

Even the windmill next door is being strewn with bunting for the queen's jubilee celebrations. 

My wife ordered some union jack cupcakes on May 3rd. They were due May 30th, but had not been dispatched yet! So, the order was cancelled today.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 31st 2022

 Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 40. A=9 and K=2.

Heathkit HW30 2m rig

When I was young I coveted a Benton Harbour Lunchbox. 

This was a 5W 2m AM transceiver. At the time, 2m was very quiet and a super-regen RX was fine. These receivers were sensitive, but lacked sharp selectivity.

Looking back these rigs were quite poor, although I always liked the ergonomics. Versions were made for 11m CB, 10m and 6m too. In their day, they served a purpose, but these would struggle these days. 

I once owned the manual, but never the rig.  These days all the functionality and far, far, more may be obtained in a tiny dual band VHF FM handheld.

Se

Farmshop breakfast - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows our sons and one of our grandsons eating breakfast this morning at our local farm shop.

Although not low cost, they do make a nice breakfast. Ideal as a treat.

See https://www.lahogue.co.uk

That free PDF book

Tomorrow is the last day of May. We have visitors, so I shall not finish the book as planned by the end of May! 

My current deadline (self imposed) is mid-June. If I manage to do it sooner, you will hear it here!

Dayton

The numbers have been released for the number of Dayton Hamfest attendees over the last few years. There were fewer attendees this year, but not down much. Not bad for the first "in person" event since 2019.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/hamvention-attendance-figure-announced.htm#.YpTFkY7MLrc

8m experiment (Monday)

As I proved that with my new USB cable 10m FT8 worked fine on the IC-705, l shall resume 8m FT8 TX tests shortly on 40.680 USB dial as there seems to be Es about. 

UPDATE 1147z:  Now on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1211z:  QRT as the transceiver cools. Back on about 1245z.

UPDATE 1308z:  Back on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. Still no spots on RX or TX. Bad day so far.  It appears that unless there is Es propagation, I am unlikely to be spotted. The trouble is, I do not know who is monitoring! Often there are monitors in places that do not have 8m TX permits