14 Jun 2022
Elderflower - NOT amateur radio
Guess who forgot?
Last Sunday was the annual PW QRP contest that I totally forgot!! The 2m and 70cm UKAC contests I set alarms for, but this one was overlooked. Doh!!
8m experiment (Tuesday)
Yesterday my QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 was spotted by 4 stations. I am unlikely to be active for the next few days.
10m WSPR (Tuesday)
Yesterday was fairly quiet here on 10m WSPR TX with just 14 stations spotting my 500mW QRP. Most of these were via Es.
13 Jun 2022
Propagation mode?
Both yesterday and the day before, I had over 70 reports of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Today I have had just a few reports and these could be by F2. Es can be very localised with strong signals somewhere and nothing a few kilometres away.
On 8m I am frequently spotted by EI9KP (649km). This happens so often that I suspect some other form of propagation other than F2 or Es is involved such as random meteors or aircraft scatter.
The period of FT8 makes me think random meteors or aircraft unlikely. It is far too far to EI9KP for tropo.
Am I missing something?
OFCOM
OFCOM has updated the data it holds and has proposed a new licencing regime for commercial drones. See the OFCOM website for details.
Beans - NOT amateur radio
However, I surprised myself last year with good crops of tomatoes, crab apples and runner beans. The secret seems to be to ensure the soil has plenty of goodness in it. This year, I have put beans in the same spot as last year (having added lots of goodness to the soil first) as well a 4 bean plants in a pot. I shall grow some lettuce and tomatoes shortly.
If I get as many as last year, I shall be pleased.
8m FT8 TX (Monday)
Yesterday I got my first report from a station in Scotland bringing my country count to 10.
This proves that even a very simple station can give useful results, although those with much higher ERP are achieving some remarkable results.
Later today I expect to be on 8m TX again.
UPDATE 0816z: On 40.680 MHz USB dial (first) FT8 now.
Shetland - NOT amateur radio
This photo was on 365project recently. It shows a sunny day in the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Normally, it is windy and cold this far north! At one time, these northern islands belonged to Norway.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Monday)
Yesterday 76 stations spotted my 500mW QRP 10m WSPR. I think these were Es. Later today, I expect to be on again.
UPDATE 0822z: On 10m QRP WSPR TX now. Already 2 spots of my QRP from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is. This could be F2 propagation.
UPDATE 0828z: I am wondering if the very first spots from EA8BFK were with the PA off, so at sub 1mW level? When the PA is first turned on there is usually about 20 minutes of drift. I have just turned the PA off to see if I get spots!
UPDATE 1116z: Having got no spots from the Canary Is since the PA was turned off, I think it unlikely EA8BFK was spotting me on extremely low power. Since turning the PA on again, I am again getting lots of spots.
12 Jun 2022
10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)
Yesterday was one of my best days ever on 10m WSPR TX with over 70 stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.
At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the tiny W5OLF beacon. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1943z: 74 stations spotting my 500mW WSPR today with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km). Most were by Es. This is even more than yesterday.
Where our grandson rang this morning - NOT amateur radio
8m experiment (Sunday)
It is now 1032z I have been on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial for about 30 minutes.
UPDATE 1712z: 4 stations have spotted my QRP today with the furthermost EA8BFK (2881km) in the Canary Is. Also, G4APB (88km) spotted on RX, I think for the first time on 8m FT8; at -22dB S/N he was marginal here. I have lost count of all the stations now spotted on 8m FT8, but they are in 5 countries. We could do with a few more countries active on TX.
11 Jun 2022
2m halfwave antennas
Most people opt for 5/8th wave antennas when they want better ranges on their 2m handhelds. Some years ago now I made a half-wave antenna for 2m. It was widely used on my many 2m rigs. It was first used in the 1970s, so must be about 50 years old!
The idea was simple: the end is a high impedance so I just added a tuned circuit tapped at the 50 ohm point to match to the rig. It got me across the English Channel with a 10mW AM handheld (160km), so it must work! The antenna was actually on the Fredbox.
Clearly this would work on 70cm if scaled.
One photo shows the matching arrangement and the other the full whip.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)
At the moment (1040z) I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 14 stations have spotted me by Es already! Another good Es day.
Out of the kitchen window - NOT amateur radio
The view from the lounge is similar.
8m experiment (Saturday)
Yesterday, 5 stations spotted me as the map shows.
UPDATE 1036z: 8m FT8 TX turned on about 1030z. 2 stations in southern Europe have already spotted me by Es.
UPDATE 1316z: 7 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today.
10 Jun 2022
8m experiment (Friday)
On and off this afternoon, I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 QRP TX. It is now 1605z, and I have been spotted by 2 stations and I have had 1 "QSO" with a station in Croatia although I cannot tell you this! Actually it was an FT8 exchange of location and signal reports.
Maybe to keep OFCOM happy I should have told him about runner beans and sweet peas - oh silly me, I don't have a commercial rig and antenna for 80m.
Isn't OFCOM's position and that of the RSGB on 8m absolutely crazy?!!
UPDATE 1807z: 5 stations have spotted me on 8m FT8 TX today. 2 stations have been spotted here.
IC202 - remember these?
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/icom-ic-202
I hope the links on the link still work as they were created some time ago.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)
Later today, I expect to be on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon.
9 Jun 2022
My book - delayed again
My free PDF book is taking longer than I expected. Next week I am away for a few days and the collation is taking far longer than I anticipated. My current self imposed deadline is the end of next week.
OFCOM consultation
OFCOM is consulting on the licences of National Multiplexes. Well, I guess it is easier than RF. See their website for details.
Do you remember when GPO officers actually used to visit your station? In my time, I think I had 3 visits. I guess few remain who even know what a transmitter is! Sarcastic, me? Surely not!!
Rallies this weekend
The following rallies have been notified to me. Always check with organisers before setting out on long trips.
Sat June 11th - Rochdale and District ARC Summer Rally is now CANCELLED.
Sun June 12th - Mendips Radio Rally mendipsrally@hotmail.com .
Sun June 12th - Junction 28 Radio Rally, Alfreton. www.snadarc.com. 01332 679913.
10m WSPR TX (Thursday)
It is now 0850z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW for about 30 minutes. Nobody has spotted me yet.
UPDATE 1153z: 12 people have spotted me today so far.
8m experiment (Thursday)
Later today I expect to be on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Most days I am spotted by Es propagation. Yesterday 3 people spotted me and the day before 9.
UPDATE 0827z: TX turned on at about 0820z.
UPDATE 1312z: 3 stations have spotted me today and 2 in Croatia have exchanged FT8 reports. Unless you are OFCOM or the RSGB, these used to known as FT8 QSOs. QSOs?? Odd concept in the UK on 8m FT8!!
UPDATE 1320z: Stations in 8 countries have spotted my 8m FT8 QRP so far.
Sunspots - Thursday June 9th 2022
Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 0. This is the first spotless day for a long time. A=5 and K=1.
8 Jun 2022
10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
Most of the afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. Widely spotted in Europe by Es.
UPDATE 2147z: Yesterday 50 stations spotted my 500mW WSPR on 10m. Today it was 9 the last time I checked.
8m experiment (Wednesday)
Yesterday was my best day yet on 8m QRP FT8 TX with 9 stations spotting me and 2 in Slovenia exchanging reports. I cannot say QSO because of OFCOM!!!!! All of these were via Es . Personally I think the OFCOM and RSGB position is totally, utterly, stupid.
Later I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again although some thunder may cause some interruptions.
UPDATE 2145z: Spotted by 3 stations today on 8m FT8 QRP TX.
7 Jun 2022
More Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio
10m WSPR QRP TX (Tuesday)
Today, has been my best day on 10m WSPR TX for very many years. There is a lot of Es about and my 500mW from the W5OLF beacon has been spotted by 45 unique stations.
8m experiment (Tuesday)
My QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 was turned on at 1116z.
Anglesey Abbey earlier - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier. The weather was good.
The future
Yesterday, I expressed my views on Yaesu. I may be very wrong, and hope I am.
However, these are the inevitable facts that we have to face:
- Many radio amateurs are retired.
- Within 20 years many will have died or be in care homes.
- The pool of amateurs able to buy new commercial radios will probably diminish considerably.
- Many of the big Japanese amateur radio manufacturers will no longer be interested in amateur radio.
- Low cost manufacturers will dominate.
- Many amateur radio dealers will leave the market or go bust.
- There will be fewer dealer adverts.
- Some amateur radio magazines will go and those that remain will struggle.
My view is the real future is in self training and research. Radio amateurs can do research for nothing. By self training we grow future radio engineers who are hard to find.
The future is in our hands.
6 Jun 2022
10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)
As the 10m antenna is again free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. It is now 0933z and I have been on for about 30 minutes. So far, just spots of me by OE3XOE (1233km).
8m experiment (Monday)
As we are going out later, my QRP TX operations today may be limited. The last 2 days there has been lots of Es around and I have been spotted by 6 unique stations on 8m QRP FT8. Just spotted by EA3ERE (1133km) in Spain and HC02 (1808km) SWL in Portugal so far.
How it all started
Way back in 1961, my dad bought me a Heathkit Electronics Workshop for Christmas. Little did I know then that this would later become my career and lifetime hobby.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/heathkit-electronics-workshop
Grandson and their cat - NOT amateur radio
Jubilee celebrations - NOT amateur radio
As readers in the UK will know, this was a special weekend to celebrate the queen being on the throne for 70 years. This was the entrance to the churchyard.
Jubilee weekend - NOT amateur radio
A royalist I am not, and I abhor status and wealth simply because of who you or your ancestors are/were. However, I have great respect for the UK queen, who has been on the throne for 70 long years. She has been a symbol of stability all that time. In all my years, I cannot remember anyone else. I think Charles will have a hard act to follow.
If the UK was to become a republic, I cannot think who would be president! Nobody comes to mind as a really well respected person.
Maybe the future is a reformed monarchy with less stuffiness and fewer "hangers on"?
FT819?
From the outset let me say this does not exist and is probably not even in the minds of Yaesu designers. I cannot believe that I originally posted my ideas as long ago as 2010!! This is a Photoshop mock up.
Actually I think Yaesu has totally "missed the boat" and we will never see a proper successor to the FT817ND and FT818. Most were totally underwhelmed when the actual FT818 came out. What a missed opportunity! We are again on the solar up-slopes, this time towards solar peak 25.
These were the specs I was hoping for 12 years ago!
Yaesu already has an SDR architecture in their FTDX10. They could reuse the FT817ND mechanics. Instead they have let ICOM have the market with the IC-705. I cannot see Yaesu making a fortune now, sadly.
I give Yaesu 5 years to leave the market or go bust.
Let us hope I am wrong.
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