Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 184. A=10 and K=2.
23 Sept 2023
22 Sept 2023
630m WSPR RX (Friday)
UPDATE 2115z: The impression I am getting is that there are a few keen operators, but perhaps fewer than in previous seasons. I am wondering if I should get on 630m WSPR TX .....or not.
Too quick - NOT amateur radio
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At the time you think they will be little for a long time. A blink and they are teenagers! Moral? Enjoy every moment.
Cambridge without the students - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken in Cambridge earlier.
10m QRP WSPR TX
As I am on 8m FT8, I can use my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon at the same time.
UPDATE 1635z: 25 spots of my QRP this afternoon. See map.
8m QRP FT8
As 10m FT8 was good, I have QSYed to 8m FT8. So far, no spots with my 2.5W and dipole.
UPDATE 1554z: S50B (1220km) has spotted me and I have spotted him. There is still life on 8m FT8.
10m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 10m FT8 QRP gear was turned on at about 0700z. I have already spotted FR1GZ but I have yet to be spotted outside Europe with 2.5W.
UPDATE 1412z: My 2.5W was widely spotted today. See map.
UPDATE 0754z: 15 stations have spotted me with the furthermost FR1GZ (9719km).
Plans for today
As 8m is not too promising, I shall try 10m FT8 QRP today. If conditions buck up, I may try 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX with the beacon.
Paul Tillich - NOT amateur radio
Many years ago, I read a book by the German theologian Paul Tillich. The book was entitled "The Shaking of the Foundations". I think it was written about 1950. Paul Tillich was no saint. According to a biography by his wife, he had human weaknesses like us all. In some ways this makes what I read even more powerful.
I am not a deeply religious person, but somehow this rang true to me.
"Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when we feel that our separation is deeper than usual, because we have violated another life, a life which we loved, or from which we were estranged. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: "You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!" If that happens to us, we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed. In that moment, grace conquers sin, and reconciliation bridges the gulf of estrangement. And nothing is demanded of this experience, no religious or moral or intellectual presupposition, nothing but acceptance.
In the light of this grace we perceive the power of grace in our relation to others and to ourselves. We experience the grace of being able to look frankly into the eyes of another, the miraculous grace of reunion of life with life. We experience the grace of understanding each other's words. We understand not merely the literal meaning of the words, but also that which lies behind them, even when they are harsh or angry. For even then there is a longing to break through the walls of separation. We experience the grace of being able to accept the life of another, even if it be hostile and harmful to us, for, through grace, we know that it belongs to the same Ground to which we belong, and by which we have been accepted. We experience the grace which is able to overcome the tragic separation of the sexes, of the generations, of the nations, of the races, and even the utter strangeness between man and nature. Sometimes grace appears in all these separations to reunite us with those to whom we belong. For life belongs to life.
And in the light of this grace we perceive the power of grace in our relation to ourselves. We experience moments in which we accept ourselves, because we feel that we have been accepted by that which is greater than we. If only more such moments were given to us! For it is such moments that make us love our life, that make us accept ourselves, not in our goodness and self-complacency, but in our certainty of the eternal meaning of our life. We cannot force ourselves to accept ourselves. We cannot compel anyone to accept himself. But sometimes it happens that we receive the power to say "yes" to ourselves, that peace enters into us and makes us whole, that self-hate and self-contempt disappear, and that our self is reunited with itself. Then we can say that grace has come upon us.
"Sin" and "grace" are strange words; but they are not strange things. We find them whenever we look into ourselves with searching eyes and longing hearts. They determine our life. They abound within us and in all of life. May grace more abound within us!"
630m WSPR last evening
Overall, 4 stations were spotted last evening. It seems staying on after midnight is pointless. This was the same before. The best time would seem to be mid evening.
21 Sept 2023
UK Prime Minister on climate change targets - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, the UK Prime Minister announced that some climate change targets were being pushed back 5 years. With high interest rates and high cost of living costs, many are struggling. However, I think this is a backward step. It is true that some technologies are not yet there. Storage of renewable energy and cheaper (non-lithium) batteries for electric cars come to mind. As far as I know there was nothing on home insulation that would reduce costs with any fuels.
If the UK is to lead in renewable energy, this needs serious investment, not pandering to Tory backbenchers and fossil fuel companies.
Before this is likely to be a serious issue, I shall be dead. However my children and their children will suffer the consequences. Better renewable energy storage, solid state batteries and better ranges on cheaper electric cars are all likely. Carbon capture may help.
Overall, I am disappointed. There is so much more that can be done. Make no mistake, this really is an existential threat to the whole human race. We ignore this at our peril.
Hopefully, technology will help and there will be a mass transition away from fossil fuels, but this is far from certain.
Upcoming rallies
The following rallies are due. I always advise contacting to check details are correct. All are on Sunday September 24th (Sunday coming).
- Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hangar Sale, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Contact coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk.
- Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally, Roughham Tower, IP32 7QB. Contact rally2023@Bsears.co.uk .
- Weston Super Mare Radio Society 8th Radio and Electronics Rally, Worle, BS24 7DX. Contact westonradiosociety@gmail.com .
- Biggleswade Swap-meet and auction (BVWS), Biggleswade, SG18 8JH . Contact Jezzer3@hotmail.com .
What IS it? - NOT amateur radio
I am sure there is a much more rational answer.
472 kHz WSPR
This autumn, I intend to try 472 kHz WSPR again. I had a problem last season which prevented me TXing. Once again I shall be using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Probably RX only at first to check activity. I might try RX only tonight.
UPDATE 1925z: When using the shack PC WSPRnet asked me to log in again and enter my password, which I cannot recall, so I am getting a new one. I may try 472 kHz WSPR RX tomorrow night instead.
UPDATE 1956z: It works! I had the wrong username (now corrected), so I am monitoring 472 kHz WSPR. So far, G1GKN (54km) spotted using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 2013z: Furthermost on 472 kHz WSPR RX is DC0DX (467km).
UPDATE 2130z: After late evening in previous years 472kHz WSPR has not been productive. As this is my first time on the band for some time, I may let the RX stay on overnight to see what is spotted.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
All morning I have been on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W and dipole. At 1133z no spots on RX or TX.
UPDATE 1434z: Still no spots.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
Since about 0830z, my QRP 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on the air.
UPDATE 1952z: 10 stations spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon today with the furthermost in Antarctica.
20 Sept 2023
1980s "shack"
8m QRP FT8
My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on at 0854z. No spots after 25 minutes.
UPDATE 1748z: Disappointing, with no spots on TX or RX all day.
10m QRP WSPR TX
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 0854z. After about 20 minutes just spots from local G4KPX (14km).
19 Sept 2023
Montenegro blog - NOT amateur radio
Last week we enjoyed a holiday in Montenegro. As it is easy to forget, I created a blog to help me remember what we did!
Back home - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, we flew home from Montenegro. It more or less on time. It was a good holiday, but too many steps!
10m QRP WSPR TX
As I am back home I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. Just G4KPX (14 km) spotting me.
Back on 8m
As I am now back home, I am back on QRP FT8 on 8m.
UPDATE 1136z: Spotted by WESSEXSDR (266km). It looks like this is aircraft reflection.
18 Sept 2023
More countries on 8m?
It is rumoured that E51 (Cook Is) is trying to gain access to the 8m band.
I very much hope that many more countries will try (and be granted) limited access to the band. We are approaching sunspot maximum and if more countries asked for, and were given, access even for a limited time, we could really contribute to radio science.
There will be times in the next few years when the MUF will just exceed 41 MHz. If you are asking your PTT for limited access, these are my suggestions:
- 40.680 - 40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz in the ISM band)
- 10W ERP
- Narrow digital modes (e.g. FT8, WSPR, CW) only
- Secondary only
- By NoV or equivalent (i.e. you have to ask for access)
- Aim is mainly for propagation research.
- Access for 12 months (around sunspot maximum)
- Strictly no interference.
17 Sept 2023
National Park in Montenegro - NOT amateur radio
My 100mW 10m WSPR beacon in 2012
A very long time ago, I built a tiny QRP WSPR beacon for 10m. These were the results. I think it is still in a drawer somewhere. As I recall this was at this time of year on the climb to the peak of solar cycle 24.
Truth? - NOT amateur radio
I am concerned that we are fed a line by the media that may not be the truth. This we know happens in Russia, but it also happens in the west too. Often we don't realise.
The changing nature of amateur radio
Have you noticed the change? Repeaters are often quiet for hours and there is less SSB and CW activity. FM simplex QSOs apart from nets and skeds are almost never heard. More people use FT8 to work DX. In the past people used amateur radio for chatting, but this can be done worldwide with video more easily with the Internet and smartphone or PC. Most now use amateur radio in a different way. I am not saying it wrong as I am as guilty as anyone! But the logical consequences are clear.
16 Sept 2023
4m disappointing
Earlier this year I went on 4m FT8 both before the Es season and during the Es season using my FT-710 that I owned at the time.
Overall, I was disappointed. Yes, when there was Es DX could be had. However when there was no Es activity was poor.
Vesuvius 2017 - NOT amateur radio
This photo shows a brooding Vesuvius in 2017. We visited Pompeii in 2017. What stuck me most was how similar life was back then. Yes, there were differences, but I did not expect to see takeaway shops for example, nearly 2000 years ago!
In the mountains - NOT amateur radio
We also went on Lake Skadar and had lunch on an island.
OFCOM reminder
Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences. There are several new publications too. See the OFCOM website for more information.
Where I grew up as a child - NOT amateur radio
Salcombe, where I spent my childhood, is to the left of this photo.
15 Sept 2023
F2 and 8m
Last winter my 2.5W 8m FT8 was copied "across the pond" on several occasions. This season should be at least as good. We may even see some E-W F2 openings on 6m FT8. The F2 season should start in earnest in the next few weeks.
Budva harbour, Montenegro - NOT amateur radio
There is something relaxing about watching boats bobbing up and down in the water. This was yesterday.
AI (artificial intelligence) - NOT amateur radio
Until this year most would not know what AI meant. In the last 9 months this has changed and most are aware of what it means.
In the next 20 years it could have a profound impact on all of us.
14 Sept 2023
Rally
The following rally has been notified to me. Please check details are correct before travelling any distance.
Saturday September 16th - Angel of the North ARC Rally. Bensham Gateshead, NE8 4LH. Contact anarc.club@gmail.com.
Experimentation
One of the aspects of our hobby that I have most enjoyed is experimentation. It doesn't cost much, is fun, and all can do it.
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