Garden wildlife - NOT amateur radio

This Muntjac deer was in our front garden yesterday. It stared at me, then carried on as if I was stupid and not there. They are quite common around here. 

Frankly, they are a darn pest eating many flower heads. Last year we had loads of tulips, but most were eaten.

They are about the size of a large dog.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR, which is the most for some time. Furthest was a station in Germany 🇩🇪. Not a bad session.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 5th

 Solar flux is 192 and the SSN 224. A=8 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 Since coming home, I am now on 630m QRP again (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) and expect to stay on overnight.  Already spots by 2 stations.

That reunion - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, I have been away for a few days at a reunion of old university friends. This was us (less me as I took the photo!) at a meal last night. 

It looks a bit like an old masters painting of the last supper! I used my camera phone on panorama.

Later we were treated to a firework display as a newly named cruise ship left.

500uW 10m WSPR (Tuesday)

Since returning home this afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). 

UPDATE 2038z:   No spots.

Liverpool trip - NOT amateur radio

We have just returned from a long weekend in Liverpool. 

We were there for a reunion of old friends who were all university students in the late 1960s. I had hair back then!

6m QRP FT8

Since returning home today, I am on 6m QRP FT8  with my 2.5W and vertical omni V2000 antenna. At 1555z: 68 stations have spotted me. Furthermost is a spot from the northern tip of Norway.

UPDATE 2044z:   217 spots of my 6m FT8 so far.  Furthermost is a spot by UN3M (3553km) in Kazakhstan. I think most of these are Es.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 4th

 Solar flux is 192 and the SSN 208. A=12 and K=0.

Are we heading for a second peak?

Liverpool big wheel - NOT amateur radio

 

When I was a student in Liverpool in the late 1960s the dock area was abandoned and grim . It has been redeveloped and now is lovely filled with places to eat and museums. Like many big cities it has a big wheel.

Hot Iron 125

 For those that don’t know this,it is an online magazine in PDF format for constructors. Most editions have interesting content or links.

See https://www.w4npn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hot-Iron-125-May-2024.pdf

Sunspots - Monday June 3rd

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 186. A=5 and K=2.

When was/is solar maximum?

My usual site for solar data usually has a major update at the start of the month. Last time they were predicting the smoothed peak of solar cycle 25 was November 2023. It will be interesting to see this month's prediction. Sometimes we have a second peak.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots - Sunday June 2nd

Solar flux is 188 and the SSN 194. A=5 and K=1.

Train - NOT amateur radio

 We are in Liverpool for a reunion with old university friends. 1967 seems a long time ago!! This was our train at Liverpool Lime Street station.

UK General Election, July 4th - NOT amateur radio

Why is it that all major parties make promises in the run-up to a general election, but always find a reason to break them? In my old age I must be getting very cynical, but I do not trust any of the big parties.

With a month to go in a seat that is staunchly Conservative, I shall probably vote Green. It is almost certain they will not win, but it shows the way I think.

6m QRP FT8

 My 6m QRP FT8 was on overnight. In the last day and overnight it was spotted by 184 stations mostly by Es. Furthermost was EA8/DF4UE (2876km).

Sunspots - Saturday June 1st

 Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 135. A=12 and K=2.

Fan Vaulting - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the roof of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge which is very many centuries old. King's was founded in the time of King Henry VI.

As a local resident, we can go in whenever we like with a resident' pass. My son has an alumni pass which he can use with some guests.

See https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/visit-kings.

10m 500uW WSPR (Friday)

Although my beacon has been on all morning and synced to internet time, no spots of me today.  I have lost count of the countries that have spotted my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

48 spots of my 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna so far. Most of these look like Es (see map).

Sunspots- Friday May 31st

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 144. A=8 and K=2.

Rally News

 The following rally has been notified to me. As always, I recommend contacting the organiser to check details.

Sunday June 2nd - Spalding and District ARS Annual Rally, Spalding, PE12 6AF. Contact rally2024@sdars.org.uk .

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Today, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 omni vertical antenna. At 1400z, 33 stations had spotted me. Most look like Es.

UPDATE 1517z:  40 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today so far (see map).

500uW 10m WSPR (Thursday)

 No spots of my 500uW (0.5mW) beacon today.

Brunch in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

One of the benefits of being old is free bus travel. This is us having brunch in Cambridge before shopping and sitting in King's College Chapel. Free entry to King's as a local. 😉

Google Adsense - NOT amateur radio

Perhaps they should rename this Google Nonesense? In the last hour my visitor numbers have (supposedly) doubled, which I am sure is not correct. I look regularly, although I am not sure why. Like the UK weather, I think your guess is as good!

European Es (Thursday)

As yesterday, there is intense Es in eastern Europe, which I hope moves west. Unlike yesterday, I have not seen any Japanese stations on 6m FT8. My own 2.5W FT8 is being spotted in the UK, with many on 6m hoping for some Far East DX!

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I lived as a young child. At the time we just took it for granted. Salcombe is in the distance on the left.

Much later, I realised just how lovely it was. These days it is a very expensive place to live with many second homes. House prices are ridiculously high, so much so that locals are priced out.

2200m beacon

Looking through some old photos, I spotted this one from 2012 showing my beacon for 2200m (137kHz).

As I recall it produced about 8W although the ERP was in the microwatts as my antennas were not very good.

Sunspots - Thursday May 30th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 131. A=6 and K=1.

6m FT8 on 2.5W (Wednesday)

At about 1916z, I decided to go on 6m FT8 with QRO (for me!) of 2.5W.  Lots of Es around Europe. 

The furthermost was a spot of me by PY2DS (9583km) in Brazil. This looks like Es linking with TEP.  On 6m FT8 RX loads of stations in Brazil spotted.

Pretty sure this is the third time I have reached South America on 6m in the last few weeks. One was with just with 10mW!

UPDATE 2117z:   115 stations have spotted me so far. Es in Europe seems to be good. My gear will be on overnight hoping that I might be spotted in the USA.

2m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

About 15 minutes ago I switched to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 

So far, at 1131z, 16 stations have spotted me with the furthermost F6DBI (501km) in Brittany.

UPDATE 1345z: 23 spots of me so far on 2m QRP FT8 (see map). Furthermost is EI9KP (649km).

2m QRP FT8 spots
 of me today

UPDATE 1648z:  35 spots of me in 7 counties. 43 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1850z:   39 stations have spotted me.

2m Es (Wednesday)

Es on 2m is rare. I see that 2m Es is occurring in the east of Europe. Maybe it will spread further west? 

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

6m 10mW FT8 (Wednesday)

My 10mW 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on for a few hours. Already spotted by 7 stations. This is far easier than I was expecting. Every time I go on it works at 10mW. 

The map shows the stations that have spotted me.

10m 500uW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 500uW  beacon is synced to internet time and on again. No spots at 0837z.

UPDATE 2055z:  2 stations in Europe have spotted my 500uW 10m WSPR.

Far East on 6m

Even with my attenuator in, I was spotting a Japanese station on 6m FT8. At first, as it is very early in the season for this, which happens every year in late June/early July, I assumed this was a pirate. 

However, when I spotted a second one I began to believe this could be real. 

It is believed this propagation is linked to noctilucent clouds which form usually in June and July. With climate change these seem to be more common.

Sean Henry statues, Ely - NOT amateur radio

At the moment there is an exhibition at Ely Cathedral of statues by Sean Henry. 

These are large and small and some are very realistic.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Not a bad session. It would appear spots are still being received from the old favourites, although I have not had DX spots now for a while.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 29th

Solar  flux is 166 and the SSN 141. A=6 and K=0.

Quansheng UV-K5(8)

This 5W handheld has been on sale for £12.89!!   I just cannot understand how they do it and make profits. 

If they are trying to kill off Japanese radios, they are succeeding.

Back in the early 1970s we used to sell professional UHF handhelds for over £700.

6m 10mW FT8 (Tuesday)

My QRPP signal is again on 6m FT8. Plenty of stations being copied on RX, despite the attenuator!

UPDATE  1034z:  My 10mW spotted by 4 stations mainly in the Baltic area.

UPDATE  1055z:  8 stations have spotted my 10mW 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1220z:  13 stations have spotted my 10mW 6m FT8 today most in Scandinavia.

Spots of my 6m
10mW FT8 today 

UPDATE 1539z:  21 spots of my 10mW FT8 today (see map). I never expected it to be this easy, or to spot so many on RX with the attenuator in!

Strong Es in eastern Europe (Tuesday)

 At the moment I can see strong Es in eastern Europe.  Let's hope it moves further west.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

10m 500uW WSPR

 

My 500uW 10m WSPR was spotted by DK6UG (633km) late yesterday. This looks like a patch of Es.

UPDATE 0834z: synced to internet time, but no spots this morning.

UPDATE 1547z: Yet again, my 500uW 10m WSPR was spotted in Scotland. I have lost count of how many countries my 500uW WSPR have been spotted in, but it is a lot.

Double rainbow - NOT amateur radio

 

This was our close last evening. On the whole it was a dry day with just some rain after teatime.

160m QRP FT8 overnight with the earth-electrodes in the ground

It works!  

Connecting the FT817ND to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground the match via the transformer used on 630m remained good, so I left things unchanged. It was pretty effective on the setting below maximum on the FT817ND. The map shows the spots I got.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 28th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 116.   A=8 and K=2.

Recent events in the UK - NOT amateur radio

Several recent events have severely dented my confidence in "the deep state". These include the contaminated blood scandal, Grenfell Tower and the Post Office scandal.  Time and again, we hear of corruption in high places. It makes me sick.

It would be good if those in high places operated at all times with high integrity and honesty. It would appear many cannot be trusted sadly.

160m QRP FT8 tonight?

Overnight, I may give 160m FT8 a go with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This assumes the match is acceptable. 

For a first try I shall probably use 2.5W. It is unlikely I shall be on until it gets dark. I don't think I have tried 160m FT8.

UPDATE 1656z:  The match is good and I am on 160m with 2.5W FT8.  No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1831z:   One UK spot of me by 2E0INH (60km).

UPDATE 1900z:  3 UK spots of me so far this evening. Still very much light. Furthermost is G4BRK (133km). This is quite reasonable with 2.5W FT8.

UPDATE 2039z:  6 spots of me (see map).

UPDATE 2154z : 11 spots of me with 2 spots from Norway.

Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio

 

This morning, we did a very nice walk around part of Wicken Fen.