The photo collage shows Peterborough Cathedral on Thursday.
6 Jul 2024
Peterborough Cathedral - NOT amateur radio
The photo collage shows Peterborough Cathedral on Thursday.
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
As 10m was open to Iberia, I thought I would try 8m QRP FT8. At 1719z, no spots.
UPDATE 1628z: Spotted by EA7KBX (1661km). No QSOs.
Pathfinders - NOT amateur radio
My dad died in 1987, long after WW2. He lived a quiet life in the years before he died. In his life he rarely talked about his experiences in the war and my biggest regret was not trying to understand just how frightening this must have been.
I am pretty sure he did not like the war. However, he became a pathfinder flying night raids over Germany in Lancasters. In recent years I have found out just how brave these elite airmen were. Night after night they flew not knowing if they would be killed or captured. After the war the knowledge that many innocent men, women and children just like him must have died as a result must have haunted him. No wonder he did not want to talk about those dark days!
Recently I have been introduced to a book called "The Pathfinders" by Will Iredale that shows the story behind the formation of this group.The book is available from Amazon and other booksellers.
Wars achieve very little for most ordinary folk who just want to live in peace. I am pretty sure this was how my dad felt, but he had no choice.
10m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ (Saturday)
Although my 10m FT8 RX is currently deaf, my TX is working just fine, so I have QSYed to 10m FT8. At 1432z, my QRP 10m FT8 has been spotted by just 2 G stations. On RX, despite being deaf, a 7Q6 in Malawi, several EU stations and one in the Gulf have been spotted.
In past sunspot maximum years, I would have been a keen SSB operator, whereas now I am almost exclusively on FT8 or WSPR and not chasing DX.
UPDATE 1700z: My furthermost on 10m QRP FT8 TX today with the QMX+ is TR8CA (5820km) in Gabon. Much to my surprise with my 10m FT8 RX audio still being in the red on WSJT-X, I have spotted 53 stations today on 10m FT8 RX.
15m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
So far today my 15m QRP FT8 has been spotted by 156 stations worldwide (see photo) with the QMX+ transceiver.
UPDATE 1348z: 233 stations across the world have spotted my QRP 15m FT8 today.
Peterborough lunch - NOT amateur radio
As usual we were not disappointed. I like that service charge is added to the bill so there is no messing about with tips. I hate having to add this on and wonder how much to give. This way all staff get a share. The photo shows my starter.
QMX+ bug?
In most respects I am very pleased with my built QMX+ from QRP labs. It represents good value for money and does "what is says on the tin" well. Mine has been used exclusively on FT8 with WSJT-X with a Windows 10 PC.
This morning my 15m QRP FT8 was spotted in Japan. My antenna is just a Par endfed.
It works fine on all the bands I have tried, but I may have a bug!
On FT8 RX with WSJT-X the RX audio is fine on the lower bands, but seems too low on the higher HF bands remaining in the red on WSJT-X on all bands above 15m. It is as if the RX audio on digital modes from the QMX+ is too low. Just occasionally it just makes green on 10m FT8 RX, but this seems "flaky".
All PC settings are on maximum. I am not sure if this is adjustable inside the box or can be fixed in the firmware/software. I am hoping there is something I can do to fix this.
VHF NFD 2024
In the UK VHF NFD is this weekend. It is a pity the weather is wet here! This is a chance to work some new squares on the VHF/UHF bands up to 23cm as activity can be good.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rules/2024/VHFNFD.shtml.
UPDATE 1422z: The impression I am getting is that activity is down. This may be due to the poor weather in this part of the UK or just that SSB is less popular than it once was. Local noise levels are higher too.
5 Jul 2024
10m QRP FT8 (Friday)
At 1221z, 139 stations spotted me and I spotted 137 stations using my QMX+ rig.
 |
| Stations spotting my 10m QRP FT8 today |
UPDATE 1841z: 435 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today. 400 stations spotted here.
Rallies this Sunday
It looks like this is quite a busy Sunday for UK rallies. As always, I recommend checking with organisers to check the data is correct.
- Sunday July 7th - Barford Norfolk Radio Rally, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. Contact radio@dcmicro.com.
- Sunday July 7th - British Vintage wireless Society (BVWS), Swapmeet for BVS members only, Royal Wootton Bassett.
- Sunday July 7th - Cornish Amateur Radio Club Rally, Truro TR1 1TN. Contact Ken 01209 821073.
QMX+ summary ..... so far
After owning and using my built and cased QMX+ for a few weeks , these are my initial thoughts. I don't think they are "finger trouble", but if they are my apologies to Hans!
- It is basically a very good rig.
- There are still a few bugs, which are preventing me fully enjoying it on FT8.
- Much like the QDX, I am finding the recognition of the QMX+ audio by a Windows 10 PC "flaky".
- The lack of a QMX+ manual is regrettable.
Overall, with these things corrected it represents very good value for money. Perhaps some of these things will be addressed in later firmware updates.
Maybe, it needs more testing before release with a Windows machine and more testing in digital modes?
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
4 Jul 2024
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 5 stations have spotted me.
10m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ (Thursday)
14 stations spotted me early today on QRP FT8. The RX audio seems to be too low from the QMX+ on digital RX. Sometimes it is (just) in the green on WSJT-X but many times it is too low and still in the red.
Overnight, I wondered if the RX audio on digital was controlled by the volume control (a good idea?), but adjusting this made no difference. It is as if the default audio setting on digital RX on built QMX+ units is too low at least on a Windows 10 PC like mine. I checked that all settings of audio on the PC were at maximum.
I could see no mention of this in the QMX manual and I think, as yet, there is no operating manual for the QMX+.
It is to be expected there would be some teething issues on early builds.
UK General Election day - NOT amateur radio
For readers in the UK, remember that this is a General Election day on which you have a chance to elect the MP of your choice to represent you. By voting you are having your say on the future government of the UK 🇬🇧.
If you don’t vote you will have to accept the consequences. Whatever your political views it’s important that you vote!!
3 Jul 2024
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My 8m 2.5W WSPR was on for a few hours this morning, but no spots. Now QRT on 8m.
Dream - NOT amateur radio
Most nights I dream but cannot remember them. Last night, just before waking, I had a dream that I remembered. I have absolutely no idea why I dreamed it! This is the essence of the dream:
We were on holiday and staying in a hotel room. Before we checked out we noticed that the bathroom bowl and a cupboard had been completely removed.
Now, this is totally bizarre as in reality we would have heard this being done. Dreams often reflect something going on in one's waking life, but I cannot think what this could be.
Any ideas?
At the chancel door: read the words! - NOT amateur radio
It is important to read the words, not just glance at the photo.
In death wealth does not matter.
10m 500mW WSPR in the last day
My 10m WSPR beacon was re-synced to internet time a few moments ago. In the last day 7 different stations have spotted my beacon with quite a few already this morning.
UPDATE 1328z: after a break of several hours, I am back on TX. No recent spots.
UPDATE 1700z: 10 stations have spotted me in the last day.
2 Jul 2024
2m activity contest this evening
After 5 QSOs with 10W SSB to my big-wheel omni, my voice had had enough, so I went QRT.
Battling with repeating my callsign is no longer fun. In fact it is hard work. As my voice is now poor, I really struggle in SSB contests. It used to be fun whereas now it is far harder.
Servicing the gas fire - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows our gas fire being serviced.
Radio France International antennas
These are the antennas at Radio France International. It looks like they have directional antennas so the ERP in the chosen direction must be huge.
European Es
According to the past, the European Es season should soon go "off the boil" and subside.
In my experience the Es season still goes on for a while longer. I have worked Scandinavians on 6m QRP SSB as late as September. With FT8 it should be even better. Es can occur at any time of the year, but the peak months are in the spring and early summer.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/
1 Jul 2024
An amazing resource
Recently I was reminded of this amazing resource. If you are looking for an old radio magazine, look here first.
See
Sunday lunch - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows where we ate lunch yesterday in Hope Cove. I have a record of my ancestors living here in the mid 1500s so we were probably here thousands of years before then. It is probable that a distant ancestor manned the Iron Age fort in the distance.
QMX+ testing later
When I get home I expect my USB-C lead will have come. At some point early this week I hope to do more tests with the QMX+ rig.
Travelling home- NOT amateur radio
After a few days in Devon with my brother I travel home later. It has been a good few days with weather I could not improve on - sunny and warm and not humid.
30 Jun 2024
Move to the right? - NOT amateur radio
Looking at mainland Europe, it seems there is a move to the right politically. Many right wing politicians reflect a view that is shared by many.
In the UK 🇬🇧 we seem to be moving to the left having had a right of centre party in power for 14 years.
500uW 10m WSPR tests
As you may recall I ran some 500uW WSPR tests this Es season, but was expecting better results. When Es is good signals can be strong so I was expecting plenty of spots.At 10mW I had few issues whereas at 500uW just a few spots. Maybe at this power I was below the local noise floor? Also, there may be fewer monitors on 10m WSPR these days as FT8 is a QSO mode.
Overall a worthwhile experiment even if the results were unexpected.
Village fete - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday the weather was perfect for my brother’s village fete. The photo shows the driveway up to the place where the fete was held.
29 Jun 2024
Rest from amateur radio
As I am with my brother in Devon for a few days, I cannot operate. How nice!!
Seen recently -NOT amateur radio
School view - NOT amateur radio
This was the view from my junior school in Salcombe. At the time we just took it for granted not knowing it was one of the best views in England.
Friedrichshafen
28 Jun 2024
Bedroom view - NOT amateur radio
This is the view from the bedroom window at my brother’s cottage in Devon.
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