Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 179. A=4 and K=2.
8 Feb 2025
7 Feb 2025
Talk without talking
At the end of the month I am giving a talk with a difference at the Cambridge Radio Club. The format is different from normal in that I prepare the slides but someone else does the talking, because I can no longer talk at presentations. This is the second time I have done this.
This time my talk is on 8m.
8m QRP FT8 TX (Friday)
At 1315z I turned on my QMX+ on 8m FT8 TX. At 1320z, nobody had spotted me.
UPDATE 1610z: QRT on 8m FT8. No spots of me.
10m QRP FT8 with the QMX+
Just before lunch I turned on the QMX+ to FT8. Power out is about 3.5W to an end-fed.
UPDATE 1301z: So far I have been spotted by 162 stations with the furthermost VK6DW (14466km) in Western Australia.
UPDATE 1630z: Back on 10m FT8 with the QMX+. 100 stations have spotted me recently.
UPDATE 2100z: 399 stations have spotted me today. See map. QRT soon.
PC and QMX+ puzzle solved
This morning I solved an issue with my QMX+.
I could not understand why, despite all the settings being correct, my QMX+ refused to have any output on FT8. What had not noticed was that the USB audio on the PC was muted. Once it was unmuted, all was well.
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
My 500mW beacon was turned on at about 0900z. So far just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.
UPDATE 1240z: In all, 8 stations spotted me this morning, before I went to 10m QRP FT8 with my QMX+
6 Feb 2025
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
With my antenna PL259 mended I went back on 8m at about 1230z.
UPDATE 1416z: No spots of me.
10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My 10m QRP FT8 (using the IC-705) was turned on at about 1115z.
Thursday plans
Today, I have several things to do:
1. Go on 10m QRP WSPR (already on).
2. Mend the PL259 plug on my 8m antenna (it came unsoldered).
3. Try 10m QRP FT8 with the IC705.
4. Set up GB3PI on my IC-705 and check access.
10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0900z.
UPDATE 1402z: 16 stations already spotting me today with the furthermost ZD7GB (7607km). |
| See https://wspr.rocks/ |
UPDATE 1642z: 32 stations have spotted me today.
Christ's Pieces - NOT amateur radio
Christ's College, part of the University of Cambridge, is nearby.
Cambridge buildings - NOT amateur radio
She took the photos on her way back from her course at the University of the Third Age.
VLF memory 2011
This was my copy of a VLF amateur signal from Germany 🇩🇪 on 8.97kHz with my earth-electrode antenna in the ground in 2011.
5 Feb 2025
10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
Since fixing the RF feedback issue (see earlier post) I have been on 10m FT8 since about 0700z.
UPDATE 1940z: 14 spots already with the IC-705, all bar one in the USA .
RF in the shack on 10m with the IC-705
For some reason I was getting RF feedback in the shack when using my IC-705 at 10W on 10m FT8. I added a few ferrite beads and this seems to have fixed it,
Waiting for the bus - NOT amateur radio
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on since just after breakfast. So far, 14 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1400z: 16 stations have spotted me.
VLF transmitter
It produced about 5W and my best DX (before my stroke intervened!) was about 6km. Much further would have been possible.
Since my stroke, I have been unable to continue my VLF tests. It is still on my shelf.
4 Feb 2025
Huge sunspot
Apparently there is a very large sunspot that could result in increased solar activity this week.
Is it or isn't it?
This radio was announced, and deposits taken, by many dealers months ago, yet (as far as I am aware) we have never seen any preliminary specs.
The only data I am aware of was the demo at the Tokyo Ham Fair last summer. I am still getting the feeling that Yaesu is "tweeking" the design or was just testing the market to judge whether or not it would make any money.
From what we have seen already it has fewer features than the 5 year old ICOM IC-705, meaning it would be unlikely to make Yaesu much, if any, profit.
As I have said many times, it has to be feature-rich and keenly priced to be a real winner. There are many loyal Yaesu fans, but the market place has become far more fierce since the FT817 was launched.
Come on Yaesu! Where are those specs?
Shetland sunrise - NOT amateur radio
As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives on the Shetland Islands. He takes some stunning photos including this one of the sunrise over Mousa.
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0914z.
UPDATE 1320z: 17 stations are spotting me today.
3 Feb 2025
6m QRP FT8 (Monday)
UPDATE 1712z: 17 English stations have spotted me.
RF in the shack
By turning the power down I seem to have proved that there is RF floating around the shack. So far I have tried one clip-on ferrite bead on the antenna coax as it enters the rig. I have more clip-on ferrite beads on order which I shall add on the leads between the USB plug on the PC and various rigs. These should be here later this week.
OFCOM licences
OFCOM has announced granting ground station licences to Amazon for its satellite system, mainly aimed at providing internet services. I think their system of low earth orbit satellites is to compete against Starlink. No doubt there will be a price war. See the OFCOM website for more details.
This will result in a huge number of additional satellites in low earth orbit. At some point these either burn up or fall to earth!
Tariffs - NOT amateur radio
The USA has already imposed heavy tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. It is threatening tariffs on the EU and UK. Whilst I can (I think) understand the reasons, my view is this is a blunt tool that can do much damage to the world economy.
Like it or not the world is very interconnected with supply chains that go the world over. Whilst I can see the incentives to keep things local, this will come at a cost. Suppliers nearer to home are likely to have higher labour costs, so things are likely to be more expensive.
The USA may be big enough to cope on its own. Much of the world cannot.
We may be at the start of a new world order with the USA (for now) forging an isolationist policy, unlike the rest of the world. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Local church - NOT amateur radio
This was our local church some summers ago. It will (all too) soon be spring. This winter has felt very long for some reason with lots of dull and dreary weather.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
In a few moments I expect to turn on my 500mW WSPR TX beacon.
UPDATE 1050z: My beacon was turned on at 0948z. So far, spotted by 13 stations.
 |
| WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ |
UPDATE 1504z: Spotted by 28 stations today.
Winchester Palace - NOT amateur radio
2 Feb 2025
RF in the shack?
When I try to use the IC-705 on FT8 I get an error message saying that there is a problem with the sound card when I know the correct one is being selected. Probably there is RF in the shack.
My antenna is an end-fed, and RF in the shack is often a problem with end-feds. I have never had the issue before. It probably depends exactly where the leads are placed.
Tomorrow I shall try adding ferrite beads to the antenna and PC leads to see if this cures the problem.
One thing I should try is reducing the RF power as this should prove it. With far lower power it should avoid the issue of RF feedback. If this proves it, I know what to do to fix it.
Would you pay over £13k for a transceiver?
One large UK dealer is selling a German made transceiver for over £13k. Now, each to their own, but I do not see this as amateur radio. Personally I would get as much fun with a transceiver having 14 parts total!
Oh, don't forget the linear, beam, rotator and tower!
The future of amateur radio
There was a link on Amateur Radio Weekly yesterday saying that amateur radio in the USA was not dying, but it was changing. I cannot speak for the USA, but I can for the UK.
Many groups are seeing a change, not just amateur radio: churches in the main, have an aging (mostly female) demographic. When this demographic ages and dies there will be very few left in many churches.
Amateur radio is like this. It does, in the main, appeal to older men. Many are retired with more disposable income than those younger people with growing families, high rents or mortgages. I do not see many of them joining the hobby as we did. These days they are more interested in their screens and online games. Worldwide communication is no longer magic and fascinated: it is just taken for granted.
Many PTTs are growing tired of administering amateur radio as it no longer generates revenues.
In the future I can see things changing for sure. My prediction is that amateur radio will merge with CB and become a free-for-all. As long as interference is not caused, these PTTs could not care. The main issue I can see would be traceability without some sort of callsign and registration.
See https://k4fmh.com/2025/01/22/the-u-s-ham-radio-market-is-it-dying/ .
More from the Clink Museum - NOT amateur radio
The conditions and torture must have been awful.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)
My 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on some of the time this morning.
UPDATE 1147z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me.
Sunday objectives
Today, I have 3 aims. We'll see if they are achieved!
1. To go on 10m QRP WSPR with my beacon.
2. To go on 8m QRP FT8 TX with my QMX+
3. To mend the PL259 plug (re-solder) on my V2000 antenna for 6m, 2m and 70cm.
UPDATE 1140z: Well, 2 objectives net! I am on 10m QRP WSPR and have mended my V2000 antenna plug. I seem to have issues with my PC not producing audio on any band. I may have to re-install WSJT-X in case that has got corrupted.
1 Feb 2025
Day off amateur radio
As we were out for most of the day, amateur radio had a rest. Whenever I am in the house I can usually be founds on some band on WSPR or FT8. Not today.
London trip - NOT amateur radio
Firstly, we wanted to visit the Clink prison museum and secondly we had lunch with our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter.
The museum was gruesome, but worth a visit. The meal was excellent.
31 Jan 2025
Heathkit
Many old timers have fond memories of Heathkits. Their kits were excellent with building manuals that step-by-step showed you how to build the item.
Someone restarted the company some years ago, and I think this is still going. I won't say "strongly" as the last time I looked they had a very limited range at very high prices! Sadly, it has a very limited range. I suspect they must have a very loyal customer base. By my judgment they would have closed several years ago. I wish them well, but they need far more kits at reasonable prices. The competition from the Far East must be crippling.
My introduction to radio was a Heathkit Electronics Workshop for Christmas 1961 bought for me by my dad. Little did he know it was the start of a career and hobby. Even now this hobby still gives me loads of fun.
I still like the form factor of the "Benton Harbour Lunchboxes". These were a series of AM transceivers for 11m CB, 10m, 6m and 2m. At the time these were ideal, although their wide super-regen receivers would struggle today.
See https://shop.heathkit.com/ .
More Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My QMX+ at 2W on 40.680 MHz USB was turned on FT8 at about 0945z.
UPDATE 1920z: Just EA7KBX (1661km) has spotted me.
630m WSPR RX last evening
5 stations were spotted with the furthermost LA3EQ (769km) in Norway. No further stations were spotted overnight.
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