First grass cut- NOT amateur radio

 

This weekend I cut my grass for the first time this year. At first the blades are set high. They will gradually be set lower.

Spring light - NOT amateur radio

We have moved from meteorological winter into spring. It is good to see signs of new life emerging and birds signing for mates.

I guess it is the light we notice. The sun is higher in the sky and everything looks brighter. I expect painters notice this.

Oscar 124

This is an FM satellite announced by AMSAT-EA.  It has an upload on 2m and download on 70cm. In all my time I have only had one QSO via a satellite. This must have been in the 1980s as it was (I think) a 10m uplink and 15m downlink at a time around solar minimum. I cannot remember the satellite.

See https://www.amsat-ea.org/ .

Perhaps this should be my new challenge - work a few stations via satellites?

See also https://launch.amsat.org/ .

Sunspots - Monday March 3rd

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 139.  A=6 and K=1.

Antenna farm

 Really, I don’t go for big antennas. This is my current “antenna farm“ with the windmill in the background.

A just peace - NOT amateur radio

Enduring peace is clearly the aim of both the USA and Ukraine.  Ukraine is worried about Russia taking a pause, regrouping and attacking again. They do not trust Russia and at the moment it appears the USA does trust them. At the same time Russia is paranoid about being attacked!  

I hope this can be overcome, so this needless war ends and everyone feels secure.

Cambridge Botanic Garden - NOT amateur radio

My wife made this collage of the orchids seen yesterday.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 After breakfast I intend to turn on my QDX transceiver running about 2-3W on 10m.

UPDATE 1005z:  15 stations have spotted me (I guess by F2 as most are in eastern Europe) and 133 stations have been spotted around the world on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1012z:  If all you are really after is digital modes on the HF bands then the tiny QDX is really all you need. It really is amazing at about the same size as a pack of cards! See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx. .

UPDATE 1642z:  53 spots of my QRP and 791 stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX today. The map shows the stations spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 10m
FT8 today with the QDX

UPDATE 2027z:  53 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 and I have spotted 1054. QRT.

VK3YE videos

VK3YE produces many good videos. This is just one of these. To me, he embodies all that is good about amateur radio.

FT891 100W transceiver

This is probably the best value "old" technology transceiver made by Yaesu. It has a detachable head that adds flexibility when fitting it into a car. 

If you don't want to buy a Chinese radio, it is probably one of the lowest cost new HF/6m 100W radios on the market.

Sunspots - Sunday March 2nd

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 105. A =19 and K=1.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens - NOT amateur radio

As today was sunny and dry we went to the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

At the moment I am back on 10m FT8 with my tiny QDX transceiver. It gives 3.8W with a 12V PSU, but I have several diodes in the power lead  so I reckon the power is 2-3W. The photo shows how really tiny the QDX is. Think of a pack of cards.

UPDATE 1027z:  6 spots of me. Pretty sure conditions are more disturbed. On 10m FT8  RX, 70 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2048z:  93 spots of my 10m QRP FT8 today. Now QRT.

What next? - NOT amateur radio

Probably most have seen the very public spat between Presidents Trump and Zelensky . 

Clearly the USA 🇺🇸 wants to stand proud in the world with trade on a fair playing field with other nations around the world. The majority in the USA voted for President Trump. 

What I fail to understand is why the President is falling out with so many in other countries. Surely if you want world peace you don’t want public rows with your allies!

We all want to see the world is a fairer, more peaceful, place.

I wonder what Russia and China make of it?

I have amended the posting in the light of the comment - quite correct. Thank you for putting me right!

8m talk last night

As mentioned yesterday I (sort of) gave a talk about 8m to the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC). 

It was in person and on Zoom, so I was at home!! 

One person was in Norway.

Sunspots - Saturday March 1st

 Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 104. A=32 and K=2.

Seriously /M

This  photo was on the internet yesterday- obviously taking mobile operation seriously 😉😉

FCC approval of the FTX-1F?

The last I heard was a rumour that the worldwide release of the Yaesu FTX-1F was waiting on the FCC approval.  

Despite this, I am puzzled by the lack of more detailed specs.. Has anyone seen any more detailed specs than those released last summer and any idea of the price? 

There is far more competition than when the FT817 was first released.

Yaesu FT101 restoration

The Yaesu FT101 has appeared in several versions since it first appeared way back. This is part 1 of a restoration project on a very old version.

Spring - NOT amateur radio

Tomorrow is the first day of meteorological spring. 

I always look forward to the first swallows returning from Africa on migration. They usually arrive here in mid April, although they are a bit earlier in Devon.  Swifts, that we see more of, arrive about mid-May. These are often heard screaming before being seen.

The first to arrive in Devon are the sand martins, which usually are seen in Devon mid March. I recall my dad telling me when he first saw some on his golf course.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/sand-martin .

"Sunsetting" - NOT amateur radio

Google Adsense amazes me. The phrase that they have come up with to say they are ending something is "sunsetting"  which is a way of saying stopping! They always use a turn of phrase that disguises the real meaning, making it sound something good.

So, if you want to say something is stopping, it is "sunsetting"

Cleaning the car - NOT amateur radio

Our neighbour across the road cleans his car every week. We clean ours when it gets embarrassing.  Judging by the moss, this must have been several months ago! 

Yesterday I washed the car.  😂

Experiment continued - 10mW 10m WSPR (Friday)

Today, I am concluding my experiment with very low power on 10m. Today, I am running 10mW 10m WSPR. Conditions are more disturbed than yesterday. 

UPDATE 1654z:   14 spots of me so far today. I think my experiment has demonstrated that very low power digital modes really do work on 10m. WSPR is better than FT8, but even 10mW of FT8 can be enough, although you need a clear frequency!   Back to QRO (3W HI) tomorrow!

UPDATE 1910z: 19 spots of my 10mW WSPR today.

Sunspots - Friday February 28th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 129. A=32 and K=4.

AliExpress

This is an outlet for Chinese (only?) companies. I find some of their prices remarkable. Often the goods come by air in just a few days. On some items I guess you might have to pay some duty. Even so, their prices are unbelievable.

I suppose the downside is that this kills western manufacturing that cannot compete with labour costs. Making in Europe or the USA we would not be able to compete on price.  Making consumer goods more locally would stoke inflation.

See https://www.aliexpress.com/ .

Two radio rallies this weekend

On Saturday we enter meteorological spring and rallies occur more often. The following have been notified to me, but I always advise to check before going far.

• Saturday March 1st - The Lagan Valley ARS Annual Rally, Hillsborough, N. Ireland, BT26 6AE. See www.lvars.uk
• Sunday March 2nd - Exeter Radio Rally, new venue, The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE.  Contact g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk .

Local club talk, without talking

As mentioned before, tomorrow night (Friday) at 2000z, I am giving a talk on 8m at the Cambridge Radio Club. As my voice is poor, someone else is doing the speaking even though I prepared the slides and notes. We did this last year and it worked. I am sure if you are not a regular CDARC member you would be welcomed as a guest.

See https://www.cdarc.org.uk/ .

10mW 10m FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 0915z. I am using the IC-705 at 3.2% power with a 15dB commercial RF pad right on the output. No spots yet although I am copying plenty of Far East stations on 10m FT8 RX despite the 15dB pad inline. I suspect with QRP you are more likely to be in the (local) noise or underneath a stronger station, so chances go way down. Given a low noise floor and a clear channel I am sure it would be possible at 10mW. As a reminder, my antenna is a low end-fed about 3m above ground. With the antenna higher and/or with a beam better results are assured.

UPDATE 1209z:  Still no spots on 10mW 10m FT8 TX, so I have QSYed in case I am being clobbered. On the evidence so far, 10mW FT8 is just too little. 100mW was fine. As the sunspots decline I think I will use 2-3W FT8 from the QDX on most occasions. It would seem the 10dB more reduction on FT8 TX power makes it hugely harder. I guess WSPR is better as it takes up less bandwidth (less chance of being clobbered) and works with signals far weaker. Maybe I should try 10m WSPR TX tomorrow at 10mW?

UPDATE 1440z:  Spotted by 2 stations when running 10mW 10m FT8. It is much harder at very low power. I suspect it would be far easier on 10m WSPR with its much smaller bandwidth (about 6 Hz rather than about 50 Hz) and far better sensitivity. WSPR can decode signals probably about 10dB weaker than those on FT8.

UPDATE 2144z:   QRT. 10mW 10m WSPR tomorrow.

Healthy breakfast - NOT amateur radio

Mid-week and at weekends I enjoy a cooked breakfast, but I try to eat healthily for breakfasts on other days. 

My typical breakfast is Weetabix with fruit.

Sunspots - Thursday February 27th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 123. A=16 and K=4. 

17m super-DX

 A local friend of mine reports that he has been spotted in South Australia with just 2mW WSPR on 17m. It goes to prove that not much power is really needed!

Really? - NOT amateur radio

"Apple says it is working to fix its speech-to-text tool after some social media users found that when they spoke the word "racist" into their iPhones it typed it out as "Trump."" .

 See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq90ke4degt

Promise - NOT amateur radio

We are coming to the end of winter and there is a hint of spring: days are getting longer, snowdrops are out and the daffodils are not far behind. 

100mW 10m FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear has been on since before breakfast.The IC-705 power out is set to 1% (100mW).

UPDATE 0920z:   So far, spotted by 17 stations! QRP? Easy!!

Stations spotting my 100mW 10m FT8 at 1320z

UPDATE 1326z:  78 stations have spotted my 100mW 10m FT8 including many in the USA. I can't say running just 100mW is really such a handicap. 5W sounds like real QRO!! Furthermost is W5LOR (7629km).

UPDATE 1545z:  131 stations spotting me in 5 continents on 100mW 10m FT8. With an external attenuator, I think I can go to 10mW 10m FT8.  Actually with my 15dB attenuator I could go even lower! 

UPDATE  1604z: Just added 15dB pad to output. Output is now 3.2mW. No spots, so this might be too low, especially if clobbered by a stronger station! Lots of stations still being spotted on 10m FT8 RX even with the 15dB attenuator.

UPDATE 2045z:  QRT. No spots at 3.2mW. Tomorrow I shall try 10mW.

DXpedition

 In the summer is a DXpedition to this Pacific island.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 26th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 155. A=16 and K=3.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We have had amaryllis plants in flower all the time from November and we still have some still to flower!  

My wife made this collage.

Church abuse - NOT amateur radio

It is saddening that the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in the UK seem to be untrustworthy when it comes to sexual abuse. 

I know personally of one Anglican priest who was moved on to another parish rather than being sacked after having carried out sexual abuse. He carried out abuse against minors (not me!) and was moved to another parish.

It is my view that this sort of thing is widespread and the churches are more concerned about themselves and less concerned about the victims. A similar situation seems to be the case in the Roman Catholic church in the UK.

You would hope that all churches could be trusted without question.

In my view any safeguarding investigations absolutely must be independent.

Windmill in the sunshine - NOT amateur radio

This is the windmill next door to us yesterday. 

The sun came out after lunch. 

We can see it from the breakfast table and from the lounge.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 5W was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 0945z:  Spotted by 21 stations with the furtherest South America and Reunion Is..

UPDATE 1430z:  377 stations have spotted my 5W 10m FT8 today. 

UPDATE 1435z:  Turned the power down to 500mW to see what happens on 10m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1518z:  Even at 500mW FT8, 28 stations have spotted me with about half of these in the USA with one in the west of Canada.

UPDATE 1727z:   60 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m QRP  FT8 today.

Mindfulness - NOT amateur radio

This is one of those "new age" phrases that many find annoying.

What it is really trying to get you to do is live and enjoy the "now".  We are often crowded out by thoughts and worries in our heads and forget to enjoy the simple pleasures all around us right now. 

Often the most mundane thing is pleasurable, but we are too busy worrying to just enjoy it.

See https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/mindfulness/.

Tuesday plans

 Today I think I shall go on 10m QRP FT8. Probably my QRP will span the world. Probably I shall use the IC-705 at 5W. 

Village sign -NOT amateur radio

This was our village sign yesterday. 

It is located on a place called Pound Hill as it was once the location of the village pound where animals found wandering were locked up and released when the owner paid a fine!

It is also the tiny village green.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 25th

 Solar flux is 203 and the SSN 182. A=14 and K=2.

CDARC website

A quick look at the Cambridge Radio Club website showed a photo of me giving a talk. I am doing one later this week on 8m. I prepare the slides, but as my voice is so poor someone else is doing the presentation and speaking!  The photo must be years old as an "in person"  presentation must pre-date my 2013 stroke.

See https://www.cdarc.org.uk/ .

How? ATS-20+ RX

Just now I saw a Chinese RX on Amazon. 

At £44.99 I just cannot see how they do it.  

What is the world coming to? - NOT amateur radio

When my wife was young she took a wolf whistle as a compliment. These days even just a touch is an infringement of civil liberties and is a sackable offence! Get real, please.  I really hope a judge somewhere says, "case dismissed, stop wasting my time".

Yes, everyone regardless of race, sexuality, colour and nationality has a right to be treated properly and with respect, but there is a vast difference between abusing someone and just a friendly and unharmful touch or comment.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce30l5497x2o .

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My FT817ND to the low dipole was turned on at about 0915z on 40.680 MHz with a DF of about 1960Hz. 

UPDATE 1017z:  Spotted by a couple of stations in the Canary Is at about 3000km.

UPDATE 1458z:   7 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 with the furthermost ZR1ADI (9777km).

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 0914z.  EA8BFK (2880km) and local G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1019z:  4 stations spotting me with the furthermost ZD7GB (7607km).

UPDATE 1535z:  31 stations spotting me including JW1ITS Jan Mayen  (2945km) in the frozen north. Best DX is a spot from Brazil.

Monday plans

 Shortly, I intend to try 10m QRP WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8 TX.  The solar forecast is quite promising.