The latest thing from Google Adsense is about a webinar. Now I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about! Perhaps it means something to people still in work.
It proudly states:
Why accessibility is your next big UI/UX opportunity
5 Aug 2025
10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon has been on since about 0845z.
UPDATE 1210z: 7 stations have spotted me, most presumably Es.
6m 2W FT8 (Tuesday)
My IC-705 at 2W FT8 to the V2000 vertical was turned on at about 0845z.
UPDATE 1730z: So far, 116 stations have spotted me. Plenty of Es still.
4 Aug 2025
10m 1W FT8 (Monday)
My IC-705 is turned on at just 1W FT8. My antenna is still a low end-fed.
UPDATE 1322z: So far, 157 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 201 stations. The map shows the stations that had spotted me at 1322z.
UPDATE 2047z: 380 stations have spotted my 1W or less 10m FT8 today on 4 continents. QRT. The map shows the stations spotting me today.
UPDATE 1426z: Doh!! Guess who forgot to turn on the PSU? So actually I was running 500mW and not 1W. Now at 1W FT8. 174 stations have spotted me.
Elecraft KX3
One of my Facebook memories today was the introduction of the Elecraft KX3 in 2011. This is sadly too expensive in the UK so along with the later KX2 will not be on my Christmas list!
3 Aug 2025
6m 2W FT8 (Sunday)
I am now back on 6m 2W FT8.
UPDATE 1928z: So far this evening I have been spotted by 34 stations with the farthest D4L (4518km)
15m 1W FT8 (Sunday)
For a change I have QSYed to 15m FT8 with 1W.
UPDATE 1816z: After a few minutes on 15m FT8, spotted by 141 stations. See map.
UPDATED 1846z: 180 stations have spotted me. Now QSYed to 6m 2W FT8.
10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
After my abortive outing on 70cm FT8, I have returned to 10m FT8. Initially this was RX only, but I intend to go on TX (5W) shortly.
UPDATE 1300z: Back on 10m 500mW FT8 TX.
UPDATE 1519z: Spotted by 99 stations. Es I think for most.
UPDATE 1655z: Back to high power - 1 watt FT8! Spotted by 130 stations today.
UPDATE 1754z: 238 stations have spotted me mostly with 500mW, a few with 1W FT8.
70cm 5W FT8 (Sunday)
After lunch I may try 70cm FT8 with my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In contests I usually spot plenty of stations in the Netherlands, but I don't recall trying 70cm FT8 at other times. I guess my problems will be (1) distance, (2) lack of monitors, (3) power and antenna.
My theory is some quite remarkable distances are being spanned by some sort of scatter.
UPDATE 1115z: Turned on.
UPDATE 1215z: No spots. QRT. on 70cm. Moving to 10m FT8.
2m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My 5W 2m FT8 to the big-wheel omni antenna has been on since about 0945z.
UPDATE 1055z: 10 spots so far in 2 countries..
10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)
Plenty of Es still about with 11 stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR and I have not been on long.
UPDATE 1028z: 33 stations spotting me.
VHF troposcatter?
Yesterday evening I went on 2m FT8 with my 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.
It seems that every time I go on I am spotted at amazing distances. As an example, I was spotted in Poland at over 1000km with my QRP.
I think my QRP FT8 is copied by troposcatter. FT8 is better than CW or SSB by some way, so I suppose this offsets the antenna gain and power.
It this is true at 2m, I would expect this is also true at 70cm and possibly 23cm.
Sunflowers
These are fun plants. I planted some seeds in the ground and a tray and about 7 are coming up and should soon be in flower.
UPDATE 1721z: All these are now supported.
New rig? No.
Last year I put £1000 in a savings account. I expected to trade in my IC-705 for the FTX-1F. To say I was shocked by both the high price and lack of features of the new Yaesu would be an understatement.
My thoughts turned to other rigs. I considered the FT710 (again) and the IC-7300, but decided I would gain very little: 4m is very quiet outside of the Es season and my IC-705 more than does all I need up to 70cms.
So, for now I have decided I do not need anything at all besides what I have.
Should ICOM do a true portable I might reconsider.
2 Aug 2025
10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)
My QRP beacon was turned on at about 1744z.
UPDATE 1835z: So far, no spots of me. Then I realised the PSU was not even switched on! Switched on PSU at 1834z! Doh!
UPDATE 19011z: 13 stations have spotted me with the furthest EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is..
UPDATE 2032z: QRT.
2m QRP 5W FT8 (Saturday)
At about 1744z I QSYed to 2m FT8 using my big-wheel omni antenna.
UPDATE 2018z: Spotted by 20 stations. Furthest is SQ2GJS (1077km). Surely this must be troposcatter. On RX 23 stations spotted with the furthest DL2KCK (497km) in Germany.
UPDATE 2030z: QRT.
UK football season already
It amazes me that we are already in the UK football season.
The teams I follow are Plymouth Argyle (recently demoted to League Division 1) and Cambridge United (in League Division 2).
I wish both teams luck this season.
UPDATE 1533z: Plymouth were losing 1:2 and Cambridge winning 1:0.
MLS and the FTX-1
With great fanfare the UK dealer MLS has announced that soon people who pre-ordered the rig will get deliveries after the first UK unit arrived.
I fail to see what the attraction is: it is £400 more than the ICOM IC-705 and, as far as I can see, offers less than the ICOM rig apart from 4m in European versions and the larger battery. The IC-705 is now several years old .
When I saw what was on offer I was seriously underwhelmed. In my view at under £1000 they might have stood a chance. At £1599, no chance.
People who must have a shiny new radio, maybe, but the vast majority will give it a miss at this stupid price.
If ICOM next make a true mutlimode, multiband portable, they could make a killing. In my view Yaesu has seriously "lost the plot"..... and the market.
Buddlia bush
It has flowered for the first time.
Buddlia flowers are supposed to attract butterflies.
10m 2W FT8 (Saturday)
Today, I am trying 10m FT8 with 2W FT8. It was turned on at about 0855z.
UPDATE 0930z: Already 79 Es spots of me. Even with very low power I get spotted by many stations on FT8. Who needs kilowatts?
UPDATE 1740z: 221 stations have spotted my 2W QRP 10m FT8. On RX 317 stations spotted here with the furthest the Falklands. Still plenty of Es about.
Anglesey Abbey
We went for a walk here earlier this week avoiding the rain.
As it is summer holidays for schools they are gearing up for kids as they have crazy golf.
The scissors ✂️ are for a fashion exhibition.
Loop antennas
These can be surprisingly effective, especially if the loop is made with really low loss material. What surprised me was how well they did with QRP and normal wire .
This photo dates from August 2013 in the garden at the old QTH.
1 Aug 2025
Tree trunk flowers
On the Causeway (a tree lined road in our village) they had to cut down a tree. I am so pleased they have made a feature of it by planting some flowers in the old tree trunk base.
First ones
Every year I like to grow a few tomatoes 🍅 at home. I am sure they would be cheaper from a supermarket but you miss the smell and the fun. Today I picked the first ones.
10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)
My QRP beacon has been on most of the morning. As the Es is good today, I have been spotted by lots of stations already.
UPDATE 0954z: 26 spots of me already with the furthest EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1901z: 51 stations have spotted me with the furthest V51RS (8481km). QRT.
6m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My IC705 to the V2000 vertical omni was turned on just before 0800z. It was good to see so much Es.
UPDATE 1051z: Spotted by 435 stations. Amazing Es.
 |
| 6m FT8 RX to 1330z |
UPDATE 1332z: 657 stations have spotted my 1W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni including VO1CH (3737km). On RX several stations spotted in the USA. In my view this is one of the best days on 6m FT8 this Es season. The map shows the stations received on 6m FT8 today on the V2000 vertical omni until 1330z.
UPDATE 1900z: 698 stations have spotted my 1W 6m FT8 today. QRT.
Sunspot numbers
My favourite site for solar data usually publishes an updated forecast of solar data at the start of a new month.
31 Jul 2025
10m 1W FT8 (Thursday)
My 1W FT8 was turned on just after tea.
UPDATE 1916z: 104 stations have spotted my 1W including several in the USA. I suspect these are E layer either chordal hop or multi hop Es.
UPDATE 2055z: Spotted by 169 stations. Now QRT.
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My QRP beacon was turned on a shot while ago.
UPDATE 1156z: Spotted by 13 stations, presumably most by Es.
UPDATE 1546z: 42 stations have spotted me. Es almost certainly for most. At the end of July, Es is still going strong!
2m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My 2m FT8 was turned on a few minutes ago.
UPDATE 1541z: 25 stations in 5 countries have spotted me. See map. I would have never achieved this with 5W CW or SSB to an omni antenna!
Thursday plans
Nothing decided yet, but I might try 2m QRP FT8 for a change later. If I go on 2m I shall go on 10m WSPR with my beacon.
30 Jul 2025
10m 1W FT8 (Wednesday)
When we got back from my son's I went on 10m QRP FT8 at 1430z.
CA6SNT (12447km).
UPDATE 2054z: 212 stations have spotted my 1W 10m FT8. See map shows stations spotting me today with this power.
Lightning?
Earlier, although not forecast, I thought I saw a flash of lightning.
As we are going out for a while, I have gone QRT and disconnected antennas and PSUs. If the are no storms when I get back, I may reconnect things. Maybe 10m QRP FT8?
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;tsc=1;
King's College Chapel
It is made famous by the Christmas Carol Concert that is broadcast to millions around the planet.
It is many centuries old. I believe it started construction in the 1400s.
10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
My 500mW beacon was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1251z: 11 stations have spotted me. QRT.
6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)
My 6m FT8 was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1252z: So far, 161 spots of me. Mostly Es I think. QRT.
House Martins at King’s, Cambridge, UK
These housemartins were nesting in the roof of the entrance. Most visitors were probably unaware being focused on the chapel ahead.
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