Big skies

 

Anyone who knows the UK will agree that this part (the Fens) is pretty flat, but we get some great skies. 

Buying a new rig

When we buy a new transceiver, we often go through many subconscious stages. This video might help you. 

I don't buy new rigs that often, but it is worth asking why you need it and what bands is it going to be used on, what modes and how. 

Some bands and features maybe a complete waste of money.

Should I carry on with 10m WSPR?

The main reason I carry on with 10m WSPR is because I can use my stand-alone beacon and the PC is unnecessary. The 10m antenna is also free when I go on 6m FT8.

Most times I get a few spots from V51RS, many from the Canary Is, and some from continental Europe. Really, I learn little. 

My inclination is  to QSY to 10m FT8, alternating with 6m FT8 on different days. Of course when on 6m FT8 I can also put the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on.

Thunderstorm risks

At the moment the risk looks low, although I shall keep an eye on the thunderstorm map  in case things chance. At the moment, the risks are far away.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since about 0830z.

UPDATE 1347z:  4 stations spotting me with the furthest V51RS (8481km).

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

My  gear has been on since about 0830z.  

UPDATE 0900z:  8 spots so far. One station in Poland with the rest in England.

Sunspots - Thursday September 11th

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 94. A=13 and K=2.

More Anglesey Abbey

 This was Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge yesterday.

Lightning threat

 As they threatened lightning today I avoided going on the air until this evening.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 10th

 Solar flux is 121 and the SSN 99. A=18 and K=4.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon has been on since 1210z.

UPDATE  1325z:  Spotted by 4 stations including 2 in the Canary Is.  F2?

Hedge trimming

We go for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey quite often. This morning was bright, dry and sunny, We sat on a bench for a few minutes and noticed this man trimming a hedge.

Can you spot him?

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear has been on since 1210z.

UPDATE 1742z:  Just 19 stations spotting me. A few Europeans, but not many. Aircraft? Scatter?

Sunspots - Tuesday September 9th

 Solar flux is 124 and the SSN 93. A=12 and K=2.

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

Already lots of spots from Europe. If this is Es, it is very late in the Es season. Could it be scatter or aircraft reflection?

Stations spotting me on 6m FT8

UPDATE 2047z:  Spotted by 92 stations in the last day on 6m FT8. Now QRT.

Amsterdam cheese shop

The Netherlands is famous for cheese. This was a cheese shop in Amsterdam last week.  Heaven for a cheese lover.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

Already 9 stations spotting me with a surprising number of Europeans. I an unsure of the propagation. Furthest is V51RS (8481km) with very early spots of me.

UPDATE 2052z:  14 spots of me in the last day with 500mW 10m WSPR. Now QRT.

More Apple Day

 As mentioned yesterday our neighbour next door invited us around to pick apples. 

The photo collage shows more of this happy day.

Sunspots- Monday September 8th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 83. A=5 and K=2.

PSKreporter maps

 Most days I us this to see where my 5W 6m FT8 reaches. Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch, but mid afternoon in the UK on Sunday, this was not working,

Yes, the world is going mad

Usually I do not buy a Sunday newspaper preferring to watch TV and go on the internet. Today, for a change, I bought one.

On one of the pages was a photo of a model wearing some clothes: a tweed jacket over £12k, a tweed coat over £12k , some shorts £1.3k, and a shirt £1.23k. 

All told, this outfit would be approaching £30k. Does anyone actually buy this crap? All I can say is there must be some very, very, stupid people around. 

I also think this is grossly immoral when people are starving.

UK dealers

At one time there were many UK dealers, whereas now there are far fewer. 

In the end these are businesses whose aim is to generate profits for their shareholders. To succeed, you have to provide customers with what they need at a price they can afford.

Sometimes rigs seem to be at daft prices, yet people still buy for something they must have. Those dealers that remain on the scene are desperate to please their customers as they may stay loyal in the future. One of the most successful UK dealers is MLS who have a video on their origins.

One thing I always say is will they still be around to honour their guarantee?

In the past I have dealt with several UK dealers that still remain.

Shack

This is most of what I need at present.  Currently I am not on 8m or 630m.

Just out of shot is my 10m WSPR beacon that is about the size of a pack of cards on the shelf below producing 500mW.

Also out of shot it the small PC used for FT8.

The IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted across the planet on 6m FT8.

Postcards

People are sending fewer this days. We sent a few, but most people keep in touch and send pictures by digital means. These are the physical ones we posted .

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My beacon has been on since just after breakfast.

UPDATE 0929z:  Spotted by 5 stations with the furthest EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 2015z: Spotted by 8 stations with the furthest  ZD7GB (7611km).

6m 5W FT8 ( Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0959z: Spotted by 22 stations.

UPDATE 2010z:  Spotted today by 39 stations. See map.

Apple 🍏 Day

Our neighbour next door has an old orchard and far too many apples! 

Every year he has an apple day when the neighbours can have as many free apples as they want. It’s a lovely occasion.

Sunspots - Sunday September 7th

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 108. A=26 and K=0.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1356z:  9 stations have spotted me today

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear has been on since just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1936z:  71 stations have spotted me. Mostly continental Europeans. See map.

QSL Card bug?

In the last few months I have received several QSL cards by email which were useless as the QSO was dated 0000-00-00!

Caveat emptor!!

Back home

After our brief trip to Amsterdam by Eurostar (through train from London), we are now back home, so the usual things have to be done like unpacking, washing etc 😢. 

We love Amsterdam and have been there many times. 

Even though there are cobbles and trams and lots of bikes 🚲 as well as driving on the wrong side of the road (!!) I actually found it easier than the last time.

Sunspots - Saturday September 6th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 128.  A=8 and K=3.

Saturday plans

 Now we are back home I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR tomorrow. 

Amsterdam Centraal Station

We came home by Eurostar today. 

In continental Europe they can have “double decker” trains as they do not have the height limits we have in the UK.

Begijnhof, Amsterdam

This is a quiet oasis of calm and tranquility in the heart of a busy city. We have been here often.

Sunspots - Friday September 5th

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 150. A=10 and K =1

Amsterdam flower market

 

They certainly like their bulbs in Amsterdam! This was the flower market earlier this afternoon.

Swimming in the Singel Canal, Amsterdam

 Imagine my surprise when I saw these people swimming past my hotel window this morning.  The Amsterdam canals must be pretty clean.  I guess they come early to avoid the boats.

Best value transceivers?

 Like most things, in the end it comes down to personal choice and budget. 

If you are after a 100W rig the Yaesu FT710 is hard to beat and includes an automatic ATU and 4m in Europe. It can also be widebanded with just button presses with no uncasing or hardware mods.

At the new lower price the ICOM IC-705 is hard to beat as a 10W radio. There are lower cost products from India and China 🇨🇳.

Oscar 100 narrowband

 

It seems ages since I took a look at the webSDR by the BATC at Goonhilly in Cornwall. It would appear nothing much has happened on the narrowband transponder although I wonder if there is any free software to decode the DATV transmitted through it on the wide band transponder? Or if anyone has a website of screenshots?

Sunspots - Thursday September 4th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 128. A=12 and K=2.

Dessert

 

My wife and I shared this dessert as for one person it would have been far too much. We soon travel home.

Dutch Resistance Museum

 

At the end of WW2 my dad dropped food to the starving people of the Netherlands from a Lancaster plane. I am so pleased he was able to help them. 

Today we visited the Dutch Resistance Museum. It was excellent and shows how brave some people were.

This little book was just one Euro, which is excellent value 

The Fermi paradox

 This is the apparent mismatch between the number of planets that should support intelligent life and the total absence of any evidence that intelligent life exists.To my knowledge we have been looking for about 60-70 years without any success.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 3rd

 Solar flux is 187 and the SSN 175. A=34 and K=4.

Hotel window view

 

This is the view from our hotel bedroom in Amsterdam overlooking the Singel canal.

More Amsterdam

EchoLink

Not having access to my radios I tried listening to my local repeater by EchoLink.  Imagine my surprise finding someone on it!

Sunspots- Tuesday September 2nd

 Solar flux is 202 and the SSN 165. A=16 and K=5.