Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 91. A=19 and K=3.
29 Oct 2025
28 Oct 2025
6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)
My gear has been on since 1023z.
UPDATE 1135z: 32 stations have spotted me today so far.
UPDATE 2015z: Spotted by 51 stations. See map. Es? Every day I go on 6m QRP FT8 I seem to get spotted at great distances. Are we seeing more E layer openings due to climate change?
UPDATE 2200z: 55 stations have spotted me today.
The future of experimentation
For a long time, I have been wondering about the future of radio experimentation.
Fewer amateur radio people carry out experimentation preferring instead to buy ready-made transceivers to communicate.
In the future I am sure a small number of people will want to carry on with radio experiments although, more and more, I am convinced this will be outside traditional amateur radio.
I suspect many will go the ISM direction or possibly other forms of communication such as light beams or sub-8.3kHz. In the past I have experimented at 481THz (red light) and very low frequencies through the ground. Neither require licences. No licences are required to use ISM, although a self-declaration of conformity may be needed, certainly in the UK.
27 Oct 2025
Meshtastic
This uses LoRa and ISM bands. It is yet another form of experimentation that does NOT need amateur radio.
Operation on the ISM bands is licence-free.
6m 5W FT8 (Monday)
UPDATE 2022z: Spotted by 29 stations. See map. Now QRT.
10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1325z.
UPDATE 2031z: Spotted by 24 stations. See table. Now QRT.
Building the Hermes Lite transceiver
This video shows how someone built a Hermes Lite . No soldering is needed. It will be QRP.
WSJT-X 3.0.0
Steve G1KQH has reminded me that WSJT-X version V3.0.0 is available, but it is only available as a release candidate. Normally, a fully released version comes later. I believe V3.0.0 offers some further improvements.
26 Oct 2025
10m 2W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at about 1025z.
UPDATE 1147z: So far, spotted by 141 stations.
UPDATE 2011: 600 stations have spotted my 2W 10m FT8 today. Now QRT.
Russian oil
Most, if not all, people want an end to the war in Ukraine.
This has caused a lot of deaths and injuries on both sides. Much of Russian income comes from oil and the recent sanctions on the two biggest oil companies in Russia just might lead to an "off ramp" and an end to the fighting.
In my view one solution is a bit like Germany after WW2. Parts of Ukraine would be East Ukraine, linked to Russia and the rest Western Ukraine much as Ukraine was. In 20-30 years who knows what will happen, possibly Ukraine will be reunited much like Germany.
I have nothing at all but respect for the Russian people. I still exchange emails with a radio amateur in Moscow.
In my view almost all wars are unnecessary. Most ordinary folk are just the same underneath and just want to live at peace. Sadly, some in power have huge egos or insecurities.
19 set?
I am no expert on WW2 radios. This looks like a 19 set, but I have an idea it is not. Maybe versions were made in the USA?
UPDATE 1033z: According to Keith (thank you!) it is a 22 set. See https://www.pa3esy.nl/military/gb/army/WS22/html/ws22_set-gb.html
Pasties
What I do know is that I enjoy pasties. One of my favourites used to be Ivor Dewdney pasties that one could buy in Plymouth.
You can buy them by post but they are very expensive. They also make vegetarian and vegan pasties these days. I suppose beef is now very expensive.
25 Oct 2025
Autumn visitor
Some have phobias about spiders. To me they are just fun.
10m 2W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 0930z.
UPDATE 1805z: 642 stations have spotted me across the planet. At one point this afternoon I noticed the number of stations spotting me had not gone up. Then I noticed that I had not turned the PSU on at the mains. So all reports up to about 1500z were at 1W and not 2W.
UPDATE 2025z: 647 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.
QDX and QDX-M
These are made in Turkey and designed by Hans Summers G0UPL.
The QDX is a digital only, 5W, transceiver about the size of a pack of cards.
They also do a simpler radio (the same size) covering just one band (2200m - 10m) called the QDX-M which is shown in the photo.
See https://qrp-labs.com/ .
Spooky?
The cynic in me says this is all about making more money, but the kids enjoy the fun.
Our grandchildren loved it, but they are now too old: they enjoyed carving a pumpkin and playing silly games.
This was the decoration outside a house locally.
24 Oct 2025
Autumn colours
The autumn colours are really good this year. Apparently it is due to the high sugar content because of the growing conditions.
10m 2W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 1117z: 130 stations have spotted me so far this morning.
King’s College , Cambridge
These are the grounds at the back of King’s. I used to go to a weekly meeting in a room just off this photo when I first came to Cambridge in 1970.
Batteries for the future
We all know that electric cars (maybe hydrogen) are probably the future.
However, they are, on the whole, expensive with a limited range. They also tend to need batteries with materials that are not that common.
What is needed is a real breakthrough allowing a far greater range and a battery technology that uses easily obtainable materials.
It would be good to have lower weight. I am sure that across the world a lot of research is going on to make these breakthroughs as whoever gets there first would have a huge commercial advantage.
One avenue is a solid state battery. Another is a technology that does not need lithium such as sodium. It would be good to be able to top up the charge quickly too although if the range was considerable, many could charge at home quite infrequently.
There is a lot of hype around and I am not sure what the answer is. I suspect this breakthrough is not many years away.
What do A and K indices mean?
Most days I give the solar data. Several people wonder what the A and K indices mean. Hopefully this ARRL file will explain.
Basically a high solar flux is good for HF conditions and low A and K indices mean stable geomagnetic conditions, which are good.
As a rough indicator look for a high solar flux and low A and K indices for good HF conditions.
See https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0209038.pdf
BST and GMT
This weekend we return to GMT from daylight saving time (BST) in the UK. This means darker evenings and an earlier drawing of curtains. It's amazing how we adapt.
23 Oct 2025
10m 500mW WSPR
My beacon was turned on just before lunch.
UPDATE 1851z: 31 stations spotting me with the USA and Canada the furthermost. See map showing stations spotting me today. Now QRT.
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on just before lunch.
DX Explorer
This is a website I like. There are lots of videos with interesting projects such as this one.
Cambridge market
This is in the centre of Cambridge, UK. It used to be bigger, but there are fewer occupied stalls these days. I guess the council charge them too much.
More fool them?
I read today that some people pay £750 just for breakfast. This is what some people have to live on for a whole month. Personally, I think this is obscene.
Thursday plans
Later I hope to go on 6m 5W FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR as long as the thunder stays away. It could come our way later.
22 Oct 2025
Amateur radio gear on AliExpress or Banngood
Many people now buy goods from China. Prices tend to be very low, often with free airmail shipping.
In the past I have used these without issues. So far, I have never had to pay duty or VAT. Often prices are so low that even if everything went wrong you would not lose that much. Delivery is usually quick too.
Spitting Image
For those not familiar with this it was originally on terrestrial TV but it is now on YouTube. The format is simple: puppets are created of famous people and they are made fun of.
In many countries you could be imprisoned or shot for this, although I think it is a sign of a mature society if we can make fun of people in public office or the news.
To many, to be made into a puppet on Spitting Image is an honour.
Crash or revolution coming?
In many countries the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The gap between rich and poor is growing. Young people, certainly in the UK, find it almost impossible to buy a house on their incomes, assuming they can find a job. We live in an age of growing debt - living beyond our means.
Many countries are becoming more right wing. This, I think, is because many do not feel listened to by those in power. In my view this is not the answer. Sadly I do not know what is! One thing is clear: everyone must be heard and society has to be fairer.
All this is pointing to a correction. I cannot see this situation continuing. I think we are heading of a crash in the stock-market, falling house prices, .... or even a revolution.
Views?
King's Parade, Cambridge, UK
We can get into Cambridge for free with our bus passes. We go in most Mondays for our University of the Third Age lectures about "The Silk Roads".
The church in the distance is Great St Mary's, which is the university church.
Wire antenna with gain?
VK3YE has a new video about some experiments with his EFZZ antenna. It appears to have some gain in certain directions. It is very hard to know the directivity and gain as this will depend on bands, local obstructions, band conditions etc. It might make a useful portable antenna.
10m 2W FT8 (Wednesday)
My gear was turned on at 0910z.
21 Oct 2025
Cambridge looking towards King's College
10m 2W FT8 (Tuesday)
My system was turned on at about 0845z.
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