My beacon was turned on at about 1425z.
UPDATE 1522z: 7 stations have spotted me so far. See map.
28 Nov 2025
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1425z.
10m 2W FT8 (Friday)
UPDATE 1430z: 335 spots of me. See map of those spotting me. Now QSYed to 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR.
New cafe
Most Thursdays I spend some time in a nearby village whilst my wife attends a class. Usually I go shopping. Yesterday I went to a cafe which served an omelette and coffee at very reasonable prices. Service was good. I shall go there again.
27 Nov 2025
10m 2W FT8 (Thursday)
UPDATE 2105z: So far, 144 stations have spotted me. See map.
UPDATE 2139z: QRT. In the end 146 stations spotted me.
Thursday plans
Probably more 8m FT8 receive again. Yesterday was disappointing with nobody spotted .
26 Nov 2025
Memories?
If you live in the UK I wonder if you remember the French onion men? They were quite common in the 1950s.
They came across from France and travelled across England with onions strung over their shoulders. These onions in a UK supermarket reminded me of them.
Wednesday plans
Probably stick with 8m FT8 receive today. Spots are far fewer than on 6m, but already 3 countries spotted.
25 Nov 2025
Margaret are you grieving?
Today we heard the very sad news that my wife's brother has died. He was in hospital and was in pain. In the end he just slipped away.
At one time it was our parents dying. Now it is those of our generation who are passing away.
I am reminded of this poem by Gerard Mandley Hopkins.
"Márgarét, áre you gríeving......"
Faroe Islands
A friend of mine on 365project (one photo a day and no connection with Microsoft 365) lives in the Faroe Islands and posts some amazing scenes. At this time of year it must be dark for a lot of the time. At my age I doubt very much I shall get there, but I enjoy the photos.
Black Friday sceptic
In recent years we appear to have adopted this American sales date in the UK. I cannot speak for the rest of Europe. Like Halloween, which was nothing years ago in the UK, this has grown enormously.
The common factor is commercialism. Anything that can help retailers make a profit must now be exploited. Research has shown that retailers often raise prices in the months before Black Friday so we think we are getting a real bargain in the Black Friday sales. I expect there are some exceptions, but do not be fooled. This is ultimately about making profits over a longer period and selling more Black Friday and Halloween merchandise.
As a child I had never heard about Halloween "trick or treat". In my view both Black Friday and making profits from Halloween both stink.
Reconsidering 8m TX permit
At the moment, I am undecided about submitting a new application for an 8m TX permit. I am unlikely ever to need modes except FT8, WSPR and CW and unlikely to need much power. I really just need 40.680-40.683MHz.
The best time would be to get active around February to catch any F2 and then the Es in the spring and summer. Also I might catch some F2 in autumn 2026.
I enjoy experimenting, but don't like the idea of paying. Maybe just one year? Thinking!
8m FT8 RX again (Tuesday)
Yet again, I am trying 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.
UPDATE 1158z: G8VER (66km) and CT7BIZ (1422km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2016z: QRT.
24 Nov 2025
Times Radio on YouTube
Personally, I find the interviews on Times Radio very informative. I aiways advice seeking your news from many sources to avoid bias.
How small can you go?
This is a video about making a really tiny Pixie transceiver and some portable antennas.
Not been on TX today
As today was a family birthday, I was not at home much of the day. Instead, I stayed on 8m FT8 RX all day. I should be on TX on Tuesday.
23 Nov 2025
Ukraine
This is being written before Ukraine, the EU and Britain have responded to President Trump's 28 point peace plan, that seems to be heavily weighed in Russia's favour. I hope a mature discussion ensues and it ends with a fair (to all) settlement.
Personal view : I do not trust President Trump
Many people in the USA voted for President Trump. As far as I am aware, this was fair and they elected the person they wanted. I am in no position to comment on matters in the USA.
However, I am perfectly at liberty to express my personal view of his role on the world stage. Others may think very differently.
On the world stage I personally think President Trump has performed badly. This is my personal view. In the Ukraine and Gaza it would appear that the views of the common people have not been well considered.
He seems to be in the thrall of President Putin, the Israeli government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho and Mohammed bin Salman. I get the impression he sees world stage diplomacy as real estate deals, rather than the lives of real people.
Can the IC-705 be widebanded without uncasing?
As many know I have held a TX permit for 8m in the UK.
In the past I have owned an FT-710 which can be put into "engineering mode" by pressing a combination of buttons without the need to uncase the rig and without invalidating the warranty. This allowed TX on 8m, although I never used the FT-710 outside the amateur bands. Instead I used my FT817ND that was widebanded by MLS. On the FT-710 it meant I could TX on 8m if I needed to, but never did.
I am wondering if there is a similar trick with the IC-705 (i.e. just button presses) which would give me TX on the IC-705 at 8m.
I am aware of the diode mod, but do not want to go inside the rig as I no longer trust my fine motor skills!
8m FT8 receive (Sunday)
My gear was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 1654z: Just G8VER (66km) spotted again. This is the Verulam Club in St.Albans.
If I get no more spots today, I may return to another band tomorrow.
UPDATE 1908z: No further stations spotting me. QRT.
22 Nov 2025
8m FT8 receive (Saturday)
My 8m dipole was taken down some months ago. This afternoon, just for fun, I am on 8m FT8 receive with my end-fed long wire. I have no idea at all how this works on 8m. Let's see if I get any spots. Also, I have no idea how sensitive the IC-705 is at 8m.
UPDATE 1621z: G8VER (66km) spotted. It works.
I remain extremely disappointed that so many PTTs seem to have a very negative attitude to 8m. A few PTTs have granted access to 8m, some for a limited time. As far as I know there have been NO reports of interference caused by those granted access. I object to having to pay to do valuable research especially when my own PTT (OFCOM) seems so negative.
UPDATE 1935z: I shall probably try 8m FT8 RX again tomorrow.
Bullies?
It appears to me that Ukraine is "between a rock and a hard place".
It looks like they are being offered a very poor deal over their heads by Russia and the USA.
If they do not accept the USA is likely to stop intelligence sharing and just walk away.
The world seems to be run by selfish individuals who are more interested in their own enrichment rather than that of their citizens.
Where are the leaders who put the interests of the common person ahead of rich billionaires?
10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1008z.
UPDATE 1932z: 14 stations so far spotting me. See table and map.
6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 1010z.
UPDATE 1014z: So far, 6 English stations have spotted me.
Saturday plans
Today will probably be a repeat of late yesterday with 500mW 10m WSPR and 5W 6m FT8, but I have not decided yet.
21 Nov 2025
10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on mid-afternoon.
UPDATE 2200z: Spotted by 6 stations. Now QRT.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
UPDATE 2150z: 19 stations have spotted me. QRT. See map.
View from the kitchen
We had our first heavy frost this morning. It was cold, but it is now sunny. We are lucky to look out of the kitchen and lounge on to a windmill and village museum.
Hope Cove, Devon, UK
My family can be traced continuously back to the mid 1500s in this Devon village. Most days I look at the webcam at the Cottage Hotel there to see the weather.
10m 2W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on just before breakfast.
UPDATE 1520z: 249 stations have spotted me in 5 continents. Now QSYed to 6m FT8.
The nature of consciousness
We live in a world where of space and time where time seems to flow from the past into the future. What if time is an illusion and everything we have ever experienced is always there? We have a lot to learn!!
20 Nov 2025
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
UPDATE 1825z: 18 stations have spotted me. The furthest is ZS4TX/6 (8766km). See map.
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1300z.
UPDATE 1646z: 8 stations spotting me with several in the USA.
London theatre trip yesterday
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