My stand-alone beacon was turned on at 1022z:
UPDATE 1231z: No spots.
UPDATE 1938z: It helps if you switch the mains plug on! Once this was done loads of spots including several in the USA.
24 Dec 2025
6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)
My gear was turned on at 1022z.
UPDATE 1231z: So far, 6 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1935z: 7 English stations spotted. QRT since late afternoon.
23 Dec 2025
Cave radio book
As radio waves get attenuated as they travel through water and rock and this attenuation is reduced as the frequency is lowered, cavers tend to use interesting techniques to communicate (and survey) with cavers.
A very interesting book by Mike Bedford G4AEE goes through all the techniques used by cavers.
Even for somebody like me who (would be too scared!) it make good Christmas reading. The book "Cave Radio" is available from the RSGB bookshop.
10m 1W FT8 (Tuesday)
UPDATE 1610z: Spotted by 164 stations. See map.
22 Dec 2025
The freedoms of amateur radio
Many years ago I used to have many QSOs with stations across the world including the USA and the USSR.
As far as I am concerned we are all human beings with equal value whatever our beliefs, colour or politics. I enjoy exchanging greetings with an old work colleague who happens to live in Moscow and is a radio amateur.
One of the great things about our hobby is that it is such a great leveller.
At home
As someone said, "Christmas starts here".
It was great and happy.
Amazing AI of London in the 1600s
Just now, I watched an AI video of London in the 1600s. It was amazing and so very realistic. It was almost like really being there centuries ago.
In my view, this is an example of AI at it best. The "seed" was old engravings of various London scenes. Truly amazing.
10m 1W FT8 (Monday)
UPDATE 2022z: So far spotted by 95 stations, most "across the pond". See map. QRT soon.
UPDATE 2045z: QRT.
Sleep
This is my personal experience, so I cannot comment on others.
Drifting to sleep and not being aware we have done so seems odd. There is far more to consciousness than we are aware of I think.
PoC (PTT over cellular) transceivers
For some people these could be very useful.
They use the cellular network as the bearer rather than the ionosphere, so the range is effectively the whole planet. If you just want to talk, they might be ideal as no amateur licence is needed.
They are like 2m or 70cm handhelds.
21 Dec 2025
6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My 5W to the V2000 was turned on at about 2030z.
UPDATE 2142z: 4 stations have spotted me including 2 in Germany. Now QRT.
10m 5W FT8 RX (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 1102z: So far, spotted 23 stations.
UPDATE 1533z: Still 23, so something must be wrong.
UPDATE 1715z: Now, 75 stations spotted. I think the TX audio must be muted as the TX still does not work. I wonder if it is RF getting into the PC? I may try with lower power. e.g. 1W instead of 5W. Going on 5W 6m FT8 TX seemed fine suggesting RF is disturbing something. Now QRT on 10m FT8 RX.
Mountain Toppers
Summits On The Air (SOTA) activity is becoming increasingly popular as well as Parks On The Air (POTA). People climb mountains and hills to "activate" certain summits. Especially for SOTA, weight can be an important factor if the gear has to be lugged up steep hills or mountains.
LNR Precision make some gear aimed at these users. They are compact and lightweight.
See https://www.lnrprecision.com/mountain-toppers/Festive postbox
The photo shows the postbox near our co-op shop looking very festive.
Winter solstice
Today is the shortest day .
Even though the mornings get a bit darker later for a few weeks, the evenings are already starting to get darker slightly later. By the end of January it is really noticeable.
It’s odd how we adapt, but I do prefer nights getting darker later.
20 Dec 2025
PSKreporter NOT the RBN!
For FT8 this is ideal.
First daffodils
This morning on our walk at Anglesey Abbey we saw our first daffodils and snowdrops this winter. Positive signs.
10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 1140z.
UPDATE 1440z: So far, spotted by 101 stations. See map.
UPDATE 1757z: 243 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1900z: QRT.
137kHz E-Field probe
At 137kHz I have only dabbled, but I was surprised and delighted at the performance of this little EFP RX antenna. It was mag-mounted on the car yet copied my low uW ERP beacon on the far side of Cambridge at 24km. At this point I stopped!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .
All quiet
In the summer this beach in S.Devon is busy whereas at this time of year it’s quiet.
We can trace our family history continuously continuously back to the mid 1500s in these parts .
VLF upconverter
There is a VLF upconverter on the DXexplorer website. On Christmas Eve there is a special transmission from the historic alternator 17.2kHz CW transmitter SAQ in Sweden.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexanderson_alternator .
See also https://alexander.n.se/en/
Please note, this converter is fine for a peek "down there", but amateur signals usually are weak and need very high stability, very accurate frequencies and very narrow bandwidths. Details of my own VLF experiments are on my main website.
19 Dec 2025
Hand delivery
Confused?
Although a certain American would call it fake news, I can attest that the climate is warming.
House sparrows have been nest building in the loft above our bed for the last week and it is December !!
Snowy Wisconsin USA
Many years ago some of our old neighbours relocated to the USA. They now live in Wisconsin and love it.
Millionaire homes?
In the 1800s these were probably poor hovels whereas nowadays they are chocolate box cottages probably costing millions. This is the village of Dalham not far from where we live.
6m 5W FT8 yesterday
Although I was only spotted in the British Isles one was in southern Eire at 580km. Not bad for 5W and an omn vertical!
10m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 0710z.
UPDATE 1037z: Spotted by 133 stations with the furthest Hong Kong.
Adsense crappery
Yesterday I was supposed to have had five times the number of visits to this blog than the day before. Today I have supposed to have more visits than two days ago already without any posts! Perhaps they just make it up as it bears no resemblance to reality 🥴.
18 Dec 2025
Nearby Anglesey Abbey
The property is owned by the National Trust.
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on at about 1442z.
UPDATE 1501z: 5 stations have spotted me. All in England and not too far away.
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1440z.
UPDATE 1643z: 4 stations spotting me so far.
17 Dec 2025
Day off radio
As we had a funeral on the other side of the country (my wife’s brother) I was not on the radio today.
16 Dec 2025
Times Radio and Ukraine
Most days I watch Times Radio on YouTube about Ukraine It is usually informative.
10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0945z.
UPDATE 1312z: 7 stations have spotted me. These look like F2.
6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)
My gear has been on since about 0945z.
UPDATE 1155z: So far, 9 stations have spotted me including EI and GI. See map.
QDX-M
Hans at QRP Labs makes some excellent kit.
As mentioned yesterday, I am having issues with my built (by QRP Labs) QDX-M rig. Today is my last day trying to eliminate "finger trouble" issues. I really hope I am doing something stupid and I have a "Eureka" moment and I can say how stupid I was. If not, I shall have no choice but to return it, sadly.
As stated yesterday, I am open to things to try with my Windows 10 PC. If you have any ideas, please let me know! At the back of my mind is "it must be me", but I cannot see anything wrong.
15 Dec 2025
10m FT8 TX (Monday)
Just before tea I QSYed to 10m FT8 using my ready built 10m QDX-M.
Although the TX works fine, I cannot work out what is wrong with the RX which appears to be totally deaf. Using Windows 10, I have (I think) exhausted everything I can try. The audio is not muted, the USB lead has been replaced, I have re-installed the drivers, the port has been correctly selected. I have tried starting the device again in case the PC is not recognising the device on RX. At the back of my mind is a hope that I will find something and it will spring in to life. Sadly, nothing tried has worked.
Hans makes some splendid kit so I am reluctant to send it back until I am utterly convinced I am not doing something stupid, but I am at a loss. If I cannot find something tomorrow it will (reluctantly) be returned.
If you have any suggestions of things I can try, please let me know.
Nearly
One of ours is almost in flower and should be out at Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
