10m 1W FT8 (Tuesday)

 In a few minutes I expect to go on 10m 1W FT8.

UPDATE 1356z:  So far, 56 spots of me. See map.

More Cambridge gloom

Cambridge is a very beautiful city, but like many it is gloomy in January! This is Rose Crescent in centre of the city. In the summer it would be thronged with tourists but it is much quieter in midwinter.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 13th

 Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 52. A=18 and K=2.

10m 1W FT8 (Monday)

My gear was turned on about 1550z.

UPDATE 1603z: So far, 5 stations have spotted me, most from the USA.

Mid-winter gloom

 This was Cambridge earlier. There are fewer visitors and it must be a hard time for those involved in hospitality.

Sunspots - Monday January 12th

 Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 84. A=31 and K=4.

Solid state batteries?

The "holy grail" of EV batteries is greater range, costs lower than lithium ion, no rare earths, fast charging times, long life and safe.

A Scandinavian company claimed at CES that they have made a breakthrough. 

If correct, this really could be a real game changer. Imagine if EVs could be charged very fast and have great range and be no more expensive than a fossil fuelled car and only need an occasional charge. This could be the breakthrough like we saw with CRTs and digital cameras. It could also really help with climate change.

Look out for DONUT batteries.

I am sure all the major car manufacturers are working hard towards this. A tipping point IS coming.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on about 1225z.

UPDATE 2055z: Spotted by 10 stations, mostly in England with one in Germany. QRT soon.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at about 1225z.

UPDATE 2058z: Spotted by 3 stations including a couple in the USA.  QRT soon.

Sunspots - Sunday January 11th

 Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 65. A=32 and K=3.

Buildings in our village

Our village, Burwell, is about 10 miles from Cambridge. 

It is a mix of old and new buildings some of which date back many centuries. 

The Hall (see photo) has parts dating back to the 1600s. We used to know someone who lived here. She said it was very cold facing north.

Compact antenna

As most appreciate, you never get something for nothing. 

Very compact antennas tend to be very narrow band and inefficient. Nonetheless there are times such as SOTA these compromises are acceptable. 

I remember working a station in Argentina on 10m SSB with just a few watts to a Miracle Whip some years ago from indoors!  Compact antennas really do work. There are times when the loss of a few S points really don't matter.

The Gawant antenna is similar to the Miracle Whip. This one is homebrewed and I am not sure if it can be built ready-made.

Seasons

The seasons are all different. Each has something to enjoy. 

This winter in this part of the UK we have had real snow on the ground for several days. In the last few years, snow has become a rarity. 

At this time of year in the UK, snowdrops are appearing. Then it will be daffodils and new leaves and blossom. 

In the summer we have bedding plants and warmth. 

In the autumn golden leaves and mature fruits. 

At the moment we are seeing plants with white flowers (not sure of the name) that look more like white blobs.

Sunspots - Saturday January 10th

 Solar flux is 117 and the SSN 80.  A=12 and K=3.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 1520z.

UPDATE 1547z: Spotted by 4 stations.

10m 1W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1234z:  49 stations have spotted me with the furthest a station in Columbia, South America.

UPDATE 1550z:  109 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Friday January 9th

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 95. A=14 and K=3.

Hunkering down

We have yet to feel the impact of Storm Goretti in this part of  the UK, but it is miserable - real January UK weather. Basically wet, dull and cold. Time to hunker in front of the fire.

10m 1W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 0935z.

UPDATE 1413z:  202 spots of me so far. See map.

UPDATE 2200z: 297 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

Last of the snow

On Tuesday night we had rain and almost all the snow went. 

There is just one very small patch left on Thursday morning outside the garage.

Sunspots - Thursday January 8th

 Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 118. A=4 and K=3.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

 My gear was turned on at 1111z.

UPDATE 1510z:  So far, spotted by 12 stations in 4 countries.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on at 1110z.

UPDATE 1616z:  So far, spotted by 11 stations. See table.

6m 5W FT8 yesterday

Yesterday was good on 6m FT8, with lots of Europeans spotting my FT8. I am not sure of the propagation, but often there is a small peak in Es around now. Don't ask me why as I don't know! I use 5W to the V2000 vertical omni via CB coax.

Snowy garden

We have now had snow on the ground for several days, which is unusual. After overnight rain it's mostly gone.

2m operation

Last evening was the activity contest on 2m.  Having worked a couple of stations I stopped because of my poor voice and low ERP (10W pep to the big-wheel omni).

For a very short time I decided to switch to FT8. With just a few TX bursts I was copied internationally.  See map.

I think ERP helps on 2m SSB.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 7th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 99. A=4 and K=1.

SOTA/POTA endfed tuner kit

Many people enjoy operating from mountain tops or parks. This EFHW tuner may be useful.

See https://www.qrpkits.com/efhw.html

It's no good - I know you've been here!

Unusually, we have had snow for a few days and a very cold start to the year. 

This bird was hunting for some food. 

I doubt it had ever seen snow before. 

These days it is unusual to get snow on the ground. In fact it is about 7 years since we had snow like this. Many winters pass without much snow at all.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 1005z.

UPDATE 1220z:  6 stations have spotted me. See map from WSPRRocks by Phil VK7JJ.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1005z.

UPDATE 1012z: So far, 4 English spots of  me.

Snowy close

This year has started cold but sunny. Yesterday we had our first snow.

This was the view from our lounge window.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 6th

 Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 91. A=14 and K=0.

The world of the bullies

It is clear now that the rules of international law have been replaced by the world of power and dominance.  

It is basically the rules of the jungle as those with power fight over resources. This is a major shift in the way the world operates.

If you are a minnow be prepared to be bullied by those with might. Sad.

Getting lighter

Both in the mornings and evenings it’s getting slightly lighter. In the evening it is already 16 minutes lighter.

10m 100mW WSPR (Monday)

My gear is on 10m 100mW WSPR this morning.

UPDATE 2051z: 37 stations have spotted me. See table. QRT soon.

Snow …. at last

We have had a cold and sunny start to the year but avoided the snow .....until now!

Sunspots - Monday January 5th

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 97. A=6 and K=4.

10m 100mW FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 1030z.

UPDATE 2030z: Spotted by 76 stations. See map. Not bad for 100mW FT8.  QRT soon

Cold village

So far this winter we have avoided the snow but it has been very cold and sunny as the photo shows.

The world in 2026

There is little doubt that we are now moving to "spheres of influence" with the world divided up. 

The most probable divisions are the USA, China and Russia. Already President Trump is seeing the western world as his "sphere of influence" (e.g. Venezuela, Panama and Greenland).  This is imperialism in the 21st century.

I think President Trump wants Ukraine to just "go away" and he sees Gaza as a necessary evil preferring it to somehow be at peace with Israel. He hopes (I think) for regime change in Iran. Hamas is seen as an impediment to peace in the Middle East.  

The move to get the world's dependence on Taiwanese semiconductors to stop would lead to the USA somehow "disconnecting"  from the Far East. This suggests if China wanted a new relationship (or even an invasion) with Taiwan, Trump would not get involved as long as world economics was not affected.

Let's hope that these new empires live in peaceful coexistence.

New moon

Yesterday on 365project, one of my friends posted this photo of the Moon. 

It makes my attempts look pathetic!

Web SDRs

One useful resource these days are online web SDRs allowing you to "get a feel" of what it is like to listen in other parts of the world.

One example is http://vhfsdr.gb0snb.com:8074/#freq=50153148,mod=usb,sql=-150 

Sunspots - Sunday January 4th

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 136. A=12 and K=0.

15m 100mW WSPR (Saturday)

 For a change I am on 15m 100mW WSPR. Lots of spots.

UPDATE 2030z:  19 stations have spotted me. See table. The impression I have is that results with 100mW WSPR are broadly similar to 5W FT8.

6m 2W WSPR (Saturday)

 At about 1442 I QSYed to 6m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE  1447z: Spotted by 2 English stations.

Amateur TV live streams

Amateur Radio Weekly reminds us that BATV has live streams of many of the TV repeaters around the world.

See https://batc.org.uk/live/

10m 100mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1308z: 17 stations have spotted me. See table.

UPDATE 1432z: 29 stations have spotted my 100mW 10m WSPR.

Pathetic attempt

Last evening there was a full moon over our local museum next door. So on maximum zoom, I took a photo of it. It was pathetic! 

In real life the moon looked huge whereas in the photo it looked like a tiny dot!

Sunspots - Saturday January 3rd

 Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 124. A=24 and K=3.