Dull January

After Christmas, January seems a long, dark month. At least in December there are lights for Christmas and things seem more cheerful.  At least the days are now getting longer.

Everywhere there are hints of new life. Snowdrops are coming out and I have even seen a few daffodils in flower. Spring is still a way off, but it is getting better.

Greenland

Suddenly this frozen landmass has come into sharp focus with President Trump of the USA wanting to own it. 

He claims he has to own it to defend it, despite Denmark and Greenland being in NATO. It is interesting that it has lots of rare earth materials as well.

Most countries of the world are opposed to the USA owning it unless the people of Greenland agree. They have the right to determine their future.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn90l1dneo .

Reserve currencies?

Since the end of WW2, the US dollar has been the reserve currency of world trade, but recent events have brought that into question. In the short-term this may continue, but what about the future?

Way back during WW2 Keynes suggested a neutral "currency" called the Bancor that clearing banks only could use in world trade. 

BRICS countries have suggested something else in place of the US dollar. 

I do not know the future, but it seems clear the USA under President Trump is moving away from world trade, so the US dollar no longer makes sense as the world's reserve currency. Also, if the US dollar loses value what then?

Maybe it is time to reconsider the Bancor?

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqv-HcHTZAg&t=461s

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at 0754z.

UPDATE 1200z: So far, 4 stations have spotted me with the best HZ1SF (4939km).

UPDATE 1510z: Spotted by 16 stations, with many in the USA. See table.

Are we eating less meat?

There is no doubt that meat prices are now very high. People are looking for lower cost alternatives that taste really good.

Probably we are being gently brainwashed through adverts to change our habits. It would not surprise me at all if meat consumption was down 50% in 20 years.

I enjoy my meat but, to be honest, many plant based alternatives are just as good.  Yesterday I had a plant based minced pie and it was just as tasty.  Although definitely not a vegetarian, I could be.

Also, in the last 10 years non-alcoholic beers have been transformed, Many now taste as good as beers with alcohol and there is far more choice. 

Operating away from home

Many people need to operate away from home using compromise antennas. Handheld VHF and UHF transceivers often use a compromise antenna and lose many dBs. One possibility is this antenna that behaves like a 2m or 70cm dipole. It could be used in hotel rooms on 2m or 70cm FM with a handheld. It is likely to be somewhat better than the antenna on the transceiver.

See https://vu3dxr.in/hotel-antenna-for-2-meter-and-70-centimeter-amateur-bands/

I am sure if you are an experimenter you could make a fold-up version with old co-ax. 

Sunspots - Sunday January 18th

 Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 124. A=27 and K=3. 

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on about 5 minutes ago.

UPDATE 1509z:  So far, spotted by just 5 English stations.  Best DX is 171km away. This could be aircraft reflection , scatter, or normal flat-band tropo. Of course for a two-way QSO the path has to be open for long enough for the basics to be exchanged i.e. several minutes.

Ukraine

I watch quite a few videos about the Ukraine and Russia. Most say that inside Russia things are getting very hard, and now even harder with falling oil prices. 

It would appear (outwardly at least) that Putin wants a new Russian Empire. He sees the destruction of Ukraine as a separate nation as something worth fighting for.  The fall of Russia internally seems to be very slow in happening.

If the USA is pulled out of supporting Ukraine, I think the wrong message will be sent to the world that bullying succeeds.

70cm activity contest

Once a month I go on the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. 

Because of my poor voice I usually stay on for only the first 30 minutes.

I only use 10W pep and a 144MHz big-wheel omni. Despite these limitations I still manage to work over 100km away most times. No doubt the antenna at the other end helps!

UK "feel good" factor

It is usual to say the UK is "going to the dogs" and getting worse, but a recent article on the BBC sheds a different view. Whilst many older people have decreased confidence, confidence is increasing in younger people.

As the year progresses, inflation and interest rates are likely to fall.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c150leql9pgo .

Shetland Islands

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Shetland Is..  

It is generally, bleak, treeless and windy. 

In the last few weeks they have had snowstorms. 

Being that far north, days are short in winter.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My beacon was turned on at 1038z.

UPDATE 1044z:  So far, spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1500z: Spotted by 16 stations with the best V51RS (8481km). Amazing what 200mW WSPR to an indifferent, low, 10m antenna can do!  See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.

Sunspots - Saturday January 17th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 144.  A=26 and K=4.

Hmmm....

Allegedly, the winner of the Nobel Peace prize has given the medal to President Trump.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2w94wp4p1o .

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

In a few moments I will turn on my 5W 6m FT8 gear. It is now 1027z.

UPDATE 1046z: So far 5 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1707z:   15 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sold state battery hype?

 At the moment there is a lot of doubt about the claims of a small company revealing a solid state battery at CES that could revolutionise transport.  

This one of many videos that expresses doubts. I guess we will have to wait and see. 

It is true that companies have invested billions and are amazed if a small company really has "cracked it". Time will tell if this really is a breakthrough or just hype.

This was obviously created with the help of AI.

Ukraine's future?

 This was Times Radio's view expressed by Bill Browder.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE  1056z: Spotted by 3 stations with the best EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1644z:  Spotted by 30 stations. See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.

Burwell windmill

We are lucky to live right next door to Burwell windmill. It is fully restored. Here it is in full sail with the sails turning. The fantail ensures the main sails point into the wind.

137kHz beacon

Many years ago I did some experiments on the 2200m band. 

This was my prototype beacon that sent CW and QRSS3.

Sunspots - Friday January 16th

 Solar flux is 139 and the SSN 123. A=12 and K=3. 

Greenland and the USA

In this video, the poster thinks President Trump is using his strategy outlined in his book "The Art of the Deal" to get a better deal with Denmark. It would appear most things the US president does is think about foreign policy as deals.

Brunch

Every Thursday my wife has a course in a nearby village. I go to a cafe for brunch.

Zachtek WSPR gear

For the last few days I have been using the 200mW Zachtek WSPR TX. In the end I bought the original kit although it is being copied in China. 

As far as I can tell, the Chinese copy does not have the low pass filters fitted so will have poor harmonic rejection. The Swedish version is far more expensive.

So far, with 200mW WSPR, it has reached 5 continents,

All timing is by GPS, which is built-in. Once programmed the unit needs no PC, so can run unattended. Mine comes covering 40m-6m. I also bought the all band RX, but I have not used this yet.

See https://www.zachtek.com/wspr-tx .

Cambridge in winter

 

This time of year is good when the weather is fine as there are fewer visitors and the bare trees make seeing easier.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on after breakfast,

UPDATE 1321z:  So far, just EA8BFK (2880km) and an SV spotting me.

Sunspots - Thursday January 15th

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 70. A=7 and K=2.

Really?

Presldent Trump has made some bold claims about the US economy. These have been fact checked by the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz6yg15lpw9t

Some would appear to be incorrect.

Is it only me, but I have come across not one person (absolutely no-one at all, really) outside of the USA that has a good word to say about the leaders of the USA currently. To many they appear brash and arrogant. This is sad as I have always found Americans kind and generous. Yet very many voted for Mr Trump. What he does in the USA i cannot comment on, but I can express my personal views as an outsider.

6m 2W FT8 (Wednesday)

 My gear was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1540z:  15 stations spotting me with plenty in mainland Europe.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

  My beacon was turned on at breakfast time.

UPDATE 0950z: One SV has spotted me.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 14th

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 49. A=7 and K=2.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1510z.

UPDATE 1815z:  So far, spotted by 43 stations. See table. See Map from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ.

QRP radio

 I am a great QRP fan. This video may inspire you. Without any amplification on RX I expect the RX is deaf, so best not call CQ, but answer other people's calls.

Iran

Events are moving very fast. This was written at 1012z on January 13th, so events may already have changed when you read this.

At the moment Donald Trump has threatened intervention, but not carried this out.   It is clear that lots of Iranian people are deeply upset with, amongst other things, inflation that is making some foods totally too costly for many. If there was to be a revolution, there is no clear leader emerging.  As I write we wait and see.

UPDATE  1631z:  Trump promises protesters help is on the way. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cj691w2e840t. 

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.