My beacon was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 0955z: Spotted by 2 stations with the best a station in Saudi Arabia - HZ1SF (4939km).
UPDATE 1635z: 31 stations have spotted me with the best LU1XA (13253km). See table.
26 Jan 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
UPDATE 1635z: 31 stations have spotted me with the best LU1XA (13253km). See table.
EI7GL's blog
John's blog is always worth a look. He seems to find out lots of news! In my view, it is one of the best.
World politics
The world is changing.
In many ways, despite the constant threat of nuclear war, mine was a lucky generation. We seem to be returning to a world of empires and spheres of influence.
What is happening in Minnesota is typical of the new world order. Different accounts differ wildly and it is hard to tell what is the truth.
Why can't we live peacefully together?
Yaesu FT7 transceiver
This photo has been on before.
It shows the Yaesu FT7 which was the first commercial transceiver I owned in the 1980s.
During that time DXCC was worked on 10W 10W SSB (QRP).
It had no memories, no synthesiser and a very quiet analogue RX.
Of all the commercial transceivers I have owned, it was probably the very best. It proved that QRP SSB and low simple antennas were all you needed to work the world. I think the antennas at the time were just wire dipoles and a CB vertical.
25 Jan 2026
Learning CW
Back in the 1960s in the UK, Morse (CW) at 12 words a minute was essential to get a licence to transmit on HF.
In most countries this is no longer the case. I think you can get on HF now without Morse. Mostly I use FT8 and WSPR in preference, mainly as my fine motor skills are poor. I have used CW since my 2013 stroke, but rarely.
Back in the late 1960s I used to be taught CW by Bill Honeywill G4PJ (SK) on 160m. He would regularly send me slow Morse over the air. Somewhere (goodness know where!) I had a tape recording of some of these.
I passed my Morse test in the Liver Building in Liverpool whilst at university in 1967 when I first got my G3 call allowing HF operation.
The march of AI
Just a few years ago most had never heard of AI (artificial intelligence). Now it is everywhere: you look, for example, on YouTube as you see a well known person. The chances are this is created using AI. These days many, if not most, of the things you see on YouTube are AI creations created so the creator gets money from adverts when the video is viewed.
Sadly, you have to assume it is AI unless you can be absolutely sure it is not. There are very few sites I now trust.
6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear (5W to a V2000 omni) has been on since about 1000z.
UPDATE 1405z: 11 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2105z: QRT now. Spotted by 24 stations today. See map by Phil VK7JJ.
10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)
My beacon has been on most of the morning.
UPDATE 1211z: Best is a spot from Saudi Arabia.
UPDATE 1402z: 16 stations have spotted me with the best a station in Brazil. See table.
UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT. Spotted by 21 stations today.
Bullies always win?
At this time of year the RSPB in the UK runs the Big Garden Birdwatch when people observe the greatest number of each bird type seen in an hour. I have been doing it for years.
This year has been the poorest with very few small birds seen - 5 species with mostly larger birds.
This seems like the world at large sadly. Often those with money and power dominate those smaller than them.
The world is changed by small steps of kindness one step at a time. The bullies of the world must not win.
136kHz QRSS3 experiments
One of the things I like about amateur radio is that it may be enjoyed in so many ways. About 13 years I was experimenting on 136kHz QRSS3.
Google (non)Adsense
Last evening my visitor count to this blog went up by a factor of about x10 in an hour!! This is clearly total rubbish.
It's very flattering but clearly not correct. I am not sure how this is calculated, but the algorithm needs changing!
24 Jan 2026
No radio today
As we went to Peterborough by train today, I did not go on today. I shall probably try 10m 200mW WSPR again tomorrow.
Ouse Washes, UK
This is part of the Fens in the east of England. It is rich agricultural land. In the winter, this stretch known as the Bedford Levels sometimes (intentionally) floods. It was created in the 1600s by the Dutch engineer Vermuyden. It is a famous place for migrating Whooper and Bewick Swans.
This was the view from the moving train between Peterborough and Ely earlier.
See https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cornelius-Vermuyden .
MLite-880 receiver
This is available via Aliexpress and seems to be a portable receiver with lots of features. It is not cheap. I see there is a video on it by Tech Minds on YouTube. "Made in China" seems to be on most things these days.
23 Jan 2026
Wicken windmill
Wicken is near Cambridge, UK. The windmill there has more sail rotations recorded than any windmills in the country.
Article 5 of NATO
This is a quote from the BBC website:
"UK Defence Secretary John Healey says British troops who died in Afghanistan should be remembered as "heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation".
After Donald Trump's claim that Nato forces stayed "a little off the front lines" during the conflict, Healey points out that UK and Nato allies "answered the US call," the only time the alliance's Article 5 has been triggered.
"More than 450 British personnel lost their lives" in the conflict, he writes on X.
"Those British troops should be remembered for who they were: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation."
Nato's Article 5 states that an armed attack against one member "shall be considered an attack against them all"."
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news .
The message would appear to be check facts first.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1150z.
UPDATE 1328z: So far spotted by 7 English stations.
"That's a good question"
How many times have you heard this? In my view this is a phrase used by people thinking about an answer or not having an answer!
QRP Labs
It would seem that the big Japanese manufacturers are using very conservative designs. It is interesting how much less some other companies can make products for .
It suggests the consumer is really being ripped off by these big manufacturers. In the future, I am sure a major shake-up is coming and not all will survive.
10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at breakfast.
UPDATE 1159z: 4 stations have spotted me with the best EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1412z: Spotted by 7 stations. See map by Phil VK7JJ of WSPR Rocks.
22 Jan 2026
WSPR
Recently, I have been using 200mW WSPR on 10m and 630m WSPR RX. I have been pleasantly surprised how well it works.
Many now prefer FT8. I use both, although WSPR works with signals about 10dB weaker and takes up far less spectrum. WSPR is a beaconing mode whereas FT8 can be used for basic QSOs.
The Trump Report
Most days I watch the Trump Report on Times Radio.
They interview some very important people. The interview with John Bolton is now a few days old. In Donald Trump world this can seem like a few years ago.
I am sure he has supporters, but he upsets many people when really this is uncalled for. He may have a world view that differs from mine, which is fine, but please always respect others who passionately hold different views.
Being the leader of the West calls for diplomacy and tact at all times from every leader.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at 0920z.
630m WSPR RX overnight
Overnight I monitored 630m WSPR. Again, 5 stations were spotted with the best OH1LSQ (1733km) and an LA.
21 Jan 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My gear is on.(no it wasn’t! See below)
UPDATE 1833z: Nobody spotted me today - blackout?
UPDATE 2253z: It helps if you switch it on!! My beacon had no power all day 🥴.
630m WSPR RX overnight
Overnight I stayed on 630m WSPR RX.
UPDATE 0940z: Overnight 5 stations spotted. See table.
20 Jan 2026
630m WSPR RX (Tuesday)
The impression I am getting is the IC705 is a few dB more sensitive than my Zachtek WSPR RX. At the moment I am monitoring 630m WSPR RX using my IC-705.
UPDATE 1909z: 3 stations spotted with the best F6CWA (950 km). Using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna (via an ATU) and a mains earth.
WSPR receive
Just now I tried my Zachtek WSPR RX out by trying to decode my own signals. Success. Overnight I may go on 630m WSPR RX using it.
UPDATE 1704z: For some reason, no decodes of mine appear on WSPRnet. Is this me or WSPRnet? I think it is me.
Solar storm
We appear to be in the midst of a solar storm. Last night the aurora was visible far further sound than normal. I would have expected good auroral conditions on 10m, 6m,4m and 2m.
University of the Third Age
Since I retired , I have really enjoyed learning just for fun. I have enjoyed a variety of subjects, some well away from things I would have gravitated to. No exams, no coursework, no homework - pure fun. Most have been in Cambridge and a few on Zoom. Being Cambridge we have a huge range of courses, often given by ex-university lecturers.
This term one of my courses was by Zoom about the ills of the brain. The lecturer is supposed to have given the course already last year. It was clear even last week at the first talk of a series of 10 that she knew nothing about Zoom and I have now given up! One week I might have forgiven.
Last week she stopped 50 minutes early as she ran out of slides. Today she had to call a neighbour in to show her how to share her screen! If it was me I would have made sure that I knew the technology and had additional slides "just in case".
I don't understand
President Trump puzzles lots of people.
I can understand that he wants to make the USA strong. I can understand he wants to make the USA secure. What I don't understand his insistence on owning Greenland and imposing tariffs on his allies who oppose him. Surely he can achieve all the security he seeks within NATO?
It looks like he is playing into the hands of the Russia and Chinese leadership by potentially breaking up NATO and probably just walking away from Ukraine.
In May he was (allegedly) in favour of returning the Chagos Is to Mauritius and leasing back the US airbase. Now he is rude about it.
He is an enigma to so many.
In the end (in the next 20 years?) much of the world will decide they cannot (as in the past) rely on the USA in future and progressively move trade away from the USA. I can see the US dollar not being the world's reserve currency.
10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on about breakfast time. Just local spots probably due to solar storms.
19 Jan 2026
Cambridge UK shop window
There are few visitors at this time of year.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 0812z: Just spots by a local so far.
UPDATE 1530z: Spotted by 24 stations. See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.
UPDATE 1932z: 26 stations have spotted me . See table. QRT soon.
Kierkegaard
With Denmark much in the news lately, perhaps I should introduce him.
"There's always tomorrow"
In amateur radio there are many things still to try.
For example 23cm beacon hunting, /P 23cm UKAC, using my SDR receiver properly, monitoring 630m WSPR, SSTV, etc,etc..
Time and again I say, "there's always tomorrow".
When I was working time really mattered. In retirement, things can wait. Hopefully, there will be tomorrow to do these things.
The trouble is the list keeps growing! 😀
18 Jan 2026
6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at 1435z.
UPDATE 1441z: Spotted by no stations? Odd. Perhaps a reset is called for.
UPDATE 1450z: PC reset. But spotted by G8SEI (133km) 11 minutes ago, so perhaps things were fine.
Icom IC-705
This radio was first introduced in 2020. Its price in the UK has recently been reduced. My personal opinion is that it represents much better value than the Yaseu FTX-1.
I have no idea what plans ICOM has for the future, but an IC-705A with a new form factor, an auto ATU built in, 4m, and USB-C socket would not surprise me aimed at the portable handheld market. They have the electronics, and could even use the same case.
Dull January
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.
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