Dalham near Newmarket, UK

 

This village is not far from us.

8m FT8 RX

 Most of the day I shall be monitoring 40.680 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1730z:  I think I had my settings wrong on 8m FT8 RX!

Something wrong?

 Last night I tried monitoring 630m WSPR. Not a single station copied that suggests something was wrong.

UPDATE 0853z:  Yes, wrong audio source selected. I may try again tonight.

Sunspots - Monday March 2

 Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 85. A=8 and K=1.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

For the first time in several weeks, I am on 6m FT8  with my vertical omni V2000 antenna and the IC-705.

UPDATE 1640z:   Just 3 English spots of me so far. No DX.

Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1938z:   11 English stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8. See map. QRT soon.

10m 200mW WSPR ((Sunday)

My Zachtek WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1430z.  

UPDATE 1518z:  18 stations have spotted me already with most in the east of the USA.  See table.

UPDATE 1540z:  28 stations have spotted me with the best PY2SDR (9616km) in Brazil.

UPDATE 1936z:  36 spots of my 200mW 10m WSPR with the best Reunion Is. in the Indian Ocean. QRT soon.

Sun? What's that?

We have had a dull and wet winter. It is now spring (according to the Met Office), so we decided to go for a walk in nearby Reach. 

For once, the sun was shining, although it has clouded over again!

10m 2.5W FT8 (Sunday)

 In a few minutes my gear will be on 10m 2.5W FT8.

Stations spotting my 2.5W 10m FT8 just now

UPDATE 1237z:  Plenty of spots of my 2.5W FT8 from North and South America.  Currently RX only.

In an art gallery window

 

This was in an art gallery window in Cambridge last week. I am informed it is the singer Prince, although I would not know!

Taking stock of the solar cycle

We are not clearly on the downward slope of the latest solar cycle. The downward slope is usually gentler than the rise from the minimum to the next maximum. 

Usually the higher HF bands get neglected as people move to lower bands. I am hoping with FT8 there will be more activity remaining on the higher bands. We'll see. Often CB is busy when 10m seems dead.

One useful resource is the site I often visit to see how things are progressing.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

Another DXpedition

Just to show how much of a DXer I am not, I have to confess not having a clue where this is!  I am even unfamiliar with T31! If chasing DXCC is your thing, this may be of interest.

10m still in great shape

Stations received yesterday on
10m FT8  using the QDX-M

Yesterday I decided to stay on 10m FT8 RX all day using my tiny QDX-M which is smaller than a pack of cards. In all, 1851 stations were spotted from all around the world. We maybe on the downward side of solar maximum, but conditions remain superb.

QDX-M 10m

The map shows the stations received here yesterday on my QDX-M on 10m FT8  with just the low endfed wire.

Corruption in high office

Events of the last few weeks have confirmed to me that powerful billionaires command a lot of power and influence in the world. This is not in just one country. 

It would appear that powerful men and women are able to influence the workings of governments and the functioning of countries, being able to avoid justice and prosecution. 

There are dangerous people in high places.

Sunspots - Sunday March 1st

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 44. A=8 and K=2.

Sixbox transceiver

Some years ago I wrote an article in SPRAT and a follow up article last year. To my surprise it was awarded a prize!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox

Sibling reunions

Since the early 2000s we have met every year (just about!) for a sibling reunion with my wife’s brothers and wives. Only after my stroke and Covid have we missed.

Her elder brother sadly died, so we created this photo for her remaining brother who will be here in a few weeks.

Russian Rouble

 It looks like the Russian Rouble could fall heavily this year as Russian oil sales fall . 

With the war against Iran by the USA and Israel, we could be in for a rough ride in the world in the months ahead. Maybe this will help Russia?

DXpedition

 

As mentioned before, chasing DX is no longer important to me, whereas to others it may be.

Lightbeam experiments (2012)

In 2012 I was trying to receive G4HJW’s 481THz (red light) signal over the horizon. It was very strong.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at 0803z RX only.

UPDATE 0900z: 187 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 1019z:  434 stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX. 

UPDATE 1443z:  1167 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.  See map by Phil VK7JJ.  

UPDATE 1950z:  So far, 1851 stations have been spotted here.Conditions seem very good today.

Sunspots - Saturday February 28th

 Solar flux is 139 and the SSN 53. A=10 and K=2.

Hungry squirrel

This was yesterday. This squirrel was more interested in the chips in the bin than in me!

Russian losses in the war with Ukraine

 This war has been going on now for 4 long years and is now entering the 5th with no clear end in sight. It would seem President Putin is trying recreate the USSR and does not see Ukraine as a legitimate state. He has shown no willingness to stop the fighting.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)

I have been on 10m 2.5W FT8 since about 0930z.

UPDATE 1203z:   After a brief session on FT8 TX, I am 10m FT8 RX only. 102 stations spotted so far. See map.

UPDATE 1337z:  167 spots on FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1348z:  33 spots of my 2.5W 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1944z:  988 stations spotted with the best Hawaii.

Sunspots - Friday February 27th

Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 43.  A=18 and K=2.

The USA and Iran

Things are moving very fast. I am sure President Trump would like regime change in Tehran, but at the same time does not want "forever" wars with no clear end. With the mid-term elections coming up, if he was to get embroiled in a war with Iran this might be really bad for his prospects.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear has been on since lunch. The impression I get is there is far more FT8 activity than WSPR on 10m.

UPDATE 2026z: 563 stations spotted on RX from all corners of the planet. During the brief TX periods my signal has been spotted by 15 stations. The map shows the stations spotted on RX here.

Free Project Scrapbook PDF

This is a reminder that my Project Scrapbook is available as a free PDF download from my main website. 

Over the years this hobby has given me lots of fun and I hope you get as much fun as I did. Thankfully we all get fun in different ways.

It is well overdue for an update!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book

Amaryllis

Every winter we enjoy seeing amaryllis bulbs transform into amazing flowers. 

In all, they probably provide about 4 months of fun. Now they are almost over for this season. Those that remain are top-heavy and easily topple over.  Still, spring on Sunday!

Notice the windmill behind.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0915z. Later, I might give 10m 2.5W FT8 a try.

UPDATE 0925z:  No spots yet.

Sunspots Thursday February 26th

 Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 25. A=14 and K=4.

The light

Winter merges into spring and the evenings gradually get lighter in the UK. 

I think it is the light you notice most. Also the birds sing to establish territory and to find a mate. 

These next few months are my favourite ones. The world has new hope and new starts as it has done for millions of years. 

Later in the spring I look out for returning, screaming, swifts after their long flights back from Africa.

Sun!!

We have had a very dull and wet winter so it’s great to see the sun.

State of the Union

Whatever views you hold, President Trump is the leader of the largest and biggest economy in the world. 

My personal view is that leaders really need to be "in tune" with their people. I struggle to see how rich billionaires in any country can really understand how the common person feels.

Increasingly the world seems to be run by very rich people. I hope they are all fighting hard for their  common citizens.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce3g0epn6gd

Antarctica

My 200mW 10m beacon has reached the German research base in Antarctica several times recently. Hopefully their noise floor is low!

10m 200mW WSPR

My beacon was turned on at about 0640z.

UPDATE 1807z: Just 3 spots today. See table. Disappointing.

Nearly spring

These daffodils were seen yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey. It is officially spring on Sunday according to the Met Office.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 25th

Solar flux is 120 and the SSN still 0. A=14 and K=2.

Russia-Ukraine conflict

This has now been going on for 4 years.

No nation is perfect, but I really wish this would end fairly and end soon.  

My worry is the USA will just walk away.  Clearly Europe is concerned about President Putin's aims beyond Ukraine, for example in the Baltic and Finland.  At one time an attack on one NATO nation was the same as an attack on all NATO members and was a strong deterrent. Would the USA join? 

The Ukrainian people have put up a stalwart defence.

How?

Just now I noticed 2 pieces of 446MHz walkie-talkies for £13.59 total with VAT!!  When I started at Pye Telecom UHF portables sold for over £700 each!! 

I know things are more integrated but both Aliexpress and the manufacturer make profits!

The future

It appears that the USA is moving towards an economic model in which they become self-sufficient in their hemisphere or (ideally) within their own borders. At a pinch the EU could do this and Russia. In the case of China I am less sure.

I think the "big" players are getting nervous of long supply chains.

The UK is very vulnerable. It is very dependent on long supply chains for most things. As long as international trade works the UK is OK.  If this is disrupted the UK is in deep trouble.

Forty-9er transceiver

This was a design for a tiny QRP CW transceiver for 40m CW.  This short video shows the radio with a digital display, which was non-standard. 

See https://www.norcalqrp.org/files/49erOrigMnl.pdf

Kits are still available.

Christ's College, Cambridge, UK

For a very long time this has been shrouded in scaffolding. 

Today the scaffolding had been taken down, so I took this photo. 

We see this several times every week for free. Others travel across the planet to see some of these sites.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at breakfast.

UPDATE 1636z:  So far, 40 spots. See table.

UPDATE 1922z: Spotted by 43 stations today with the best AE5AU (7209km) who has spotted me 11 times! Now QRT. Map by Phil VK7JJ.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 24th

 Solar flux is 108 and the SSN still 0.  A=23 and K=3.

Heathkit

In the late 1960s Heathkit made some great radios. Take, for example, the SB101. 

Then the Japanese started making transceivers that meant there was little difference in making a kit. Most bought a ready made transceiver instead. 

“Lord of the flies “ TV series

This famous book by William Golding is being serialised by the BBC.  It tells the tale of children isolated on a remote Pacific island following a plane crash. They revert to savages and hunt for food.

Much of western civilisation depends on inter-connected trade these days. It would take very little for western civilisation to collapse and us having to return to savagery . There’s a message here.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002qk4w/lord-of-the-flies

Bouvet Island DXpedition

For many years I have not actively chased DX. We are all different thankfully, so this might be important to you. I think this was delayed.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvet_Island

British politics

 In case you are puzzled by the British political system, this diagram may help. I found it earlier.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0945z .

UPDATE 1721z: Spotted widely even though the SSN is zero! See table.