2m FT8 RX

Since just before breakfast I have been monitoring 2m FT8 RX again. Already (0900z) 24 unique stations spotted in 6 countries with best DX on RX DK2DTF (644km).

UPDATE 1222z:  Now 37 uniques in 7 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1300z: Now 40 uniques in 8 countries.

UPDATE 1903z: Now 56 uniques in 8 countries in the last 12 hours.

UPDATE 2116z: 59 uniques in 8 countries today on 2m FT8 RX. Now time to go QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday April 14th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number still 13.  A=9 and K=1.

Virus? - NOT amateur radio

Whenever I open the page to add things to my blog currently, my Avast comes up with "threat detected".  I suspect one of the ads on my edit page currently contains some sort of malware. I am pretty sure it is not anything I have placed on the blog. I only hope it is not there on the pages visitors see.

Anyway, it is good discipline to have anti-virus protection on your PC. If you are not protected, I recommend Avast which has good scores and is available free. In the case of Windows Defender, it uses Avast as the virus protection on my own PC.

These days, every PC user must have virus protection. Without it, you are acting irresponsibly and foolishly, endangering others as well as yourself. Get protected now.

House quiet again - NOT amateur radio

Our "London" grandchildren have gone home and the house is quiet again. We have had them since Monday and visitors for over a week, leaving me exhausted. We love having the grandchildren, but they do tire me!

Rallies

15 APRIL 2018 : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)

Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. There will be a talk in station and on site car parking is free. Doors open at 10am with disable d visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stations, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Other attractions are lectures, a raffle and catering on site. Details from Paul, M0CJX on 0845 165 0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.


15 APRIL 2018 : YEOVIL ARC QRP CONVENTION

Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm. Admission £3, regrettably only guide dogs can be admitted. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy as well as club stands. A programme of talks will take place, details on the website. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & BYLARA [http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention.php].


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

2m FT8 RX

So far this morning on 2m FT8 RX 18 unique stations in 6 countries in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 1422z: Now 26 unique stations in 7 countries today.

UPDATE 2144z: Now 63 unique stations in 7 countries today.

OFCOM auction results published

Now, don't get too excited as it is not good for your heart! I know how much you enjoy news about OFCOM, just like me!

OFCOM has now published the results of its auction of microwave spectrum. Yes, I know you have been anxiously awaiting this with bated breath, but now the wait is over! You can breath again.  😎

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/264F38AB38B02CEC2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Heathkit HW8 QRP Transceiver

Some years ago, I owned one of these rigs and worked some impressive DX with it. It was a joy to use. I think it was sold when I bought a Yaesu transceiver many years ago. It went back to its original owner.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8

Sunspots (yes real sunspots!) - Friday April 13th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number is 13 i.e. not zero for a change! A=9 and K=2.

Mildenhall museum again - NOT amateur radio

Another view of our visit to Mildenhall Museum a few days ago with our grandchildren.

FETer very simple transceiver

It seems unbelievable that this ultra-simple design (14 parts) is 10 years old. It was a simpler version of a W2AW design for 40m. I put mine on 80m CW. It certainly works!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

2m FT8

After a brief TX period (spotted locally) I am again on 2m FT8 RX. So far, 10 uniques spotted in 4 countries.

Best DX so far today on 2m FT8 RX is DK2DTF (644km).


UPDATE 1310z: The photo shows the stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX so far today.

Sunspots - Thursday April 12th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today yet the sunspot number is stubbornly zero again. A=14 and K=2.

Crystals sets

A great deal of fun can be had with the simplest of receivers. I had some great fun DXing with a shortwave crystal set. These days, there are fewer SW broadcasters sending in English, so IDing is harder, but not impossible.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/crystalset

10m FT8 RX

So far today, just one spot on 10m FT8 RX of DL8FCK (627km) in Hesse in Germany.

UPDATE 1930z: Just one G spot in addition and no DX as yet today.

UPDATE 2145z: Now QRT.

Worse spots to read? - NOT amateur radio

This was our granddaughter earlier reading on our windowsill. There are worse backdrops!

I think this is a book she brought from home.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 11th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=20 and K=2.

10m FT8 RX

As well as a couple of stations in Rio (Brazil) I also spotted VP8LP, although these spots of the Falklands did not upload to PSKreporter.  It seems that 10m regularly opens to South America, despite the very poor solar conditions. It is definitely worth keeping a watch on 10m FT8. Quite a few EU spots plus 3 in the Canary Is.

70cm (432MHz) UKAC RSGB activity contest

Tonight I expected to miss this contest as we have grandchildren staying. I managed to snatch about 10 minutes and worked a couple of stations with G4CLA (105km) as the best DX. Seeing I only have 5W RF and a 2 metre halo, I was quite pleased.

Museum visit - NOT amateur radio

It is funny, but our grandchildren seem to love museums! Today we had to revisit the small (free) museum at Mildenhall, Suffolk. We also had a request to visit the church there again.

Yet more OFCOM rubbish (my view)

Now we are told that the next stage in their auction of microwave spectrum has been reached. Big deal. Most of us are just plain bored.

You can also read this in Welsh. It is a good job green people with one leg living in Stoke-On-Trent don't have their own language or they'd have to employ another person!

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/8B6148651C1AA1D42540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

2m FT8

After a quick CQ in which my 5W to an omnidirectional antenna was received by G0LUJ (279km) I shall be on 2m FT8 RX most of the day. I may try 10m FT8 much later.

As yet,  just a couple of Gs spotted on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 0918z: Now 3 Gs spotted.

UPDATE 0930z: Now one F and DK spotted. Best DX is F6APE (551km).

UPDATE 1148z: Now 24 unique stations in 4 countries spotted today on 2m FT8.  Best DX is DK2DTF (644km).

UPDATE 1605z: Now 45 uniques. Time to QSY to 10m FT8 RX.

The Pixie

This is a classic QRP CW transceiver. Like all simple transceivers it is a compromise. Chinese versions are available at less than the cost of the crystal alone in the UK. The Chinese kit I built was for 40m and worked first time.

The Pixie is a derivative of the Micro-80.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/pixie

Simple Regen Circuit

Regen receivers amaze me. How something so simple can work so well never fails to intrigue me.

I was looking for a photo I took some years ago, but so far I have failed to find it. I still have the RX in a drawer!


See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/regen

Sunspots - Tuesday April 10th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0.  A=10 and K=2.

Soloists - NOT amateur radio

At my wife's concert one of the soloists was sick, so at the very last minute he was replaced.  Thankfully he was excellent.

See www.cambschoral.org.uk

10m FT8 RX today

As usual these last few days, I have been keeping an eye open on 10m FT8 RX. So far today, just G4CJC (74km) spotted. No EU stations spotted yet and no DX.

UPDATE 2019z: As well as a an Italian, PY1SX (9301km) spotted.

Sunspots - Monday April 9th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=5 and K=2.

Wife's Concert - NOT amateur radio

My wife's concert in Cambridge was last night. Here is a picture.

Sunspots - Sunday April 8th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sun remains spotless.  A=5 and K=2.

10m FT8 RX

This becoming a habit! It is now 3 evenings in a row that South Americans have been spotted on 10m FT8, despite zero sunspots and really low solar flux. FT8 is catching brief openings.

I am on again this morning, but just EUs spotted so far.

UPDATE 1115z: Still just a few EU stations with best DX F4DJK (779km).

UPDATE 2120z: First day in 4 days with nothing outside Europe today. Best DX spotted was EA1EU (1005km).

SW BC interval signals

I know this has been posted before, but it is quite good to hear some of these again. If you are like me, your first introduction to amateur radio was via shortwave broadcast signals. Shortwave is quite different these days with far fewer English language broadcasts. It is no longer the magic it was to oldies like me!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/interval

Yours truly yesterday - NOT amateur radio

This was me yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey.  Although not as sunny as the day before it was spring-like.

We have a friend staying and we went here after having lunch in a nearby pub.

10m FT8 RX

Despite very poor solar conditions, the last 2 evenings has seen 10m FT8 spots (lots) from South America.

So far today, 7 unique stations spotted in 3 EU countries.

Solar conditions are similar, so let's see this evening!

UPDATE 1330z:  Still 7 uniques in 3 countries, all EU.

Liverpool Quiz Book - NOT amateur radio

A good friend of ours is a blue badge guide to Liverpool. These blue badge guides are trained guides who take people around this vibrant UK city.  He often takes visitors from cruise ships. He has recently had a quiz book published. You can buy this at various places in and around Liverpool, or from Amazon.

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076L86Y4C/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

Work "do" - NOT amateur radio

This picture was taken by a friend many years ago. I have no idea what the occasion was. It looks like all males and I am enjoying the wine. Probably about 30 years ago? It was something to do with work, but I have no memories of it. No, that is not a result of the wine!

Sunspots - Saturday April 6th 2018

Solar flux is 66 today and the sunspot number 0. A=9 and K=1.

10m FT8 today (Friday)

Once again I am monitoring 10m FT8 RX today. So far, only 2 stations spotted - a G and CT1FHW (1681km). I am staying on late in case the band opens again to South America as it did late yesterday. Conditions seem quite similar to yesterday and no better.

UPDATE 2125z:  South America again this evening on 10m FT8.

Rally

8 APRIL 2018 : RIPON & DISTRICT ARS RALLY AND SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE

Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 2PT. Doors open to public at 10am. For enquiries please email David Cutter, G3UNA at rally@ripon.org.uk [http://www.ripon.org.uk/content/rally-2018].

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Yesterday - NOT amateur radio

This is a collage of yesterday. We had something quite rare - sunshine!