2m big-wheel antenna

For many years now my main 2m antenna (and 70cms!) for SSB, CW and digital modes has been a 2m big-wheel omni, sometimes called a clover leaf. This has a little horizontal gain, but is a fixed antenna that does not need a rotator. It well suits my style of operating. I use this for 2m and 70cm UKAC sessions and casual use at other times.

Most days, irrespective of conditions, I spot at least 7 countries on FT8 RX and I am spotted at ranges of 400-500km when I call QRP CQ on FT8. For me, this antenna is perfect. For FM I use the V2000 vertical. At one time I had a hand-rotated small dual band beam, but I find the big wheel better suited.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/bigwheel

Autumn crocus - NOT amateur radio

Earlier, we came across this lone autumn crocus in the village. It demanded a quick photo.

My first photo with the smart phone was over-exposed, so I went back again with the "real" camera.

Network radios

Summer 2018, I bought a network radio, mainly to use with Echolink. These radios look like 2m handhelds, but are actually Android phones. I realise that mine has hardly been used for months. I find Echolink QSOs unsatisfying. I prefer the struggle with "real" radio!

Buying one, especially at sunspot minimum, I was expecting to feel differently.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/network

Is Trump stupid? - NOT amateur radio

OK, I have to admit I am not a great fan of President Trump and admit that others clearly hold different views.

His stance on world affairs seems naïve. He stands alone on climate change, in the face of mounting evidence he is wrong, even close to home. His position on Iran seems more aimed at American rednecks than world peace. His dealings with China are very questionable. Canute?

Allegedly, he does not agree with California's efforts to reduce pollution, although the legal battles could well continue way after the next USA presidential elections.

On the world stage he is viewed as a joke, although I acknowledge his policies may find favour at home in the USA. Caveat emptor. He may be fine on "The Apprentice", but is he a true statesman?

See https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-19/hiltzik-trump-california-waiver

Sunspots - Friday September 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=8 and K=1.

Times they are a changing on 6m FT8

Since about 15 minutes ago, I have been on 6m FT8. Initially I called CQ, but got no reports at all - ziltch. Not even a G spot. What this tells me is there are far fewer stations monitoring than a few months back in the Es season. I'll stick with it, but I am less hopeful of spotting much or being spotted with my 10W CQ calls.

UPDATE 0944z: 3 spots so far on 6m FT8 RX with best DX IS0AWZ (1598km) on Sardinia.

UPDATE 1012z: A10W 6m FT8 CQ was spotted by G0SYP (222km). This was 2 hours ago, so must have been my earlier CQ.

UPDATE 1145z: Well, there is still life in 6m FT8! At the moment 16 stations in 5 countries spotted including some that must be Es. Best DX spotted, so far, is CT1EUB (1814km) in southern Portugal. My own 10W 6m FT8 CQ was not spotted by anyone.

UPDATE 1600z: Although I have been monitoring 6m FT8 most of the day, no more Es seen here since lunch. At the moment 21 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being  IH9YMC (1943km).

UPDATE 1918z: In the end, 26 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today as the map shows. There is still some Es, but it is harder to find than a few months ago. It is worth using FT8 and putting out the occasional CQ call.

UPDATE 2049z: Just now I put out a 6m 10W FT8 CQ.  I was not expecting anyone to spot me really. Then G3XGS (63km) spotted me.

Sunday Rally

The following takes place this Sunday:

Sunday 22 SEPTEMBER : WESTON-SUPER-MARE RADIO RALLY

The Campus Highlands Lane Weston super Mare BS24 7DX (Jct 21 M5). Doors open 10am to 3pm. Entry is £3. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy stall. Excellent catering and a large car park. Enquiries to Dave Dyer by email to G4CXQ@btinternet.com or on 07871 034206.

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

2m FT8 RX

All day, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. As usual, lots of stations copied.

As of 1930z 74 stations in 10 countries had been spotted today. This seems usual on 2m FT8 RX.

Brother's visit - NOT amateur radio

After a few days my brother has gone back to Devon. It was good to see him. All being well I shall see him in Devon in November.

Old car - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went to Norwich. This car was parked outside an hotel near the cathedral. I am not sure if this car dates from just before or just after WW2. It is certainly a fine car. I think it is a Bentley.

The joys of 2m FT8

There can be little doubt that FT8 has transformed amateur radio.

Some would say this has led to a further decline in the use of CW and SSB. FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode, but it does work with weak signals and is great for short DX QSOs even with very modest stations. It also only occupies 50Hz of spectrum. All activity on any band is within a few kilohertz and there are plenty of people monitoring. I watch PSKreporter maps to see where I am being spotted. Every day I get a pleasant surprise!

In my own case on 2m, every day I get spotted by stations at double (or more) of the range I can work on SSB. Some reports are at ranges I could never even dream about.

Also, these days my voice is poor, so FT8 well suits my operating. I regret the decline in casual chats, but monitoring the FT8 watering holes on any band certainly improves the chances of being copied. Personally I like FT8.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8

The UK pound against the euro

When I looked last night, the UK pound had suddenly appreciated further against the euro. At one point it was worth little more than 1.07 euros, whereas now (last night) it was over 1.13. Before the BREXIT referendum, it was far higher. Does this suggest a big rebound if we (finally) agree a deal?

With all the uncertainty over BREXIT some were expecting it to fall close to parity. I am puzzled.

Sunspots - Thursday September 19th 2019

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

Late switch to 2m FT8

At 1848z, I switched from 6m to 2m FT8. A 10W CQ using the big-wheel omni resulted in a QSO with G3KZR (231km) in IO81 square. I was spotted by 12 stations with best DX being DF0MU (475km). Every time I call CQ on 2m with 10W on FT8 I seem to get spotted at this sort of range.

UPDATE 2040z: 24 stations in 6 countries spotted in the last few hours on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2112z: The map shows the stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.

6m FT8

Today I am again on 6m FT8. After an initial 10W CQ to the V2000 vertical (no spots at all), I am RX only. So far, just one spot on 6m FT8 RX. This was G3TKF (221km). Nothing from the rest of Europe. I suspect many have now deserted 6m as the main Es season is over.

UPDATE 0922z: I see another G has been spotted. This is G8SGI (116km).

UPDATE 1057z: Now 4 Gs spotted on 6m FT8 RX this morning. No sign (yet) of any Europeans.

UPDATE 1012z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted by G3RED (55km).

UPDATE 1837z: On 6m FT8 RX 10 stations (all G and 1 GU) spotted. On TX during my brief 10W CQ calls just 2 spots (no QSOs) with best DX a spot by PA2CV (396km). Judging by the report, I suspect this was tropo.

Spike in visitors - NOT amateur radio

Periodically, I wake up to see that visits to this blog have shot up. Today was a point in case: looking at the blog quite early I see the visits today are already higher than the whole of yesterday. When this happens I can usually see where these come from. Often it is hackers in Eastern Europe, but there is no evidence of this on this occasion. Maybe I have a sudden interest in what I write. Somehow I doubt this!

East Anglia - NOT amateur radio

Much of East Anglia, UK, is flat. There are some small hills, but some may call these small bumps! This photo was taken out of a train window yesterday. Despite the flattish landscapes Norfolk and Suffolk have some great rolling scenery and some very old villages and very old medieval churches.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 18th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=9 and K=3.

A rest

As we have been out most of the day, I have not been active on any bands today. As you know, I am usually on 6m or 2m FT8, mostly RX with the occasional CQ. Later in the autumn I shall return to 630m WSPR.

OFCOM update

On the OFCOM website is an update on the UK homes with fibre connections all the way into homes allowing super fast broadband. Apparently 2.5m homes have this capability now. See their website.

Lesser Chirpy 10m transceiver

Some years ago I designed a very simple transceiver for 10m CW. This was a "for fun" rig, but it does work. Looking at the circuit it could be further simplified. It is already very simple. XBM 10-2 was the original name.

Sadly health issues stopped me fully testing this in the sunspot maximum years.

Maybe I should try it in the next Es season? Got to find it first!

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

Norwich cathedral bosses NOT amateur radio

Norman Norwich cathedral has some of the finest bosses anywhere. The examples shown are in the cloisters. Most of the stones to build the cathedral came from Normandy nearly 1000 years ago, which I find amazing.

To think this was built all that time ago without cranes and mechanical aids we have today.

Also, where did they get the manpower? There are over 1000 medieval churches in Norfolk alone

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

My brother is visiting from Devon. He wanted to go to Norwich, so we went by train. Much of the stone for the cathedral was brought be sea and river from Normandy in France nearly 1000 years ago. They built a canal to transport the stones from the River Wensum to the cathedral. The cathedral took 49 years to build. The photo show's Pool's Ferry where the canal began.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 17th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A =11 and K=4.

Yet more yuppy pads - NOT amateur radio

No doubt the developer makes plenty of profit from these houses that ordinary people cannot afford. Social housing does not seem to really count these days. I expect these homes will be sold to young executives working in Cambridge.

Neighbour's flowers - NOT amateur radio

Quite a colourful display in a neighbour's garden this morning. It is now late summer (autumn according to the weather forecasters) and he still has a great deal of colour. In his back garden he has lots of apples.

2m FT8

As there has been a lift on 2m for the last few days I stayed on overnight. So far today 6 stations spotted.

UPDATED 1000z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ resulted in 17 spots of me including 2 spots in Germany, but no QSOs.

UPDATE 1245z: The photo shows the 2m FT8 RX spots to now.

UPDATE 1434z: A recent 10W 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 7 stations, but no QSOs resulted. My best DX was a spot by DL3YCX (475km). 53 stations in 10 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today so far.

Sunspots - Monday September 16th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=4.

The FETer transceiver for 80m

Inspired by W2UW (now SK) I created the FETer transceiver for 80m CW. This uses just a handful of parts, but works. It only uses 14 parts all together.

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

Lundy - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago, I was fascinated by this remote island in the Bristol Channel. It has a long and interesting history. These days it is owned by the Landmark Trust and run by the National Trust. I think it will be safe for another 50 years. I have not been there since 1961.

In recent years the puffin population has soared as a result of rat extermination. Lundy actually means "puffin island".

See https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/Lundyisland/

Roses, Catalonia - NOT amateur radio

Roses seafront

Although we were only there earlier this week, our holiday seems an age ago! Roses, where we stayed, was a delightful place.

It seems SE Spain has had some bad floods. Luckily the weather was very good for us, as the photo shows.

So we don't forget when we get senile, I have made a blog. See https://roses2019.blogspot.com/

2m FT8

This morning I awoke at 0540z. Already 30 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 0807z: Already 75 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this morning with best DX DK4MD (1025km) on the Austrian border. Definitely a lift. Also copied an HB9.

UPDATE 1052z: 132 stations in 9 countries spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX this morning.

UPDATE 1254z: 144 stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1623z: A recent 2m 10W FT8 CQ resulted in no QSOs but was spotted by 17 stations in 5 countries.

UPDATE 1840z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ resulted in no QSOs but was spotted by 31 stations with best DX being GI6ATZ (479km). He nearly always spots me despite the distance and the fact I just use the big-wheel omni antenna. Even in flat conditions I seem to reach Northern Ireland and Cornwall on 2m FT8. In the last day 217 stations in 14 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is S58P (1247km).

UPDATE 2022z: A few moments ago I called CQ (10W) on 2m FT8. No QSOs resulted, but 19 stations n 4 countries spotted me with (again) GI6ATZ (479km) being the best. I was also spotted in NE Holland.

Sunspots - Sunday September 15th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

Hepburn tropo forecasts

It is worth looking at the Hepburn tropo forecasts for the next few days. Looking at this, the next few days look quite promising in NW Europe.

See http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_eur.html

But who would want to? - NOT amateur radio

This was a Facebook memory from 2010.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We live right next door to a fully restored windmill. The photo shows it this morning bathed in autumn sunshine. Its sails turn occasionally.

6m FT8

More in hope than expectation, I have QSYed to 6m FT8. Just a single spot to my 10W CQ by G3VIR (138km) and nothing on 6m FT8 RX so far. At the moment no Es around here.

UPDATE 1235z: Just 2 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1334z: Just 3 G spots so far today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX G1OJS (189km). Although there will be sporadic Es openings, the main Es season is now over.

UPDATE 1800z: Now 10 stations spotted in 2 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX was PA3PM (304km).

Church carvings - NOT amateur radio

Although some parts of our local church are almost 1000 years old, most date from the 1400s. It was designed by the same man who designed the famous Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.

High above, and usually hard to see, are some wooden carvings of animals, some of which the carver had never seen! Some of these carvings are in the photo.

MLS - something for the weekend

As usual, MLS is promoting some products.

See their website for details.

Roses-Expres (sic) - NOT amateur radio

On our recent visit to Catalonia we went on the Roses-Expres. This is actually a road train up some very steep roads. At the top the mountain the views were amazing. The first picture was on several days ago. The brochure is new.