Long hair - NOT amateur radio

Our 12 year old grandson insists on having long hair. My wife cannot stand it, but this is what he wants.

Although not quite a teenager, he is quite like one in many ways. I guess we are wasting time arguing with him about it.

6m FT8 RX

Most of the day I was on 6m FT8 RX. In all 259 stations spotted. Although southern Europeans were working USA and Canadian stations, nothing copied here.

Another IC-705 video

Now the ICOM IC-705 is being sold in Japan, more videos are appearing. My Japanese is non-existent, but we can just watch the pictures!

Near Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of our favourite walks in Devon. It shows Snapes Point near Salcombe where I lived as a child.

10m WSPR TX beacon

Overnight I stayed on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Just local G4KPX spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1950z: 12 stations have spotted me today on 10m WSPR .

70cm portable

This photo was a Facebook memory from 2013. It shows me operating 70cm portable with a homebrew 4el yagi antenna.

Sunspots - Monday July 6th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 11.  A=10 and K=2.

Granddaughter reading - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our granddaughter reading on the bed this morning.

Giddiness - NOT amateur radio

For the last 2 days, I have felt more giddy than usual. Since my stoke in 2013 I have always felt giddy. Others cannot tell, but all the time I feel as if I am about to fall. This weekend has felt worse.

6m FT8

Since finishing 2m VHF NFD, I have been on 6m FT8 with 10W and the vertical V2000 omni. Apart from a few minutes calling CQ (spotted by 5 stations) I have been mostly on RX. The best DX spotted was OZ1ALS (702km).

UPDATE 1419z:  Still just this one OZ spotted.

UPDATE 1630z:  11 stations in 4 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today so far. Not much Es evident.

VHF NFD

In all, I had 2 short periods on 2m VHF NFD.  8 stations were worked.  More could have been worked had I stayed on longer, but I was exhausted. In the end I was just giving away points.

10m WSPR TX beacon

Since about 0935z I have been on 10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far no spots.

UPDATE 1352z:  Just spots by OZ7IT (853km).

SAQ reminder

Yesterday I reminded you about a special transmission from SAQ on17.2kHz VLF.  See yesterday's post for details.

Sunspots - Sunday July 5th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 12. A=7 and K=2.

Watching "Wind in the Willows" - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our grandchildren watching the TV earlier.

VHF NFD

The 2m leg is Sunday July 5th. I have no idea about other bands. I shall try to come on briefly with my 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

SAQ test transmission

The historic 17.2kHz VLF CW alternator transmitter is making a special transmission this Sunday July 5th. This TX is almost 100 years old!

See https://alexander.n.se

10m WSPR TX (500mW to the tiny indoor loop antenna)

As is normal, I'm on 10m WSPR TX. Already quite a few spots. It is only 0950z and already spotted by 10 unique stations.

UPDATE 1800z : No spots since 1254z.

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of our grandchildren at breakfast.

6m FT8

Apart from a very brief CQ at 10W to the V2000 vertical omni, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. Plenty of EU Es spots.

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of Iceland from 9 years ago. Generally we had very good weather and we really liked the place. An abiding memory was the lupins everywhere and the lack of cars in rural areas. We drove 120 miles and saw very few cars! Good job we didn't break down!

Sunspots - Saturday July 5th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Virtual Ham Expo

Southgate News has a piece about a virtual ham expo in August. 

I have been impressed with meetings and lectures using Zoom. The CDARC (Cambridge Radio Club) has had a series of Zoom lectures. These have all been very good. It has been good to "attend" these from the comforts of home. In my case it saved a 26 mile road trip, partly at night.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/july/qso-today-virtual-ham-expo.htm#.Xv8BjYjYq00

6m FT8

After a very brief period calling CQ with my 10W and the V2000 vertical omni (no QSOs), I am RX only on 6m FT8. So far, 97 stations spotted here and my very brief CQ was spotted by TR8CA (5820km) in central Africa.

UPDATE 1414z:  326 stations spotted here today so far with the furthermost being A45XR (5843km) in Oman.

Where I was brought up - NOT amateur radio

As a child I was brought up in Salcombe, Devon (see photo). At the time, I had no idea how lucky I was to live in somewhere so nice. I go back most years.

10m WSPR TX (500mW and the indoor loop)

For a few minutes now, I have been on 10m WSPR TX. Normally it takes about 20 minutes for the beacon to settle, so there is a small drift initially. I think this is the crystal warming. As yet, no spots. It is now 0907z.

UPDATE 0915z:  Amazing!  Already spotted by 7 unique stations!

UPDATE 1322z:   16 unique stations spotting me so far today, some very strongly too.

Cottage garden - NOT amateur radio

This cottage garden was seen on a recent walk. Although largely untended, it is filled with "cottage" plants and looks a picture.

1990s shack

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my gear in the mid 1990s. I had far more gear then than now!

Yesterday on 10m WSPR TX

In all, 28 unique stations spotted my 10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop antenna. It was the best day this Es season.

Sunspots - Friday July 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Rally News - on?

I just got this email this morning. It does not say it is cancelled. This a definite case when contacting the organisers makes sense before travelling.

As before, sorry if the background makes it hard to read on some screens, but this is how it comes to me.

4  JULY 2020 (Saturday) : STOCKPORT RS RALLY

New Venue: Bridgehall Community Centre, Siddington Avenue, Stockport SK3 8LX. New venue is ground floor only. Doors open 9.30am (traders from 7am). Admittance is £2.50 with under 16s free. There will be trade stands (tables cost £10 each), special interest groups and an RSGB Bookstall. Catering is available on site and locally. The venue is accessible by bus from Stockport town centre and mainline rail station More details from 07506 904422, info@g8srs.co.uk. www.g8rs.co.uk.

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

This morning's walk - NOT amateur radio

We did a 3.98 mile walk around the village earlier. Just after we got back it rained - we missed getting soaked by 10 minutes!

10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop

All morning I have been on 10m WSPR TX again.

UPDATE 1115z: 16 unique stations spotting me today with the best being OH1RJ (1655km).

OFCOM cooperation

Gosh!! Get back in your seats and try to contain your excitement and joy. OFCOM has announced it is to cooperate with the Competition and Markets Authority and the Information Commissioner's Office in a joint forum. More details on the OFCOM website. I bet you are as thrilled as I am!

Sunspots - Thursday July 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Angry sky - NOT amateur radio

This evening the sky was very dark and it rained heavily. This is the windmill next to our house.

6m FT8

Apart from a few minutes calling CQ, I have mostly been on 6m FT8 RX for the last hour or so. The brief CQ was widely spotted by Es and 63 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1803z:  Mostly on 6m FT8 RX, although I did have a QSO just now with an SP. In all 277 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)

Since shortly after breakfast, I have been on 10m WSPR TX. Several spots from Scandinavia already received.

UPDATE 1807z: 18 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 2037z: 23 unique station spors of me today.

Narrow boats - NOT amateur radio

We saw these narrow boats on our walk yesterday.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 1st 2020

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.