Since about 1355z I have been on 6m FT8 with the 10W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 1405z. So far, I have been spotted by just a couple of UK stations and no QSOs.
UPDATE 2030z: QRT. On TX 15 stations spotted me (no QSOs) and on RX 30 stations spotted.
22 Jul 2020
Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve - NOT amateur radio
This morning we went for a walk around Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve. They have introduced water buffalo which are natives of Africa.
Labels:
kngfisher,
nature,
water buffalo
VLF tests in Devon
A couple of stations in South Devon, G3WCB and G4IUG are doing some tests with sub-10kHz transmissions with earth-electrodes. They can use high power and GPS lock. So far they have covered 1km with Hellschreiber. They can cover far further. It would not surprise me if they were spotted by Paul Nicholson in Yorkshire as long as they can send a long stable signal that can be integrated. This may need days of integration.
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/news20 for more information.
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/news20 for more information.
Labels:
vlf
21 Jul 2020
More grandchildren - NOT amateur radio
We have more grandchildren staying with us. The house is chaos! We love seeing them but how can they make such a mess? :-)
6m FT8
At about 0700z my 6m FT8 gear was turned on. As usual I was running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0824z. On TX I have been spotted by 20 stations so far.
Visit to the bakers
Early every Tuesday I make a trip to the local bakers. Usually I am there just as they open. It is well stocked, but very quiet at that time. Later this week face coverings become mandated in all English shops. The photo shows the last shop before the new rules come into effect.
20 Jul 2020
Tokyo Ham Fair cancelled
Southgate News reports that the Tokyo Ham Fair that starts at the end of October has been cancelled. You may recall that the IC-705 was first announced there last year. Many manufacturers must miss this showcase. Maybe they will make announcements online instead?
Coronavirus good news - NOT amateur radio
The BBC reports that the Oxford vaccine to fight Covid-19 is showing promise. Early days but promising. There is also some good news about a drug treatment. We deserve a break.
6m FT8
A few moments ago I turned on the 6m FT8 kit. As usual running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0955z and 10 stations have spotted me today so far.
UPDATE 1100z: So far today 33 spots of me.
UPDATE 1816z: 60 spots of me so far today.
UPDATE 1100z: So far today 33 spots of me.
UPDATE 1816z: 60 spots of me so far today.
8m band
It was reported that the Eire 40MHz beacon has been copied in Austria. I have no idea if a crossband QSO followed. Some stations have been granted special permission to operate on 8m.
Garden tea again - NOT amateur radio
For the second time we managed tea in the garden. Weather was fine on the whole as the photo shows. This is some of our family.
19 Jul 2020
Bird count - NOT amateur radio
Every month my brother does part of the bird count on the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon. This photo shows Blanksmill Creek earlier. Looks a bit overcast.
6m FT8 today
Since about 1025z I have been on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.
UPDATE 1045z: Spotted by 20 stations so far today.
UPDATE 1707z: The map shows the stations spotted by me so far today - 77. All within Europe apart from the Canary Islands.
UPDATE 2005z: QRT. I expect the main Es season will be ending soon, although with FT8 I am sure we will see some Es until much later. I recall on SSB QRP 6m working SMs way into September, so with FT8 we can expect this at least. If people stick with 6m FT8, it would not surprise me if we see some Es every day at some point. OK, I suspect the days with widespread openings will end, but some brief openings are still likely.
UPDATE 1045z: Spotted by 20 stations so far today.
Stations spotted so far today |
UPDATE 2005z: QRT. I expect the main Es season will be ending soon, although with FT8 I am sure we will see some Es until much later. I recall on SSB QRP 6m working SMs way into September, so with FT8 we can expect this at least. If people stick with 6m FT8, it would not surprise me if we see some Es every day at some point. OK, I suspect the days with widespread openings will end, but some brief openings are still likely.
18 Jul 2020
Party - NOT amateur radio
As it was someone's special birthday we had a socially distanced party on our green as the photo shows.
10m FT8 (500mW and the indoor loop)
Until about 1130z, I am on 10m WSPR. Using the indoor loop, I shall turn things off to prevent the risk of RF burns to the grandchildren who are arriving this afternoon. As yet, no spots received. It has been on for about an hour. It is now 1037z.
New ICOM IC-705 video
Southgate News has a piece linking to the new ICOM video about the SDR based ICOM IC-705 QRP rig.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/july/introducing-the-ic-705-qrp-sdr-transceiver.htm#.XxK49YjYq00
See also https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-705-HF-VHF-UHF-Mobile-Transceiver/3977/1338/14/
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/july/introducing-the-ic-705-qrp-sdr-transceiver.htm#.XxK49YjYq00
See also https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-705-HF-VHF-UHF-Mobile-Transceiver/3977/1338/14/
Labels:
ic-705,
icom,
southgate news
Wireless charging
In the last few years things appear to have moved on with wireless charging now available at very competitive prices. I assume the device has to have a way of receiving the inductive field. Is that what they mean by "QI compatible"?
I expect some amateur radio manufacturer will catch on so that some 2m and 70cm handhelds can be charged by simply placing the rig on a charging pad. I would expect this to be a flexible PCB coil within the battery. They could even reduce bill of material (BOM) costs by building the cells within the radio body and not even selling a charger. I expect either a Chinese manufacturer or ICOM will be first. You can imagine the Yaesu engineers saying "that's a good idea, why didn't we think of that?".
See https://www.7dayshop.com/products/esr-tidal-universal-wireless-fast-usb-c-adaptive-charging-pad-10w-charger-black-x000udd0e3
I expect some amateur radio manufacturer will catch on so that some 2m and 70cm handhelds can be charged by simply placing the rig on a charging pad. I would expect this to be a flexible PCB coil within the battery. They could even reduce bill of material (BOM) costs by building the cells within the radio body and not even selling a charger. I expect either a Chinese manufacturer or ICOM will be first. You can imagine the Yaesu engineers saying "that's a good idea, why didn't we think of that?".
See https://www.7dayshop.com/products/esr-tidal-universal-wireless-fast-usb-c-adaptive-charging-pad-10w-charger-black-x000udd0e3
Labels:
wireless charging
Dog - NOT amateur radio
In the next road is a dog that wails whenever a police siren sounds: we hear the police car, wait a few moments, then we hear the dog! It must think it is a mate.
Labels:
dog
6m FT8
Since about 0750z, I have been active on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. 16 European spots of me already. Just a single G spotted on RX and no QSOs. It is now 0801z.
UPDATE 0837z: 5 stations now spotted on RX and 24 stations have spotted me. No QSOs yet today.
UPDATE 0837z: 5 stations now spotted on RX and 24 stations have spotted me. No QSOs yet today.
17 Jul 2020
Sunflower - NOT amateur radio
On our walk this morning we saw our first sunflower out. Ideal today with sunshine all day. It was a nice day all day - the best this month.
Labels:
flower
10m FT8
It is now 0750z. For about an hour I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 5W. So far 15 stations spotted and 1 spot of me.
UPDATE 1057z: 15 spots of me so far today.
UPDATE 1057z: 15 spots of me so far today.
Getting older - NOT amateur radio
At 71 and a few years longer lived than my dad and granddad, I guess it is fairly natural to contemplate mortality.
Years ago, life seemed endless. These days I am more aware just how finite life is. I suppose I could live another 30 years or I could die today. At one time I seemed invincible whereas I now feel in my last years. More of my friends have died.
Generally I am a "glass half full" kind of person, so I still think long term.
Years ago, life seemed endless. These days I am more aware just how finite life is. I suppose I could live another 30 years or I could die today. At one time I seemed invincible whereas I now feel in my last years. More of my friends have died.
Generally I am a "glass half full" kind of person, so I still think long term.
Labels:
old age
16 Jul 2020
Finningley rally postponed
Today I heard about another postponed rally. As before, this is as I received it, so the background may make it hard to read on some screens. The summary is the Finningley Rally has been postponed.
Sunday 19 JULY : POSTPONED
FINNINGLEY ARS RALLY. The Hurst Communications Centre, Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster DN8 5SX Doors open 10am. Free parking. Massive indoor / outdoor traders area with major traders and club stalls from microwave components to QRP kits. Hot food and drinks all day. Admission £3. Contact Kevin G3AAF on 07831 614640 or Kevin.Avery@tunstall.com 0r Martin M0HOM on 07966 479 195 or martin.m0hom@gmail.com.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall ies/
Sunday 19 JULY : POSTPONED
FINNINGLEY ARS RALLY. The Hurst Communications Centre, Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster DN8 5SX Doors open 10am. Free parking. Massive indoor / outdoor traders area with major traders and club stalls from microwave components to QRP kits. Hot food and drinks all day. Admission £3. Contact Kevin G3AAF on 07831 614640 or Kevin.Avery@tunstall.com 0r Martin M0HOM on 07966 479 195 or martin.m0hom@gmail.com.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Labels:
rally
Yet more - NOT amateur radio
It seems that every space in our village is being used to erect new houses. These are not houses for the people that really need them, but large homes for the well healed that work in nearby Cambridge. I guess these maximise profits for the builders.
The latest are being built on what was a field. I have no idea how many homes are being built, but I would expect at least 4. It would be nice to be a "fly on the wall" to see what was the village was like years ago. The trouble is that when new places go up you cannot remember what was there before!
The latest are being built on what was a field. I have no idea how many homes are being built, but I would expect at least 4. It would be nice to be a "fly on the wall" to see what was the village was like years ago. The trouble is that when new places go up you cannot remember what was there before!
Labels:
houses
10m FT8 (5W to indoor loop)
It is now 0912z. Since about 0900z, I have been on 10m FT8. A couple of European spots of my 5W already received and the best DX on 10m FT8 RX is JA9CVH (8770km) in Japan.
This tiny indoor loop continues to amaze me. It is just fixed to a chair in the downstairs shack yet I continue to get fantastic results.
UPDATE 1904z: 110 stations copied on 10m FT8 RX and 26 stations have spotted my 5W (or less) on 10m FT8 TX today. In some situations I was using 3W. Several QSOs had (all within Europe).
UPDATE 2106z: 130 stations spotted on RX and 30 stations spotted my 5W or less 10m FT8 TX. Several QSOs, all European via Es.
The loop |
UPDATE 1904z: 110 stations copied on 10m FT8 RX and 26 stations have spotted my 5W (or less) on 10m FT8 TX today. In some situations I was using 3W. Several QSOs had (all within Europe).
UPDATE 2106z: 130 stations spotted on RX and 30 stations spotted my 5W or less 10m FT8 TX. Several QSOs, all European via Es.
World population - NOT amateur radio
According to recent research the world population is expected to peak mid century and then fall dramatically as the birth rate nose dives. One consequence will be more old people and fewer youngsters. The concern is taxes and care of an ageing population.
It probably means more migration and different employment opportunities. From a world resources view point I think this is good news: more food to go around and less environmental damage.
It probably means more migration and different employment opportunities. From a world resources view point I think this is good news: more food to go around and less environmental damage.
Labels:
population
QRP transceiver ideas in RSGB RadCom
FETer 80m CW transceiver |
These are extremely simple circuits that would make nice wet weekend lockdown projects. One uses just a single FET and the other just 2 transistors. Remember, these are complete transceivers!
As I state in the article, please don't be afraid to experiment. My hope is that, like me, you adapt the circuits to find what works best for you. The circuits are simple and like all simple rigs, they are compromises.
Both work and have been used on the air. More details are on my main website and YouTube channel.
Labels:
qrp
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