7 Aug 2020
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" - NOT amateur radio
For years I have used an interface for this blog that seemed to work fine. Now Google has changed this and I find it is far slower. I also found out that sometime in the next year I have to change all my websites to their new format. Now I am sure there are some upsides, but the overall impression is they make things worse, not better.
A few years ago they stopped supporting Picassa, so it is now far more involved to post people photos. One step forwards and two steps backwards!!
It is like clothes - made to a price, so thinner material, poorer quality. We bought a coat recently to replace one that was many years old. You guessed - fewer pockets and thinner material.
We thought about buying a new bag from the National Trust. You guessed - fewer pockets and poorer material.
Why?
Hot - NOT amateur radio
Hot! We usually do a walk most days but decided not to today as it is too hot. Instead we are reading books in the shade in the garden.
10m FT8
Since mid-morning, I have been on 10m FT8 with about 4W and the indoor loop. It is now 1230z. Up to now, 23 stations, all in Europe, have spotted me. On RX 67 stations have been spotted here. Best DX on RX is 5T5PA (3791km).
UPDATE 2049z: In the last half day, 104 stations were spotted on RX and 39 stations spotted my 4W and indoor loop. Now QRT.
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
Although I have been in the garden all morning not seen a single swift has been seen. Most have now gone. They don't stay long.
UPDATE 2042z: We spent much of the day in the garden. Not a single swift was spotted all day.
6 Aug 2020
10m FT8
Open! - NOT amateur radio
23cm
Some erect serious stations with big antennas and linears with far more power. These people can access scatter modes and get ranges that some would consider amazing for a microwave band.
I guess the trouble is that we cannot do everything as time and money are limited. There is so much I would like to try!
See http://www.sg-lab.com/TR1300/tr1300.html
Pye - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.pye-story.org/
UK economy - NOT amateur radio
10m WSPR
If 10m WSPR remains quiet, I may try 10m FT8 later.
6m FT8
UPDATE 0819z: Just a single spot of me so far by G4IFX (146km). On 6m FT8 RX nothing.
UPDATE 0923z: 3 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. With 1 Italian spotted the looks like there is some Es around.
Pig statues - NOT amateur radio
Projects for the autumn/winter
I also want to erect either a wire dipole or inverted V for 10m, which is my favourite band and which should be better next year.
My problem is ladders. Since my stroke in 2013 I feel very wobbly on ladders! I have not ventured into my floored loft since 2013! I have a box of amateur gear up there waiting to be explored, HI. I have forgotten what it is in it.
I shall try to do these projects before the end of 2020.
5 Aug 2020
2m FT8 (10W to the big-wheel omni antenna)
One CQ was answered by local G4NBS (22km) and I was spotted by 17 stations in 3 countries the best being EI2FG (565km).
On 2m FT8 RX the best spotted here was PE3T (361km) of the 11 stations in 3 countries.
Optical communications
Optical RX |
Even without any visible signals in the sky I was able to detect my beacon from home on 481THz (red optical) way over the horizon, even though it was firing through double glazing. Had I been able to carry on, there were so many things I wanted to try including higher powerLEDs, further distances and a better tripod.
Sadly, these days I am too wobbly to do this portable work. As all the gear can be built and tested in the "back of a garage" with simple test gear, this could appeal to those interested in serious, but low cost, experimentation. Over the horizon optical work could do with attention.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical
Solar Cycle 25
Freed slaves - NOT amateur radio
What I did not know was that his family had settled in the area in the 1800s as freed slaves. I wonder how many people today, perhaps unknowingly, owe their wealth to slavery centuries earlier?
Until recently I did not know that when slavery was abolished in the UK, slave owners received compensation for their losses! This debt has only recently been paid off. There must be some very rich people today who owe their wealth to this.
Personally I find slavery abhorrent.
6m FT8
UPDATE 0850z: Just a little early Es today with a spot of me from Lithuania. In all 5 spots. On 6m FT8 RX just 2 spots so far.
10m WSPR
UPDATE 1238z: 3 stations have spotted me today.
UPDATE 1930z: QRT now and no other stations spotting me today on 10m WSPR.
Sunspots - Wednesday August 5th 2020
4 Aug 2020
2m activity contest tonight
Unlike many contests, this is good humoured. Although I usually submit a log and enter the contest, there is no compulsion to do so. Many just come on as there is plenty of 2m SSB activity.
UPDATE 2050z: In all, 9 stations worked tonight. I stayed on one hour.
OFCOM news
New normal - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna
UPDATE 1355z: So far today, 1 QSO and 24 spots of my 4W to the indoor loop.
UPDATE 1710z: Best DX on RX is VP8LP (12773km). On TX 29 stations have spotted my 4W with the indoor. 1 QSO.
UPDATE 2114z: 67 stations spotted on RX (including two in South America and one in the Falklands) and 30 stations spotted me on TX. Now QRT.
6m FT8
10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)
VHF NFD results
3 Aug 2020
Article in RadCom
See https://rsgb.org/
OFCOM consultation
10m WSPR beacon (500mW to indoor loop)
UPDATE 0923z: No Es here yet today.
UPDATE 1822z: Just G4KPX spots today and no Es here.
6m FT8
So far, just a G and GW copied on 6m FT8 RX and not a single spot on TX. I re-did a time re-sync just in case the internet had gone off and I had lost timing. It can happen. Very quiet so far today. Just now I restarted the PC too and did another time re-sync.
UPDATE 0920z: Just UK spots today so far on 6m FT8 TX.
UPDATE 1823z: 8 spots of me today. Some late evidence of Es in the last hour or so.
8m tests
See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/08/ft8-experiment-on-40-mhz-1st-to-15th.html
Where we used to live - NOT amateur radio
Behind us was Spring Close meadow which has the remains of a Roman villa as well as the remains of Burwell Castle from the time of King Stephen about 1000 years ago.