16 Oct 2020
October snowdrops - NOT amateur radio
BREXIT - NOT amateur radio
If you turn on the news on the UK TV or radio, you will almost certainly hear something about Covid-19. It is almost like BREXIT is not happening.
Behind the scenes, both sides actually want a deal, despite this actually not looking like this. Those in the EU are holding out for the best deal.
In the very end we can expect some face-saving deal that will be appear good for both sides. A no deal outcome would not be good for either the UK or EU nations.
2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna)
Since about 0820z I have been on 2m FT8. So far (it is now 0830z) 8 stations have already spotted me with the furthermost being G4RRA (333km). 2 stations spotted on RX. No QSOs.
UPDATE 1927z: After a period on 20m FT8, I have returned to 2m FT8 with QRP. So far, 5 stations have spotted me - all Gs. Nothing spotted yet this evening on 2m FT8. 18 stations in 4 countries have spotted me so far today. The furthermost was GD3YEO (384km).
15 Oct 2020
2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni)
At about 1840z, I tried a few CQ calls on 2m FT8. Not a single station was spotted in the first 15 minutes, which is very unusual. My own QRP signal was spotted by 4 stations with the furthermost being G8TIC (170km). At the moment I am RX only.
UPDATE 1900z: Going back on TX.
UPDATE 1910z: 5 spots of me and 2 spots on RX. No QSOs. G0LRD is copying a few more stations than me, possibly as his antenna is further above ground than mine. He is 26km from me on the other side of Cambridge. See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/
QRP VLF earth-mode
8 years ago I was experimenting at VLF with earth-mode signals through the ground getting 6km with 5W as the photo shows.
Another cancelled rally
I have just heard about another cancelled rally. Let us hope next year is better! This time next year we should have a vaccine and things should feel more normal. This year has been odd for most.
The Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally was due to be held Oct 18th in Driffield, but this is now cancelled.
2m AM QSO - 100 miles - 10mW - halfwave whip
My XYL was looking in our loft for some pictures and came across my mobile logbook that I had not seen for over 7 years. I have never managed to get in our loft since my 2013 stroke.
In the logbook is my Fredbox QSO across the Channel with 10mW and a halfwave whip on 2m AM in 1976. This was one of my all-time best ever QSOs. See logbook page photo below.
Years later the Fredbox was revived and used for some local QSOs again.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/fredbox .
6m FT8 (2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni)
In a few minutes I hope to turn on 6m FT8. It is now 0647z. If I spot anyone or anyone spots me, I shall be pleased and amazed.
However, they do call it the "magic band" as from time to time strange things happen.
The most probable outcome is white noise, followed by the odd G spot (from dedicated people who like punishment) and possibly the odd European by aircraft or Es.
UPDATE 0723z: 6m FT8 now turned on. No spots given or received.
UPDATE 1025z: Just a spot from G0PQO (50km). No spots on RX and no QSOs.
UPDATE 1806z: Now QRT. With no spots at all on RX and just 1 spot of me on TX, today has been a poor day.
Sunspots - Thursday October 15th 2020
Solar flux is 75 (higher than for some time) and the SSN 12. A=2 and K=0. There is definitely evidence building that we are on the up-slope of cycle 25.
14 Oct 2020
2m FT8 (2.5W and the big-wheel omni)
At the moment I am again on 2m FT8 QRP. It is now 0907z. 6 stations have spotted me with G4RRA (333km) in Devon the furthermost,and I have spotted 2 stations so far.
UPDATE 1423z: 11 stations have already copied me (no QSOs yet) with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). Also copied multiple times in Northern Ireland. 17 stations in 5 countries spotted here.
UPDATE 1530z: After a period on RX only, I am back on 2m FT8 TX. 4 stations have spotted me in the last 10 minutes including G4RRA (333km) in Devon again. On RX 22 stations spotted today.
70cm activity contest
13 Oct 2020
QRP on YouTube
A recent visit to YouTube suggested there were lots of videos about QRP operating. As you know, a lot of fun can be had with low power.
Free video editing software for Windows PCs?
At one time Windows came with a free package (Moviemaker?) that allowed quite a lot of video editing. I do not think this is available free any more. What do people recommend?
Like many, I want to send videos and video clips by email, so the main requirement is to make the videos smaller, possibly also adding titles and shortening.
The package needs to be free and easy to use on Windows 10.
Sunspots rising?
A year from now we will look back on 2020 as a bad year. We have all been put out of sorts by the Covid-19 pandemic and solar activity has been poor.
At last there are hints of better days ahead. This time next year the Covid-19 situation should be better and sunspot numbers should be climbing. We are in for a rough period, but thing will be better. Hang on in there and stay positive as the "sunlit slopes" await us!
USA presidential elections - NOT amateur radio
These are getting very close now.
President Trump has been out on the campaign trail just 2 weeks after being hospitalised with Covid-19. I have no idea what the election out come will be. The people of the USA will elect the president they want to lead them.
2m FT8
It is now 0756z. For about 10 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 4 Gs (best in Devon) have spotted me and I have spotted 1 F.
UPDATE 0850z: Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is DL6YBF (471km).
UPDATE 1000z:
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| Spots of me at 1000z |
UPDATE 1435z: My QRP 2m FT8 has yet again been spotted in N.Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. I remain open minded on the mode: aircraft, some other sort of scatter or tropo, but I consistently get spotted at great range on 2m FT8 every single day.
12 Oct 2020
East Cambs net
At 8pm UK time on Mondays we hold the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM. This usually lasts about 30 minutes although some stay on to chat longer. At least one person cannot make Monday nights, so a change of nights is being considered.
One possibility is to combine this with the Wednesday night net held by the Cambridge club (CDARC). All in the area are most welcome.
2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni)
At about 1406z, I QSYed to 2m FT8. So far just 2 spots of me by G4MSA (222km) and G0LRD (26km). The photo shows my signal on G0LRD's grabber.
See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/
UPDATE 1455z: GI6ATZ (479km) has spotted me. One RX just 1 spot.
UPDATE 1612z: 3 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX F0EYI (465km) in Brittany.
UPDATE 2005z: QRT.
FT8 QSOs and power
Most of my FT8 QSOs are with 2.5W and very simple antennas. Although I own an FT-991A, I was considering trading this in for an IC-705. This ICOM radio runs 5W off the battery and up to 10W with an external PSU. This would be more than adequate for me. Most of my FT8 QSOs are with 2.5W and the FT-817ND.
Most of the time I use resonant antennas, so the internal auto-ATU on the FT-991A is not essential. Some worry about the extra loss in ATUs, but this usually just a fraction of an S-point. The IC-705 was going to cover 4m but no longer does on TX. It does not have an internal auto-ATU and is very expensive. Maybe later, when the price drops and the initial bugs are resolved.
Our view - NOT amateur radio
Windose - NOT amateur radio
In 2017 I bought a Windows PC. I have just waited and waited as it booted up, installed updates and did its thing. Meanwhile my Chromebook booted up within seconds.
Now, I am aware that the windows machine probably has lots of bloatware and will need a defrag. My question is why? I am totally delighted with my Chromebook. Compared with the Windows machine it is so much better. Comparing the Chromebook and the Windows 10 machine it is "chalk and cheese": the Windows PC is so slow!
If you are thinking about getting a new PC think about a Chromebook.
6m FT8 (2.5W to V2000 vertical omni)
Perhaps I am just a sucker for punishment, but I decided to try 6m FT8 again today. The gear - FT817ND and the V2000 vertical with cheap CB coax - was turned on at 0811z.
UPDATE 1108z: Just 3 spots of me so far and 1 spot of others here today on 6m FT8. All are Gs.
UPDATE 1402z: Nothing further on TX so far today. No Es here. Just a couple of G stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX.
11 Oct 2020
2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni)
At 1845z, I QSYed to 2m FT8. Already spotted by 6 G stations, but nothing yet spotted on RX.
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W to the big-wheel tonight |
6m FT8 (2.5W and V2000 vertical omni)
It is now 0857z and I have been on for about 15 minutes. No stations copied on RX, but G3XDV (45km) has already spotted me. No 6m FT8 QSOs yet.
UPDATE 1845z: 7 stations spotted on RX and 6 stations today - all G.
Operating on 6m
Some call 6m "The Magic Band". This is for good reasons as at times almost every sort of propagation is possible.
Sometimes it behaves as a good HF band, but most of the time it behaves as a VHF band. With sporadic-E (Es) one can work all of Europe from the UK with simple antennas and low power on SSB.
FT8 has transformed operation on 6m. Most DX is worked on FT8 these days. Often all you hear is white noise. Serious 6m operators run full power and big beams on big towers. There is no doubt these will help, but surprising fun can be had with simple gear.
Even in years of very low sunspots some remarkable DX has been worked. Some of this may be due to multi-hop Es, but I think some other form of E layer propagation is involved for some of these contacts.
Fungi - NOT amateur radio
OK, the jokes were on Facebook!
10 Oct 2020
Covid-19 humour - NOT amateur radio
Certainly mask wearing with glasses can be a problem. Luckily, I am at an age where my short-sightedness has improved that glasses are less necessary.
VHF scatter?
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 to the big-wheel omni today |
FT8 works with signals that are weaker than SSB and CW and I wonder if we are able to make use of some other scatter mode? Either that or there are so many planes in the air that the time of day doesn't matter. Somehow the latter doesn't seem likely as at the beginning of lockdown I could still get as many distant spots and QSOs on QRP 2m FT8.
It would be interesting to hear the views of others.
Yet again on 2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni)
At about 1015z, my 2m FT8 kit was turned on. So far, 2 stations are spotting me, with best DX a spot by F5APQ (180km). On RX just G3PFM (237km) so far and no QSOs.
David G0LRD, on the far side of Cambridge, has a screen grab showing what he copies on 2m FT8. This is quite useful to me as I can check all is OK. Dave kindly erected my 2m antenna some years ago.
See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/
UPDATE 1215z: Already spotted by 7 stations with best DX spot being by GI6ATZ (479km). On RX 11 stations spotted so far. Just 1 QSO.
Yesterday's walk - NOT amateur radio
Family history - NOT amateur radio
We were probably in the South Hams thousands of years ago. At some point I shall try to get further back in time.
Sunspots - Saturday October 10th 2020
Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 24 (sunspots at last!). A=2 and K=1.
9 Oct 2020
Anglesey Abbey, Wednesday - NOT amateur radio
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