At 0822z, my 2m FT8 was turned on. Once again I am using 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. 1 station in Germany spotted on RX and at 0950z, my signal had been spotted by 10 stations in 3 countries with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. No QSOs yet.
UPDATE 1250z: 12 stations have spotted me today.
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| Stations spotting me to 1550z |
Things seem to have suddenly changed.
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 in first 20 minutes |
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| Stations spotting my 2.5W to the big-wheel on 2m FT8 today so far to 1440z |
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| Stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today |
RSGB RadCom had an article on Senhaix dual band portables recently. I think these are Chinese. If the article said this I missed it.
At the price stated, these look quite good value. They are not the cheapest, but I hope the quality control is better. My main worry with Chinese manufactured amateur products is still quality control and guarantees.
As long as the products work, fine. What happens if they fail? My experience with Chinese manufacturers is mixed. Some seem able to answer questions, whereas others cannot understand!
I am sure that the Chinese products will get better and that the Japanese manufacturers will get a real fright. This could happen within the next couple of years.
It would not surprise me if some Japanese companies survive by designing in Japan, but making in China or some other low cost country. It is possible that China goes like Japan did years ago and labour costs make it no longer a low cost country.
The manuals often give you a clue: Chinese English can be pathetic! Ask yourself, if the manual is that poor how do you think they will fix your radio? Would they be interested? Some would say they are so cheap just buy a few and throw away any that fail. I much prefer not to do this.
Last evening I decided to go on 2m FT8. Apart from the first few minutes in which my 2.5W was spotted by 5 stations, I was on RX only spotting 13 stations in 2 countries.
New Zealand has led the way in fighting Covid-19. Essentially it has been largely free of the pandemic that has crippled much if the world.
They have just had a general election and Jacinda Ardern's (the NZ PM) Labour Party is in line for a massive majority. We may differ over political policies, but we have to agree she did a good job in the fight against Covid-19.
A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 QRP using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. It is 0840z.
Yet again, I had a problem with decoding signals and the waterfall being smeary. After turning WSJT-X and the SignaLink interface off and on, it is now decoding. I am running Windows 10.
No spots of me yet and 4 stations spotted so far today.
UPDATE 1258z: So far today, 3 stations have spotted my QRP 20m FT8 signal. On RX 84 stations have been spotted in 3 continents.
UPDATE 1412z: 5 stations have spotted me so far and I have spotted 108 stations in 4 continents.
UPDATE 1710z: 5 stations have spotted me today on 20m FT8 QRP and I have spotted 157.
Southgate News reports that the RSGB Convention talks are available online.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/october/rsgb-convention-videos-on-youtube.htm#.X4qS7LfTVkw
OFCOM is talking about spectrum trading at 2.6GHz. See the OFCOM website for more information.
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.
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).
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/
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
