21 Nov 2020
Cottage - NOT amateur radio
10m FT8 QRP - Saturday
At 1027z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop and 2.5W. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1050z: Nothing yet on 10m FT8 RX, but spotted on TX by G3NSM (123km) in Oxford, UK.
UPDATE 1508z: Still nothing spotted on RX and just the single spot on TX. In a years' time I expect things to be much better. At the moment, 10m seems very quiet. On FT8 I was expecting to spot a few stations. I am RX only just now.
2m FT8 QRP - Saturday
It is now 0924z. Since 0857z I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, nothing spotted on RX and 4 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost being G4RRA (333km) in Devon.
UPDATE 1000z: 6 stations spotted and 8 stations spotted me on TX. 1 QSO so far.
20 Nov 2020
Huge EME dish going
Back in the mid 1960s, the huge dish at Arecibo, Puerto Rico was used for amateur EME experiments. As the gain was so large, this gave more modest stations a chance "via the moon". Sadly the dish was badly damaged in a storm and it is to be decommissioned according to a piece in Southgate News. FT8 and other digital modes have opened up EME to others now, but this is sad news.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/november/arecibo-dish-to-be-decommissioned.htm#.X7fYl2iTLrc
Muddy walk - NOT amateur radio
Mushrooms? - NOT amateur radio
We saw these on our walk earlier in the week. I think they are edible, but as we were not 100% sure, we left them.
2m FT8 QRP - Friday
Since about 1145z, I have been on 2m FT8 with the usual 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, I have been spotted by 5 G stations. It is now 1204z.
UPDATE 1252z: 8 spots of me and 9 stations so far today on 2m FT8.
UPDATE 1400z: 11 spots of me today including GI6ATZ (479km) on TX and 15 spots of others on RX.
19 Nov 2020
Early daffodils - NOT amateur radio
On the winter walk is a small clump of daffodils. A few years ago these were in flower by late November.
Judging by the photo these should be in flower soon. I quite expect these to be out this month.
Most daffodils are not out here until late January. January is the month of snowdrops.
10m Simple Sideband
In the next 12 months, 10m is returning as a great DX band. At any part of the solar cycle it can be good for Es contacts in April- August in the northern hemisphere. There is a smaller Es peak in the depths of winter.
When I was fitter, I had the outlines of a simple single band QRP rig for 10m. My idea was DSB based as this was simpler. This was to be paired with a direct conversion RX.
Then my 2013 stroke happened and all development work stopped. 7 years later there may be better options. My hope is that someone else will take this on and try to create a simple, single board, single band transceiver.
Dual band FM VHF/UHF rig
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/november/new-dual-band-fm-mobile-radio.htm#.X7aFraiTLrc
See also https://www.moonraker.eu/amateur-radio/transceivers/anytone-at-779uv-dual-band-mini-mobile-radio
Anglesey Abbey in dull November - NOT amateur radio
At this time of year it looks quite drab. In the summer the herbaceous flowers and dahlias look good and in the winter there are masses of snowdrops and daffodils.
Yes, there are a few autumnal colours to enjoy, but......
Boeing 737 Max: what utter rubbish!! - NOT amateur radio
18 months after it was removed from service following 2 fatal crashes, the Boeing 737 max has been declared airworthy again. My simple question is why has it taken so long? My brother-in-law was on one. Little did I know at the time that his life was in danger.
This whole affair is utterly disgraceful. I hope Boeing, and whoever deemed it safe to fly originally, reflect on this.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/jDOe2y9Tbo/boeing-737-max
2m FT8 QRP - Thursday
In a few minutes I shall go on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.
UPDATE 0953z: 2 stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 6 stations already.
UPDATE 1210z: So far today I have spotted 11 stations in 4 countries and I have been spotted by 9 stations in 3 countries on 2m FT8.
UPDATE 1537z: At about 1220z I had a QSO and have been RX only since then until a few moments ago. So far today, 34 stations in 7 countries have been spotted here on 2m FT8 RX and I have been spotted by 12 stations in 4 countries with 1 QSO.
18 Nov 2020
OFCOM spectrum auction
OFCOM has announced details of the next auction of spectrum at 700MHz and 3.6GHz See their website for details.
Somehow I suspect £100 won't win, so I think I won't bother .😆
Last ones? - NOT amateur radio
The one I had was bitter.
2m FT8 QRP
It is now 1002z. For about 10 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 QRP using my 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far I have been spotted by 11 stations already with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall.
I am still puzzled by WSJT-X RX with Windows 10 and the SignaLink USB. At times it works whereas at other times the waterfall is smeary and I get no decodes. At first I thought this was just the first few minutes, but I have seen this be OK then not.
UPDATE 1434z: Spotted by 18 stations in 3 countries and I have spotted 44 stations in 7 countries today with furthermost OZ1CCM (796km). Just turned TX on again as it was turned off.
UPDATE 1757z: So far today I have been spotted by 23 stations on QRP TX and I have spotted 54 stations on RX.
2m FT8 RX
17 Nov 2020
Allotments - NOT amateur radio
Quite a few villagers (not me!) have allotments where they grow vegetables or flowers. I expect it is also a place to escape! The photo shows a view of the allotments with "our" windmill in the distance.
Par End Fed antenna
My original one gave good performance at this and the old QTH. It stopped working last year.
See http://www.parelectronics.com/end-fedz.php
Thanks to Keith, I am a little closer. Apparently Vibroplex now sell these.
See http://www.vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d9176.html
Nevada sells a 30W MFJ version covering 10-40m.
See https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/product/mfj-1984lp/
BREXIT deal? - NOT amateur radio
Time is running out. Several have said this is crunch week. Both the EU and UK say they want to forge a deal, but both sides seem not to want to compromise. Surely there is a way.
2m FT8 QRP
UPDATE 1600z: I have been spotted by 25 stations in 5 countries so far today on 2m FT8 QRP. On RX 36 stations in 8 countries spotted. 2 QSOs so far. 2 stations spotted were in northern Spain.
16 Nov 2020
Antenna projects
During the next few months I have a couple of antenna projects that need doing.
Firstly I need to get an antenna for 10m erected. The easiest would be either an dipole or inverted vee. My problem is erecting this, even though it is small. At about 5m overall length this is quite compact.
My second project is to replace the wire back to the shack from the far electrode of my earth-electrode "antenna". This should be straightforward.
Another possibility is an end fed antenna via a 49:1 unun. This should be a low impedance and multiband antenna even without an ATU. With a modest ATU I should be able to get a good match on all HF bands.
Winter colour - NOT amateur radio
We have not had any real frosts yet. Last winter we had very few.
Cactus - NOT amateur radio
2m FT8 QRP
It is now 1047z. I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna for about 25 minutes. So far, I have been spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). I was also spotted by G7RAU (461km). Just a single station spotted on RX.
I still find this too random for aircraft scatter. Random times? 2.5W? Omni antenna? To me, this feels like some other form of scatter that FT8 enables. Yes, some may be aircraft scatter. There is never a day when I go on 2m FT8 QRP when I don't get spotted at massive distances. For me, FT8 has totally transformed 2m.
UPDATE 1410z: 9 stations have spotted me so far on 2m FT8 QRP. I have spotted 3.
UPDATE 1846z: 13 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 19 stations on 2m FT8 today.
15 Nov 2020
Trump - NOT amateur radio
Twat according to every person I have spoken with. Yes, everybody.
Honestly, I have spoken to many, many people. Not a single person, not one, has had a good word to say for him. What amazes me is how many actually voted for him.
2m FT8 QRP
After a fruitless day on 6m FT8, I have QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna at 1710z.
So far (at 1725z) nothing spotted and no-one spotting me, which is unusual. As I was suspicious I restarted the program and checked my signal at http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/, which is the grabber at G0LRD. Everything there from me looks fine.
UPDATE 1735z: Just G0LRD (26km) and M0KKM (37km) spotting me so far on 2m FT8. Unusually quiet. Nothing spotted on RX.
Bravery - NOT amateur radio
Although quite a few people have been been to space, it is still hazardous. Later, a crew is blasting off to the International Space Station on a private Space-X rocket. Rather them than me!
There are quite a few apps that allow you to see where the ISS is and what can be seen from their cameras.
BREXIT trade deal? - NOT amateur radio
Now, not being a politician, I have no idea what is really happening between th EU and UK on a post-BREXIT trade deal.
However, I expect both sides are playing bluff to see who blinks first. Time is getting short and it is time for brinkmanship to be replaced by compromise on both sides. A good trade deal is in everyone's interest.
Spectrum issues 2025-30
Southgate News has a piece on a recent meeting that the IARU attended on this subject. I think the regulators are trying to see what issues are on the horizon in region 1. I have not yet read the minutes.
WSJT-X release candidate
There is a "release candidate" version of WSJT-X that introduces some new modes. Normally, these are issued as fully released versions soon when they have been beta tested and bugs removed.
See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.3.0-rc1_en.html
Pandora's Box - NOT amateur radio
It is probably 400 years old and is on a street that dates from the 1300s. It would be wonderful to see the street as it was long ago.
Garden in autumn - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows our front garden today.
Most leaves have now gone. It will be fun to await the new buds in the spring. I also look forward to seeing the first migrant birds back from Africa. Before that we have the birds from the Arctic and Scandinavia who think we are warm! Maybe this year I'll see a waxwing.
Animal carvings - NOT amateur radio
High up on the ceiling and easily missed are some animal carvings. These are very old and mostly done by people who had never seen these animals!
If you ever visit Burwell church, don't miss these. A torch might be helpful and some binoculars.
6m FT8 QRP Sunday
Certainly we seem to have little or no Es on 6m at the moment. Most of the morning, I have been on 6m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical. So far (it is now 1133z), I have been spotted by G0PQO (50km) and I have spotted G4FKA (207km).
UPDATE 1206z: Nothing further. I shall stick with 6m FT8 most of the afternoon "just in case".
UPDATE 1500z: Now 2 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 2 on RX. The latest is G3XDV (45km). Hardly great DX! Unless things change, I suspect today will pass with the band acting very much as a VHF band. I am sure with a big horizontal beam, more power and greater height, 6m could be a useful band inter-G in the quieter times. Imagine what 10-20dB could do on marginal paths. With my V2000 vertical, 2.5W and cheap CB coax I think many would say I am "playing". I get the impression that 2m is better for "scatter". Probably the cross sectional area in terms of wavelengths is smaller on 6m. Some debate what type of scatter I experience on 2m FT8. Some think it is aircraft, but I have my doubts. Certainly some paths are aided by aircraft scatter, but to me it seems too random.
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