29 Feb 2024

Rallies this weekend

 The following rallies have been notified to me. As usual, it is advisable to check before going any distance.

Saturday March 2nd - Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Annual Rally, near Belfast, BT26 6AR. See www.lvars.uk .

Sunday March 3rd - Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally , EX4 8PX. Contact g3xvi@yahoo.co.uk

P***ing in the wind? 10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Thursday)

My QRPP 10m WSPR is on again, although I have not had any reports for a few days.  I just leave it running ...... in hope! 

The fact I got any reports at all amazed me.

UPDATE 1845z:  No spots.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna has been on since about 1030z.  So far, 8 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1425z: 10 stations have spotted me so far and 3 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1601z: 12 stations have spotted me today.

Squirrels - NOT amateur radio

We have lived in our present home for about 10.5 years. It is about 300m from where we used to live and where we had lots and lots of squirrels. Until this morning, despite there being lots of trees, we had never ever had a single squirrel in the garden. I cannot understand why. This morning we had our first. Apart from a few areas most are grey squirrels.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel .

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


21 stations spotted my 10mW ERP overnight. No great DX.

Norwich

Norwich is a fine city with a wonderful Norman cathedral built of many stones, some of which came from Caen in Normandy centuries ago. 

It has a magnificent castle overlooking the city.

Sunspots - Thursday February 29th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 127. A=6 and K=0.

28 Feb 2024

8m amateur band?

For many years, I have advocated a tiny amateur allocation around 40.680MHz primarily for radio science research. Here in the UK, the RSGB seems dead set against this, whereas in some countries an allocation has been made.

Frankly, I think the RSGB's position is stupid

Surely the main purpose of amateur radio is research and self training. In the UK, if we want do research at 8m it costs us £50 annually unless we keep to ISM powers (10mW ERP).

The latest excuse is space radar to help investigate climate change, yet the latest WARC says:

"that spaceborne radars are intended to be operated only in either uninhabited or sparsely populated areas of the globe, with particular focus on deserts and polar ice fields, and only at night-time from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. locally."

Surely the RSGB could put a good case to OFCOM for a few kHz in the ISM 8m band, NoV, limited power and modes, by application only, no-interference...

Is this likely?  Probably not. 

Instead we can go on 80m with 1kW, with commercial gear to talk about gardening. Am I annoyed? Yes.

RSGB - wake up!!


More on the SDRplay RSP1B SDR receiver

In the last few days I have not found time to play with, and familiarise myself, with the RSP1B receiver. There is a lot to learn, but on the default settings it does a credible job. 

An eHam.com review will have to wait until I have really got to grips with it. My first impressions are that it is a sensiitve on 2m and 70m as my FT817ND, but more artifacts than I was expecting.

Wicken windmill


One of our favourite walks is to Wicken Fen, where we have a bite to eat. Wicken also has a village windmill (shown in the photo).

630m QRP WSPR overnight


In the last day and overnight 21 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Plenty of spots from Norway, but nothing from Finland.

Our day - NOT amateur radio

On Tuesdays, we go to a free concert at the university in Cambridge. 

We grab a bite to eat first, walk through the Grand Arcade and the grounds of King's College. 

The collage here captures this.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the vertical V2000 omni antenna is on. At 1040z, spotted by 7 English stations. No spots on RX yet.

UPDATE 1622z: 13 stations have spotted me with the furthermost EA6VQ (1419km). 7 stations (all England) spotted on RX. No international DX on RX. The map shows the stations spotting me.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 28th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 103. A=6 and K=1.

27 Feb 2024

Electric cars - NOT amateur radio

Compared with a few years ago, there are about twice the number of electric cars on the road. Having said that, I would guess only about 1% of cars are electric. 

At the moment, electric cars are not good value. They are expensive, the range is not good enough, they use battery materials that are not commonly available and their insurance is high.

In my view, there will be lots of battery research leading to batteries that have far greater range and far lower cost cars. 

I expect a tipping point in a few years from now when electric cars will be similarly priced to fossil fuelled cars with ranges that mean charging will be infrequent. Many will charge at home on low energy deals and cars will only need charging every few weeks.

My feelings are "not yet, but soon".

It would be a great shame if the Chinese and Americans got there first and guarded all the patents.

500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR (Tuesday)

 My QRPP WSPR is on again. So far, no spots, although I am not surprised.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 


My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on. So far spots from 6 English stations (see map).

UPDATE 1840z: 14 stations spotted me today and 3 stations in South Africa were spotted here with the furthermost ZS6NJ (9115km). This is the first time I have spotted South Africans on 6m since the 1980s I think.

630m QRP WSPR in the last 2 weeks


My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted by 56 stations with OH1LSQ (1733km) spotting me 12 times! In the last 12 hours 22 spots.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 27th

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 133. A=11 and K=3.

26 Feb 2024

The human brain - NOT amateur radio

There about 100 billion neurons in an adult human brain. This is quite staggering. By any analysis the brain is incredibly complex.

500uW (0.5mW) 10m QRPP WSPR

 Although my beacon has been on most of the daylight hours, no spots.

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

 My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1520z.

UPDATE 2041z:  12 stations have spotted me.

Cambridge waking up - NOT amateur radio


After what has seemed a long and dark winter, Cambridge is becoming alive again.

8m

At the moment I am undecided what to do about my 8m TX permit. 

If I want to get a permit after April, it costs me £50 per year. Running 10mW ERP WSPR under ISM rules would be free. From an experimental viewpoint running QRPP WSPR, although much harder, would be a better experiment. I am appalled that OFCOM and the RSGB seem uninterested in genuine research unless I pay!

At the moment, my inclination is to TX 10mW WSPR without a permit.

My antenna wants renewing, as I currently have a high SWR.

Almonry, Ely - NOT amateur radio


The place in the photo has been serving food since the 1200s. Luckily the cheese scones are not that old 😉😉.

630m QRP WSPR overnight


In the last day and night,  26 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  No astounding DX.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 This was a Facebook memory yesterday.


Sunspots - Monday February 26th

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 114.  A=11 and K=1.

25 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)


My 10mW ERP  630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on just after 2000z. 

UPDATE 2212z:  So far, 17 stations have spotted me.

Early spring? - NOT amateur radio

Although spring officially starts March 1st according to the UK Met Office, nature thinks it is already here with lots of daffodils and blossom already out. In my view we are several weeks early. Is this global warming?

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


In the last 12 hours, my 10mW ERP has been spotted by 19 stations including 2 from Norway.

RSP1B SDR RX

SDRs is one area of our hobby not really explored. A few days ago I purchased the SDRplay RSP1B. 

It was connected up briefly yesterday after downloading the software, which was very straightforward. It is good being able to cover 1kHz to 2GHz with the SDR. 

I think there may be some noise from the PC getting into the RX, so I may add some ferrite chokes to the USB cable later. Watch this space!

UPDATE 1142z:   I am surprised by the number of artifacts. Adding chokes made no difference to LF/MF noise floor, so noise must be external.  I tried several antennas. Next thing to try is a sensitivity test on various bands using the FT817ND and the same antenna each time.

UPDATE 1232z:  Tested 70cm sensitivity comparing the strength of the Leicester beacon. On my 2m big-wheel omni antenna this is just on the noise level on the FT817ND. It was much the same on the RSP1B with the same antenna. This suggests the 70cm sensitivity is similar. Next is to try the Kent beacon on the two rigs on 2m.

UPDATE 1550z: Still learning, but 6m, 2m and 70cm beacons copied OK. Nice seeing whole bands at a time.

UPDATE 1812z:  Would I recommend it? It is great to see the whole way from 1kHz to 2GHz and to be able to just click on a signal.  If you do not have a general coverage RX, probably yes. Otherwise I am not sure. I need to learn more!!

10m QRPP WSPR again (Saturday and Sunday)

After success on Friday, my 500uW (0.5mW) beacon is on again with the PA turned off. It was also on Saturday with no spots all day.

UPDATE 1825z:   No spots. I think another day has passed with no spots.

Sunspots - Sunday February 25th

 Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 106. A=7 and K=3.

24 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


In the last 12 hours 27 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP including some useful DX (see table).

Our amaryllis plants - NOT amateur radio

 Over the dreary winter months these help to brighten things up. Even better with a blue sky!

UK amateur license changes

Whilst I understand recent OFCOM changes to the UK amateur radio licenses, I am disappointed that power levels have been increased. Having worked all over the world with 10W pep SSB many years ago and now with even better modes like FT8 available, why do we need more power? 1kW linears are VERY expensive, re-enforcing the message that amateur radio needs deep pockets for rigs, linears, towers and beams. 

As I hope I have shown, deep pockets and high power are definitely NOT needed to have fun or work the world. I hope more stick with foundation licenses!! You can work the world, and have far more fun, for the cost of a few pints of beer or a good night out.  

You definitely do not need to spend much money or run loads of power!!

Sunspots -Saturday February 24th

 Solar flux is 173 and SSN 116. A=3 and K=0.

23 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 


In the last 12 hours (see table) 22 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR.

Patience pays off -10m QRPP WSPR

After several days with no 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR spots of me, today I was spotted 4 times. I was not expecting this. My beacon is pre-programmed to report 500mW even though with the PA off it is 500uW (0.5mW).

What do modes sound like?

Someone on the Cambridge Club (CDARC) email list posted this useful link.

See https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Amateur_Radio .

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


In the last day and overnight, 20 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR.

Gaza-Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

This conflict continues to trouble me. 

It would seem that Israel is dead set against journalists going into Gaza to see things for themselves. They continue to drive the people of Gaza (including women and children) to hunger and thirst using the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas as their reason.

I only wish peace and mutual respect. This requires compromise on both sides.  

Both Hamas and Israel have done things wrong. Both will be judged by history.

Sunday Rallies

 The following have been notified to me. Usual caveats apply about checking before going far.

Sunday February 25th - British Vintage Wireless Society , Biggleswade, SG18 8JH. Contact secretary@bvws.org.uk .

Sunday February 25th - Red Rose Winter Rally, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Contact lesjackson@ntlworld.com .

What is reality? - NOT amateur radio

This term I am attending (via Zoom) a series of lectures on the formation of the brain. Once we thought of our eyes like cameras and the brain interprets reality. It turns out this is totally wrong. This led me to a TED talk. It is quite short, but fascinating. I commend it to you.

‘The space-time continuum is a construct’



Sunspots - Friday February 23rd

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN just 46.  A=6 and K=0

22 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)


My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is turned on. So far, 8 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2018z:  One of the advantages of WSPR is it will decode whether the signal is strong or weak as long as the S/N ratio is good enough. With a "decent " antenna and ground system, the S/N may be better, but a weaker signal will decode as long as the S/N is sufficient. 10 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 2145z: Spotted by 11 stations this evening.

Propagation today

 The MUF in some parts of the world is high. It "feels" as if we are at the start of the long decline to sunspot minimum, although there is sometimes a second peak.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) talk

About a year ago, I gave a talk at CDARC. Because of my poor voice these days actually I produced the slides and someone else did the talking!  Ovearll, it was quite successful.

See https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16QLftIhUmeL-0y6VytIvgnhbiM9GX2Nz/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104978760719971510470&rtpof=true&sd=true.

Good and evil - NOT amateur radio

When I was younger I believed everyone was basically good and the evil they had was a result of upbringing or genes. These days I am not so sure.  That evil exists is not in doubt. In this world that we share there are plenty of signs.

It is my view that we are all capable of evil. That is what frightens me.  We all have to do our best to replace evil with good.

SETI (the search for intelligent live in the universe) - NOT amateur radio

To the best of my knowledge this has been going on since the mid 1960s at least, without success. 

Now AI has been brought in to help data processing. According to the BBC there are potentially 10-50 billion places where intelligent life could exist just in this galaxy alone

There are so many variables like where do you look in the electromagnetic spectrum. Indeed, is this the best place to look? 

If we found signs of intelligent life, it could have profound effects on this small blue dot.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68346015 .

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Thursday)

With the sunspot number being so low compared with a few months ago, I think it is very unlikely I shall be spotted today with this tiny power. As a sucker for punishment though my 10m WSPR beacon is again on without the PA.

UPDATE 1710z:  No spots all day. Am I surprised? No.

2200m transverter

Last night I gave the latest version of Google's AI tool (now called Gemini) a try. I tried various family names, without being impressed. Basically, compared with ChatGPT4, it was hopeless. They have a long way to go to catch up in my view.


I then tried G3XBM and it came up with a French site that had a copy of my 137kHz transverter from 2011. I think it was a prototype (no RX preamp) and I cannot even remember producing the circuit. The schematic is the best I have. It shows the loop antenna that I used. Zooming in on the schematic makes it a bit clearer. As I recall, the furthermost I got was the Netherlands on QRSS3.

630m WSPR overnight

 


23 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR overnight.

Unsafe? - NOT amateur radio

On Monday there were no punts visible on the River Cam. I wonder if they were banned as it was unsafe?

Sunspots - Thursday February 22nd

Solar flux is 170 and the SSN just 45. Pretty sure this is the lowest for many years. A=4 and K=0. I seem to recall at the peak of the last cycle there were days with very few sunspots.

21 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been on since about 2130z. So far, I have been spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost LA3EQ (769km).

UPDATE 2313z:   16 stations have spotted me this evening.

Gaza- Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Enough is enough.  

The fighting has to stop as too many innocent people are being killed, traumatised, injured or made homeless. Whilst I think it is entirely right for Israel to defend itself from Hamas, one could be forgiven for thinking this is now genocide.

I understand that Israel wants to prevent future incursions and massacres like October 7th, but is the fighting in Gaza the way to forge long-term peace? We now have generations that will grow up hating Israel.  OK, Hamas might be weakened, but the cycle of violence will go on.

As I have said before, my friends include Jews and Muslims. We need a just peace.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-68358053


6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni was turned on at about 1340z. So far, just one UK spot received.

UPDATE  1428z:  6 English stations have spotted me today so far.

Brain injury - NOT amateur radio

On the news yesterday was a piece about brain injury research at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. Two things stuck out to me. 

One was brain overload which I experience especially when driving: it seems everything needs processing and this causes my brain to be overloaded. All the time whilst driving I am looking for possible hazards and it is really exhausting. 

The second thing is profound tiredness or exhaustion. I want to sleep in the daytime far more.

My stroke was in 2013 and it is hard now to know what is old age (I am 75) and what was my stroke. My constant giddiness all my waking hours is exhausting and is a result of my stroke.

Weather - NOT amateur radio

 We usually do housework every week on Mondays. My wife has a U3A course on Mondays. We decided to do it today instead as the weather is so foul!

Sucker for punishment? 10m QRPP WSPR (Wednesday)

 Yet again I am on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). 

UPDATE 1431z:  No spots. At the moment, I get spotted on this tiny power a few times a week.

USA puzzle - NOT amateur radio

The USA puzzles me. It looks likely that the biggest democratic country will be led for 4 more years by two very old men (both are years older than me!). 

What puzzles me is why can't the USA find a younger set of candidates? Surely, in the USA there are some charismatic younger potential leaders. 

This must say a lot about the people of the USA. Individually, every American I have met has been kind, warm and generous.

King's Parade, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Occasionally the sun does shine in an English winter, although we have had far more rain than normal. Please don't say we have a hosepipe ban this summer!  

The photo shows King's Parade on Monday when the sun was shining. King's College is out of shot on the left and the church is Great St Mary's, the university church.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


23 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR in the last day and overnight (see map from wspr.rocks by VK7JJ) with the furthermost again OH1LSQ (1733km).

Sunspots- Wednesday February 21st

 Solar flux is 153 and the SSN 50. A=6 and K=0.

20 Feb 2024

Mild, wet winter? - NOT amateur radio


In this part of the UK we are on track for a very wet and mild winter. Things can change. Daffodils are out early. Unless things dramatically alter, we are unlikely to see snow. Perhaps as the world warms this is how it is going to be?

22m ISM band WSPR receive - the so called hifer band (Tuesday)

It is my view following emails with OFCOM that in the UK we are all free to experiment on the ISM bands without a licence or callsign as long IR2030 and any other rules are followed. We have to cause no undue interference and must accept any interference. 

In the UK, this band is mainly used for RFID tags and short ranges. In the UK on this band the power limit is 10mW ERP. Clearly it helps if you use a unique callsign that WSPRnet can use so you can see where your QRPP signal is being received.

On 10m, I have gone QRT and moved to the hifer ISM band at 22m, RX only.  I am monitoring 13.5539MHz WSPR, as always hopefully. 

Pretty sure than those that can transmit are limited to mW powers.

I am not sure what time is optimum to spot USA station on this band.

500uW 10m WSPR (Tuesday)

Yet again, my beacon is on with the PA off.  The output is 500uW (0.5mW).  No spots today, but I shall stick with it and see what today brings. 

In the last few weeks I have only been spotted by 2 stations at this tiny power.

Above politics - NOT amateur radio

When I was first on HF, I recall talking to many stations in the old USSR. Their background and politics were very different, but it did not matter: we were all united by our interest in radio. 

That is one of the things that I like about our hobby.  We can rise above politics. All systems of living have faults - capitalism is meant to encourage people to be resilient. Communism is meant to share wealth equally.

In the end, we are all just humans, with weaknesses. Not one of us is perfect.

Whatever our views on politics and religion, we must all do to others as we would wish them to do to us. Kindness and fairness.

It is very easy to think we are always right and others are wrong. In reality, we are usually all wrong!

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on. I was surprised to be called by 7S2A. We were unable to complete the QSO as he faded out.

Bookshops - NOT amateur radio

We live near Cambridge which used to have lots of bookshops when I first came in 1970.  These days most people buy books online: these are usually less expensive as there is no need to have a physical shop. Habits are changing and most of us are guilty. 

I miss just thumbing through a book, then deciding whether to buy or not. Bookshops must be struggling, like most retailers.

Many second hand book shops have turned to online. 

SDRplay SDRs

SDRplay has just introduced a replacement for the RSP1A called the RSP1B. This is in a metal case and is supposed to have a number of improvements. 

The older version was in a metallised plastic case and had rave reviews on eHam.com. It covers 1kHz to 2GHz and uses a 14 bit receiver.

SDRs do most of the signal processing in software. If you have a PC, these easily out-perform receivers of years ago. Being software defined, this can simplify the hardware design. Rigs with SDR receivers are usually less expensive and complex with much of the "hard stuff" done in software.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 


In the last 12 hours, 23 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR on 630m. Nobody was over 1000km.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 20th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 64.  A=3 and K=2.

19 Feb 2024

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 A few moments ago (at about 1554z) my QRP 6m FT8 (2.5W and a V2000 vertical omni) was turned on. So far (at 1605z) spotted by just 1 G.

UPDATE  1738z:  Spotted by 4 Gs.

500uW 10m WSPR success again

 My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX was spotted by EA8BFK (2880km) this afternoon,

Turing statue - NOT amateur radio

This statue in honour of WW2 code breaker Alan Turing is in King’s College in Cambridge. 

It is in a really obscure place and should be moved so visitors can appreciate it. I only took it by walking in areas the general public cannot access. Why not put it where people walk?

Granddaughter's photo - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was taken by one of our granddaughter's last week.

It gets better and better on 630m WSPR!


In the last day and overnight, 33 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, with spots from Finland yet again. This was even better than yesterday.

Sunspots - Monday February 19th

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 84. A=6 and K=1.

18 Feb 2024

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)


My 630m 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been on since 1930z. So far, spotted by 11 stations (see table). Furthermost is EI0CF (602km).

UPDATE  2036z: In the last 2 weeks 50 stations have spotted me.

Yaesu: multi-band, multi-mode, portables - gone?

Just now, I took another look at the Yaesu, Japan website. The FT818 has gone and is no longer shown. Many have been waiting for years and years for a decent successor to the FT817. It never came.

There can be several reasons:

  • Yaesu is of the view there is too little profit as the competition is now high.
  • They are working on a successor.
  • They are thinking (...zzz), but have not decided what to do.

In my view, there is a market gagging for a decent product. Yaesu has the skills to make a good product. They have shown this with the FT710. 

We are on the downward slope (probably) of the solar cycle. This really is their last chance.

Yaesu - wake up!!


10m QRPP WSPR (Sunday)

Yes, I know - don't say it!! Yet again I am trying 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR.  Conditions are probably not good enough.

UPDATE 2030z:  No spots all day. I tried!

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

This morning, I am on QRP 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. One QSO with G0PQO (90km).


UPDATE 1132z: 
 9 English stations have spotted me this morning.

UPDATE 1444z:   13 English stations have spotted me. No DX noticed here today.

Best QRP 630m WSPR session

 


39 stations spotted me including Norway and Finland.



Sunspots - Sunday February 18th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 100.  A=4 and K=2.

17 Feb 2024

SpectrumView app -137kHz QRSS3?

Many years ago I downloaded this free app on my Apple Touch. I see it is available for the iPhone too, so I have downloaded it. It is a spectrum analyser for audio frequencies and you can record up to about 150 seconds of audio on a spectrogram depending on the settings. 

I was thinking of trying this on QRSS3 with my 137kHz beacon locally. It would take the audio from the FT817 and produce an audio spectrogram. I am not quite sure how I shall do this yet.
 
The app is created by Oxford Wave Research Ltd. It is a most useful app and highly rated. I last used an earlier version in 2013, so I have to re-learn it and see any changes made. 

I was quite surprised to still find it, wondering if the company had long gone. The app is still free.

See the Apple app store for details.

It is not available as an Android app as far as I can tell.

Weekend treat - NOT amateur radio

At the weekends, I have a cooked breakfast as shown in the photo.

10m QRPP WSPR (Saturday)

 My 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR beacon is on again, but no spots this morning.

UPDATE 1815z:   No spots all day.

What are these? - NOT amateur radio

We saw these at Hare Park, Chippenham, near Cambridge. They are wooden, not stone, objects. They are about 3m from the tree. If they are part of the tree roots, they are odd.

630m QRP WSPR overnight


The last day and overnight was the best this season with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 24 stations spotted me including 3 spots by OH1LSQ (1733km). Earlier it was 29 spots!