Around our village yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday afternoon the sun shone ( a nice change!), so we did a walk around the village and some shopping. 

This collage shows some of the views.

Change - NOT amateur radio

 At this time of year things seem more "raw". It is a time when everyone is expected to be jolly and happy, making sadness and unhappiness all the harder. 

Our younger teenage grandson has just been dumped by his first girlfriend. Most of us have felt this pain, that seems like the end of the world at the time.

When people die or are seriously ill at this time of year it seems especially hard.

Things change: things that seem constant and will go on for ever do not. We have to adapt to the new reality. Time usually heals, but change can be painful.

Often we do not appreciate the inner pain others are experiencing. It is all too easy to judge others.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon made by W5OLF has been spotted by 3 stations today so far.

UPDATE 1035z:  7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1249z:  USA started spotting me on 10m QRP WSPR today shortly after 1200z.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear has been TXing since breakfast. Yesterday my QRP 6m  FT8 from the QMX+ was spotted in the USA + Canada and I spotted both here too. So far this morning just English stations are spotting me.

UPDATE 1029z:  11 stations have spotted me including 1 OK station.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 31st

 Solar flux is 224 and the SSN 183. A=7 and K=2.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My gear was turned on at 0750z. At 0817z 7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0938z:  12 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8.

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on at 0748z.

UPDATE 1128z:  11 stations have spotted me.

RSGB proofreading (NOT!!)

One of my Christmas presents was a book on the history of the G-QRP Club that has been going for 50 years. I was more interested in the content than the cover, but was horrified to see the spine had a glaring spelling error which will be seen every time it’s put on a shelf!  Is this not checked?

I once noticed an obvious spelling mistake on the front cover of RadCom.

To be honest I am appalled that such basic errors occur. I know the organisation depends heavily on volunteers, but this is not excusable. It gives the impression the RSGB is incompetent.

Come on RSGB!!

Sunspots - Monday December 30th

 Solar flux is 255 and the SSN 209. A=5 and K=2.

Highlight of Christmas - NOT amateur radio

There’s no doubt that the highlight for us this Christmas, and our moment of greatest pride, was seeing our youngest granddaughter performing ballet in front of 2 future UK kings and many royal and other guests in Westminster Abbey in Kate’s carol service. 

Apologies for the lines, but this was a TV screen grab.

If it was me I would have been extremely nervous. She was not at all!

6m FT8

Most days I go on 6m FT8 with my QMX+ transceiver. I think that every day I have been on recently I have been spotted somewhere in continental Europe. 

If I am able to do this with just a few watts and a vertical omni antenna, it proves how useful 6m can be. Imagine if you had a reasonable beam and more power. You would have an ERP increase of several dB improving the chances of being copied even more.

In the last 30 minutes I have been spotted in Latvia, Germany and Holland on 6m FT8.

Working Russians

Well before the end of the USSR, I remember working loads of stations in the USSR and getting QSL cards. 

I have no problem at all with the people in Russia and am happy to work them or get reports on FT8 or WSPR.   

In a small way, amateur radio breaks down barriers. I like to think that whatever the race, colour, wealth or nationality, it makes no difference. After all, we all share this planet and are all human beings.

Nice pile - NOT amateur radio

As a young child, I spent my childhood living in Salcombe, Devon. 

This property is on the market not far from Salcombe, so I could move back. 

Just one problem!  It is on the market for £8.5 million, so I think I shall give it a miss!

After Christmas - NOT amateur radio

My younger son and his kids have gone home and Christmas is almost over for another year. 

We have given the birds the leftovers.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on about 0950z.  5 stations have spotted me at 1051z.

UPDATE 1532z:   28 stations have spotted me. Spots from the USA started at just after 1200z.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My gear has been on since about 0950z. So far, just English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2015z:  31 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 including one in the USA. On RX a couple of stations spotted in the southern USA.

Very clever people

Somehow I missed this on Amateur Radio Weekly. It describes how someone hacked a Casio wristwatch to act as a transceiver on 70cm and 33cm. 

As I said, there are some very clever people. I would not know where to start!

Mid winter Es

Don’t ask me why as I don’t know the answer, but there’s a small Es peak in the northern hemisphere around now so it is worth keeping an eye on 6m . I suppose this could link up with F2 propagation further south to result in some spectacular DX on 6m.

Sunspots - Sunday December 29th

 Solar flux is 260 and the SSN 213.  A=4 and K=1.

Stiff competition

Since the Yaesu FT817 was introduced almost a quarter of a century ago, a lot has changed. There was serious competition e.g. the ICOM IC-705, many Chinese radios, plus the offerings by QRP labs, HF signals and Elecraft,  There are others.

At one time Yaesu had a captive market. This is far from the case today. There are still loyal Yaesu fans around, but the new FTX-1F will have to be very good and keenly priced for volumes to be high.

I was puzzled when ICOM introduced their microwave transceiver as I could not see many being sold.

No, the amateur radio market is changing and fierce. Many will fall by the wayside in the next 10 years.

Simple WSPR beacon

At  the end of the year Amateur Radio Weekly shows the most popular clicks of the year. 

One of these was a simple WSPR beacon.

Shetland sunset - NOT amateur radio

This was posted on 365project recently by a friend who lives in the Shetland Islands. It shows the ferry arriving on a calm sea.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 

My 500mW beacon has been on since about 1020z.  At 1053z, spotted by 4 Europeans. See table.

UPDATE 1130z:  Just spots by 6 Scandinavian stations.

UPDATE  1415z: The map from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ shows where my 10m 500mW WSPR has been spotted today.

UPDATE 2040z:  QRT. 21 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My QMX+ was turned on at about 1020z. So far (at 1032z) just  9 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1129z:   So far just 15 English and Welsh stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1404z:  23 stations have spotted me including 2 in France. 

UPDATE 2051z:   QRT. spotted by 25 stations today. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday December 28th

 Solar flux is 259 and the SSN 233. A=4 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My QRP 10m, WSPR beacon has been on since about 1036z, but no spots of me yet.

UPDATE 2125z:  30 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on about 1038z. At 1042z 5 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2113z:  23 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today. Now QRT.

zBitx

Steve G1KQH has brought my attention to the zBitx from HF signals which is due in February. It has some very impressive features built in.

It looks remarkable value and far less expensive than the IC-705 and probably the FTX-1F.

Yaesu has a real battle on with their new FTX-1F.

Faroe Is - NOT amateur radio

This fabulous photo was recently posted on 365project by a friend who lives in the Faroe Is. The days are short and the nights are long at this time of year.

See https://365project.org/mubbur/365/2024-12-25 

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands 

Rally on Sunday

 This rally has been reported to me. Check details.

• Sunday December 29th -  Sparkford Radio Rally, near Yeovil, BA22 7QX. Contact m3vhv@hotmail.co.uk.

Christmas rose - NOT amateur radio

 

The rose in the photo is just outside our front door. We usually have several flushes a year from this bush.

Sunspots - Friday December 27th

 Solar flux is 256 and the SSN 211.  A=3 and K=0.

SSTV from the ISS

 Apparently, there will be slow scan TV from the International Space Station over the holiday period until January 5th. I have never tried to receive this from the ISS. Maybe I should try?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My QRP TX beacon has been on since about 0930z.  Spots so far from Italy and Portugal.

UPDATE 2016z: 30 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My QMX+ was turned on at about 0930z. So far just English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2019:  20 stations have spotted me. See map.  QRT soon.

Sunspots - Thursday December 26th

Solar flux is 253 and the SSN 218. A=5 and K=0.

This Christmas - NOT amateur radio

 

Found this earlier. It says it all. 

New QSL card from Antarctica

The operator at the German base in Antarctica has a new QSL card for DP1POL. 

I have been spotted down there on 10m 500mW WSPR,

My last actual SSB QSO was with 10W SSB with a station on the British base in the 1980s. I think they had a big Rhombic antenna if I recall. It was a very solid QSO.

Made in China - NOT amateur radio

We are all guilty.  

My daughter-in-law kindly bought me a bobble hat. A look inside at the label said, "made in China". It seems most things now are made in China!  

In the USA, if they slap a tariff on Chinese imports it is inevitable costs for USA consumers will go up i.e. inflation will increase. 

If we make goods in the USA or Europe it is inevitable inflation will go up.

I have no idea what the answer is.

Merry Christmas - NOT amateur radio

 May I wish everyone a very happy Christmas.  The basic lesson is to share kindness. People appreciate kindness, as do we. 

The most basic message, whatever your beliefs, is sharing kindness is the most powerful thing in humanity. 🎄🎂🧑‍🎄

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My QMX+ has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE 2000z:  622 stations have spotted me today. See map. In all, QRP 10m FT8 can give worldwide reception. Tomorrow I think I shall go back to 6m FT8.

Proud grandparents - NOT amateur radio

Last night our young granddaughter was performing ballet in front of 2 future kings and many famous people at Westminster Abbey. 

It was recorded a few weeks ago and on UK ITV1 television last night. 

Watch out for YouTube copies.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 25th (Christmas Day)

 Solar flux is 259 and the SSN 219. A=10 and K=3.

UV5 (8) handheld

One of my birthday presents was this dual band, 5W, portable. At well below £20 delivered by airmail it is hard to go wrong . 

I am aware there are several firmware upgrades possible, but for now I am just finding out how to do basic things! 

Remember for an old timer like me things take a bit longer, HI. 😉

Seen earlier - NOT amateur radio

 This was seen earlier .  Very appropriate for Christmas. Whatever your beliefs or none, this is a time to think of those that mean a lot to us.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

This morning I am on 10m QRP FT8 with my QMX+ . It was turned on at about 0930z. At 1000z, 63 spots of me.

UPDATE 1811z:  532 stations have spotted me. See map. Basically a few watts FT8 is quite enough.

Birthday cards - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was my birthday. According to the single candle on my cake I am aged one!

Sunspots - Tuesday December 24th

 Solar flux is 238 and the SSN 199. A=12 and K=2.

It can only get better - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we went for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. In addition to the first snowdrops we also saw some daffodils out.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

 My little beacon was turned on at about 0910z. No spots of me yet at 0921z.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0910z. 6 English spots so far at 0919z.

Programming languages

Yesterday I came across a site that showed the progession of programming languages from the time I started working to today. Some of the languages I had never heard of!! Just as well I was not a software engineer!🥴

Sunspots - Monday December 23rd

 Solar flux is 223 and the SSN 176. A=14 and K=2.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon has been on since this afternoon. So far, 13 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 

My QRP 6m FT8 has been on since mid-afternoon. At 1648z,  9 stations had spotted me.

"At home" - NOT amateur radio

Every year at Christmas we have an "at home" day when the neighbours come in for drinks and nibbles. It is always a happy occasion.

Plans for Sunday

 Probably the same as yesterday with QRP WSPR on 10m and 6m QRP FT8 

SAQ VLF

As is often the case, the historic alternator TX in Grimeton, Sweden on 17.2kHz is sending a CW test message at 0800z on Christmas Eve. It is often used by people to test their VLF receiver systems. Sometimes they issue a QSL card. The power is 200kW.

See https://alexander.n.se/en/ .

Sunspots- Sunday December 22nd

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN 152. A=16 and K=2.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband activity on Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. My own view is activity is pathetically low. As I have said many times I think the main issue is the lack of a volume market in the USA and Japan as these are outside the footprint of the satellite. This means no interest by the big manufacturers.

My last peek was lunchtime in Europe on Saturday.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio

How to be cheered up for Christmas (NOT). Saw this on The Knowledge earlier:

"Scientists who are trying to create microbes that present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. That’s according to an international group of Nobel laureates and other experts, says The New York Times, who warn that so-called “mirror bacteria” – synthetic organisms made from mirror images of natural molecules – could evade the immune defences of natural organisms, causing an “unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems”. "

As my father-in-law once said, "I'm glad I am on the way out". 

Dusk on Shetland - NOT amateur radio

My friend Richard Lewis posts some amazing shots on 365project. 

The days are short and the wind can really blow, but he comes up with shots like this!

Finding that lost Malaysian Plane - NOT amateur radio

The search for the Malaysian plane MH370 that was lost in the Indian Ocean 10 years ago is to be resumed.

Apparently analysing WSPR reports allows the path of the plane to be tracked. I hope they are successful as this must be a nightmare for relatives of those on board. They want answers.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 Just after breakfast, my 500mW beacon was turned on. No spots of me at 0850z.

UPDATE 1005z: Spotted by 4 stations so far.

UPDATE 1500z: 26 stations have spotted me so far. 

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My IC-705 QRP FT8 was turned on just after breakfast. So far, just English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1013z:  Spotted by 22 stations.

UPDATE 1500z: 34 stations have spotted me. Am I seeing F2 backscatter or winter Es?

VHF NFD - early 1970s I think

This was posted recently. It reminds me of doing VHF NFD with G3PYE/P on the Quantocks in the early 1970s . I think we came second? 

In those days it was in early September as I recall. Happy days when we were all quite young!! I have no idea who the people in the photo are. It’s not our group. 

As I remember we left a Kingshill PSU behind up there. If it is still there it is covered in rust and ferns 😉😉. 

Those were the days!

Sunspots - Saturday December 21st

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 148.  A=13 and K=3.

SPRAT article

My latest GQRP SPRAT has just arrived. I notice my article about 8m is inside. What I am advocating is a very narrow worldwide narrow digital only

Building the QMX+ transceiver from QRP Labs

This video, that I came across, may help making the QMX+ from QRP Labs.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My little 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since breakfast with 6 stations spotting me so far at 1013z.

UPDATE 1430z:  24 stations have spotted me. See table.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

In the last 12 hours my QRP has been spotted by 25 stations with 2 Scandinavians in the middle of the night.

Um, ah, eh and like - NOT amateur radio

Have you noticed how many young people say "like"? 

At one time this bothered me, but it is the new "um","ah" or "eh". Language is always evolving. 

Recently I noticed how often we say "um", "ah" or "um".  I counted 4 in a very short period.

Sunspots - Friday December 20th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 96. A=11 and K=3.

UKAC certificate

Every month, if I am here, I enter the 2m and 70cm activity contests (UKAC), but because of my poor voice, low power (10W) and poor antenna (big-wheel omni) I do not stay on very long.

In the low power section I came 57th. 

Much to my surprise I have a certificate to say I took part!

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My stand-alone WSPR beacon has been on most of the morning. At 1156z 10 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1847z:  20 stations have spotted me. See table.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My 6m QRP FT8  from the IC-705 has been on most of the morning. At 1153z 18 stations had spotted me

UPDATE 1825z: 38 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (see map).

UPDATE  2035z:  43 stations have spotted me. It looks like there is a late opening to Iberia. A station in Portugal pointed out that my timing was out. As I usually sync to internet time, this suggested that my internet connection was briefly lost and time sync was lost. Now re sync'ed.

Busy supermarket - NOT amateur radio

This is probably true the world over. Our local supermarket was busy with people stocking up with food and drinks for Christmas. They are actually only closed on Christmas Day.

8m QRP FT8 with the QMX+

In many ways  I am lazy, putting off things that I could do right away.

As an example, my QMX+ should work fine on 8m FT8 TX using the 6m TX low pass filter using PuTTY to alter the TX band parameters on a band I don't use. This should take a few minutes.

As 6m has been in good shape, I have concentrated on 6m rather than 8m in recent weeks. 

Of late, 6m has been in poorer shape recently regarding F2 propagation, although Es sometimes shows a small peak in mid-winter for reasons I don't understand.

I think the RX requires hardware changes to a band pass filter, than I cannot manage any longer, so the best I can manage is to TX on 8m.

Good news - NOT amateur radio

 From now on it starts to get lighter at night. At first the change is very slow , but by the end of January it is very noticeable. It still gets darker in the morning, but this is less noticeable as I am still in bed.

Sunspots - Thursday December 19th

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 82. A=15 and K=3.

Sunrise - NOT amateur radio

 

This was the sunrise this morning in our close.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 

My 500mW beacon has been on most of the day. 31 stations have spotted me at 1519z.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My IC-705 has been in most of the day. 46 stations have spotted me with the most distant CU6AB (2694km) in the Azores.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 18th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 88. A=29 and K=3.

Christmas tree festival - NOT amateur radio

This was a Christmas tree 🎄 festival in our village church.

1955 shack

This photo appeared yesterday of a USA shack in 1955.  

When I started in the early 1960s, most HF was AM. These days it is mostly FT8 and SSB.