30m WSPR RX (Wednesday)

 My Zachtek receiver is monitoring 30m WSPR.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 In a very short while I expect to turn on my beacon.

UPDATE 0742z : Beacon switched on at 0730z.

Sunspots Wednesday February 11th

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 105. A=10 and K=3.

80m WSPR RX (Tuesday)

 A few minutes ago I QSYed to 80m WSPR RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU.

UPDATE 2107z:   5 Europeans spotted.

UPDATE 2150z:  16 spots of stations. See map by Phil VK7JJ.

Europe as a world power?

Today President Macron made a speech in which he allegedly suggested Europe should act like a world power on the world stage. 

He pointed out that Europe has a population of about 450 million people. It is a stable democracy believing in the world order and international laws.

With the isolationism and breakdown in world order we see now, there is some truth in this.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8n1zdnpd3o .

How much down is my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground?

Last night I re-looked at how far down my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground really is. 

At first I thought it was perhaps 1 S point worse on 630m than the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU. With changing conditions it is really hard to be sure. 

If seems that it is far better than this on the LF bands. It seems to work well on 630m, 160m and 80m falling off as you move to higher frequencies.

Considering how simple and visually great it is (nobody knows it is even there!) I recommend it!

80m WSPR RX (Tuesday)

Whilst on 10m WSPR TX, I realised there is nothing stopping me going on 80m WSPR RX with my Zachtek WSPR RX and my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, so at 1135z I turned on 80m WSPR RX.

Rich and privileged

Increasingly, we seem to be moving towards a new world order in which the rich and privileged have power over the common people. 

I have no problem if wealth comes fairly through hard work, but I have a real problem if this came at the expense of others or simply the person was just born into wealth.

I hope this is just a blip and we move to fairness and justice for all.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My beacon was turned on at 1015z.

UPDATE  1046z:   2 stations have spotted me with the best UN7LCJ (4187km).

UPDATE 1201z:  Spotted by 4 stations  with the best HZ1SF (4939km).

UPDATE 1325z:  16 spots of me with 7 from DP0GVN (13685km) in Antarctica with about 10dB in hand!

UPDATE  1611z:  40 stations have spotted me with 10 spots from Antarctica.

Old magazines

Yesterday I came across these magazines which date to around the time I was born. Clearly amateur radio was very popular back then! 

In those days they were A5 size. It would not bother me if radio magazines were that size again. It reduces costs of paper and postage.

630m WSPR RX last night

 Last evening and overnight I was on 630m WSPR using my coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU and a mains earth.

In all, 5 stations were spotted with the best Norway. See table, and map by Phil VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1036z:  My darn Windows PC wanted me to "finish setting up my PC" and turned off WSPRnet and WSPR-X so was probably off through much of the night.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 10th

 Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 107. A=6 and K=0.

630m WSPR with a different antenna

Last evening and overnight I tried 630m WSPR RX using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

There were fewer stations received and the reports were weaker than the night before when I was using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU.

It is hard to be categorical as conditions might have been different, the antennas better in some directions, etc..

My overall conclusion, with these caveats, is that the earth electrode was, at worse, about 1 S point inferior to the antenna used on the night before. I would expect this to be somewhat down on an antenna optimised for the band. So, maybe just 2 S points down. Considering the total lack of hassle, it is far from bad.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

 When I get home later I expect to go on 10m 200mW WSPR TX.

Sunspots - Monday February 9th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 118.  A=8 and K=1.

630m WSPR RX - with a different antenna

 This evening and overnight I am on 630m WSPR RX with the Zachtek RX using instead my earth electrode "antenna" in the ground to see how this compares with the coax to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU

10m WSPR RX with the Zachtek RX (Sunday)

So far, I have not tried the Zachtek WSPR RX on 10m, so I am trying it now. 

The impression I am getting on other bands is good. It is small and works on all the bands I have tried.

UPDATE 1550z:  3 stations spotted on 10m WSPR RX this afternoon with the best W3HH (7005km).

10m FT8 RX with the Zachtek WSPR RX

 Even though there is a 400Hz wide audio filter I am still spotting lots of FT8 stations including the USA.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 1030z.

UPDATE 1050z: So far just lots of spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1418z: Spotted by 23 stations. See table.

Burwell, UK

This is the village near Cambridge where I live. It is mix of old and new buildings. This photo dates from 2007, but not much has changed.

Sunday plans

Later, I shall probably try 10m 200mW WSPR TX with my Zachtek beacon. I have yet to try it stepping through different bands as 10m seems good at the moment.

Once set up the TX does not need a PC and gets all its timing and Maidenhead info from GPS. Ideal for /P operation.

Although the RX has a 400Hz wide audio filter I might try it later on FT8 RX. Some signals will go through the filter towards the middle of the pass band.

630m WSPR RX overnight

Last evening and night I was monitoring 630m WSPR with my Zachtek WSPR RX using the outer of the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains plug ground. 7 different stations were copied. The RX certainly works with DX over 1000km with this poor setup.

Although more expensive, I preferred to buy from Zachtek in Sweden although I know there is a Chinese copy of the Zachtek TX and probably the RX now.

Sunspots - Sunday February 8th

 Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 128. A=15 and K=2.

Racism - no place

In my view, racism by anyone has absolutely no place in modern society.  Those in public office must always ensure it is not possible.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

 A brief TX on 10m WSPR this morning resulted in 14 spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km).

Heathkit HW8

For about a year I owned an HW8 2W CW transceiver. This transceiver covered 40-15m. It worked really well and made some great DX contacts. 

I think it was sold back to the original owner. I wish I still had it!

The image is copyrighted. It will be removed if using it is an issue, but the best site I have seen is at https://wd8rif.com/hw8.htm by William McFadden (who has the copyright), which is filled with useful information.

10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My QDX-M was turned on very early morning before breakfast.

UPDATE  0950z:  Spotted by 4 stations and  I have spotted 3 stations in Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1053z:  Spotted by 16 stations.

UPDATE 1341z:   Spotted by many stations including some in the USA and Canada. See map.

Network radio?

When I first saw this I was very surprised.  

On further looking it appears it is a network (internet) radio dressed up like a tiny "real" radio, 

It would appear to be available from several sources at various prices.

Sunspots - Saturday February 7th

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 132. A=16 and K=3.

AI historical reconstructions

There are lots of AI historical reconstruction videos about. Some make errors, but in the main these are very impressive. This is an example.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at 0940z.

UPDATE 1013z:  So far, just spots by EA8BFK (2880km). 

UPDATE 1453z:  Spotted by 25 stations. See table, and map by VK7JJ.  200mW WSPR seems plenty.

The sea will win

In my lifetime, there has always been a road across Torcross Line in Devon, UK. 

This is a long strip of land dividing the saltwater sea from a freshwater lake known as Slapton Ley. Apparently the road was only built 28 years before I was born.

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

It was where Americans practised for the D-day landings in WW2.

In recent storms and high tides, it looks like this lifeline road has been damaged beyond repair leaving some villages very isolated. In years gone past, most places were self-sufficient. Nowadays, people have to travel for shopping, work or school, so things are harder.

It looks like the sea is winning. Long after I have gone, I expect this stretch will be breached and Slapton Ley will be saltwater.

We forget that things that seem forever to us are not.

See https://www.independent.co.uk/ .

Cambridge park

This was Midsummer Common in Cambridge on Wednesday. 

The photo was taken from a moving bus. 

In the distance are the boathouses that line the River Cam.

Sunspots - Friday February 6th

 Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 139.  A=22 and K=1.

How do they do it?

For less than £20 I have bought a tiny multi-band, multi-mode, RX from Banggood with delivery.  This is exceptional value.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

 My beacon has been on most of the day.

UPDATE 1835z:   Only spotted by 2 stations. Are conditions disturbed?

Speed perception

This is probably as a result of my 2013 stroke rather than old age, but my perception of speed is "different". When driving I think I am doing 65 miles per hour whereas I am actually only going at 45 miles an hour and there is a big queue behind me! 

The other thing is reading subtitles: these seem to change faster than I can read them.  It makes following foreign language films hard.

It is as if my perception of speed is damaged and my brain operates at a different speed.

At one time driving was a pleasure - no longer.

Public office

It is my view that anyone in public office has to be totally honest and serve for the good of the people and not for individual, selfish, good. 

It is hard enough not being in the public eye, but those in public office have to be honest with themselves and with those they are in office to serve.

Rocket radio

 

Maybe you remember this? I don’t. 

I think it was a crystal set. I am not sure it was sold in the UK. Was this in the 1950s or 1960s?

RSGB advert

Back in the 1960s, the RSGB magazine RadCom was the RSGB Bulletin, known affectionately as "the Bull".

Way back in 1966, Pye Telecom, that I joined in 1970, put an advert in "the Bull" to attract new people. In those days a Radio Amateur licence counted for a lot, before the days of software!

Sunspots - Thursday February 5th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 166. A=10 and K=5.

Chesterfield Islands

I have to confess I have no idea where these are and the callsign does not help. 

In a short while I shall look them up. This is a QSL card. 

UPDATE  1928z:  It's  in New Caledonia. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_Islands .

Brunch

Today was my University of the Third Age in Cambridge. Before it starts I have brunch.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1950z: 73 stations have spotted me today. See map by VK7JJ.

QRP CW

 

Recently, there was a 50mW CW QSO on 20m using this homemade TX. I forget who designed and built this.

Fog of war

The trouble with wars and conflicts is it impossible to tell who is telling the truth. Both sides in a conflict tend to invoke propaganda to show they are winning or have the upper hand.

Whatever a side says treat it with a degree of skepticism.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 4th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 171. A=5 and K=0. 

Public life

If you are in public life it must be hell. 

Your every move is looked at, photographed  and every little detail picked over. 

Recently, with the release of the Epstein files, several people in public life have found themselves in the public eye. Some of the revelations are eye watering.

Free Scrapbook PDF

This is a gentle reminder that my Project Scrapbook is available as a free PDF download on my main website. 

It is really a dump of my life in amateur radio and you might enjoy some of the projects.  I have had lots of fun and wish you can enjoy it too.

It is time I updated it as some of my recent things are not included!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book

Cambridge art gallery window

This painting was in the window yesterday. It captures the atmosphere. 

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at 0926z.

UPDATE 0940z:  2 stations spotting me (EA8 and OH)

UPDATE 1040z:  Spotted by 5 stations. See map by VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1236z: Spotted by 11 stations. With 6 spots so far, I have concluded that MO04SW is a Russian SWL.

UPDATE 1529z:   Spotted by 44 stations including many in North and South America. See map by VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1951z:   Spotted by 56 stations. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 3rd

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 131. A=6 and K=1.

Portable operation

Many get lots of pleasure from operating in the great outdoors. 

In some countries the Elecraft KH1 is popular. As far as I know, this is not sold in Europe including the UK. It is also very expensive. 

People have had great success on CW using just a small whip antenna on CW. I think it has a built-in auto ATU too. If you operate CW, it means you can be operational in a few seconds.

See https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-transceiver

Soon be spring

These aconites were seen at Anglesey Abbey a few days ago.

You want cheering up?

 

This was found earlier. After all this dull and wet weather in the UK we need cheering up!!

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Monday)

My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1634z:  44 stations have spotted me including North and South America.

UPDATE 1845z:   55 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Monday February 2nd

 Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 97. A=4 and K=2.

AI historical reconstructions

 AI sometimes gets a bad press.  

In the case of historical reconstruction videos some are very good. Occasionally the AI get things very wrong e.g. the reconstruction showing Edinburgh in the 1880s with British Railways engines post 1948!

On the whole I am very impressed.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on late morning.

UPDATE  1616z:  Spotted by 24 stations  See map.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on around breakfast.

UPDATE 2021z:  Spotted by 48 stations including quite a few in the USA. See map by Phil VK7JJ.

6m FT8 yesterday

Yesterday was quite a good day with spots by 49 stations across Europe spotting my 5W to the omni vertical. See map.

Sunspots - Sunday February 1st

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 126. A=5 and K=1.

The future of our hobby

For a long time I have expressed my concerns for the future of amateur radio. 

The things that appealed to us years ago no longer appear as the magic they did to us long ago. 

Various suggestions have been made to correct this and get more people into the hobby and retain these. It is very hard to generalise and in some places the hobby is growing. 

It was interesting to read on Amateur Radio Weekly one person's "take" on this.

See https://ke9v.net/2026/01/24/your-fault.html

In my view, despite everything, I expect amateur radio  to be very different in less than 20 years.

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 omni was turned on late morning.

UPDATE 1525z:  spotted by 11 stations with the best OE6JCG (1256km).

Sunshine!!

 

Apart from the first few days, we’ve had a miserable January with rain and dull weather. Today the sun shone, so we enjoyed a walk.

Internet Archive

Just out of curiosity, I put my callsign into the Internet Archive to see what appeared. It looks like my YouTube videos are archived along with my Scrapbook.

See https://archive.org/details/sbjuly22/page/22/mode/2up

Everything I have ever done is free to be shared. 

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at 1123z.

UPDATE 1155z: Spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).

Sunspots - Saturday January 31st

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 112. A=10 and K=2.

Long UK winter?

Apart from a few sunny, cold, days in early January in the UK, it has been dull, rainy and miserable. This year more than most, I am looking forward to lighter evenings and better weather. 

All seasons have their beauty, but I am fed up with this misery!

The birds seem to have got the message, with several singing this morning. Things are heading in the right direction in the northern hemisphere.

The photo shows the windmill next door this afternoon when the sun came out. The photo was through the lounge window.

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1020z.

UPDATE 1136z: So far, spotted by 7 English stations and 1 in Wales.

UPDATE 1211z:  Spotted by 10 stations. See map.

UPDATE 1352z:  Spotted by 11 stations.

The Trump Report

This was an interview with a Politico journalist about some alleged private reports from EU leaders on President Trump.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0730z.

UPDATE 0926z:  5 stations spotting me with the best R9SA (3658km).

UPDATE 1220z:  Now spotted by 9 stations with the best HZ1SF (4939km). No stations from "across the pond" reporting me yet.

UPDATE 1604z:  Now 39 stations have spotted me with several in North and South America. See table.

Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge, UK

We live about 15km from Cambridge and go into the city free on the bus a couple of times a week. This was Sydney- Sussex College earlier in the week in the sunshine.

Banggood products

 In the past I have bought a few products from this company and have not had any issues. 

The goods originate in China.  

If the goods have been copied or cloned I avoid them.  Usually the goods are low cost and arrive very fast. 

Up to now I have never had to pay any duty. Usually the price is so low that even if they were faulty you would simply write it off and not bother to complain.

Sunspots - Friday January 30th

 Solar flux is 129 and the SSN 117. A=22 and K=3.

Increased air activity?

We live about 15km from airbases used by the USAF. In the last couple of days these appears to be an increase in air traffic.  

In the shack

My radio shack overlooks the back garden. 

Last weekend was the Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB in the UK. 

The aim is to watch your "patch" (in my case the back garden) for an hour and record the highest number of bird types seen. 

It is done annually by millions and gives a good snapshot of birdlife in the UK. 

It was interesting how few small birds were seen. 

This is my worst year and I have been doing this for many years.

Clickbait

In recent years, YouTube has migrated to the TV screen. I guess there are now millions of things to entice us including some full length films and some historical recreations made using AI.  Some of these are very good.

Unless you can be absolutely sure of origins, it is now safer to assume it is made using AI and very well might be untrue.

Many YouTube items are clickbait. The creator gets paid by clicks on the content. Often the voice is created using AI.

Caveat emptor.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on at 0910z.

UPDATE 0945z:  11 spots by EA8BFK (2880km). At times he was getting my 200mW WSPR beacon at incredible strengths suggesting that even if I was running just microwatts he might have copied me!

UPDATE 1436z:   37 stations have spotted me including many in the USA and Canada.

UPDATE 1706z: 39 stations have spotted me me. QRT soon.

Is the USA putting itself out of world trade?

 Although traditionally the US has been a very important market, it would appear that many countries are increasingly looking to each other rather than the USA.   

It could take many years to happen, but at the moment the USA seems to be "kicking itself in the teeth".

Cambridge in the sun

In the last few weeks, the sun has been in short supply. This was St John's College in Cambridge, UK. Yesterday we had some sun, even though it was cold.

6m 5W FT8 yesterday

 

Only 9 English stations spotted me yesterday. See map.

Sunspots - Thursday January 29th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 135.  A=24 and K=3.

Mondays at 8pm RSGB video talks

There was a recent talk about sunspot cycle 25 by Steve Nichols G0KYA. As the RSGB does not allow the video to be viewed on other websites, please find the RSGB's channel on YouTube.

136kHz experiments

Before my 2013 stroke, I did some experiments on 136kHz using modes like QRSS3 and WSPR.  As my garden was small, huge antennas and ground systems were just not possible , so I wanted to see what was possible with QRP and small antennas. I got as far as the Netherlands with uW ERPs with QRSS3.

Things might be harder now with increasing noise floors, especially in urban areas which might limit what some can hear.

This was my weak signal spotted by G3WCB at 101km. I think G3WCB is now in Devon.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on just after 0900z.

UPDATE 0916z:  Just 4 spots from EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1611z:  28 spots of me. See table.

Sunspots- Wednesday January 28th

 Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 100. A=10 and K=3.

Reverse Beacon Network

If this has been on already, please accept my apologies. 

If you are a CW user, this is very useful, even when your CQ goes unanswered. By monitoring the RBN you can see where your signal is reaching.

Nothing really changes

 About 8 years ago we visited Pompeii. I was struck by how similar the people were to us now in many ways with cafes, street food, take-aways, etc.

The quote in today's Knowledge was by the Roman Marcus Aurelius about 2000 years ago:

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth"

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 My TX beacon was turned at 0918z.

UPDATE 0924z:  Already 3 spots by EA8BFK (2880km) and someone in KO40 square.

UPDATE 1155z:  4 stations have spotted me. No stations "across the pond" yet.

UPDATE 1225z:   Now spotted by 7 stations. It looks like the first USA spots were at 1218z.

UPDATE 1424z:  36 stations in 4 continents have spotted me. See map by VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1847z:  51 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

Rose Crescent, Cambridge

 

In January it is quiet. In the summer it’s busy!!

Sunspots - Tuesday January 27th

 Solar flux is 153 and the SSN 115. A=10 and K=1.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 0955z:  Spotted by 2 stations with the best a station in Saudi Arabia - HZ1SF (4939km).

UPDATE 1635z:  31 stations have spotted me with the best LU1XA (13253km). See table.

EI7GL's blog

 John's blog is always worth a look. He seems to find out lots of news! In my view, it is one of the best.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/

World politics

The world is changing. 

In many ways, despite the constant threat of nuclear war, mine was a lucky generation. We seem to be returning to a world of empires and spheres of influence. 

What is happening in Minnesota is typical of the new world order. Different accounts differ wildly and it is hard to tell what is the truth.

Why can't we live peacefully together?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjd0vl1d9vrt

Yaesu FT7 transceiver

This photo has been on before.

It shows the Yaesu FT7 which was the first commercial transceiver I owned in the 1980s. 

During that time DXCC was worked on 10W 10W SSB (QRP).

It had no memories, no synthesiser and a very quiet analogue RX. 

Of all the commercial transceivers I have owned, it was probably the very best. It proved that QRP SSB and low simple antennas were all you needed to work the world. I think the antennas at the time were just wire dipoles and a CB vertical.

Sunspots - Monday January 26th

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 131.  A=15 and K=1.

Learning CW

Back in the 1960s in the UK, Morse (CW) at 12 words a minute was essential to get a licence to transmit on HF.   

In most countries this is no longer the case. I think you can get on HF now without Morse. Mostly I use FT8 and WSPR in preference, mainly as my fine motor skills are poor. I have used CW since my 2013 stroke, but rarely.

Back in the late 1960s I used to be taught CW by Bill Honeywill G4PJ (SK) on 160m. He would regularly send me slow Morse over the air. Somewhere (goodness know where!) I had a tape recording of some of these.

I passed my Morse test in the Liver Building in Liverpool whilst at university in 1967 when I first got my G3 call allowing HF operation.

The march of AI

Just a few years ago most had never heard of AI (artificial intelligence). Now it is everywhere: you look, for example, on YouTube as you see a well known person. The chances are this is created using AI. These days  many, if not most, of the things you see on YouTube are AI creations created so the creator gets money from adverts when the video is viewed.

Sadly, you have to assume it is AI unless you can be absolutely sure it is not. There are very few sites I now trust.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear (5W to a V2000 omni) has been on since about 1000z.

UPDATE 1215z:  9 spots of me with the furthest F6HGB (983km).

UPDATE 1405z:  11 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 2105z: QRT now. Spotted by 24 stations today. See map by Phil VK7JJ.