tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90710483434553955112024-03-18T15:40:36.185+00:00Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio BlogSimple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.comBlogger24908125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-33969551571843181482024-03-18T15:36:00.000+00:002024-03-18T15:36:38.773+00:00Swaffham Prior - NOT amateur radio <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikm1wczsWZkuZeqz7NxGveMLp22Pfrwx_tW8xc2yLnTlg_0sK1Cccx90JdHQZVyBKibezbHydGDW2N0fFb17e75g2QSMZxXdhsQge3uHJXrP4j2jdXdiR9WdaqtIg0l_N_mjM8gbXOxbj5O1Gx90S8lQSIFjlBk_sllPonaj_3J0S6qMw35P7PM7e_7A/s750/IMG_4747.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="750" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikm1wczsWZkuZeqz7NxGveMLp22Pfrwx_tW8xc2yLnTlg_0sK1Cccx90JdHQZVyBKibezbHydGDW2N0fFb17e75g2QSMZxXdhsQge3uHJXrP4j2jdXdiR9WdaqtIg0l_N_mjM8gbXOxbj5O1Gx90S8lQSIFjlBk_sllPonaj_3J0S6qMw35P7PM7e_7A/w200-h192/IMG_4747.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>This sleepy village near Cambridge has two windmills and two churches (in the same churchyard!) as well as some fine old buildings.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-88815422878100905202024-03-18T07:34:00.000+00:002024-03-18T07:34:09.592+00:00630m QRP WSPR overnight <p>14 stations spotted me overnight. Furthermost was Norway.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-17941378497941663402024-03-18T07:22:00.000+00:002024-03-18T07:22:49.804+00:00Cheerfulness - NOT amateur radio<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw97xvAjV33UJtUUPcwgKx0PIDGIQvZivzC_GgrJR4u_OTYHW1WUMkZsmdKVcBsFSXe1brkE4MxF6-Ft-oCjF7nfAmnEjPm8hkb7Y-uh5W0lMSgleJrstIBP_R-suAwMFpl3nJzY8OG6Tjjq2nl0U9_eACubIJGg7nMO7eNLUMWmu13Kdq2xmHuJwEJuM/s400/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2017.48.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="400" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw97xvAjV33UJtUUPcwgKx0PIDGIQvZivzC_GgrJR4u_OTYHW1WUMkZsmdKVcBsFSXe1brkE4MxF6-Ft-oCjF7nfAmnEjPm8hkb7Y-uh5W0lMSgleJrstIBP_R-suAwMFpl3nJzY8OG6Tjjq2nl0U9_eACubIJGg7nMO7eNLUMWmu13Kdq2xmHuJwEJuM/w142-h136/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2017.48.33.png" width="142" /></a></div>These are on our patio. They smell great, but I notice one flower that should not be there!<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-68769822923814610442024-03-18T07:21:00.001+00:002024-03-18T07:21:56.772+00:00Sunspots- Monday March 18th<p>Solar flux is 151 and the SSN 86. A=2 and K= 0.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-84528260642228450732024-03-17T19:14:00.002+00:002024-03-17T19:14:28.305+00:00630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)<p> At about 1906z I QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. I had been on 8m FT8.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-72323611954280464732024-03-17T15:00:00.002+00:002024-03-17T17:30:29.033+00:00Return to 8m QRP FT8<p>At the moment, I am on 8m QRP FT8. The antenna appears to be a bit too long and probably needs cutting a bit. I have put on a new PL259 plug.</p><p><b>UPDATE 1730z: </b> No spots.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-60246420352472842122024-03-17T11:33:00.003+00:002024-03-17T11:33:46.384+00:00EI7GL's blog<p>John's blog is always interesting. I note he has a fascinating report of a 23cm QSO in Australia by lightning scatter. The blog is always worth a read.</p><p>See <a href="https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/">https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/</a></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-49944097375367795522024-03-17T09:42:00.004+00:002024-03-17T09:43:57.453+00:00Walk yesterday - NOT amateur radio<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYw_e8KSFFkypz8CQ9ose74RyF58rMsyK0uP1wUCREQzv4DnEnMYb_uA7-06UCptxoh9C0vsDBymeWRHWkvdLtAzzUDBlyKe9CzZOfM3-EL33MWT4rFpj0QnAZZljJUE60xU0lFncjV11Z0ju5q18BmNRCYye_fpsDFjcdvZzrQtXnXmQ5GLov8lSJsLw/s556/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2009.38.58.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="550" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYw_e8KSFFkypz8CQ9ose74RyF58rMsyK0uP1wUCREQzv4DnEnMYb_uA7-06UCptxoh9C0vsDBymeWRHWkvdLtAzzUDBlyKe9CzZOfM3-EL33MWT4rFpj0QnAZZljJUE60xU0lFncjV11Z0ju5q18BmNRCYye_fpsDFjcdvZzrQtXnXmQ5GLov8lSJsLw/w125-h127/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2009.38.58.png" width="125" /></a></div><br />This is a collage of our walk around the village of Reach, near Cambridge, yesterday.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-71356797231837059202024-03-17T09:28:00.014+00:002024-03-17T17:35:02.086+00:0010m QRPP WSPR (Sunday)<p>My 500uW 10m WSPR is on again.</p><b>UPDATE 1050z:</b> Yet again my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR has been spotted in the Canary Is.. A reminder that even though my beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W it is actually 0.5mW (30dB less) with the PA off in these tests. The station(s) at the RX end must have low noise floors!<p></p><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73PURgvKJgVoTDhVgYozaovT-4m_LBGMXD-Vq_Ovj9-nSBa21j-DYdn2-ZR28hf11zVtOtD1D5csdgWavBHe2AP-87LrBNQH2Aq0ar-FsqfGnkzZO_MSRh9MfZSmZ3bj_rpyUVsXF0mOubvid0kHK87BNJLqLfZ77t84_DAa-IXfn-8O52uzfApSZvos/s250/IMG_4723.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="250" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73PURgvKJgVoTDhVgYozaovT-4m_LBGMXD-Vq_Ovj9-nSBa21j-DYdn2-ZR28hf11zVtOtD1D5csdgWavBHe2AP-87LrBNQH2Aq0ar-FsqfGnkzZO_MSRh9MfZSmZ3bj_rpyUVsXF0mOubvid0kHK87BNJLqLfZ77t84_DAa-IXfn-8O52uzfApSZvos/w143-h76/IMG_4723.jpeg" width="143" /></a></div>UPDATE 1122z:</b> He has spotted me <i>again</i>. Now 2 spots of me today with 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR. I guess this must be single hop F2.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWgLERSbbwPqNsrtMq3EszBTEQfQ2AqSfhZONMXCetnLzuDYc974HYIu-uDqAU_n5hLVwZzs37AsAskGyDXxlp-edZY4LF4hIHegE3X0TeHWGSVCeJnUxhW3H4busbmVwySCBdBUReXhhJEHHTMSGaJbZwaa1Vl8ZZvvi-VYTfOb0wlSdB7OG0AWMwSE/s476/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2011.49.05.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="450" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWgLERSbbwPqNsrtMq3EszBTEQfQ2AqSfhZONMXCetnLzuDYc974HYIu-uDqAU_n5hLVwZzs37AsAskGyDXxlp-edZY4LF4hIHegE3X0TeHWGSVCeJnUxhW3H4busbmVwySCBdBUReXhhJEHHTMSGaJbZwaa1Vl8ZZvvi-VYTfOb0wlSdB7OG0AWMwSE/w142-h150/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2011.49.05.png" width="142" /></a></div>UPDATE 1153z: </b>The photos show Peter's site and antenna in the Canary Islands and my beacon which is about the size of a pack of cards and needs no PC.</div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><b>UPDATE 1520z: </b>For a third time today he has spotted my 500uW QRPP!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIqKJTG0nyZwd-XVd_Q4XT7U-9qyagOk6XMpIp3hhA_BvIU2PdVYNL9ZlkR5GS0Wu_KKtYU95UUQ97DUYtn98wNkkR4MmrI2tjHSvU8qPX1r_7rgYZ5Oasn8IMTajM-8BrXmETfWMrI8_kxxrYFVq9PipbO-UiZOvl9aYc-E3OhCDYX327iIiY2o3Xvo/s550/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2017.28.19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="550" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIqKJTG0nyZwd-XVd_Q4XT7U-9qyagOk6XMpIp3hhA_BvIU2PdVYNL9ZlkR5GS0Wu_KKtYU95UUQ97DUYtn98wNkkR4MmrI2tjHSvU8qPX1r_7rgYZ5Oasn8IMTajM-8BrXmETfWMrI8_kxxrYFVq9PipbO-UiZOvl9aYc-E3OhCDYX327iIiY2o3Xvo/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2017.28.19.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-24364575671415320612024-03-17T09:25:00.014+00:002024-03-17T14:34:10.023+00:006m QRP FT8 (Sunday)<p></p>My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni is on again. At 0925z, 6 English stations had spotted me.<p></p><div><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw28lL9ib_i9nVbLBa00gtB014R-Csa2wRNAdCL-1xexLDyH4dA5XoG2d-vQQpLA6HA1_LHouU2Ijk5Sk5EyvBIBy9aDIuUNrwU3S0hg5FyiFAvo8y-AQtmZip3dloYH_v-VNwpb7DYHcLKOi7gaLei2oAgm93OEpZMc-ye-CuZjF9Rth-PFEL2ytCS_4/s447/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2012.13.46.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="447" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw28lL9ib_i9nVbLBa00gtB014R-Csa2wRNAdCL-1xexLDyH4dA5XoG2d-vQQpLA6HA1_LHouU2Ijk5Sk5EyvBIBy9aDIuUNrwU3S0hg5FyiFAvo8y-AQtmZip3dloYH_v-VNwpb7DYHcLKOi7gaLei2oAgm93OEpZMc-ye-CuZjF9Rth-PFEL2ytCS_4/w142-h85/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2012.13.46.png" width="142" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Stations spotting my 6m <br />QRP FT8 this morning</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table>UPDATE 1217z:</b> 8 stations have spotted me. It is pleasing to see activity even when there is no DX around. If I can work around the UK with just 2.5W and an omni, imagine what is possible with full power and a beam!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UPDATE 1435z:</b> No further spots of me, but I have spotted 14 UK stations.</div>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-29544419445296629472024-03-17T09:21:00.003+00:002024-03-17T09:22:39.500+00:00630m QRP WSPR overnight<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz2u1l8SJ6ZQwQtMPTlkFwNQEN9rlhx9rxF9hd9d_t5bIkSNPkWliK3lHN0fRvVeYei1aLQPfcjAp0KMWN8NBYtmGM2fJfGXtydx0bZTDl6JRTnxT57V2BygGBfn_OFOOuLhqfLHIKGggForw02XIapfctrdjqA_gGVvo-tnifm1yepU-o-AbO-ytLOo/s550/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2009.08.39.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="550" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz2u1l8SJ6ZQwQtMPTlkFwNQEN9rlhx9rxF9hd9d_t5bIkSNPkWliK3lHN0fRvVeYei1aLQPfcjAp0KMWN8NBYtmGM2fJfGXtydx0bZTDl6JRTnxT57V2BygGBfn_OFOOuLhqfLHIKGggForw02XIapfctrdjqA_gGVvo-tnifm1yepU-o-AbO-ytLOo/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-17%2009.08.39.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Overnight 14 stations, including 2 in Norway, spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR. I shall try again tonight. Being on 630m WSPR TX again over the last few months has been great fun.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-51566593711789436682024-03-17T07:49:00.011+00:002024-03-17T09:17:53.661+00:00Pathfinder - NOT amateur radio <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43byJvjKKp1u-_yf4oeBYZ-NRtN9URtjldNctmqBezZp-pBJ2tsp6hyphenhyphenvVvrtp5LYVUqFh5MtaSa8DUjLD-05qENoKfUhVunRXUA3YY1Hv3lqlHjHGDiezHybho19odz74t4tYiy8EILnTp0YPaVO0RtExhGffZKuzLRdj4gpN9J-3mOP_eA3mRfNZF3Y/s750/IMG_4719.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="750" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43byJvjKKp1u-_yf4oeBYZ-NRtN9URtjldNctmqBezZp-pBJ2tsp6hyphenhyphenvVvrtp5LYVUqFh5MtaSa8DUjLD-05qENoKfUhVunRXUA3YY1Hv3lqlHjHGDiezHybho19odz74t4tYiy8EILnTp0YPaVO0RtExhGffZKuzLRdj4gpN9J-3mOP_eA3mRfNZF3Y/w200-h151/IMG_4719.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />My dad was a Pathfinder in Lancaster bombers in WW2 . <b><i>He hated the war </i></b>and rarely talked about those scary night raids over Germany. I am sure that those bombs would have killed or maimed innocent people just like him. This would have always haunted him all his life. Wars are so cruel.<div><br /></div><div>He died in 1987 and loved his quiet life in Devon after the war. He must have been so brave and so scared knowing that on each trip he could have been killed or maimed.</div><div><p><span 1987="" a="" about="" after="" as="" at="" badly="" be="" been="" bombers="" brave="" could="" dad="" dark="" died="" few="" frightening="" germany.="" had="" hated="" have="" he="" his="" hours="" how="" i="" idea="" in="" injured.="" it="" killed="" knowing="" lancaster="" life="" lifetime="" liked="" must="" my="" night="" no="" or="" over="" pathfinder="" quiet="" rarely="" so="" span="" talked="" that="" the="" those="" times="" war.="" was.="" who="" within="" wonder="" you=""></span></p></div>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-15329098396814415992024-03-17T07:49:00.008+00:002024-03-17T07:49:44.767+00:00Sunspots- Sunday March 17th<p> Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 67 . A=3 and K=0.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-73045885587098823492024-03-16T22:04:00.004+00:002024-03-16T22:04:36.493+00:00630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)<p> My 630m 10mW ERP WSPR has been spotted by 8 stations so far.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-69747403933637146372024-03-16T21:35:00.002+00:002024-03-16T21:35:35.853+00:0070cm<p>Years ago, there was plenty of activity on 70cm FM simplex. I had one of the first synthesised amateur rigs in the country. It was an FM321 based on the Australian UHF CB rig, the FM320. With an indoor UHF TV yagi and 4W much DX was worked on FM. It was very good.</p><p>These days, there is little activity apart from in contests. The map shows the contacts made with 10W SSB and my 2m omni antenna in a recent activity contest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByaMuqidvco5rG4-oc1pJNokxBnN4ttNH0l5HHSQTE_Y8YGEQ0pkbCZU0l-M_TjZl1IkhbhJGlqPebTeupg4BcrPsJJMh9s3S-R9Vq0M6Hlhl_K7-CFBddeB_5YDVAqrn1lf_qaUkiNzX5vXL22hYpnQevrbiwRdVzgKUM-qStLhHapy0t31kheZXgYA/s439/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2020.32.10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="439" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByaMuqidvco5rG4-oc1pJNokxBnN4ttNH0l5HHSQTE_Y8YGEQ0pkbCZU0l-M_TjZl1IkhbhJGlqPebTeupg4BcrPsJJMh9s3S-R9Vq0M6Hlhl_K7-CFBddeB_5YDVAqrn1lf_qaUkiNzX5vXL22hYpnQevrbiwRdVzgKUM-qStLhHapy0t31kheZXgYA/w200-h147/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2020.32.10.png" width="200" /></a></div>Openings on 70cm were localised, and often tropo openings were more frequent than on 2m. These days, with FT8, amazing distances can be covered. It is a great pity 70cm is so under-used.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-75202612940441051002024-03-16T20:29:00.003+00:002024-03-16T20:31:28.241+00:00Reach - NOT amateur radio <p> Today we did a nice walk around the sleepy village of Reach. There has been a fair here since 1201.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrej_e6bX92LZY382MrihcCrPvoQOhhUrWVDchhLaWXIqVI3FlHwihLnHnZaLZU4GAViHI8c4X8DPXyARJj2QgEApCuyz0_IRZZBtIupFfsu3dPTKKVV62rjfkRusZm2_lhA9cINrRtD5gQELyLcY9jvZo-zHblE2ajCI_WRKf2p9nZqc5XDXyxujV-cA/s271/IMG_4718.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="250" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrej_e6bX92LZY382MrihcCrPvoQOhhUrWVDchhLaWXIqVI3FlHwihLnHnZaLZU4GAViHI8c4X8DPXyARJj2QgEApCuyz0_IRZZBtIupFfsu3dPTKKVV62rjfkRusZm2_lhA9cINrRtD5gQELyLcY9jvZo-zHblE2ajCI_WRKf2p9nZqc5XDXyxujV-cA/w157-h170/IMG_4718.jpeg" width="157" /></a></div>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-8469785522803729932024-03-16T14:53:00.003+00:002024-03-16T14:53:36.570+00:00630m QRP WSPR overnight<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklOnMxqKRcwjGrKA5ZBgysqDZjck4MB4qLK5vvLuM-PCrvS-TH-4jvD7Yx2Bg0wc1NNS7tYa2VsJKOOjjqTCF3z8RZJjvjO6h9AiZAgFvujcLUSxwZZX0_kTIgZzgHQLenm7sSRi5g47C11L3rU8vdbg6J-wejavFf5PcKY0xkTV25I3WjXcOPheCKts/s550/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2014.48.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="550" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklOnMxqKRcwjGrKA5ZBgysqDZjck4MB4qLK5vvLuM-PCrvS-TH-4jvD7Yx2Bg0wc1NNS7tYa2VsJKOOjjqTCF3z8RZJjvjO6h9AiZAgFvujcLUSxwZZX0_kTIgZzgHQLenm7sSRi5g47C11L3rU8vdbg6J-wejavFf5PcKY0xkTV25I3WjXcOPheCKts/w295-h119/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2014.48.43.png" width="295" /></a></div><br />14 stations spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As on the previous night, the furthermost was Norway.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-15982460189223491902024-03-16T14:11:00.002+00:002024-03-16T14:16:08.292+00:00View of our back garden - NOT amateur radio <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv5xefRiU5lqgtrKIfX0WEX1YK5wi0QQ8sJzKkAvYF-cSP_pVb93pchzKIxjyAF_039eVY_mNmAIUU-DbYbwkFwLgkkv6wHTB09F0nCZy11mLQ1up-bWmjHDS66gxHXhdQHbFYttlrAxsZmBAFc0E-_63pp-ph7A6uPxMdVkoBECLtu6cHeF5n0JNhBw/s250/IMG_4714.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="250" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv5xefRiU5lqgtrKIfX0WEX1YK5wi0QQ8sJzKkAvYF-cSP_pVb93pchzKIxjyAF_039eVY_mNmAIUU-DbYbwkFwLgkkv6wHTB09F0nCZy11mLQ1up-bWmjHDS66gxHXhdQHbFYttlrAxsZmBAFc0E-_63pp-ph7A6uPxMdVkoBECLtu6cHeF5n0JNhBw/w138-h98/IMG_4714.png" width="138" /></a></div>This is the view out of the window of our back garden. My shack has probably the best view down the garden.<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-54271868743916375642024-03-16T10:25:00.001+00:002024-03-16T10:25:17.796+00:00Spooky - NOT amateur radio<p> Most mornings I get an email from Amazon recommending certain things. Clearly this is done with an algorithm based on what you have looked at or bought. This means "big brother" knows all about your browsing and buying habits.</p><p>It is sobering to think of all the sites (and governments) that have a host of data on all of us. Big brother indeed.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-67062995633048188682024-03-16T10:06:00.007+00:002024-03-16T18:58:52.507+00:006m QRP FT8 (Saturday)<p>Once again, I am on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and V2000 vertical omni antenna. At 1005z, 7 English stations have spotted me. On RX 3 English stations have been spotted.</p><p>The impression I am getting is that activity on 6m has picked up. Perhaps people are expecting some Es or TEP?</p><p><b>UPDATE 1014z: </b>Still 7 English spots of me.</p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQN8iw9qj4V7V8iRt3M1RkfF9OIhjR0QyADFuX2A3fMEkXT5H28MDleuRns210pgAhWvmuvkAe7_Av23xJCNllViSWjhEBTcNsTQArfHFb9jY_iohcmvw8yQYDj0PMbnKxcwWVNnOReW28UQxaMdE1flILMrXwcQcXv0EWKx778VrcMIWoEYkOft8Vk/s440/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2014.57.58.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="440" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQN8iw9qj4V7V8iRt3M1RkfF9OIhjR0QyADFuX2A3fMEkXT5H28MDleuRns210pgAhWvmuvkAe7_Av23xJCNllViSWjhEBTcNsTQArfHFb9jY_iohcmvw8yQYDj0PMbnKxcwWVNnOReW28UQxaMdE1flILMrXwcQcXv0EWKx778VrcMIWoEYkOft8Vk/w170-h92/Screenshot%202024-03-16%2014.57.58.png" width="170" /></a></b></div><b>UPDATE 1456z: </b>16 stations have spotted me, including one in Sweden.<p></p><div><b>UPDATE 1857z: </b> 19 stations have spotted me today. QSYing to 630m QRP WSPR shortly.</div>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-23280547064394078892024-03-16T10:02:00.002+00:002024-03-16T14:22:04.034+00:0010m QRPP (Saturday)<p>Although I think spots are <i>very</i> unlikely today, I am again on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). No spots at 1001z.</p><p><b>UPDATE 1421z: </b> It pays to set expectations low. Two spots of my 500uW (0.5mW) when I was not expecting any! I shall remain at 500uW on 10m WSPR all day.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-47047484062798778212024-03-16T09:57:00.002+00:002024-03-16T09:57:45.629+00:00Sunspots - Saturday March 16th<p> Solar flux is 129 and the SSN 49. A=8 and K=0.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-91287721695046536112024-03-15T19:37:00.003+00:002024-03-15T20:32:07.684+00:00630m QRP WSPR (Friday)<p>As is my usual pattern, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.</p><p><b>UPDATE 1935z: </b>4 stations in England have spotted me. </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XvPg3KhBufGLPU-1vcV1BrxetAWm0a1rSzFi_vdVuaDZ717fYbQVvuPeYKHNrlUThboEt7BP5jBvSkinfUhaVo8gnQLPFfaTnEbfg_EYsjtcAz6GlJv12LL3OWwg1KoyIrmoyWUaLsH4X1jNQEjIqoCSrrHrffyLDuCQbO-CGY6K92GRn-C_rEO2sPo/s550/Screenshot%202024-03-15%2020.26.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="550" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XvPg3KhBufGLPU-1vcV1BrxetAWm0a1rSzFi_vdVuaDZ717fYbQVvuPeYKHNrlUThboEt7BP5jBvSkinfUhaVo8gnQLPFfaTnEbfg_EYsjtcAz6GlJv12LL3OWwg1KoyIrmoyWUaLsH4X1jNQEjIqoCSrrHrffyLDuCQbO-CGY6K92GRn-C_rEO2sPo/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-15%2020.26.47.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b>UPDATE 2030z: </b>6 stations have spotted me so far this evening (see table).<p></p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-46155954429815828422024-03-15T16:45:00.004+00:002024-03-15T17:21:24.672+00:00In praise of Amazon - NOT amateur radio<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ig47F_qgA9DKA8aPB5LCYML6a-EmdhMyhUyU_dATggsYaqCtIfup9W4ShkOjy5LvdmeBS8X6L_HpdcOJz0Ugp77NvTlyPVP9jlEq6SQj96Cnzk8yBkacL-6kOKTZ1xVMAwT8cN9K4A_JsOfBpS9fKZcauKF0jdn41Td0ougemuWEPNHPBz6V-3RieoY/s520/Screenshot%202024-03-15%2016.41.04.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="374" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ig47F_qgA9DKA8aPB5LCYML6a-EmdhMyhUyU_dATggsYaqCtIfup9W4ShkOjy5LvdmeBS8X6L_HpdcOJz0Ugp77NvTlyPVP9jlEq6SQj96Cnzk8yBkacL-6kOKTZ1xVMAwT8cN9K4A_JsOfBpS9fKZcauKF0jdn41Td0ougemuWEPNHPBz6V-3RieoY/w126-h174/Screenshot%202024-03-15%2016.41.04.png" width="126" /></a></div>Amazon is like Marmite, the UK yeast spread. Some absolutely hate Amazon thinking it is killing independent bookshops. On the other hand one may order a book in seconds and it is on your doorstep or in your postbox the next day.<p></p><p>For 2 weeks, I have been trying to buy my sister-in-law's new children's book from multiple bookshops in Cambridge without success. I saw it was available from Amazon and it was here next day.</p><p>Retail is changing and nothing will stop this. Like many, I enjoy going into a physical bookshop and leafing through a book. However, the convenience of online shopping is very compelling.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071048343455395511.post-24661886119348364572024-03-15T16:16:00.006+00:002024-03-15T16:32:37.263+00:00Fixing that 8m dipole<p>My PL259 plugs have arrived. The 50 ohm coax and everything needed to replace my 8m dipole is at hand. Erection should really be trivial, but ladder work is far harder these days.</p><p>Until my TX permit expires early next month I hope to use 2.5W. After that I may try 10mW ERP 8m WSPR which does <i>not </i>require an 8m TX permit in the UK. <b><i>As long as people are monitoring,</i></b> much of Europe should be possible. Tests at similar powers have reached the USA on 10m WSPR. One of the issues on 8m is there are far fewer monitors than on 10m.</p><p>This would be an interesting test. Sadly, the attenuator would also be in circuit on RX too making the RX deafer.</p><p>I guess some local tests would be useful to ensure all is well. At the moment I am unsure what callsign to use for these 10mW 8m tests.</p>Roger G3XBMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13673890140751539870noreply@blogger.com2