Elecraft K1 CW transceiver

Many years ago, I built this 4 band HF transceiver from a kit.

A few years ago it was sold.

In its day, it was very good. These days, many HF operators prefer FT8 to CW as FT8 works with even weaker signals but it does need a shack PC to run the free software. The beauty of CW is gear can be very simple! The K1 produced over 5W maximum.

As I recall, mine covered 40, 30, 20 and 15m CW. I am not sure if the K1 is still available new.

SETI - NOT amateur radio

As far as I know, the SETI program ( the search for extra-terrestrial intelligent life) has been going since the 1960s. To this date, I am not aware of any success. I suppose it is just possible that certain governments have kept results secret, but I think this is highly unlikely.

The widely quoted Drake equation predicted we would find many such civilisations "out there".  Oddly, not one has been found!  Something must be wrong with how we are searching. After all this time, surely we would have spotted some evidence?

The evidence for planets around distant stars is growing daily, yet still the hunt goes on. I wonder what the issue is?

As far as I know, we have still to get any evidence of life on other planets at all, whether intelligent or not!

I am not saying stop looking, but I am puzzled.

GQRP SPRAT

Many times before I have mentioned how good SPRAT magazine is.

This comes out every quarter and is now in full colour A5 format.  Most of the back issues are available on a DVD and it is worth joining just for these. If you enjoy simple projects you will find lots to inspire you!

It is only a few pounds to join GQRP and the DVD is heavily discounted for members. Most editions have something simple to make.

Many of the founder members are now SK, but these have been replaced by keen, younger folk.

See http://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm

Sunspots - Tuesday April 7th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

East Cambridgeshire 2m FM net

Most Mondays on 144.575MHz FM we meet at 1900z. Since the Coronavirus pandemic, we seem to have more people. All in the area are welcome to join in.

Boris Johnson in intensive care - NOT amateur radio

The news tonight was that the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has gone into intensive care in hospital suffering with Coronavirus.

Whatever our political persuasion, we all wish him well and hope he gets better.

This is a worrying time for his family and all in the UK government. He was spearheading the UK's battle with Coronavirus. This is a most difficult job.

DX most wanted

As many know, I am not an active DX chaser. If I work any real DX it would be by chance! I see Southgate News has a piece on which DX entities are most wanted. Way back in the 1960s, I copied ZL9 on AM. I had no idea it was so rare!

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/april/dxcc-most-wanted.htm#.XosEjhnYq00

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

Most can probably ignore this post. For those interested, read on.

In the last year, nothing has really changed regarding my stroke. In all ways, I think things are broadly as they were last April. My voice remains poor.  It's a darn shame, but life goes on and we have to make the best of things.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We thought the second bud on this was a dud. For several weeks it did nothing then this! Never give up!

10m FT8

Unfortunately, I have no stand-alone 10m FT8 beacon. Instead, I am on 10m FT8 using 2.5W from the FT817ND with the tiny indoor loop antenna. It is now 0811z and I have been on for about an hour. No spots given or received yet today.

UPDATE 1125z: No spots and no QSOs today on 10m FT8 so far.

UPDATE 1247z: Just a single spot of my 2.5W transmit from DJ3AK (693km) so far today.

UPDATE 1837z:  Now QRT. In the end just a single spot on TX and RX all day.