Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon - NOT amateur radio

These photos were taken earlier by my brother.  Normally I go back to where I was brought up every year. This year I have to rely on photos. Maybe in 2021?

Alexa joke - NOT amateur radio

Recently, I bought an Amazon Dot with Alexa at about half price. When not in use we switch it off at the mains to prevent any data gathering.  Some are paranoid about it hearing things it shouldn't. 

It is very small.  I am very impressed, as is my wife. Even with my poor voice, it manages to recognise commands most times.

Like many, we have bought a lot on line recently. My wife ordered some Christmas cards from a well known charity a week ago. They (eventually) came today. We ordered some charity cards via Amazon and they arrived the very next day! 

We know Amazon is far from perfect, but we cannot fault them on service. We ordered some sanitiser gell yesterday. It was here before breakfast today.

This Alexa joke came to me yesterday. It made me laugh.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Since about 0910z I have been on 2m FT8 QRP with the usual 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna. So far (at 0932z)  just 1 station spotting me.

UPDATE 1301z:  15 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 4 stations have spotted me so far on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1720z:  63 stations in 9 countries spotted here so far.

UPDATE 2150z:  In the last day 20 stations have spotted me. 4 QSOs today. 87 stations spotted here. It is interesting that most signals on G0LRD's grabber at http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ (26km) are direct, I occasionally see Doppler shifted signals on some transmissions, which must be off aircraft, possibly those approaching Stansted or some of the nearby military bases. Most Doppler is about 10-20Hz.

UPDATE 2228z: There looks like there is a contest as several stations are calling CQ TEST on FT8. I shall be going QRT soon.

UPDATE 2238z:   QRT.

Salcombe, Devon yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon, yesterday. My dad lived on the road to the right over 100 years ago.  

The house where he lived now sells for about £500k. It was a hovel when he lived there and he would be amazed.

VLF earth-mode

It is many years now since my health allowed me to carry out VLF earth-mode experiments. Results obtained with 5W and simple kit amazed me. I got a range of 6km and far further would have been possible. I kept a blog of my results which can be accessed via my website and old website at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode (do not follow the links on the left of this old website as these are very very old and may not work).

As I understand it, OFCOM is not interested in licencing earth-mode kit as long as no "harmful interference to wireless telegraphy" is caused. To be honest,  I think conduction modes are a total puzzle to them! Without (free) software ranges would be much shorter.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter .

Sunspots - Saturday December 12th 2020

Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 11.  A=6 and K=1.

QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At just after 1930z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 spots of me so far. No spots of others yet and no QSOs. Best DX spot of me is by G8TTI (186km).

Looking east - NOT amateur radio

This is the view from Rame Head near Plymouth looking towards the South Hams in Devon, UK 

OFCOM's plan of work for next year

In my old age I must be getting a boring old f**t.   

OFCOM has published details of its plan of work for 2021-2022 on their website. Yet more motherhood crappery in my view. See the OFCOM website for more details. 

Maybe have another minced pie instead?

QRP YouTube channel

As many know, QRP is the part of our hobby that I enjoy most. Southgate News reports that the GQRP Club has a new YouTube channel devoted to QRP. Great idea.

The latest GQRP Convention talks are there. These were online this year. Well worth watching.

See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhe-ybLZzpnJh80VmFuS-A/videos