Feels like a Sunday?

Don't know about you, but I keep thinking today is Sunday! All these public holidays are really confusing me. 

I was expecting to send out my usual Sunday reminders for the East Cambs net, then I realised it was Friday.

Short loft antennas

At the old QTH I had a problem with 160m antennas. At one time, we were going to try a local 160m AM net. Somewhere I have some crystals. My solution was this small loft vertical that worked really well. It can easily be adapted for your situation. I was surprised how good it was.

Although my antenna was on 160m, the same idea (helical windings and a top hat) could be used on other bands like 80m, 60m, 40m, or even 630m.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/160m_loft_ant. 

6m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At about 1005z my QRP 6m FT8 was turned on:  2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, at 1020z, just one spot of me by G0PQO (50km)  and no spots on RX.

UPDATE 1110z: 4 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being G4EFX (226km) and 2 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8  TX. So far today, all Gs.

UPDATE 1350z:  16 stations spotted here with the furthermost F6HGB (985km) on RX.  2 Gs have spotted my QRP on TX and 1 QSO.

UPDATE 1610z:  21 stations spotted on RX and 6 stations have spotted me on QRP 6m FT8 TX. 1 QSO.

UPDATE 2000z:  QRT.

Water buffalo - NOT amateur radio

One of the local nature reserves near us is using water buffalos to help maintain the banks. These are well contained as they can be very dangerous animals.

See http://www.kingfishersbridge.org/

2021 - NOT amateur radio

2020 was a pretty bad year for most. As I wish everyone a happy new year, may I wish you good health and happiness in the year ahead. Let us hope this really is the year we beat Covid-19. 

Sunspots - Friday January 1st 2021

 Solar flux is 81 and the SSN 25. A=3 and K=0.

Cold - NOT amateur radio

We awoke this morning to a very cold day with frost and fog. Our hedges and trees are white with frost. 

The photo shows the view in our front garden at 0930z.

6m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At 0854z my 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical was turned on. So far, just a spot by G0PQO (50km) of my QRP signal. 2 Gs spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1130z: 3 Gs have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 7 stations on RX with the furthermost being DL9MG (650km). The latter could be Es or aircraft. Most spots were Gs.

Sunspots - Thursday December 31st 2020

The end of a momentous year for the whole world. At least the sunspot count has started to rise.

Sunspot count is 83 and the SSN 26.  A=9 and K=1.

OS maps - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, the definitive maps for over 200 years are produced by the Ordnance Survey. 

We have a local nature reserve near here. I have the latest paper 2.5 inches to the mile OS map and it makes no mention of this: it is as if this is a top secret place! No wonder so many locals have not a clue it is there. 

On the OS map app it is only there if you zoom in.