One ancestor is believed to have fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. More recently her ancestors have been shopkeepers and run a banana warehouse in Sheffield. Doing a book is a good idea both for her and generations to come so these memories are captured.
The restored photo probably dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Just did a quick test and the VSWR with the FT817ND and big-wheel was high, so I have connected the V2000 vertical up instead. Now on 70cm FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical.
I intend to use this from 1700z this evening with a short break for the CDARC net on 145.55MHz FM at 2000z. I may try the latter on 2m FM with the FT817ND to see how it performs (I did).
UPDATE 1647z: No spots. I guess my chance of any spots on 70cm FT8 is low until 1700z as there will be few on at the best of times. My own view is that DX via troposcatter or aircraft reflection might be better on 70cm than on 2m. For this we need activity.
UPDATE 1938z: 11 stations spotted so far with the furthermost PD1JFB (306km). 2 QSOs so far on 70cm QRP FT8.
OFCOM has announced that the auctions of spectrum at 700MHz and 3.6GHz start this week. See the OFCOM website for more details.
If you have a few billions spare........
Ron PA2RF has reminded me there is a 70cm FT8 activity contest this evening. I shall definitely be on RX with the 2m big-wheel and may be on TX with 2.5W. The contest starts at 1700z and exchanges are just reports and Maidenhead locators. We are asked not to use the FT8 contest mode!
I have no idea about FT8 usage on 70cm on normal days.
On 70cms the main FT8 frequency is 432.174MHz in Europe.
See https://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/
See https://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/vhf-uhf/432mhz-band/
At about 2040z, I decided to go on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 10 stations have spotted my QRP and I have spotted 3 stations on RX so far.
UPDATE 2300z : Now QRT. 1 QSO this evening.
With 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna I entered the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. I was only on for 30 minutes before I had to stop because of my poor voice. I made just 3 QSOs with the furthermost G4CLA (105km). I work him most times. With a beam and stopping on longer, I could work far more.
Not many can say they have a golf course in their back garden!
About 10 minutes ago (it is now 1022z) my 2.5W to the indoor loop was turned on. So far, 2 stations have been spotted on RX but nobody has yet spotted my QRP on TX. Things seem very quiet today. On RX the furthermost is 4Z4DX (3561km).
UPDATE 1450z: 2 spots of my QRP TX on 17m FT8 today. 83 stations spotted on RX.
We went for a walk around this village near us after lunch. It has many fine cottages. Nice to see the sun.
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