Swan on nest - NOT amateur radio

"Well we have nested here for years and we are NOT moving just because there is a building site 3m behind us!". 

Swans seen on our walk earlier.

10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop

At 0900z, I went on 10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the tiny indoor loop. Even with ferrite chokes on the USB lead I was still getting RF feedback from the loop to the rig on 10m, so I am RX only on that band until I get the outside antenna up. 2 French stations spotted after 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1104z: 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. All Es.

UPDATE 1350z : 21 stations spotted on RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna and the IC-705. 

Crabapple - NOT amateur radio

We have just got one crabapple tree in our garden. Last year was poor whereas the year before we picked over 500 and made crabapple jelly. This year looks promising. 

2m FT8 QRP

Just before 0700z I turned on my 2m FT8 gear with 5W from the IC-705 and the big-wheel omni antenna. No QSOs yet, but spots by 5 G stations so far. It is now 0710z. 

UPDATE 0832z: One QSO with G4IVV (18km) who offered plenty of help when I had problems with the IC-705 yesterday (many thanks - true ham spirit) and I have been spotted by 9 Gs so far. At the moment I am RX only. Probably going on 10m FT8 RX shortly with the tiny indoor loop. Once again the grabber at G0LRD has been useful. See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ . David also offered me some suggestions - thank you too.

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo dates from the late 1950s or early 1960s. Salcombe was where I was brought up as a child. 

Sunspots - Sunday May 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 17. A=3 and K=1.

2m UKAC activity contest last Tuesday

Not that I have a cats chance of getting a decent score, but I forgot to submit my score for the May 2m activity contest. I needed the same connector and I wanted to carry on with 10m FT8 using the 10FT8R RX. So I only stayed on 2m for 30 minutes. 3 QSOs were obtained as the map shows with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 

10m FT8 RX with the IC-705

Since about 0820z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna and the IC-705. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1037z:  No spots.

FT8 TX and the IC-705

 My new USB leads have come and I still can't TX FT8 with the IC-705. This is most probably finger trouble. It is just possible it is a rig issue. When less tired I shall investigate. CAT control seems fine and RX. 

UPDATE 1604z:  I am still struggling! I have had two offers of help, but so far no luck. One person has offered help over Zoom, and I may have to avail myself of his help if all else fails. I have reloaded the drivers, swapped leads to make sure they are carrying data, rechecked settings in the IC-705 and WSJT-X. At the moment, I just cannot understand why it does not work. RX works fine.  Darn my muddled brain! Years ago this would have been so easy to fix, or at least understand why it is not working.

UPDATE 2045z: Solved!! My problem was RF getting back into the rig. When I tried 2m on the external antenna all was well. It seems that 10m on the internal loop is not acceptable. Now I know what the problem was, I can try chokes on the USB lead. It seemed odd that despite everything I was doing seeming OK things still would not function. First 2m QSO on FT8. Now QRT.

South Hams - NOT amateur radio

Where I come from in South Devon is very beautiful as this photo from 10 years ago shows.