630m WSPR RX

At 2005z, I went on to 630m WSPR RX using the 2m big-wheel and coax via a ferrite rod ATU. So far this evening, a couple of German stations spotted.

UPDATE 2119z:  G6AVK (78km) also spotted. 

UPDATE 2218z: Now QRT. 

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Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken yesterday at Ely Cathedral. There has been Christian worship on this site for 1350 years. 

Electric cars - NOT amateur radio

In a few years, as mentioned recently, I am expecting a "tipping point" when most use electric cars rather than cars fuelled by fossil fuels. My prediction is this will happen about 2028. 

For this to happen, range has to be considerably improved and prices have to fall dramatically. Electric cars today appeal mainly to early adopters, those who feel strongly against fossil fuels and those who only make very short journeys like shopping trips and who can charge at home.  I think the breakthrough will come with solid state batteries.

Usually on my trips to Cambridge I see about 2 electric cars. Today I saw 10!! There must be a lot of early adopters!

10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

As I am back from Cambridge, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with 5W.  After about 10 minutes,  13 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 99.

UPDATE 1540z:  28 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8 and I have spotted 257.

Stations that have spotted my
5W 10m FT8 today at 1800z

UPDATE 1945z:   572 stations have been spotted and 80 stations have spotted my 5W 10m FT8 TX.

AI search engines - NOT amateur radio

There has been a lot recently about artificial intelligence and search engines. First there was ChatGPT followed by GPT-4 and now BARD which is Google's experimental version.

I can see great danger with these as people believe what these bots create as truth, when it may be full of errors. I tried BARD out and most was correct, but some things were totally wrong!! 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 70. A=8 and K=3  

Thatched cottage - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo was taken in 2013. It shows a thatched cottage in a village not far from here.

630m WSPR RX (Tuesday)

At about 1745z, I changed to 630m WSPR RX. It is now 1756z and, so far,  no spots.

UPDATE 2057z:   2 stations spotted so far this evening.

UPDATE 2240z: Now QRT. 

4m UKAC - missed it!!

Last Thursday evening was the 4m (70 MHz) activity contest for March. I missed it! 

My antenna is just my 2m big-wheel and coax matched via the auto-ATU in the FT-710. I have no idea how it performs with regard to gain, polarisation, or directivity. This I was hoping to find out! Maybe in April? My next chance looks like April 20th.

Birthday lunch - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to lunch with old university friends we have known since the 1960s. Seeing them, it is as if we had seen them just the day before.