Windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

This stunning photo of the windmill next door was taken by a neighbour K. Tingey. 

E-field probes (EFPs)

These are tiny receive only antennas that can work extremely effectively at VLF, LF and MF where external noise is usually the dominant factor. I guess as local external noise is increasingly the dominating factor, these will be as effective as a "big" antenna at even higher frequencies. At LF they can be only a few centimetres long, but be as effective as antennas hundreds of metre long. 

EFP on a mag mount
for 2200m RX

As the signal decreases, so does the external noise! Overall, nothing is lost. There is no advantage by using a large antenna at low frequencies for receive only. For TX efficiency, a large antenna and good earth help! A popular EFP design is that PA0RDT (Google it). I have made versions for LF and VLF with a tuned peak as shown in the circuit.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .

Tuesday plans

 Probably 6m FT8 later. Shopping first! 

Double rainbow - NOT amateur radio

April in the UK is a strange month. Some days can be warm and sunny, whereas others can be cold. Yesterday was a mix of sunshine and showers. The photo of the double rainbow was taken in haste from the lounge window. A few minutes later it had gone.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 11th 2023

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 92. A=14 and K=0.

630m WSPR RX

At about 1940z, I switched to 630m WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 2126z:  Several WSPR spots of DC0DX (467km) at up to -9dB S/N.

Earth-mode paper

 Someone asked for access to this file. It is now open so if you have this link you should be able to read it. It was sent to me some years ago.

See https://drive.google.com/file/d/16vtYNznORclXJTfpaT-RC7Z3IV8RKqyi/view?usp=sharing .

6m FT8 (Monday)

For about an hour, I have been on 6m FT8. So far, 13 stations have spotted me and 1 have had 1 QSO. I noticed the BNC plug was intermittent. Mending it took about an hour. In years gone by this would have taken me 5 minutes.

80m FT8 (Monday)

 At 1255z, I moved from 160m FT8 (no spots) to 80m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The FT8 frequency on 80m seems to be 3.573 MHz.

160m FT8 (Monday)

 As my earth-electrode "antenna" is now matched, I am currently using it on 160m FT8 with 10W from the FT-710. No spots, although I am not surprised in daylight. I must double check on the 160m FT8 frequency in Europe. I have never tried FT8 on topband. I have used WSPR in the past. Currently I am on 1840 kHz FT8, which seems right.

UPDATE 1120z: This looks a useful resource for digital modes in Europe. See https://www.pa8s.nl/knowledge-base/frequencies-for-digital-modes/ 

Spots of me at 1814z

UPDATE 1814z:  Back on 160m FT8 with the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground. Running about 10W from the FT-710. 7 spots of me with the furthermost SM3PXO (1485km). Still daylight here for another hour. Oh yes, it works!!

UPDATE 1856z: 15 stations in 7 countries have so far spotted my 10W FT8 on 160m this evening in the daylight. And the antenna is invisible to my XYL!

UPDATE 2005z: My first FT8 QSO on topband with GM8IEM (753km). Although I was in beacon mode and not answering calls earlier, I see I was called by several stations including one in Denmark. 21 stations have spotted me tonight Now QRT on 160m FT8.