Sausage pasta - NOT amateur radio

This is a quick and easy (and low cost) meal we sometimes have. 

Sausages browned first then cut up, added with pasta, mushrooms, cheese, sweetcorn and a few herbs, all in Creme Fraiche. 

Ready in about 10 minutes. Served with a few peas.

DeepSeek AI - NOT amateur radio

There is a new AI program from China that is "upsetting the apple cart".  It is called DeepSeek and is supposed to be better than ChatGPT. When I went to try it yesterday, it was unavailable due to a malicious attack.

There is little doubt that AI will get even better over time and will have a great impact on our lives. In many ways it will be a force for good, but it will cost us jobs and could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

See https://chat.deepseek.com/ .

Remote control of an ICOM rig

It would be good to operate my IC-705 over wi-fi from my iPhone. This would mean I could control the radio whilst in the lounge or even in bed! 

I am sure there are several programs, but I saw this one yesterday. It is not cheap at $36.99. There are versions for the Mac and iPad. 

One could even control the radio over the internet.

See https://ham-radio-apps.com/sdr-control-for-icom/ .

Sunspots - Tuesday January 28th

 Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 146.  A=8 and K=1.

630m WSPR receive (Monday)

As my earth-electrode "antenna" is not connected and  my Tigertronics SignaLink USB interface is faulty, I am RX only using the IC-705 and the coax up to my 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod ATU. 

So far this evening, 2 stations spotted on WSPR with the furthermost DC0DX (467km).

UPDATE 2230z:  Just 2 stations spotted this evening. I shall leave the RX on overnight.

Receiving commercial services in the UK

In the UK we have some unusual rules. I think you may legally listen to commercial broadcasts (like aircraft bands) but it is illegal to make use of the information received. This was probably done with the best of intention. I guess this was to prevent industrial espionage or terrorism, but it leaves a "black hole" when you just listen or report for fun.

I wonder if anyone has actually been prosecuted here in the UK for infringing this law?

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 At about 1340z, I decided to go on 6m FT8 with the IC-705.

UPDATE 1537z:  Spotted just by 6 English stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My QMX+ has been on 8m FT8 TX (about 2W to the low dipole) since about 0920z. No spots at 1222z.

I think I'll QSY to 10m FT8 with the IC-705.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 - NOT amateur radio

This was organised by the RSPB over this weekend. Lots of UK individuals and schools took part. The idea is to record the maximum number of each species in an hour. Over the years some patterns emerge.

It was quite noticeable how bigger birds now dominate. In my hour I saw not one small bird!! The smallest was a blackbird.

See Big Garden Birdwatch. 

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on at 0924z.

UPDATE 1710z:  15 stations have spotted me.