Rallies

15 APRIL 2018 : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)

Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. There will be a talk in station and on site car parking is free. Doors open at 10am with disable d visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stations, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Other attractions are lectures, a raffle and catering on site. Details from Paul, M0CJX on 0845 165 0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.


15 APRIL 2018 : YEOVIL ARC QRP CONVENTION

Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open 9.30am to 3pm. Admission £3, regrettably only guide dogs can be admitted. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy as well as club stands. A programme of talks will take place, details on the website. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & BYLARA [http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention.php].


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

2m FT8 RX

So far this morning on 2m FT8 RX 18 unique stations in 6 countries in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 1422z: Now 26 unique stations in 7 countries today.

UPDATE 2144z: Now 63 unique stations in 7 countries today.

OFCOM auction results published

Now, don't get too excited as it is not good for your heart! I know how much you enjoy news about OFCOM, just like me!

OFCOM has now published the results of its auction of microwave spectrum. Yes, I know you have been anxiously awaiting this with bated breath, but now the wait is over! You can breath again.  😎

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/264F38AB38B02CEC2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Heathkit HW8 QRP Transceiver

Some years ago, I owned one of these rigs and worked some impressive DX with it. It was a joy to use. I think it was sold when I bought a Yaesu transceiver many years ago. It went back to its original owner.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8

Sunspots (yes real sunspots!) - Friday April 13th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number is 13 i.e. not zero for a change! A=9 and K=2.

Mildenhall museum again - NOT amateur radio

Another view of our visit to Mildenhall Museum a few days ago with our grandchildren.

FETer very simple transceiver

It seems unbelievable that this ultra-simple design (14 parts) is 10 years old. It was a simpler version of a W2AW design for 40m. I put mine on 80m CW. It certainly works!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

2m FT8

After a brief TX period (spotted locally) I am again on 2m FT8 RX. So far, 10 uniques spotted in 4 countries.

Best DX so far today on 2m FT8 RX is DK2DTF (644km).


UPDATE 1310z: The photo shows the stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX so far today.

Sunspots - Thursday April 12th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today yet the sunspot number is stubbornly zero again. A=14 and K=2.

Crystals sets

A great deal of fun can be had with the simplest of receivers. I had some great fun DXing with a shortwave crystal set. These days, there are fewer SW broadcasters sending in English, so IDing is harder, but not impossible.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/crystalset