Chromebook buglet? - NOT amateur radio

Having owned my little Chromebook for about 5 months now, I am so pleased with it. It boots up almost instantly, the battery lasts at least all day, and does everything I want. It beats Windows hands down.

I am aware of just one buglet. When I get a Facebook message I can see the Chrome page headings, but the page remains blank until I reboot the PC. Luckily this is very very quick. I have no idea why this happens.

Trump - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, President Trump has shared his great wisdom. Aren't we lucky to have such a wise and intelligent man at the head of the free world?

Maybe he is better at golf? Maybe not.

You, the good people of the USA elected him!

I still find it puzzling that it seems you have to be an old (preferably very old) millionare to stand a chance of being elected as USA president. Surely you can find someone younger who truly represents the USA on the world stage? Everyone from the USA I have ever met has been kind and generous.

UPDATE 1757z: I have just seen his recent press conference.  Enough said.

10m FT8

As 10m Es was pretty good yesterday, I have decided to try 10m FT8 again today with my 2.5W and uessthe tiny indoor loop antenna. The rig was turned on at about 0834z.

UPDATE 1417z : 2 spots of my 2.5W so far with the more interesting being by MW0ZZK (334km) in NW Wales. Not sure what propagation this was - too near for Es and a long way for tropo. Aircraft? 2 Gs spotted so far on RX plus 1 in Poland.

UPDATE 1435z:  Now CT2EHX (1815km) spotted.

UPDATE 1535z: Now 7 stations spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX. It almost feels like someone has turned on the Es switch. I guess more people are now monitoring.

Stations copied here
today on 10m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1743z: 4 stations have spotted my 2.5W today although IQ3NX (1129km) is reporting the wrong band!! On 10m FT8 RX, 16 stations spotted so far today.

Climbing pound? - NOT amateur radio

Since the coronavirus hit the world, everything feels different.

It almost feels surreal and that somehow life will never, ever, be quite the same again. Right now things seem dreadful. In time, things will get better, but it will take time and hard work.

Since the crisis started the UK Pound fell heavily against the Euro. In recent weeks it has regained much of those losses. Maybe the world sees the Euro under threat as the coronavirus debt has to be paid, probably by the richer north.   With the UK out of the EU, perhaps the UK will be master of its own destiny? At the moment it is still climbing.

The world has never been in this situation before and we are all searching for a way. The hope is in a vaccine (some way off) or drug treatments (possibly sooner).

UPDATE 0840z: Still climbing.

Gecophone 1920s crystal set

When I retired in 2008, I was given a 1920s crystal set as a leaving present.

It was in good condition and was a total surprise.

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

DST100 receiver

Way back in the early 1960s, my very first communications receiver was a war surplus DST100 bought for £7 from a local garage. It was huge and very heavy! It was also very deaf, but Roger Thorn G3CHN managed to breath new life in it and it lasted me for many years.  He probably put in new valves.

It needed 2 people to lift it and was a tank radio made by Murphy. It was certainly built like a tank and could probably have survived a direct hit!

To think now we can get an SDR in a USB stick with better performance and a much wider frequency range.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/dst100

Early voice recordings - NOT amateur radio

It is often thought that the earliest voice recording was by Thomas Edison, but there is evidence that the earliest recording was in fact made in France in 1860. You can hear this at http://graphics8.nytimes.com/audiosrc/arts/1860v2.mp3

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/voice

Sunspots - Tuesday April 14th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=3.

Oil producers agree 10% cut in output? - NOT amateur radio

Although I have yet to see this confirmed, it looks like the biggest oil exporters including Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed a 10% cut in oil output in the light of a heavy fall in demand.

I think this should help to stem the heavy falls in recent weeks. Whether or not oil prices recover remains to be seen.

See https://www.ft.com/content/5ad12d12-d662-4e5b-88c8-6836dd1fb29a

Codar AT5 transmitter

Way back in the late 1960s, I had a G8 call and used to operate the station of the late G4PJ under supervision. 

Bill had a Codar AT5 160/80m AM/CW 12W TX which put out a good signal. I recall very well working a station about 70 miles away on 80m AM one afternoon.

Although I owned the companion RX (the T28) , I never owned an AT5. I wanted one! The photo shows the AT5 transmitter. We have come a long way since those days.

Still no swallows here - NOT amateur radio

Although there may be the odd swallow (summer migrant bird) here, I certainly have not seen any yet. The very earliest I have seen them up here in East Anglia is April 7th, but the more usual date is mid-April.

They have been seen in Devon now for several weeks. Once they arrive, I usually see several in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I shall keep looking.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/

10m FT8

Yesterday was, I think, the first Es opening I had experienced on 10m this year.  Es can occur at any time of the year, but it is much more common in spring and early summer.

Since about 1040z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Almost immediately I was spotted by G4ERO (13km) shortly followed by G4KPX (14km). At least I am getting out! There are obviously people looking.

UPDATE 1230z: A couple of central Europeans have been spotted, but nothing yet beyond locals spotting me.

UPDATE 1320z: SP2WKB (1178km) has spotted my QRP 10m FT8. I get the feeling Es is really starting. Plenty of southern Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1435z: Definitely Es! So far today, 12 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP to the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1838z: 16 stations have spotted me today so far. The map shows the stations spotting me today. As I have to go QRT soon, I doubt I shall get many more 10m FT8 TX spots.  This is the best day yet this year on 10m especially considering the tiny indoor loop and 2.5W.

Amazing transatlantic DX on 432MHz

Southgate News relays news of some amazing DX on 70cm across the Atlantic by terrestrial means. I think this was first reported on EI7GL's blog.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/april/432-mhz-trans-atlantic-record-extended-to-almost-4370-kms.htm#.XpQ6zxnYq00

ICOM IC-705 transceiver

Many were hoping this would be on sale in the USA at the Dayton Hamvention. Most of us have been thinking about other things and Dayton may very well be cancelled this year like many amateur events. It is meant to happen not too many weeks away.

Personally, I think the IC-705 will be released in the USA and Europe much later, possibly Christmas 2020 or even in 2021. It would not surprise me to see prices rise too.

Fitzball - NOT amateur radio

Our village has been the home of a few famous people over the years. At one time the UK Foreign Secretary (Francis Pym) lived in the village.

The photo shows where one Victorian dramatist lived early in the 1800s.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Fitzball

Zoom - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago I had not even heard of Zoom. Now, I have been to 2 online meetings of the Cambridge club (CDARC) and Zoom video has allowed our family to get together virtually at Easter. Certainly many of us have enjoyed the benefits of video conferencing.  Like never before, online video is important.

Where did I go wrong?

One of my Facebook memories from many years ago was this photo of my grandson taken 7 years ago. It shows him making his first circuit. He is now 12 years old and has no interest in the hobby.

Sunspots - Monday April 13th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Network radios

About 2 years ago I bought a network radio. We were entering a time with low solar activity and this, at the time, seemed a good idea.

The handheld has hardly been used. I prefer "real radio". Echolink contacts are strangely unsatisfying to me.

In these odd days other people may think differently.

Basically these are Android phones with an antenna and PTT. They use the internet but feel just like a VHF handheld. In many ways you would think they would be more popular.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/network

Lode walk - NOT amateur radio

As it was cooler this morning we did an early walk along Burwell Lode, an ancient waterway made by the Romans. We saw plenty of geese and swans as well as konik ponies , but no swallows.

10m FT8

Since returning from our walk I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna.

UPDATE 1330z: 6 Southern Europeans spotted but just local G4KPX (14km) spotting me so far today. Thanks Richard.

UPDATE 1340z:  Now 10 stations spotted and my 2.5W has been spotted by 3 stations including a couple in Southern Europe, suggesting Es.

UPDATE 1715z:  96 stations spotted on RX and 11 stations spotted my 2.5W, mostly in southern Europe. Then I had to unplug everything because of thunder and lightning. The BBC weather forecast made  (as usual), no mention of this.

UPDATE 1802z: The storms have passed, so I have reconnected things. At the moment the storms are near Norwich. Now 97 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2138z: Now QRT.  101 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

Easter video - NOT amateur radio

This will be a strange Easter with many families trying to hook up by video rather than face to face. We hope to chat later.

Ornamental cherry - NOT amateur radio

The blossom on our cherry tree is not around for long, but lovely for a few days. I see other trees now with green shoots.

Sunspots - Sunday April 12th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

More from yesterday's walk - NOT amateur radio

This was the view at the start of the walk yesterday along part of the Devil's Dyke in Cambridgeshire

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

As it was cooler this morning we have just got back from a walk around the village. The photo shows a thached cottage on the way. We walked about 2.7 miles.

10m FT8

When we get back from our walk, I may try 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Again I shall be using the FT817ND with 2.5W. If I get spotted at all, I shall be pleased.

UPDATE 0950z:  Now on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W.

UPDATE 1307z: No spots so far today.

UPDATE 1640z: 2 local spots so far today with no DX.

UPDATE 1837z: A QSO with M0BXF (local) was the first 10m QSO this year. Some Spanish stations spotted on RX, probably Es.

Sunspots - : Saturday April 11th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

Devil's Dyke - NOT amateur radio

Before lunch we did a nice walk along part of the Devil's Dyke in Cambridgeshire. I think there is another one near the South Coast. The one we walked on is about 7 miles long and was built as a defensive barrier not long after the Romans left, so it is probably well over 1400 years old. It is a chalk path with a deep ditch. We saw few people.

CDARC net tonight on GB3PI at 8pm

With kind permission of the repeater group the local Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) is holding a second club meeting virtually. The topic is the HB9CV antenna. It starts at 8pm.

UPDATE 2119z: A very successful net.

20m FT8

With the FT991A I get sometimes get feedback into the rig when using the tiny indoor loop antenna. This occurs at 10W. So I am using the FT817ND instead as this seems totally immune. Ferrite beads on the leads make no difference. On TX just one spot so far. On RX, 126 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1242z:  4 spots of my 2.5W so far today.  On 20m FT8 RX 204 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1800z: 8 spots today of my 2.5W 20m FT8 to the tiny indoor loop antenna.

UPDATE 2116z:  In the end, 11 stations spotted my 20m 2.5W FT8.

Sunspots - Friday April 10th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=5 and K=0.

Stay at home this Easter - NOT amateur radio

This Easter will be very different for many. Often it is a time for families to get together. This year, in many countries, we have been urged not to travel far and keep social distancing. I suspect there will be plenty of families having video chats instead!

More rallies cancelled or postponed

At the moment it is best to assume all rallies are cancelled or postponed.  I have been notified of this one. Again, the white background (as I received it) may make it hard to read on some screens. Basically it says the Ripon rally has been postponed.

Sunday 12 APRIL : POSTPONED

RIPON RADIO RALLY. Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, HG4 2PT Doors open 10am. Refreshments will be available on site. Information and table booking form on the website www.g4sjm.co.uk Contact d.cutter@ntlworld.com for further information.

Virtual dinner and drink - NOT amateur radio

Most months, a group of old work colleagues meet up locally for a drink and meal. We go to different places each month. Clearly this is not possible at the moment, so we all hope to share a drink at just after 8pm tonight thanks to Zoom, from the comforts of our own homes. I hope it works.

UPDATE 2045z: It worked well (see photo) and was a good way to keep in touch. We hope to do the same next month.

2m FT8 - too easy?

Much of the morning I've been on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni. With 22 spots so far I am wondering if this is just too easy.

UPDATE 1240z: After a recent QSO, I am on 2m FT8 TX again being spotted in GI. It seems that every time I transmit someone a long way away spots me. I am convinced this must be some sort of scatter. So far today 29 stations in 5 countries have spotted my 10W FT8 with the best DX being a spot by EI3ID (583km) in the Cork area. The map shows the stations spotting me today on 2m FT8 to 1230z.

UPDATE 1800z: 39 stations have spotted me today to 1800z (see photo).

UPDATE 2102z: In the end 50 stations spotted my 10W today. 2m dead?

2m activity contest last Tuesday

Every month, the RSGB runs a series of activity contests on various VHF and UHF bands. Last Tuesday evening, it was the April 2m activity contest (UKAC).

I was only on for an hour (poor voice!) with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 9 stations were worked on SSB (see photo). I have just submitted my results. Although I will never win or even come close (!) I  submit a log most months.

2m FT8

Last night I was on 2m FT8 using 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. In a few hours I was spotted by 31 stations in 5 countries.

Best DX was again GI and GD. These were spots of my 10W, not two-way QSOs. It proves that my signal seems to always get this far. 2 QSOs had, 1 station called me (although we did not complete a QSO) and 1 PA0 spotted me. The map shows where I was spotted to 2030z.

These sort of spots are possible every evening on 2m FT8 from here with just 10W to the omni antenna, whatever conditions are like.  As I have mentioned before, I think aircraft reflection is unlikely, but that some sort of scatter is involved. Polarisation seems to make little difference. When I use the V2000 vertical I get similar results to the big-wheel.

Certainly, FT8 shows that 2m is far from dead!

Should we have left the EU? - NOT amateur radio

There is debate about our sense in leaving the EU when we are all suffering with the Coronavirus.

It is hard to know, but there are fears that northern countries like the Netherlands and Germany might end up bailing out countries like Italy and Spain.

In some ways we may be better making our own decisions. The truth is, it may take years before we know. Certainly Coronavirus is putting a great strain on all countries.

A year ago no-one would have imagined this.

2m Fredbox QSO

Several years ago I rebuilt my 10mW 2m AM Fredbox transceiver.

For this QSO over 16km I used a halfwave whip antenna. This contact was many years ago. The best contact was 160km handheld to France.

There is a video on my YouTube channel G3XBM of the Fredbox. The Fredbox is described on my website.

The original rig dates from the 1970s. At the time, it was very tiny for a 2m transceiver.