Thursday walk - NOT amateur radio

In the warm April sunshine we did a nice walk as shown in the photo.

Sunspots - Friday April 19th 2020

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

Another rally postponed

I have been informed of another rally that has been postponed.

Again, if the background is white and the text hard to see on some screens, I apologise, but this is how I received this. Basically the Kempton rally has been postponed until  November.

Sunday 19 APRIL : POSTPONED until 15 NOVEMBER

WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally) Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. A talk-in station will be on air. Car parking is free and doors open at 10am with disabled visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy as well as special interest groups and lectures. Catering is available on site. More details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351, info@radiofairs.co.uk www.radiofairs.co.uk.

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

GB3PX 6m repeater

I am not a great repeater user.

Last night, on the CDARC net, someone mentioned the 6m FM repeater GB3PX at Barkway, near Cambridge.

Today, I gave it a try. It is on 50.780MHz with a 500kHz shift and 77Hz tone access.  After a few false starts when I found out how to select the right repeater shift, I managed to access it. It was very quiet. I called several times but no-one was on.

Later, I may see which other 6m repeaters I can access. Somewhere I shall have to find a list with tone access frequencies.

UPDATE 1925z: Although I can access GB3PX very well, every time I called no-one responded. I can just (sometimes) access the Bury-St-Edmunds 6m repeater as well, but no others. A useful resource for a list of 6m repeaters in the UK is https://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist1.htm?filter1=6M

10m FT8 hoping for better luck!

A few moments ago I turned on the 2.5W 10m FT8 to the tiny indoor loop. So far just spot by local G4KPX (14km), although I am hoping for better results than yesterday when I only got spots from 3 locals on 10m FT8 and no QSOs.  There was one Spanish station yesterday that did not appear on PSKreporter for some reason.

UPDATE 1928z: Now QRT. Only spots from locals here and no Es noticed here. If anything, today was worse than yesterday!

Walk - NOT amateur radio

We have just got back from our walk. The photo shows the beauty in ordinary things when we look.

Sunspots - Thursday April 17th 2020

Solar flux is just 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

I thought this was on hours ago!

G4ILO blog

Although Julian has been a SK for many years, his blog is still in place.  Even now, all these years later, I still get visitors via his site. His death saddened many of us and his blog is a fine reminder of a fine person, greatly missed.

2m nets

In these difficult times there seems to be a bit of an upsurge in nets as people find new ways of keeping in touch.

Last Friday, our local Cambridge club (CDARC) had a very successful club meeting "virtually" via the GB3PI repeater with the agreement of the local repeater group.  Tonight it has a net at 1900z (8pm UK) on 145.55MHz FM vertical open to all.

Even though we cannot meet in person, we find ways.

Trump and the W.H.O. - NOT amateur radio

So Trump wants to stop funding the WHO. Such wisdom. It must be so great to have such insights in these strange days. You can see why so many voted him in to office. It must be so great to have such a wise man at the top.😉

2m beacon using the Pluto SDR

Southgate News has a piece on using the ADALM-Pluto SDR as a beacon on 2m. This links to a Hackaday article. As it stands, it is very low power and would need a PA adding.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/april/hackaday-144-mhz-beacon-using-the-adalm-pluto-sdr.htm#.XpbMWxnYq00

10m FT8 again

Hoping for some Es, I have again gone on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. Things were turned on at about 0845z. Already, 2 locals have spotted me (G4KPX and M1BXF). No Es yet, but it is early in the day and season.

UPDATE 1810z: No Es seen here today so far. 3 locals have spotted me.

UPDATE 1832z: This early in the Es season, I guess we will see good days and bad days. At the moment it looks like the latter! Maybe I shall have better luck tomorrow.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 15th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=3.

70cm activity contest 1900z (8pm UK) tonight

As this is the second Tuesday in the month, the RSGB organised 70cm activity contest (UKAC) should be tonight starting at 1900z (8pm UK time) for 2.5 hours.

I usually try for under an hour with 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni that seems to match OK on 70cm.  My voice usually objects after about 40 minutes!

Usually I work a few stations. If I am lucky these include G4CLA (105km).  Unlike many contests, this one is fun and there is a good spirit. With the current restrictions I doubt there will be any /P stations, but that leaves plenty of "at home" stations to try for.

Village Cottage - NOT amateur radio

Not sure how old this cottage is. We passed it on our walk earlier.

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