Very old Fredbox photo

This photo of me having a chat on my 2m Fredbox must be over 45 years old!

It was taken at our Cambridge flat we moved from in 1975!

The Fredbox is a 10mW AM transceiver that I designed and built for 2m. As most QSOs were with Cambridge local Fred G8BWI, it had to be called the Fredbox! At the time I had hair!!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/fredbox for far more infomation, photos, schematic and a video.

10m FT8

At about 0830z I turned on my 10m FT8 gear.

Almost immediately I was spotted by 2 locals when on TX and spotted 1 G and 1 Estonian station on RX, the latter by Es.

As usual, I am running 2.5W to my indoor loop antenna.

Yesterday, it was again spotting South Americans on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1037z: Now 4 spots of me on TX including 2 from Southern Europe, but plenty of Es on RX.

UPDATE 1310z: So far, 322 European stations spotted and 21 stations have spotted my 2.5W. A couple of QSOs too. Doesn't look like I am missing too much!

Stations spotting me today

UPDATE 1350z: Now 345 stations spotted today on RX and 25 stations have, so far, spotted my 10m FT8 2.5W TX today.

UPDATE 2011z: Amazing day! 58 spots of my 2.5W to the indoor loop and 629 RX spots including 5 South Americans. That loop really works!! Quite a few QSOs too.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 29th

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Flat 50 ohm coax?

An old friend has just bought some coax off Amazon so he can feed his aircraft band RX feed though his window without drilling holes. It is very short with just the bit through the window frame being flat. Both inside and out you feed it with "proper" coax and connectors.

Now, I have never seen these for 50 ohm coax and not sure these exist. I expect there is a very limited market, but I guess they could be very useful for some people.

Rain - NOT amateur radio

In the summer of 2018 a lot of our front lawn died. To prevent this I have watered the grass for an hour for the last couple of evenings. Of course, what happens next? You guessed! For the first time in a month it rains! I might have known.

Neighbour's garden - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the flowers in a neighbouring garden.

Easing lockdowns - NOT amateur radio

In many countries, citizens have had various extents of lockdowns with severe restrictions on business activity and people being asked to "social distance".  In some cultures where there is a lot of hugging and kissing, this is especially hard.

Whilst keeping social distancing measures in place, some countries are trying to relax lockdown measures. This is very very hard.

Naturally, people want things to return to normal, but at the same time governments are worried about things getting out of control again and Covid-19 really taking hold and spreading widely again. Governments are also worried about the economic harm.

Things are really hard and we are all feeling our way trying to steer a course which is best for all. I do not have the answers.

Antennas

Homebase-10 10m antenna

As I speak it is raining here for the first time in about a month!

What was going to say was as the better weather is now with us (at least in the UK) thoughts may turn to antennas, especially outside antennas.

You may like to look at the antenna page on my main website. Dig deeper and there are lots of ideas.

The Homebase-10 antenna for 10m is simple to make and, with the Es season just starting, now is a good time to make and erect one.

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

That view - NOT amateur radio

As a young child, growing up by the sea in Salcombe, Devon, I had no idea how lucky I was.

From my classroom, I could see the sea reflecting the sun on the ceiling, although it took me years to realise what this was!  Out of the window we could see the estuary and the boats and a view up South Pool Creek (see photo).

We just took it all for granted. As young children we just assumed everybody has something similar. To us, it was the normal.

I remember just before leaving the junior school walking all over town doing some sort of project. Imagine this today! Firstly the school would have to do a risk assessment, then get the parents written permission.  It just would not happen!

Early start on 10m FT8

As I was up early, the 10m FT8 gear has already been turned on at about 0715z. This is far earlier than normal. So far, just G4KPX (13km) spotting my 2.5W to the tiny loop in the shack. Unsurprisingly, no RX spots yet.

UPDATE 0742z:  Now M1BXF (13km) also spotting me. No Es seen yet!

UPDATE 0958z:   Now 4 Spanish , 1 UK and 1 Danish station spotted this morning on 10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop antenna. No more spots of me.

UPDATE 1200z:  Much more extensive Es. I have now been spotted by 10 stations with most being in southern Europe.  On 10m FT8 RX, 23 stations in 5 countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1335z: Now 24 stations spotted with 11 stations spotting my 2.5W to the indoor loop. The map shows where I have been on spotted so far today on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1808z: 3 South Americans spotted so far today. This could be pure F2 or Es plus F2.

UPDATE 2119z :  QRT.