Old magazines - NOT amateur radio

We have a collection of magazines going back to 1883 as the photo shows. 

Racehorses - NOT amateur radio

We live very close to Newmarket, which is the world home of horse racing. It is in Newmarket where we do most of our food shopping.  The town is 4 miles away.

In Newmarket the horse is king.  On almost every trip we have to stop for horses crossing the road. There are plenty of places where horses train as the photo shows. Newmarket is surrounded with gallops, which are huge grass fields mainly for horses.

In the town you often see two sorts of folks: rich owners and short jockeys!

Oscar 100 - very quiet?

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on the geosynchronous satellite, Oscar 100. This is a very unscientific look. My impression is activity is lower than it was. It's certainly not busy. The impression is people, especially in Europe, enjoy the challenge of getting a signal through it, then lose interest.

As I say, this is just my impression based on a quick look at the web SDR at Goonhilly. I may not be correct.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

What is it? - NOT amateur radio

This appeared on Facebook earlier. Can you spot it?

137kHz

At the old QTH I was active on 137kHz. The photo shows my 140uW ERP QRSS signal at 101km. With a "proper" antenna and decent powers, who knows what is possible? I have not (yet) been on 137kHz TX from this QTH.  

You may find this link of interest. Do not try the links on the side. This was my old site that has not been maintained for many years.  

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/136k

Sunspots - Monday September 7th 2020

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A= 4 and K=1.

Long hair - NOT amateur radio

Our 12 year old grandson insists on having long hair. We can't stand it, but are wasting our time if we protest! This is one battle not worth fighting. He is a teenager in a few months.

LiPo batteries and chargers?

It seems the radio control people make wide use of LiPo rechargeable batteries these days. My own experiences go back to 2008 with LiIon batteries and these were like little bombs if not carefully charged and maintained. 

It taught me a lesson: never leave a LiIon pack on charge unsupervised. Failures were rare (about 1 in 150000) but if not carefully looked after and charged they could burst into fire. I suspect many laptop manufacturers kept very quiet about failures fearing the costs and damage to reputation of recalls.

I know nothing much about LiPo batteries, but I hope technology has moved on and they are safer.

For rigs  like the FT817 and IC-705 I suspect they could make useful external battery packs capable of many hours of use. 

What I need are recommendations for LiPo battery packs and chargers, preferably from Amazon Prime rather than eBay. What would you recommend?

2m FT8 (10W and the big-wheel omni antenna)

At just before 1500z, I QSYed to 2m FT8. My TX is running about 10W. It is now 1518z. So far, 8 spots of me with the best being a spot by EI2FG (565km) in Eire (IO61). 

It seems that with FT8 and simple antennas great distances can always be achieved. Most sessions result in stations in 6-8 countries spotting me and these usually include N.Ireland, the Isle of Man and Germany. 2m FT8 rarely disappoints.

UPDATE 2037z: 22 spots of my 10W so far today. 

UPDATE 2140z:  QRT. 

All comments moderated - NOT amateur radio

As I have had a few dubious comments in recent weeks, I took the (reluctant) decision to moderate all comments.

Although I try to moderate these very quickly it may mean a delay between you posting and the comment appearing on the blog.

Most comments are fine, but a few may have contained malicious links. Please accept my apology for any delay.

Hair! - NOT amateur radio

A very long time ago (1967) I did have hair! This photo was on my University of Liverpool student's union card when I just started in 1967. 

I was a real "country bumpkin" in those days.

10m loop

This photo has been on before I think, but it is the only 10m antenna I currently have and it has worked well with 4W FT8 indoors for the last few months. I have been pleasantly surprised by just how well it has worked. 

VLF earth-mode

Some years ago G6ALB did some earth-mode tests with me. He was running 40W and was a very strong signal with me 3km away in the next village as the photo shows. He is the QRSS signal, not the wobbly line! This was at the old QTH. This was at 8.7kHz.

15m FT8 RX

Since about 0740z I have been on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the indoor loop.  Already a couple of European stations spotted.

UPDATE 1013z: 28 Europeans spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1455z: 43 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX so far.

Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey gardens are open with pre-booking and the dahlias are looking good. 

Home QTH

The photo shows an aerial shot of the home QTH . As you can see, the windmill is right next door! 

Sunspots - Sunday September 6th 2020

 Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2. 

Reach - NOT amateur radio

Reach is about 2 miles from Burwell, where I live. It is a sleepy village with a big green with an annual fair. Its only shop closed some years ago. The photo shows some of the lovely old cottages around the green.

International Space Station - cross band amateur repeater

 Southgate News has a piece on the recent commissioning of the crossband repeater on the ISS.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/september/iss-cross-band-repeater-activated.htm#.X1OT32jYq00

QRP convention online

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions the GQRP convention is online this weekend. GQRP members can access the talks for £4. Normally it is held in Telford. Maybe next year?

See http://www.gqrp.com/GQRP_Conference_Agenda.pdf

472kHz WSPR

We are now approaching the DX season on 472kHz. Last autumn, I used my homebrew transverter and was regularly spotted in Norway despite using 10mW ERP WSPR and my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The transverter puts out about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is quite inefficient. 

When I left the band earlier in the year, I think there was a break in the connection to the "antenna" which I need to mend.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472khz_tvtr

Antenna choices

As mentioned yesterday, I want to erect an external antenna for 10m, probably a dipole or inverted vee. It occurs to me that a nested pair of dipoles for 10m and 15m is still small and not much more difficult to erect. 10m is my favourite band, but 15m is often good when 10m is not. Having both bands available would give me choice. Neither would require an ATU.

Peregrine - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson loves animals. His best friend's dad is a vet. The photo shows our grandson recently with a peregrine. These falcons are one of the fastest birds in the world: they swoop down on their prey at great speeds.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

At  0830z, 15m FT8 RX was turned on. Apart from a few unstable carriers (local SMPUs?) nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 0930z:  17 spots on RX so far today, all European.

UPDATE 1432z:  53 stations spotted here so far on 15m FT8. All are in Europe with best DX spotted SV1QN (2410km) in Greece.

UPDATE 1803z:  Currently 95 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted here is J68HZ (6860km) in St Lucia.

UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT. 105 stations spotted in last 12 hours on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop. Best DX spot was PU2OOC (9598km) in Brazil.

Is PW in trouble?

I am wondering if the UK magazine Practical Wireless is in trouble? Personally I hope not. It has been in existence for a very long time, but I have heard horror stories about major retailers being unable to get copies this month.

If you regularly get copies via a newsagent have you experienced any problems recently? I get copies by post and, so far, I have not had issues.

Sunspots - Saturday September 5th 2020

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=2.

Yaesu competition for the ICOM IC-705?

Apparently Yaesu has discontinued a couple of their popular transceivers. According to Steve, G1KQH, he thinks Yaesu is about to launch competition to the IC-705, but at lower prices. 

In recent years, I have thought of Yaesu as being followers rather than leaders. In my own experience, it would not have surprised me if Yaesu threw in the towel and left the amateur radio market based on their terrible marketing performance. They totally missed the boat with the FT818, which was pathetic. 

For over 40 years I have been a great Yaesu supporter and have owned many Yaesu transceivers. They have all been good, reliable radios, so I hope Steve is correct. 

20m FT8 RX

A few moments ago (it is now 1718z) I QSYed to 20m FT8 RX.  Already 22 spots on RX in 3 continents.

UPDATE 2150z:  511 stations in 5 continents spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX on the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. QRT. 

15m and 17m FT8

For a change, I am trying FT8 with 2.5W and the other small loop on 15m and 17m.  The other loop is far less efficient than the loop used on 10m. Several European stations have spotted me on 15m. 

Currently I am RX only on 17m FT8. 53 stations in 4 continents already spotted on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1650z: Currently 75 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX. I may QSY to 20m RX soon.

10m antenna

As many know, I want to erect a new external antenna for 10m soon. Ideally my Homebase-10 antenna would be a good choice, but my skills are not so good these days, so I probably need to rule this out. A vertical might be a good choice although a vertical could be more noisy. In the end it will probably be a dipole or inverted vee. I probably still need help erecting it.

By next year, 10m should be much better.

Dipoles for 10m are quite small. Inverted vees take up even less space.

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

UK pound creeping up? - NOT amateur radio

Although it is hard to be sure, the UK pound has appreciated against the euro, US dollar, and yen in recent weeks. Gains are modest, but they are gains. Time will tell if these are maintained. 

From a very low base, it seems oil prices are rising too.

Reach walk - NOT amateur radio

Since our lockdown in April, we have tried to do walks as often as possible. 

Luckily spring was mainly dry and sunny so we were able to get out often. We have done some lovely local walks, many times on local paths we did not know. It has been great watching the seasons change. Overall, we have had a good lockdown.

There is now an autumn feel in the air and it seems far cooler. This is the blackberry season so we collected some on our walk earlier around Reach along with some apples. It is definitely autumn now. Even though the weather will get cooler and wetter, we hope to continue the walks.

 

6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 omni)

Since about 1025z today, I have been on 6m FT8. So far, no reports on RX, but I have been spotted by 4 G stations.

UPDATE 1430z:  29 spots of me so far today. Some Es in evidence yet again. Although Es is less common than a few months ago, it is still there. On RX just 4 Gs spotted so far.

Elecraft September newsletter

 Elecraft has published its September 2020 newsletter. See the Elecraft website for details. 

Grass cutting - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we got one of our grandsons to cut our front lawn as the photo shows. For a first attempt he did quite well.

Sunspots - Friday September 4th 2020

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Rally changes

This is the latest information I have on rallies. As mentioned before, my apologies if this is hard to read on some screens, but this is how I receive it.

Sunday 6 SEPTEMBER : CANCELLED

ANDOVER RADIO CLUB AUTUMN BOOT SALE. Wildhern.


Sunday 6 SEPTEMBER : ONLINE ONLY

TELFORD HAMFEST & G-QRP CONVENTION 

Harper Adams University, near Telford, TF10 8NB Due to uncertainty about large gatherings being allowed, and in recognition that many radio amateurs may not want to attend physical meetings for some time, the G-QRP Club took the unwelcome decision to cancel their Conventions for 2020. However, following a very successful survey of members, a meeting of the Standing Committee this week confirmed that the G-QRP Convention fisor 2020 will definitely take place as a virtual event over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September. There will be a series of webinars and possibly a virtual Buildathon. A small working group are now developing the detail and a number of key speakers have already volunteered. Full details will be shared as soon as they are known. More information and e-mail details may be found on the Telford HamFest website www.telfordhamfest.org.uk or by contacting Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255 416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716.


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

Another great IC-705 video

This was a live stream yesterday. It is long video but one of the best I have seen.

 

6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 vertical omni)

For the last few minutes, I have been on 6m FT8. Already spotted by 6 stations including OY1OF (1163km). Just G3RIK (224km) spotted on RX so far.

UPDATE 1952z: 48 stations have spotted my 10W 6m FT8 today. Plenty of Es on 6m today.  See photo to see stations that have spotted me. QRT soon.  37 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2050z:  QRT.

A year ago - NOT amateur radio

A year ago things were quite different. There was no Covid-19 around and our local museum next door had a vintage car weekend.