Old logbooks

When I was working, I managed to scan some of my early logbooks. These are available as files on my main website.

One of my winter projects is to join Logbook of the World (LOTW). Another is to update my eQSL entries.

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

10m FT8 QRP

Since 0922z I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the poorer indoor loop.  I must mend the better loop!  No spots yet.

UPDATE 1023z:  Just a single spot on RX of G0PQO (50km).

UPDATE 1508z:  Several stations in southern Spain spotted. Nobody has yet spotted me today.

Getting ready for winter? - NOT amateur radio

We saw this boat on our walk yesterday. Looks like they are getting ready for winter. 

Most blackberries have gone or have shrivelled up. I ate one last one.

Me as a child - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday my wife found this photo of me as a child.  I am holding my pet hen. I am about 8 or 9. This hen ate off the the same plate as our Cairn terrier.

As a very young child we kept hens for eggs.

Sunspots - Sunday November 8th 2020

Solar flux is 90 and the SSN 37. A=5 and K=1 We are definitely climbing out of the solar minimum.

Earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

At VLF, LF and MF I have used this at 2 QTHs with great success. My own theory is this acts as a loop in the ground which gets bigger with rising skin depth i.e. as frequency is reduced. I am sure a full sized antenna would be better, but this works way beyond expectations.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/earth-electrode-antennas

Thank you! - NOT amateur radio

One blog reader very kindly sent me a great gift in the post. This was a total surprise and very much appreciated. To avoid embarrassing him, I won't name him, but the parcel arrived safely - thank you so much. 

There are some very kind people in this world, certainly far more good people than bad.

US president - NOT amateur radio

It is now 1525z on Saturday days after the US election and still they have not finished counting!! You would think one of the biggest economies in the world could organise this better. Perhaps this goes with the territory and the country that can only find old men to govern them can only find a pathetic system to count votes.

2m FT8 QRP

Most of the day I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Although I have been on TX, I am mostly on RX. So far today I have been spotted by 26 stations in 3 countries and I have spotted 60 stations in 8 countries.

UPDATE 2246z:  QRT. 

Another Tenner transceiver photo

Some years ago I designed and made the Tenner transceiver for 10m CW. It produced about 500mW but gave me loads of contacts with just a low wire dipole. As 10m starts to get better as we climb cycle 25, this could be increasingly useful.  

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_tenner .