Sunspots - Monday December 14th 2020

 Solar flux is 81 and the SSN 14.  A=4 and K=0.

80m FT8 RX

For a total change, I am on 80m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far this evening, 71 stations across Europe have been spotted.

UPDATE 2038z: 231 stations spotted. Apart from 2 in North Africa, all are in Europe, I think.  I shall leave the RX on overnight to see what is spotted.

SPAM - NOT amateur radio

Every day, I get loads of emails trapped by Gmail in my SPAM folder. Most days I get emails that tell me how much my account has been credited, that I should buy some bitcoins, that my anti-virus is about to run out (even though I don't use the one stated), and a girl in the Ukraine wants to bed me (clearly she hasn't seen my photo!).

As mentioned before Gmail generally does a good filtering job and I change passwords frequently.

That post-BREXIT trade deal - NOT amateur radio

According to the press, the EU and UK are still talking. 

I am sure there is brinkmanship on both sides going on, and in the end they want the outcome to look like a victory, hard one, on both sides. Although I am not a betting man I give the odds 60:40 on forging a deal. A no deal would do neither side any good. It would not surprise me if this is after Christmas.

Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister is no saint. The EU has been portrayed as protectionist. There is little doubt the EU has done some good for the UK.  On the other hand (e.g. Covid vaccines) they seem very slow.

What the UK wants is free trade and less bureaucracy.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-55288568

RSGB contest rule change - Dec 5th 2020

It is almost impossible to keep up with rule changes due to Covid-19 in different parts of the UK. The RSGB is taking a pragmatic approach. Basically, follow local rules for Covid.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/cv19.shtml

ARRL 10m contest

A friend has reminded me that this contest is this weekend. Entries are for CW and phone contacts. I don't think there is a digital section.

These are the rules https://contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/10M-Rules.pdf

Plenty of 2m FT8 activity

Looking on the 2m grabber at G0LRD (26km) there is plenty of activity on 2m FT8. It was the 2nd MGM contest. 

After 1400z, things were a lot quieter.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2020&contest=2ndmgmcontest

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ for G0LRD's 2m FT8 grabber.

20m FT8 RX

This morning, I am on 20m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the shack windowsill. It is now 0952z and so far 29 stations have been spotted. At 0947z, I had been active for about 15 minutes. The furthermost spotted is RX3LK (4017km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 1822z:  381 stations spotted with the furthermost being W4UKC (6679km). 

UPDATE 1855z:  QRT.   

Bethlehemian Rhapsody - NOT amateur radio

We got sent this by messenger. It is seasonal and you may enjoy it.

 

136kHz experiments

It is many years ago since I last transmitted on 136kHz. A record of my experiments is on my old website. The links are unreliable as this is my old website.

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

2007 Photo

Yesterday I was sent this photo of me. It was taken in 2007 on a 2m contest with the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC). I remember going along, but don't recall the photo.

Reliable Covid-19 data - NOT amateur radio

Finding reliable data on the Covid pandemic is hard with lots of very dubious sites carrying very dubious data. One site I have found consistently reliable is the YouTube channel of Dr John Campbell, that I have mentioned here before. What I like is he deals in facts only and gives the original source of the data.  This is his latest video.

Oscar 100 (geosynchronous) activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity on the narrowband transponder of this satellite by looking at the web SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall, UK.  It also has an ATV transponder, although I am unaware of a similar web SDR for TV. If there is one, please tell me.

The level of activity last evening was lower than the last time I looked. This is a far from scientific look. I just stay a few minutes and get an impression. Really I should look over an extended period.

Sunspots - Sunday December 13th 2020

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 24. A=4 and K=1.

Geminids MS

The Geminids meteor shower peaks on December 14th.  Usually this can give interesting results on VHF especially with digital modes.

8m band yagi

Southgate News reports on a 4el yagi for the 8m band.  This band is gradually gaining traction. It would not surprise me if we got a narrow amateur band here in the future.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/4-element-yagi-for-40-mhz.htm#.X9TMDmiTLrc

Konik ponies - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows the Konik ponies used to keep grass short at Wicken Fen locally. 

Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon - NOT amateur radio

These photos were taken earlier by my brother.  Normally I go back to where I was brought up every year. This year I have to rely on photos. Maybe in 2021?

Alexa joke - NOT amateur radio

Recently, I bought an Amazon Dot with Alexa at about half price. When not in use we switch it off at the mains to prevent any data gathering.  Some are paranoid about it hearing things it shouldn't. 

It is very small.  I am very impressed, as is my wife. Even with my poor voice, it manages to recognise commands most times.

Like many, we have bought a lot on line recently. My wife ordered some Christmas cards from a well known charity a week ago. They (eventually) came today. We ordered some charity cards via Amazon and they arrived the very next day! 

We know Amazon is far from perfect, but we cannot fault them on service. We ordered some sanitiser gell yesterday. It was here before breakfast today.

This Alexa joke came to me yesterday. It made me laugh.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Since about 0910z I have been on 2m FT8 QRP with the usual 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna. So far (at 0932z)  just 1 station spotting me.

UPDATE 1301z:  15 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 4 stations have spotted me so far on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1720z:  63 stations in 9 countries spotted here so far.

UPDATE 2150z:  In the last day 20 stations have spotted me. 4 QSOs today. 87 stations spotted here. It is interesting that most signals on G0LRD's grabber at http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ (26km) are direct, I occasionally see Doppler shifted signals on some transmissions, which must be off aircraft, possibly those approaching Stansted or some of the nearby military bases. Most Doppler is about 10-20Hz.

UPDATE 2228z: There looks like there is a contest as several stations are calling CQ TEST on FT8. I shall be going QRT soon.

UPDATE 2238z:   QRT.

Salcombe, Devon yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon, yesterday. My dad lived on the road to the right over 100 years ago.  

The house where he lived now sells for about £500k. It was a hovel when he lived there and he would be amazed.

VLF earth-mode

It is many years now since my health allowed me to carry out VLF earth-mode experiments. Results obtained with 5W and simple kit amazed me. I got a range of 6km and far further would have been possible. I kept a blog of my results which can be accessed via my website and old website at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode (do not follow the links on the left of this old website as these are very very old and may not work).

As I understand it, OFCOM is not interested in licencing earth-mode kit as long as no "harmful interference to wireless telegraphy" is caused. To be honest,  I think conduction modes are a total puzzle to them! Without (free) software ranges would be much shorter.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter .

Sunspots - Saturday December 12th 2020

Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 11.  A=6 and K=1.

QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At just after 1930z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 spots of me so far. No spots of others yet and no QSOs. Best DX spot of me is by G8TTI (186km).

Looking east - NOT amateur radio

This is the view from Rame Head near Plymouth looking towards the South Hams in Devon, UK 

OFCOM's plan of work for next year

In my old age I must be getting a boring old f**t.   

OFCOM has published details of its plan of work for 2021-2022 on their website. Yet more motherhood crappery in my view. See the OFCOM website for more details. 

Maybe have another minced pie instead?

QRP YouTube channel

As many know, QRP is the part of our hobby that I enjoy most. Southgate News reports that the GQRP Club has a new YouTube channel devoted to QRP. Great idea.

The latest GQRP Convention talks are there. These were online this year. Well worth watching.

See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhe-ybLZzpnJh80VmFuS-A/videos

20m FT8 RX (Friday)

At about 0905z I turned on my 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. As the internet is off, these will not be uploaded to PSKreporter. Plenty of stations spotted. 

UPDATE 0920z:  As the internet is back on, hopefully some spots will get through now.

UPDATE 1235z: 246 spots here so far on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1920z: 452 stations spotted here today on 20m FT8 RX. Quite amazing with just the loop on the windowsill.

UPDATE 2210z:  QRT. 

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the mince pies and date and walnut cake my wife made yesterday. Most of the mince pies have already been eaten! We'll make some more today. 😋

Looking west - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the view looking west towards Cornwall taken in 2012 in Devon. 

Sunspots - Friday December 11th 2020

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 11. A=8 and K=3.

2m FT8 (QRP) Thursday

At about 1830z I QSYed to 2m FT8. So far tonight, 2 stations in 2 countries have spotted me and I have spotted 1 G station.

Annus Horibilis - NOT amateur radio

It is probably true that each of us have some issues or problems that others are not aware of. The image we project is of happiness and jollity.  Often the truth is very different. This year most of us have suffered because of the Covid pandemic. In the UK we have also the BREXIT mess. 

In our own family we have one son with 2 children heading for a messy divorce and a different daughter-in-law who is estranged and we don't know why. 

For all of you with hidden issues, I hope 2021 will be better. As they say, "never judge a book by its cover".  How true.

This has truly been an "annus horibilis" for us.

QO-100 Wiki

Southgate News reports that AMSAT-DL has created a wiki to help users of this geostationary satellite.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/qo-100-wiki-available.htm#.X9H21GiTLrc

17m FT8 QRP ( Thursday)

It is now 1020z. About 10 minutes ago I QSYed to 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 11 stations spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1502z:  69 stations spotted on RX. Nobody has spotted me on TX yet.

Oldest House - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the oldest house in the village. It was used as a hostel by Knights Templar. A previous owner told us there was a tunnel to the church from here. 

2m FT8 QRP overnight

Overnight I stayed on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 14 spots of me in 4 countries. It was not worth staying on. 

Wise words - NOT amateur radio

These wise words were on Facebook earlier. I have no idea where they are from. 

Angry sky - NOT amateur radio

We live next door to this windmill. This photo was taken a few years ago with the angry sky behind. 

FT8 cartoon

As you may know I enjoy FT8 with my poor voice and QRP.  Yesterday I was sent this cartoon although I have no idea where it came from.