New radios

Buying a new transceiver here is a big decision for me. 

When I buy one, it is usually kept for many years. I quite fancy the IC-705 as a QRP enthusiast, but it seems expensive. I do not expect the price to drop unless they get real competition.

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

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

It is now 1257z and I have just turned on my 2m QRP - 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1449z: 18 stations have spotted my QRP 2m signal so far today (see photo).

UPDATE 2125z:  QRT.  28 spots of me in 6 countries with the furthermost being a spot by EI2FG (565km).

Hornet tree - NOT amateur radio

This tree was felled last year. It is at nearby Anglesey Abbey owned by the National Trust. 

For years there was a hornet's nest in the tree. For all I know, it could still be there.

Another successful Zoom talk

Last night, the Cambridge radio club (CDARC) had another well attended Zoom talk. Yet again this included a member in Canada. The talk was by Ray G4FON on learning Morse code, using his highly successful training course based on the Koch method. The secret seems to be to hear the sound of the letters much as a foreign language and not to try to write it down.

I am a great fan of Zoom as we can enjoy the talks from the comfort of our own homes. Also, people around the world can take part. Of course, by holding "virtual" meetings, we miss the face-to-face contacts, but Zoom with video is far better than I expected.

See http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer2.php

Promise - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey we saw this hellebore. Yet another promise of better days ahead. 

It is still mid-January and as I write we have cold driving rain.

136kHz beacon TX

This is the beacon TX I used on 136kHz at the old QTH some years ago. At this QTH I have only been (briefly) on 136kHz RX. Taht was with Opera weak signal software using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. If I was fitter I ought to try some 136kHz RX again.

Sunspots - Saturday January 16th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 13. A=3 and K=2.

E-field probes

There is a common myth that VLF, LF and MF antennas have to be big. Whilst this is true for radiated TX antennas, this is absolutely not true on RX. 

In the past I have used E-field probes very successfully on 136kHz RX and good ones can be quite as good (or better) than large antennas and can work from VLF to 30MHz despite being very tiny. Typical ones are just a few cms long.

One of mine, used taped to the window, is shown in the photo. Normally they are placed outdoors away from noise sources. They work because as antennas get smaller the signal level falls, but so does the noise. At low frequencies external noise usually dominates.

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

Winter promise - NOT amateur radio

January can be a miserable time of the year: days are short and cold and the evenings are dark and long. Everywhere looks dead.

However there is a promise of better days ahead. Soon it will be the daffodils, which are around until late spring.

Already snowdrops are pushing up and coming into flower. Promise. 

Then the buds start to appear and you sense stirrings......

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 1125z and I have been on 2m FT8 for about 10 minutes. So far, my 2.5W to the big-wheel has been spotted by 11 stations on TX and 1 station spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1225z: 12 stations have spotted my QRP on TX and 14 stations in 4 countries spotted here on RX. 1 QSO.

UPDATE 1630z:  24 stations in 5 countries has spotted me so far today on 2m QRP TX with 2 QSOs.

UPDATE 1826z:  27 stations in 6 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP so far today.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday evening)

Last evening I was on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Although as usual I was spotted in EI and GI, not a single station was spotted here on RX. I am pretty sure all was working here. Odd. 

Sunspots - Friday January 15th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0. 

Amateur radio cartoon

This was on Messenger from Steve G1KQH although I have no idea where it originated. 

OFCOM report

 OFCOM has published a report on emerging technologies. See the OFCOM website for more details.

ICOM IC-705

These QRP radios are now widely available in Europe. The price is still high and, if like the IC-7300, will not drop unless they face real competition. 

The nearest competition is the Yaesu FTDX10, but this is not a 5/10W radio and does not have 2m and 70cm, but does have an ATU and 4m.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705.

Art with Ed - NOT amateur radio

Previously I mentioned the YouTube video made by my grandson Edward who is 11 years old. The collage shows some of the pages. 

See youtube.com/watch?v=sVmWwYbh8Co

15m FT8

At 0854z I went on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 

So far (0935z), 8 RX spots. It is a dreadful day outside: cold and rainy. 

I get the feeling 15m is only just open today. I have seen far better days. 

UPDATE 1322z:  9 spots of my 2.5W QRP FT8 so far.

UPDATE 1526z: 16 spots of my 2.5W with the furthermost K1CA (5246km). On RX 156 stations spotted with the furthermost YB3LZ (12245km).

UPDATE 1925z: 26 spots of my 2.5W to the indoor loop antenna today on 15m FT8 TX. 

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Anglesey Abbey a few years ago. 

Old House - NOT amateur radio

One of the oldest houses in the village is this one shown in the photo. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 14th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A =4 and K=0.

Wymondham, Norfolk - NOT amateur radio

Some of my wife's ancestors came from Wymondham in Norfolk. The town is just west of Norwich. 

It has an unpretentious town centre and a fine abbey with 2 towers. 

Some of the family moved to industrial Sheffield in the 19th century for work - what a contrast!

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

Art video - NOT amateur radio

My 11 year old grandson has produced an educational video as shown. Although I am a bit biased, I think it is good. He is a very good artist and there some examples of his work on my main website. These are now some years old.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/home/art.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

Since about 1825z, I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 4 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. No stations yet spotted on RX and no QSOs yet.

UPDATE 2103z:  10 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8 so far tonight (see map). I keep an eye on my signal at http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/.

UPDATE 2107z:  Spotted by 14 stations in 4 counties so far. No QSOs.

432MHz activity contest

Every month the RSGB organises an activity contest on the second Tuesday of the month on 70cm. Better stations were working Germans. As usual I was on with my poor voice, 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna.  In 40 minutes I managed 4 SSB QSOs out to 105km. .Then I gave up!

Sunspots - Wednesday January 13th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0.  A=9 and K=1.

Aurora

In Scotland, there was a visible aurora last night. The BBC was full of pictures of this today. 

I am not sure how far south it was visible. I have not heard if there were VHF QSOs via this aurora. When access to 6m was first granted I recall having a 6m auroral QSO using 1W CW and a wire dipole.

Another 8m winter Es QSO

This afternoon there was another DX QSO on 8m between EI and 9A.  This was winter Es.

I expect this band to be available more widely in the years to come.  At first it will be individuals asking their local authorities for spot frequencies. Sandwiched between 10m and 6m, this could be a most interesting allocation. Even a very narrow allocation and low power initially would be useful.

Sonic boom - NOT amateur radio

Years ago we used to hear the sonic boom from Concorde at my parents house in Devon every night. At lunchtime we heard another loud bang that turned out to be a sonic boom. An RAF Typhoon jet was scrambled to escort a civilian plane that had lost communications into London Stansted airport. It was very loud and we thought at first it was something on our roof.

G3KKD Silent Key

One of the regulars on our Monday night East Cambs net died of a heart attack last night. Ian G3KKD was a regular who rarely missed.  As we get older more and more of us will be SKs. Still sad though. None of us expected this. Ian was keen right to the end.

He was especially keen on ATV and had recently experimented with digital.

Church Lane - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year every thing appears dead.  There is mud everywhere!

Look more closely and there are signs of new life. 

Only this morning I saw a field of winter wheat and snowdrops are beginning to flower as in the lane leading to our local church. Another month and there will be daffodils common and buds just starting to appear.

January is one of the most depressing times of the year. At least days are getting longer and spring is coming.

OFCOM Communications Monthly

 OFCOM has updated its statistics in its Communications Monthly. See the OFCOM website for details.

15m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the tiny indoor loop. 27 stations already spotted after just a few minutes with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).

UPDATE 1212z: 219 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1520z:  Recently, I decided to go on QRP TX on 15m FT8. So far 7 stations have spotted me. 437 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop.

Stations spotting me

UPDATE 1850z: 36 spots of me and 2 QSOs - amazing for such a tiny indoor loop and true QRP (see photo of the spots of me an hour ago). 651 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX today.

Stations spotted here 
today on 15m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1926z:  662 stations in 5 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX today.

Dayton 2021 cancelled

My friend Steve G1KQH has forwarded me an announcement that the Dayton Hamvention, perhaps the biggest ham gathering in the world, has been cancelled for 2021. This is obviously as a result of fears over Covid-19. I guess we all feared this. They hope to hold it again next year. 

This is the place where many manufacturers announce new products.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0 . A=14 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Since late Monday afternoon I was on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. All the usual stations were spotted.  DL6YBF (410km) was the furthermost on RX with EI2FG (565km) my furthermost on 2.5W TX. In all, 15 stations spotted me. At 2130z, I went QRT.

Yaesu FTDX10

Yaesu has just released its new hybrid 100W SDR transceiver the FTDX10. It is based on the FTDX101. 

I wonder if Yaesu is considering an SDR QRP rig to replace the FT817/818 and to compete with the IC-705? 

The new radio does not cover 2m and 70cm, but does have an auto ATU, although I expect the range is limited. It also includes 4m TX.  It is a fair bit more expensive than the IC-705.

At the moment I am torn. As a QRP fan I have owned 2 FT817s and several other Yaesu products. They have all been reliable. The standard Yaesu warranty is 3 years. 

Although I stand to be corrected, I do not think the Yaesu radio has the GPS and Bluetooth features that the IC-705 has. At the moment, the IC-705 is still better in my view.

15m FT8 (Monday)

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX. At the moment 2 Europeans showing on 15m FT8 RX, although an early spot was a V51 on my screen, but not PSKreporter. Not sure why this did not appear. Did my internet disappear for a short time?

Stations spotted
to 1306z

UPDATE 1306z:  50 stations in 4 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE1458z:  Although I am TX too (2.5W to the indoor loop) nobody has yet spotted me. 54 stations so far spotted on RX in 5 continents.

Sunspots - Monday January 11th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Just before 1700z, I QSYed from 10m to 2m FT8 QRP. I am running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.  Already I have spotted 2 stations and my QRP has been spotted by 9 stations.

Stations spotting my
2.5W 2m FT8 this evening 

UPDATE 2300z: QRT. 

Life - NOT amateur radio

Some days ago I mentioned the estimates for the number of planets in the visible universe. The numbers are staggering. Assuming just a very small number of these have intelligent life, that still leaves a huge number. 

I have no idea how many humans have existed over time, but I am estimating 10,000,000,000.  To be a conscious being alive today on Earth is an incredible thing. Just think, if just one of our ancestors had not had children then we would not be here. Amazing.

No doubt in the years to come our understanding of the universe will change dramatically, but one could be forgiven for thinking each of us is unimportant, yet the opposite seems to be true. Each of us seems important and our love and kindness seem to matter.

No, life and consciousness are deep mysteries. Most religions try to answer these issues, but only hint. All seem too small.