Online resource

Some years ago I was pointed to this resource by Steve G1KQH.

See http://www.n5dux.com/ham/files/pdf/

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At about 1744z I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Alredady spotted by 3 stations including EI2FG 565km). No spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1904z:  11 stations have spotted me this evening on 2m FT8 QRP TX.  8 stations spotted on RX. No QSOs.

UPDATE 2005z: 14 stations have spotted my QRP on 2m FT8 including GI and EI again. 10 stations spotted on RX.

EMF calculator

Southgate News has a piece about a new EMF calculator produced by OFCOM and the RSGB. At some point we may have to show OFCOM that our ERP is within certain limits, for example if a neighbour made a complaint.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/updated-rsgb-ofcom-emf-calculator.htm#.YBbCt_GTLrc

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a "socially distanced" walk with one of our sons and his children. This is a photo of them earlier.

Our village - NOT amateur radio

This was a view of our village earlier.  The foreground is Spring Close meadows which is an 11 acre wild meadow bought for the village some years ago. It has Roman remains and castle remains dating back to King Stephen. In the distance is Burwell church.

Quiet corner - NOT amateur radio

Although our village has grown a lot, it still feels like a village and it has some lovely quiet corners. This is Mandeville, near where the British Foreign Secretary used to live. There are lots of snowdrops in flower near here.

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Since 0825z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots so far at 1030z. The photo shows the loop antenna on the windowsill on the right.

UPDATE 1240z: No spots on RX. 1 spot of my QRP TX by EA8BFK (2881km).

UPDATE 1435z: Still no further spots. I did copy an OD5 (Lebanon) on RX, but this was not uploaded to PSKreporter for some reason.

UPDATE 1740z:  No further spots all day, so will QSY to 2m FT8 shortly.

RSPB big garden birdwatch - NOT amateur radio

Just finished the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.  

You have to record the maximum number of each different species seen in any hour. 

In all, 10 different species seen. Those missing, but often seen, include goldfinch, great tit and thrush.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Sunspots - Sunday January 31st 2021

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

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

 Shortly, I shall be QSYing to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1700z:  QSYed at 1651z. 6 stations in 2 countries have spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1740z:  11 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today, so far, on 2m FT8. The furthermost is EI2FG (565km).

Cheer-up time! - NOT amateur radio

 In these odd times, you might enjoy this video.

17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

It is miserable outside - sleet and cold!!

At the moment I am on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 66 stations spotted on RX and  6 stations have spotted me on TX already.

UPDATE 1640z:  19 stations have spotted my 17m FT8 QRP today using just 2.5W and my tiny indoor loop. The map shows where I was spotted today.

Sunspots - Saturday January 30th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At 1835z I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 7 G spots so far of my 2.5W QRP on TX. 4 spots in 3 countries so far on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost being DL6YBF (410km).

UPDATE 2220z:  12 stations have spotted me on 2m FT8  TX. Now QRT.

481THz optical beacon

 

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 481THz optical beacon. This was made in 2012 I think. 

I still have it and hope to use it again. It uses a K1EL keyer to produce either CW or QRSS. My first test is likely to be some sort of reflection test, possibly off trees.

It seems I like to experiment at the extreme ends of the spectrum, HI.  Either VLF (sub 9kHz) or optical comms (481THz)!

Winter walk - NOT amateur radio

Stirrings. 

On a winter walk, these aconites are coming into flower. There are a few daffodils on the way, but few out yet.

17m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 1216z.  For a few minutes I have been on 17m FT8 QRP with the FT817ND (2.5W) and the tiny indoor loop. So far today I have spotted 10 stations on RX and 2 stations have spotted me on QRP TX in southern Spain. I am amazed that anyone spots me on 17m with such low power and such a tiny antenna!

Covid-19 injection - NOT amateur radio

We just went to a nearby town for our first AstraZeneca Covid-19 injection. They were very well organised with loads of people helping at every stage. The injection itself was totally painless. Within 3 weeks the immunity should build.

Another CDARC Zoom talk

The Cambridge radio club has another Zoom talk at 2000z tonight. These have all been excellent. 

Tonight's talk is on "Operating from South Atlantic Islands" by Martin G3ZAY.  I think he writes the HF column in RadCom, the RSGB magazine.

I have been pleasantly surprised how effective these talks are. We can all see each other and most sessions have at least as many people as a face-to-face meeting, with the added advantage that those people far away can still take part.

Some months ago we had a quiz with a club in N.Ireland and we have had members in Canada and Germany at times.

Details of CDARC are on the website.  See http://www.cdarc.org.uk/ .

8m band?

 Although 8m is allocated in EI and a very few other countries, some in other countries have asked for special permission to TX on this band. 

I have lost touch who has permission. This allocation between 10m and 6m would be especially useful for Es and MS.

It may be some years before this is more generally allocated (if ever), but I expect more keen amateurs will seek special permits to TX, maybe for a limited time, with limited power, on spot frequencies on a non-interference basis i.e. as long as you don't cause trouble, you can proceed.

Haircut time - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we had our silver birch tree trimmed. It was getting very tall. 

It should rapidly regrow, although we hope slowly! 

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday evening)

Stations spotting my 2m FT8
QRP Thursday evening

Last evening I was again on 2m FT8 with my 2.5W and big-wheel. 

9 stations in 5 countries spotted me and I had 1 QSO.  Yet again, I was copied in EI and GI.

Sunspots - Friday January 29th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=2.

Lower cost HF rigs

Steve G1KQH and I have been discussing lower cost HF rigs. At the moment it would seem this market is being left to the Chinese and kits like the Indian uBITX. 

Most modern rigs from the Japanese people like ICOM, Yaesu and Kenwood are expensive and there is a dearth of lower cost "entry level" products lacking many of the fancy features. Whilst some can afford expensive toys, many cannot. 

In a way I am surprised that the uBITX design has not been bought by one of the big 3, improved, made in China and sold at an entry level price. It seems this is a market ready to be exploited. If the Japanese don't grab it, the Chinese surely will.

17m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

 As 10m was not good, I QSYed to 17m FT8 QRP at about 1353z. I am running 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. 

At 17m, this is even smaller as a proportion of wavelength than 10m. Nonetheless, 11 spots on RX (including several from the USA) and 1 on TX.

UPDATE 1415z: 21 stations spotted so far on RX.

Yaesu FT991A

This Yaesu radio has been owned for about 18 months. Although used briefly for FT8, it is mainly used on 2m and 70cm SSB and 2m FM. It has only been used on low power. I was considering a trade-in for an IC-705, but have only been offered poor deals so far, so may stick with what I have.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ft991a

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

It is now 1137z. For about 5 minutes I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. So far, no spots today.

UPDATE 1345z: Still no spots

Flatford Mill - NOT amateur radio

This time in 2016, we visited Flatford Mill in Suffolk, UK. This was made famous by the painter John Constable. It is about 50 miles from here by car.

Last evening on 2m FT8 QRP

Last evening, I went on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.  In all, I was spotted by 8 stations in 3 countries with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). On RX, I spotted 3 stations in 2 countries.

Sunspots - Thursday January 28th 2021

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 26. A=11 and K=1. 

10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

 At 1507z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. So far, no spots.

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I try to give my impression of activity on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite.  I do this by looking at the web SDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall. This is very unscientific.

My impression is activity levels are slightly up. I looked at mid-afternoon in Europe on a weekday. There are more people at home at the moment because of various lockdowns due to Covid-19.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Primroses - NOT amateur radio

Over winter we always plant primroses for colour in an otherwise dull time of the year before the daffodils appear to brighten things up. In the spring these are replaced by summer annuals. 

We bought these from our village nursery. They were healthy plants and we will definitely use them again.

Normal times - NOT amateur radio

In normal times Cambridge has lots of bikes. Of course we are not in normal times. 

15m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 0822z. A few moments ago my 15m FT8 QRP was turned on with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. So far, 11 stations spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1048z:  8 stations have so far spotted my QRP on TX and 126 stations have been spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1458z:  188 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX and 9 stations spotted me so far on TX. 2 QSOs. The map shows the stations spotted here so far on the loop: I am impressed that something so small works so well.

Elecraft virtual K4

 The latest Elecraft newsletter has details of the virtual K4 to allow remote control of the K4 e. g. over the Internet. See the Elecraft website. 

Sunspots - Wednesday January 27th 2021

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 23.  A=12 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

A few moments ago, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1900z: Just a single spot of my QRP so far, from DF0MU (475km).  Nothing yet on RX.

15m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

This morning I am on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. Already spotted by SV8JNL (2485km) on TX and 19 stations already spotted on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1425z:  230 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and 4 people have so far spotted my QRP TX. The furthermost on RX is LU1FJP (11306km) in Argentina. On TX QRP the furthermost is RK4FF (2964km).

Stations spotted
on 15m FT8 today

UPDATE 1655z:  370 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1845z:  405 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today. Soon to QSY to 2m FT8.

Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on a few days ago as part of a collage. It was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey.