Yesterday's snow - NOT amateur radio

We had snow yesterday. Most of it had gone by late afternoon, which surprised us.

It is sunny, but icy, this morning. Wind has dropped.

When we get a drop of snow here in the UK we all panic. I can only imagine what people in New England and Canada think of us!  To us, 0 deg C is cold!

The last day on 2m FT8 using 2.5W

In the last day, 30 stations have spotted me on 2M FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Irrespective of conditions these ranges are always possible.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

The 2m FT8 gear was turned on early this morning. I am again running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 0925z:  8 spots of my QRP including EI2FG (565km) again.  If this is aircraft scatter (I have my doubts), it is there very often, which is why I wonder if some other form of scatter is involved on some paths.

UPDATE 1001z:  7 stations spotted here so far. At the moment I am RX only on 2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni.

Elephants - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo last week when we had plenty of sunshine. It was taken at the entrance to the walled garden at Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge.

 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 10th 2021

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

15m FT8 yesterday

Stations spotted on
15m FT8 yesterday 

In the end, my 2.5W 15m FT8 was spotted by 3 stations. in Europe and Africa.

All over the world was spotted on RX. 

This was just with the tiny indoor loop antenna. 

Alexa - NOT amateur radio

A few months ago we bought an Amazon Dot at half price from Amazon. I bought it as it was so inexpensive: if it was no good, I would not have wasted that much.

What has surprised me is how effective the voice recognition is.  Even with my poor voice, it seems to understand me most times. When not in use we turn it off at the mains to prevent it picking up unintentional conversations. 

When it arrived it was much smaller than I expected. At first I wondered if they had only sent the PSU.  At a guess I reckon it is about 10cm across. Sound quality is much better than expected. It is very good.

You can say things like, "play BBC Radio 4" or "play a 1930s mix".

I am impressed. It is much better than I expected. My wife enjoys it even more!

New museum shed - NOT amateur radio

Funny how being locked down you get excited by silly things! Years ago we would go on overseas holidays, but I guess we just have to wait....

Today, we had major excitement when a new shed was delivered to our local village museum. Imagine that! A new shed!!! 😄 Gosh! 

A lorry drove up and lots of helpers were on hand to help erect it. A year ago this would have been ignored!

70cm activity contest this evening

70cm 10W SSB QSOs
this evening

Being the second Tuesday in the month, this evening is the February leg of the RSGB organised activity contest on 70cm (UKAC). These start at 2000z and last for up to 2.5 hours. Usually I am on for far less than 1 hour with my 10W and 2m antenna (I use a 2m (144MHz) big-wheel omni that seems to match OK at 70cm).

Activity levels on 70cm SSB are better than most times, although with a lack of /P stations is a pity. Unlike many contests, these don't feel like contests and are very friendly. Despite my poor set-up on the band, I seem to be able to work over 100km most times. It is a good chance to work a few new squares.

UPDATE 2102z: 5 QSOs this evening.

Ads I hate - NOT amateur radio

There are some adverts in particular that I just hate! Those that say something like, "taking the UK by storm" or "seniors are missing out". These are obviously designed to draw us in. Sorry, here these are just deleted, unread.

Dust cloud "moons"? - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News has a piece on the dust clouds that appear to be circulating the Earth at about the same distance as the Moon. 

I do not think this is fake news! If it is please tell me.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/science-confirms-earth-has-more-than-one-moon.htm#.YCJWwiuTLrc .

2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Today, I am again on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel antenna. Already at 0930, 8 stations have spotted my QRP including (again) EI2FG (565km). The grabber at G0LRD is very useful.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

UPDATE 1018z: 11 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP.

UPDATE 1118z: 12 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP this morning. I guess most that can spot me now have. On 2m FT8 RX,  8 stations spotted here so far.

Stations spotting
me at 1212z

UPDATE 1212z:  So far today, 14 stations in 4 countries have been spotted on 2m FT8 RX. On 2m FT8 QRP TX, I have been spotted by 15 stations in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1827z:   42 stations in 7 countries spotted here on 2m FT8 RX. On QRP 2m FT8 TX 23 stations in 6 countries have spotted me.

Last evening on 2m FT8 QRP

Last evening I was again on 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel. Yet again, plenty of stations were spotting me including EI and GI.

Overnight snow - NOT amateur radio

Although it snowed again overnight here in Burwell, I suspect it is much worse to the east. We have some fresh snow on the road and plenty of ice, but it could be much worse. This is the coldest winter here for some time although nothing like 1947 or 1963.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 9th 2021

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At 1844z I turned my 2m QRP using the FT817ND at 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far this evening 5 stations have spotted me in 2 countries.

SSB out-of-band?

There is an interesting piece on Southgate News about transmitting out of band. This is particularly important on 60m where the allocations are very small. The important thing is that the dial frequency may be in band but some of the modulation may not be! 

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/how-far-you-can-turn-the-dial-when-transmitting-ssb.htm#.YCEkAyuTLrc

Snow in Kent - NOT amateur radio

 

They have had plenty of snow in Kent as the photo shows.

You can see they are having fun!

Snow in Burwell - NOT amateur radio

At last in this cold snap we had snow overnight and there are slight snow flurries now. 

This winter is proving colder than for several years and this is the second "proper" snowfall. It is much worse to the east of us. 

At least the children can go sledging and build snowmen. These are rare treats nowadays here.

15m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Shortly, I shall go on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 15m seems a good compromise at the moment: open more than 10m, but the loop is still OK.

UPDATE 0940z:  Gear turned on. Much to my surprise, already my 2.5W has been spotted in Finland on TX and I have spotted 5 stations on RX. This is after 8 minutes!!

UPDATE 1112z: 2 spots of my QRP TX so far.  On RX, 46 spots as far away as Australia. The furthermost is VK8NSB (13781km).

Sunspots - Monday February 8th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=21 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At 1655z I QSYed from 15m to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far this evening, I have been spotted on TX by 5 stations in 2 countries after just a few minutes. On RX 5 stations spotted here. It is now 1708z.

UPDATE 1940z:  So far today, spotted on TX by 16 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). Every day I seem to be spotted by EI2FG. Although this could be aircraft reflection, this seems to be too random. I still find it amazing that with simple, QRP 2m gear and an omni-directional antenna, these sort of ranges are possible every single day.

No snow.....yet - NOT amateur radio

Although we have snow to the east of us, there is no snow here yet. I expect we will see some this week, although it often manages to just miss us.  Snow looks nice for a few days, but icy pavements can be a fall hazard best avoided.

UPDATE 2000z:  Still no snow here.

Quantum RX

Southgate News has a piece on some army research into quantum receivers that can look at the entire 0-20GHz spectrum in one go.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/new-quantum-receiver.htm#.YB_2lyuTLrc .

Hare Park Chippenham - NOT amateur radio

 

This is another view of Hare Park, Chippenham, near Cambridge last week. 

This is definitely the best snowdrop display in the area.

15m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

It is now 0950z. About 30 minutes ago I turned on my 2.5W FT8 15m QRP to the tiny i has spotted ndoor loop on the shack windowsill. Just 1 spot on RX of 4X1WW (3644km). Nobody has spotted my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1014z: Now 9 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX with the furthermost V51WW (8080km) in Namibia. Nothing yet spotted of my 2.5W on TX.

UPDATE 1200z:  26 stations spotted on RX. Nobody has spotted my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1553z:  Just a single spot on TX of my QRP (from the Azores) and 75 stations spotted on RX today. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 7th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0.  A=7 and K=3.

70cm FT8

It is almost a year since I tried (successfully) 432MHz FT8. In many ways, 432MHz might be better for scatter modes than 144MHz. 

There are activity periods once a month (2nd Wednesdays) that I should try. 432.174MHz is where to look. The next is February 10th 1700-2100z.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/ .

Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

As a child I grew up in Salcombe. 

It was years before I realised that the dappling on the schoolroom ceiling was the sun on the water. We took it all for granted. 

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1457z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel. 2m rarely disappoints whereas 10m FT8 here was dreadful today. Just a couple of local spots of me so far on TX and no spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1835z: 1 QSO so far. 12 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 28 stations on RX.

UPDATE 1947z: 17 stations have so far spotted me on QRP TX and 30 stations on RX. I am still puzzled by some of the very long paths: every day I seem to be copied in EI at great range: this seems far too random to be aircraft reflection, so I wonder if FT8 allows some other sort of scatter to be possible even with QRP.

UK cranes (birds) - NOT amateur radio

At one time, centuries ago, these large birds were quite common in the UK. Then there were none. 

In the last 40 years some were re-introduced and numbers have steadily climbed, especially on wetland reserves. 

A few years ago we saw about 10 from a train window in the fens.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_(bird)

See https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/biodiversity/posts/wetland-success?utm_source=notes_on_nature_210206&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=13&utm_campaign=notes_on_nature

Anglesey Abbey yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo shows part of nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday. We go for walks there most weeks.

10m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 0919z, I turned on my 10m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1020z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1405z:  Just a single spot on RX of EA1SA (1025km) on RX and no spots on TX. So far today, pretty pathetic.

Sub 9kHz amateur DX

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my sub-9kHz reception of a station in Germany. In all I spotted 5 European amateur stations sub-9kHz before my health got in the way. 

UK Covid-19 vaccinations - NOT amateur radio

In many ways, the UK can (rightly) be castigated for it handling of the pandemic doing too little, too late. 

On vaccinations it is a different story and thanks to a national effort the vaccination target could well be met. The graph shows the cumulative first doses.

Sunspots - Saturday February 6th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=0.

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

As 10m FT8 today here was awful, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna at 1824z It is now 1847z, I have been spotted by 11 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km) again.  On 2m FT8 RX, 2 stations (both G) have been spotted.

UPDATE 2122z:  22 spots of me on 2m FT8 TX this evening. 24 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost DF9YF (559km). I must remember to turn things off when I go to bed! 1 QSO.

New radios

IC-705

Some people just have to buy the latest radios. Some of us buy new radios infrequently. At the moment there seem fewer radios on the market at a price I can justify.

If I was buying a radio for the future I would probably consider the IC-705 from ICOM or the more expensive FTDX10 by Yaesu.  These are sold by the major dealers.

FTDX10

Neither are what I really want either as a result of price or bands. I am a dedicated QRPer and 10W would be fine.  As I said earlier in the week, the FTDX10 does cover 4m, but does not cover 2m and 70cm. The FTDX10 does have an internal auto-ATU, whereas the IC-705 does not. The IC-705 does have a few things not on the FTDX10 such as Bluetooth and GPS.

I guess one question is how often would these features be used? 

My ideal radio? IC-705 with 4m and an internal auto-ATU at a lower price.

No meat lunch - NOT amateur radio

Probably I would be described as a flexitarian. I like meat, but could live without it, but thought I would try a no-meat lunch partly as one granddaughter has decided to go vegan. I cooked a pasta dish which I found great. 

2m FT8 overnight

Usually, I turn off my 2m FT8 gear overnight. Last night I forgot! 

Although 6 stations were spotted here, no-one spotted me. From this I assume most who monitor did as I should have done and went QRT overnight! Really, being on overnight is a waste.