160 years ago - NOT amateur radio

This is a plate from a book published in 1861. It shows Kingsbridge, Devon where I lived for part of my childhood. 

70cm opening over for now?

In the last 12 hours only 3 Gs spotted on 70cm FT8 RX suggesting the opening is over for now. Looking at the weather forecast, it could yet be good again.

Later, I shall try 10m WSPR and 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Sunday January 16th 2022

Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 120.  A=22 and K=3.

70cm FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Once again, I am on 70cm QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. After a brief TX period with 3 spots of me with the furthermost G8VHI (127km), I am RX only. 3 stations have been spotted on RX with the furthermost, GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 1805z:  9 stations spotted on RX including 2 in the Netherlands and 1 in N.Ireland. Some must be tropo, but I wonder if some are scatter? 

10FT8R 10m FT8 RX

10m is again a great DX band. 

Back in the summer, the RSGB printed an article of mine on a very simple and low cost  RX for 10m FT8 called the 10FT8R. It is also on my website. 

Since then, I discovered a low cost source of 14.037MHz crystals, making the schematic even simpler as the inductor next to the crystal is not needed. With a PCB this would make a great club project in the years ahead in solar cycle 25.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

10m FT8 (Saturday)

 

At the moment (1125z) I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 93 stations spotted. 

When I QSYed from 70cm FT8, there were still stations on and the band was still "up".

UPDATE 1325z:  124 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1510z:  361 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Time soon to QSY to 70cm FT8 QRP. 10m FT8 RX spots shown on map.

DXing with a twist

One facet of HF radio that you may want to try for fun is DXing with a crystal set where all the power comes from the TX. 

Although you are most likely to hear broadcast stations, you may also copy amateurs. These days it is harder as most speech is on SSB, so you can only copy the muffled sound of envelope detection, but I have copied AM amateurs on 160m. For envelope detection, you may need a "proper" RX to identify the signal.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/crystal-set-dxing .

Promise - NOT amateur radio

At the moment in the UK we are in the depths of winter with frosts and cold weather. Actually, we have had a good month so far. yes, it has been cold, but also bright and sunny.

There are already promises of better weather to come as this picture from yesterday shows.

Jay at Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

 

This colourful bird (crow sized) was at Anglesey Abbey yesterday.

70cm FT8 in the last day

Conditions are up on 70cm. 

In the last day I have stuck with FT8. In all, 43 stations spotted with the furthermost being F8DLE (735km). 

Remember this is with a vertical omni antenna! It is also 70cm!