Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 93. A=4 and K=0.
14 Sept 2022
13 Sept 2022
60m (5 MHz) allocations
Before I start, let me say my "outings" on 60m are rare.
Speaking personally I find the UK allocations totally confusing. I would much prefer to have the WARC 15 kHz wide allocation instead. Many countries now have this. Using modes like WSPR and FT8, very little spectrum is needed.
I know much of this is beyond our control, but I am sure a narrower contiguous band would be preferable to many, especially if this was a worldwide allocation.
Amsterdam - NOT amateur radio
We like the Netherlands. The people are friendly and, in many ways, like us.
The photo shows a typical view of Amsterdam last week with bikes (lots!), canals and lovely houses. It is our 7th visit, so we must like it!
I have also been to the Netherlands many times for work years ago.
10m FT8 (Tuesday)
Just before breakfast, I turned on 10m FT8 with the FT817ND. At 0817z, 8 stations have been received. I am not on TX at the moment.
UPDATE 0911z: 12 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.UPDATE 1251z: Doh! Guess who forgot to turn on the PSU? Silly me, this meant the FT817ND worked until its batteries died.
Amsterdam breakfast
This was breakfast last week in Amsterdam. There seems to be a lack of fruit there, which surprised us.
12 Sept 2022
10m QRP FT8
It is now 1555z and I have been on 10m FT8 for about 5 minutes. So far, just 2 G spots on RX.
UPDATE 1657z: Just G0FWX (160km) has spotted me.
UPDATE 1912z: 8 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost ZS1AN (9742km).
UPDATE 2118z: QRT now. 26 stations spotted including Africa, South America, North America and Caribbean stations.
Earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground
Until our son accidentally cut it, I used this antenna extensively from VLF to 60m. On 630m (472 kHz) it consistently got reports from Norway with a measured ERP of just 10mW using WSPR.
My theory is that at low frequencies it acts as a loop in the ground. As you go higher in frequency the loop gets smaller, so the antenna gets worse.
If my theory is correct, the loop will get larger as frequency is lowered making it very effective for sub-10 kHz communications. Indeed, such an antenna has been used to great effect by DK2FC and others at VLF.
For use on LF and MF it has worked well for me.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/earth-electrode-antennas .
Beginhof, Amsterdam - NOT amateur radio
This is a very secret and calming part of Amsterdam with an entrance that is quite obscure.
Our "harvest" - NOT amateur radio
Most of the tomatoes are still green. As you can see, this has not exactly been a bumper year. We had a wet winter and dry spring with a very hot summer. The pears were not bad (if a bit hard) and the crab apples just enough to half fill a small jar with crab apple jelly. Beans? Maybe enough for 1 meal. Tomatoes? If the green ones turn red I may have the same as a punnet from a supermarket. If they stay green I shall have a go at green tomato chutney. Overall, a disappointing "harvest".
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