XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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Motherhood?

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:37 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/motherhood.html


There have been radio amateurs for over 100 years.
Like many things today, I can understand why somethings are done - to
protect people - yet often the unintended consequences make things worse,
not better.
Take for example the EU rules on data protection. Now most web pages have a pop-up about cookies. Most people either just say "yes" without reading or
use a pop-up blocker so the message never appears. Most find these very annoying! The intention was good, but in reality by not reading the small
print we could be accepting all sorts of rubbish!
It is a bit like the recent licence changes to protect the general public
from harmful EMF. Yes, of course, this is admirable, but how have we
managed for over 100 years?
I am not sure what the answer is. What is missing is common sense.
Before agreeing to any changes, think of the unintended consequences. If overall things could be more harmful, think again. We seem to be moving
ever more in a more stupid direction.

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Pound versus Euro

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:35 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/pound-versus-euro.html


We left the EU completely some months ago. The EU is far from perfect, but
I voted in 2016 to remain "in". Overall we voted by a small margin to
leave.
Despite the difficulties of trading with the EU, the UK Pound seems to have appreciated against the Euro.
Personally, I would have preferred a softer BREXIT especially as the vote
was close. I suspect the EU misses the contributions to its budget from the
UK.
We will have to find our own way in the future. Only time will tell if we
were right or wrong.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cx250jmk4e7t/pound-sterling-gbp

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MeSquares

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:31 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/mesquares.html



For "one-off" projects, MeSquares can be a good solution. The photo shows
my 10FT8R RX using MeSquares.

These are simply snapped out and glued down to plain copper clad board. The copper clad board makes an excellent RF ground plane and the MeSquares excellent islands.
If glued down carefully (unlike mine!), a very neat layout is possible.
See www.qrpme.com .

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Sunspots - Friday June 18th 2021

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:27 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/sunspots-friday-june-18th-2021.html


Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 12. A=7 and K=2.

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Lightning

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:29 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/lightning.html


We escaped the storms last night. It rained, but that was all. We missed
again last night the storms are creeping up from France and thunderstorms
and heavy rain are forecast for tomorrow.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;z=6;y=50.6182;x=0.3762;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

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2m activity contest (June) published

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 04:23 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/2m-activity-contest-june-published.html


Every month, if I am free, I go on the UKAC activity contests organised by
the RSGB. Although I submit entries running 10W SSB to a 2m omni antenna I have no chance of ever winning!
I only enter the 2m and 70cm legs. Mostly I go on for fun and the activity. Without trying at all hard I see I am still about third down the table in
the low power section. Activity levels on SSB are very good. I think these sessions are primarily for clubs, although I just go on as me. There is no compulsion to submit a score.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2021 .

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WebSDR in the Netherlands

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 03:42 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/websdr-in-netherlands.html


Tjeerd PA3GNZ has a webSDR online. It is interesting to listen to.
See http://77.170.220.27:8073/#freq=144174000,mod=usb,secondary_mod=ft8,sql=-150

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10m FT8 RX on the tiny loop in the shack

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 02:47 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/10m-ft8-rx.html


For a change I am on 10m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop
(50cm diameter) antenna.
Plenty of Europeans being spotted by Es. After just a few minutes, 51
stations spotted with the furthermost being 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania,
West Africa.UPDATE 1246z: 150 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1515z: 281 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.
UPDATE 1815z: 465 stations spotted so far in 4 continents.
UPDATE 1913z: 524 stations spotted so far today.UPDATE 2146z: 682
stations spotted today. Furthermost is PP5JD (10072km). I now have to go
QRT and disconnect everything.

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10FT8R in RadCom (August)

Posted: 17 Jun 2021 02:35 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/06/10ft8r-in-radcom-august.html


All being well, my simple, low cost, RX for 10m FT8 should appear in RSGB RadCom in August. This is not certain.
My thanks go to Jay W5OLF for kindly doing the schematics. Jay is
developing the circuit further. I hope it brings him success.

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