Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

Righteous anger?

2026-06-06T10:28:30.864+01:00

It would appear US politicians are, more and more, seeking to interfere in European politics, conveniently forgetting that the USA was originally mostly migrants and they have a huge issue with gun deaths.

As was once said (I paraphrase) "look at the plank in your eye first".

Basically keep out until your own house is in order, and don't lecture us.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlplwn1jkro

Rotten tree

2026-06-06T09:31:02.496+01:00

This was seen yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

It was obviously in danger of falling down.

6m 3W FT8 (Saturday)

2026-06-06T09:23:38.373+01:00

My gear was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0953z: Spotted by 17 English stations. No Es yet.

Busy bee

2026-06-06T09:21:05.319+01:00

This bee was seen at nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday.

It was busy collecting nectar.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

2026-06-06T09:20:32.682+01:00

My Zachtek beacon was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1835z: 43 stations have spotted me today. See table.

Granddaughter

2026-06-06T09:18:20.562+01:00

This was taken some years ago and shows one of my granddaughters.

I think she was looking for a recipe on the iPad. At one time she loved cooking.

Ukraine war

2026-06-06T08:00:40.180+01:00

We hope the war in Ukraine will end soon and lives stop being needlessly lost.

Most ordinary folk in Russia and Ukraine (and in Gaza and Iran) just want to live in peace.

It seems that rich and stupid people want to conquer the world.

Sunspots - Saturday June 5th

2026-06-06T07:59:40.698+01:00

Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 145. A=36 and K=3.

Vaccine created partly with AI

2026-06-05T15:46:18.152+01:00

There was news today of a vaccine partly created using AI. All being well this technique could be used to create a flu vaccine and Covid 19 vaccine that protects even when the virus mutates. On the face of it this is a good thing.

It is also ominous. I think that it means a rogue state could produce a virus that is harmful to certain individuals or certain racial groups.

Welcome to the brave new world! 😒

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrpggegwe0o .

2m activity contest (UKAC) last Tuesday

2026-06-05T15:26:19.655+01:00

Nearly forgot to submit my (poor!!) score.

4 stations worked in 30 minutes with 10W, a big-wheel omni and a poor voice!

All good fun, but FT8 is much easier for me.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

2026-06-05T09:20:02.675+01:00

At the moment I am monitoring 8m FT8. As there are far fewer stations active than 6m, this is harder going.

UPDATE 1400z: Just spots of EA3ERE in Catalonia. I think I'm going back to 6m FT8.

6m 3W FT8 (Friday)

2026-06-05T09:09:51.342+01:00

My gear was turned on just after 0800z.

UPDATE 0814z: Spotted by 6 English stations.

UPDATE 1752z: Returned to 6m FT8. Spotted by19 stations and I have spotted 20 stations here.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

2026-06-05T09:04:19.802+01:00

My beacon was turned on at 0800z.

UPDATE 1322z: Spotted by 35 stations.

Ukraine war

2026-06-05T08:56:50.150+01:00

It would appear that Russia is not having it as easy as they once thought it would be.

Militarily Russia should be far superior, but increasingly Ukraine is bringing the war to Russians in Russia.

The interview with Professor Scott Lucas in Eire is revealing.

IC-705

2026-06-05T08:51:01.186+01:00

My favourite activity at the moment is QRP FT8 on 6m and 10m QRP WSPR.

The photo shows the current set-up.

Sunspots - Friday June 5th

2026-06-05T07:08:33.867+01:00

Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 157. A=6 and K=1.

Cyber security

2026-06-04T14:12:25.740+01:00

It is much more likely that any future wars would be very cyber based, with people heavily dependent on the internet for banking, communications and so much these days. Just imagine if we were suddenly without this!

Some countries are way ahead of the UK and USA in preparing for this eventuality.

My advice? Have plenty of cash and tinned food around.

2m FT8 activity contest last evening

2026-06-04T09:12:00.829+01:00

On Tuesday evening I went on the 2m activity contest (UKAC) arranged by the RSGB using 10W to the big wheel omni antenna.

Last night was the 2m FT8 activity contest. Running just 5W it was much easier! Again I was only on for a very short while (less than 30 minutes). The map shows the stations that spotted me.

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

2026-06-04T09:10:38.126+01:00

My gear was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1852 z: Spotted by 220 stations with the best PY5KD (9884km). See map of stations spotting me today. 347 stations spotted here. Now QRT.

Solar cycle

2026-06-04T08:00:54.273+01:00

As we are now on the downward slope of the solar cycle it’s worth checking the latest solar data.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Thursday June 4th

2026-06-04T07:59:02.372+01:00

Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 141. A=10 and K=2.

8m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

2026-06-03T12:25:48.221+01:00

From about 1100z I have been monitoring 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1434z: 4 stations in Europe spotted in 4 different countries.

At one time I held a UK TX permit for 8m that I had to pay for. Comparing 8m with 6m, I decided not to renew it. I do not regret my decision.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

2026-06-03T10:28:22.023+01:00

My beacon was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 2011z: Spotted by 101 stations. Amazing Es. Now QRT.

Canterbury last week

2026-06-03T09:55:16.411+01:00

One of our sons lives in Canterbury, Kent, UK.

The photo, taken by our son, shows us walking back to his car with our granddaughter.

6m 3W FT8 (Wednesday)

2026-06-03T09:52:03.968+01:00

My gear was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 1120z: Spotted by 264 stations here so far today. See map. Best Es yet.