Ryan - G8RKE

@[email protected]
54 Followers
211 Following
1.7K Posts

Licensed radio amateur for (as of 2025) 13 years.
Active on HF, VHF and UHF
Digital Voice enthusiast (C4FM and DMR)

(very) Amateur homelabber

Butler for two cats, Charlie and Robert.

www.g8rke.co.uk

QTHSouth Hampshire
Active onHF, VHF & UHF
ModesSSB, FM, various data modes, C4FM & DMR
Previous/Old CallsignsM6RKE, 2E0RKE
Ryan - G8RKEJul 17, 2025
It's looking a bit black over Bill's Mothers!
Ryan - G8RKEJul 17, 2025
ImogenJul 17, 2025

You decide

Which 17 meter (18 MHz) antenna would you choose?

#Radio #HamRadio

Mast mounted half wave vertical.
26.3%
Ground mounted quarter wave vertical.
5.3%
Half wave dipole at 30 feet or 9 meters
47.4%
End fed random wire with external tuner
21.1%
Poll ended at .
Ryan - G8RKEJul 17, 2025

So the voting age is to be lowered to 16 in England by the next election. Curious to know what you all think about this, regardless if you're in the UK or not.

BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c93kkg37n3kt
Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK by next general election - live updates - BBC News

16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote in next general election - live updates

Lowering the voting age across the UK means around 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at the next general election.

BBC News
Ryan - G8RKEJul 17, 2025
For those interested, this is that new FT1X from Yaesu.
Ryan - G8RKEJul 16, 2025
Went to my local club for the first time this evening and got to have a play with Yaesu's new FT1X and I can safely say that for the first time ever, I want a brand new modern radio.
Ryan - G8RKEJul 16, 2025
Show threadGeorge MonbiotJul 16, 2025
3. They warn of violence in the streets, while subtly inciting it. When it happens, they will shake their heads and say "I told you so".
Ryan - G8RKEJul 16, 2025
Show threadGeorge MonbiotJul 16, 2025
2. And it is dressed in respectability. The people telling you this wear nice suits and ties, live in fine houses, write columns for newspapers that have been in print for centuries, punctuate correctly. But they are as thuggish as any street racist throwing a bin at a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Ryan - G8RKEJul 16, 2025
George MonbiotJul 16, 2025
1. The impacts of predatory capital - impossible rents, failing public services, rising costs of living - are being blamed across the billionaire press on immigrants and Black and Brown people. It's so crude, so obvious, so familiar .... but if you tell the lie often enough, people believe it. 🧵
Show threadRyan - G8RKEJul 15, 2025

I also need to break out my books and figure out if I can add a coil for 60m.

A look at a commercial EFHW for 80m indicates 60m is going to have an SWR of 6:1

I know any antenna is going to be a compromise, but if I can add a coil/trap for 60m (maybe 160m too!) that would be advantageous, although not an immediate issue.

Ryan - G8RKEJul 15, 2025

After speaking to a local ham friend of mine, the new antenna is going to be an 80m end fed half wave.

I would prefer a doublet, but I have everything I need for the end fed so all I need now is for it to rain so I can bury the feeder so it's not a trip hazard