iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I've really enjoyed using the "Pipstrelle Mini" bat detector this year. Well worth the money and a good step up from the DIY thing I previously used.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Spotted this German submarine sitting in Leith Docks last night. #Edinburgh #leithdocks #submarine

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Great turnout for the national demo in Glasgow this afternoon. A very dignified and mindful silent march through the city streets.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Almost forgot to take the obligatory radio photo up on Ben Cleuch (GM/SS-059) this afternoon. It's not the biggest of hills, but it's deceptively steep. 12 in the log on 20m CW, using the QMX and a telescopic vertical. ✊

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Just ordered this guide to working 80m and top band....

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

An enjoyable hour up on spartleton hill (GM/SS-182) earlier this evening. 26 in the log on 20m and 40m CW using the Xiegu x6200 and an EFHW antenna. No records broken but good fun, as always.

Xiegu x6200 radio and morse code key on a hill top with an antenna mast in the distance

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

"Freqout pedal, my arse". The Bobfather expresses his opinion on modern effects pedals. He's more of a simple signal path guy.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

An enjoyable afternoon/evening up on Black Hill, firing off the dits and dahs to those that could hear me. Ok results on 20m, so-so on 40m and a couple across the pond on 17m. Still using the telescopic vertical. It's an easier set-up than the EFHW but I'm not convinced it's a better performer.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Saturday evening provided me the opportunity to capture this, probably one of my finest aviation shots. Behold the mighty C-17 Globemaster, flanked by two Typhoons as they fly over Edinburgh castle. Think I might have this one framed.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The LA Philharmonic were ridiculously good this evening, up at the Usher Hall. First half was Beethoven 6. Second half was Thomas Adès "Inferno", which was just incredible.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

An excellent evening! Solar shenanigans, followed by Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra, up at the usher hall.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

And today's prize for Most Excellent Yellow Lines goes to the Thriepmuir team with their Picasso-inspired installation. Beautiful interpretation, sensitively executed👌

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

More Rifa Madness.... The amount of smoke and stink these things can spew out never fails to impress. These lasted about 14 years before shitting the bed. #nord #rifa #stinkycaps

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Thank you, Mr Byrne. That was spectacular!

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I had this radio as a kid in the 70's, and spent so many hours listening to all the stations that appeared on MW and LW in the evenings. I've been looking out for one at a sensible price and now, finally, here it is. Anything with a Photon Beam Control can't be bad, can it?

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Another spot of QRP morse therapy yesterday evening up in the lammermuir hills. I even brought a VHF radio, just in case. Glad I did as I had a nice QSO with GM4MTC who was way up North, camping on a SOTA summit (gm/es-031).

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Lovely to see this osprey as it was doing its thing over Whiteadder reservoir yesterday evening. I've not seen one there before. #osprey #rspb #eastlothian #birdwatching

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

@netflix.com Describing your new film about the Costa Concordia disaster as an "immersive documentary" is in poor taste.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I dropped an "M" today and operated as m0ivr from Lindisfarne island, down in not-Scotland. 10 in the log on 20m CW, using the QMX and a telescopic vertical. Conditions on 20m didn't seem great, but we got there in the end. #pota #hamradio #qmp #qrp

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Slight change of venue this evening for a spot of QRP radio fun. Using the trusty old Xiegu X5105 and a vertical whip. Only six in the log on CW for 45 minutes of effort. Not enough to "activate the park", but enough to keep this guy happy for a bit. Two into the USA and the rest round Europe.

Playing radio down by the beach with the Xiegu x5105

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Interesting splash of sunset light through the trees earlier. I don't think I've ever seen such strong Ready Brek vibes!

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Excellent performance of Dracula at the festival theatre this evening. Shame it was let down a bit by muddy sounding PA.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I've been very much enjoying the tiny "rooster" CW kit radio from Kanga. This one puts out about 1W on 7030.1 kHz and has already had nice QSO's into Norway and Wales. Both with good signal reports.

Photo of small Rooster CW transceiver kit from Kanga Kits in the UK.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Dodging the hail showers on Scald Law (GM/SS-125) earlier to release some SOTA dits and dahs. It's been a while! The Xiegu X6200 seemed to do the job fairly well but I think I'll revert back to the little QMX radio for the next one. #hamradio #SOTA #Xiegu #flippincold #CW #morsecode

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

35 in the log from the car. All on 5W CW. That station in New Mexico did well to hear me!

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

The Xiegu x6200, despite its MANY faults, is a fun radio to use in the car. 5 watts of CW into an ampro antenna was enough to get through on my first or second calls to most of the ARRL contest stations on 15m earlier. Dah dit diddly dah...

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

This guy was working his/her way along the pools down at Aberlady Bay, munching through anything that moved. It was about 20ft in front of us at one point and totally focused on the job in hand (paw?). #eastlothian #rspb #aberladybay #otter youtu.be/46JpBFB22Nk?...

youtu.be

Aberlady Otter - 15th Feb 2026

YouTube video by Ronan Cantwell

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Ok, I've gone over to the dark side temporarily... After seeing posts on here about the tiny Cardputer running FT8, I had to give it a go. As of last night, there's an MD5Launcher compatible version of Mini-FT8 available on GitHub. It's pretty impressive and soooooo teenyweeny!

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Holy tiny capacitors, Batman. If these things get any smaller, Farnell will start using insects to deliver them!

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Sending CW with a straight key will (probably) always be my favourite mode of communication. I have, however, decided to meddle with the dark side and have bought the new Xiegu paddles. I apologise in advance for all the extra dits . . . . . . . .

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Spectacular aurora late last night! Here's the view from the beach at fisherrow in Musselburgh, looking west towards Edinburgh and Arthur's seat. I'm glad I dragged myself out of bed although I ended up down there till about 4am watching the sky shenanigans so apologies to those I grumbled at today.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Finally! China is in the log. I managed to get BG0DLA on 15m CW using a hefty 5 Watts.... Result 👍👍

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

It would appear that the morse key I use for /p isn't just a straight key. It can also be used as a bug! #hamradio #VeryWeakJoke #CW #morse #amateurradio #SOTA

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

I opted for an after-work wander up Spartleton hill yesterday evening since the temperature was still in the mid-to-high uncomfortables... It was insect city up there so I'm glad I remembered the smidge! Not too many in the log but good fun nonetheless. #QMX #CW #QRP #hamradio #efhw

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I was out again on Sunday with the mighty QMX radio for a local 2-point SOTA summit GM/SS-148. 35 in the log with 15 of those being on SSB! The firmware is still a Beta version but SSB performance is already very good with my teeny-tiny mic.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Honoured to get QRP royalty Peter, VK3YE, in the log yesterday. We were both using 5 Watts. I was operating from the car, parked at Longniddry, near Edinburgh while Peter was 10500 miles away on a beach near Melbourne. Our QSO is about 9 mins and 40 secs in to the video. youtu.be/IqG-Wmkt_bY?...

youtu.be

POTA PORTABLE: 15 Europeans with 5 watts

YouTube video by Amateur Radio VK3YE

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Glorious weather today, although a bit windy, on the summit of Ben Chonzie. I had great fun using the tiny QMX radio for a quick(ish) SOTA activation (GM/SS-015). Conditions seemed a bit subdued, with most signals being fairly quiet compared to the usual. 16 in the log and another 6 SOTA points.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

This last week or so, I've been trying to change my routine a bit. I've been setting the alarm for silly o'clock and heading off in the car for a bit of early morning QRP radio by the sea before going to work.... What a great way to start the day. #qrp #hamradio #amateurradio #radio #cw #morsecode

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Saturday SOTA up on Minch Moor GM/SS-133. A bit of a chilly breeze and the odd shower but good fun nonetheless. 32 in the log on CW using the mighty QMX and a linked EFHW.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Getting a bit personal with a faulty Bricasti M7 Reverb processor earlier today. A bit of high-class, but fairly niche DSPorn. All ended well.

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Can't believe the number of panic buyers in Asda. The place was HEAVING! I only popped in for milk, and bread and candles and dried fruit and toilet rolls and iodine tablets and rope #bitofabreeze

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Another wee ditty. Smooth, cheesy and a bit funky. Like a warm dairylea triangle in your back pocket.... #behringer #behringercrave #crave #cheesy #nux #nuxmg30 #guitar youtu.be/xJ-ub69Fm4k?...

youtu.be

Cravey

YouTube video by Ronan Cantwell

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Another fun patch on the Behringer Grind... Sounds a bit like something or other. 🤔. All guitars and bass recorded through the NUX MG-30. #behringer #behringergrind #nux #mg30 #cheese youtu.be/_mgJqxgaKOY?...

youtu.be

Fooled

YouTube video by Ronan Cantwell

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Very impressed with the new Behringer Grind... From analogue drum sounds, through to screeching 303's, there's very little you can't build in this thing! Here's some grindey cheese. youtu.be/8NvFLnHsZGA?...

youtu.be

GRINDER

YouTube video by Ronan Cantwell

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Feeling a bit grim, with a throat like a bag of rusty screws. Think I'll just take it easy tomorrow and find a quiet spot on 20m or 15m for a bit of chilled out CW...... Wonder if there'll be anyone on 🤔

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Ronan MM0IVR @itsronan.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Unleashing the full might of the neglected QCX "classic" on 20m... Should raise the ambient temp by a few degrees. You're welcome.

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