900 MHz band in the USA

Apparently, the main user of this band over there is proposing a major change of use that could negatively impact secondary users like amateur radio. 

ARRL is trying to oppose the changes. 

Not being in the USA I have no idea how active the band is.

Lightning risk

One thing that could disrupt amateur radio today and tomorrow is the risk of storms and lightning. If there is a risk I shall disconnect things and go QRT. A useful guide is the lightning map. I am pretty sure this is available for all parts of the world. One can zoom in and out.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org .

Sunset - NOT amateur radio

Although "our" windmill was on yesterday, I think this sunset photo, taken by my wife last evening,  is too good not to share. It's our laurel hedge in the foreground and this was taken through the lounge window.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

 Although my QRP beacon has been on since about 0820z, no spots.

UPDATE 0926z:  No spots.

UPDATE  1520z:  Spotted by 3 stations today. See table.

UPDATE 2000z:  QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on about 0820z. So far  (at 0846z) spotted by 8 UK stations. See map.

UPDATE 0955z: Still just 8 people spotting me this morning.

UPDATE  1524z:  16 stations spotting me today. Mostly UK, but a couple of more distant stations. See map.

UPDATE 2003z:  QRT.

We tried - NOT amateur radio

We tried to grow some peppers, but failed!!

The moral seems to be “stick to the day job “ and next year buy them from the supermarket.

Saturday plans

 Assuming the thunder stays away, I plan to go on 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8.

Sunspots - Saturday August 31st

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 143. A=23 and K=4.

Italy legally on 8m

It has come to my attention that Italian amateurs (for a limited time) have amateur access to 40.66-40.70MHz. 

This will be interesting when F2 propagation really kicks in. They are far enough south to catch some TEP and I expect they will have QSOs with the Caribbean.

What I do not know is do other administrations allow similar access? 

As I keep saying, just 5kHz, a low ERP, no SSB, narrow digital modes only, limited time, strictly no interference, by NoV or equivalent, would allow widespread free propagation research. Personally I cannot see the issue when 40.66-40.70 MHz is already allocated to ISM, licence free gadgets. 

Is the problem that people in many PTTs are ignorant and stupid? Or is it just the military trying to keep the spectrum as clear as they can "just in case". Also most PTTs see only hassle and no money.

Now and the coming months are the best times for 8m propagation research.

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 

This is probably our favourite cathedral known as the “ship of the fens”. It can be seen from miles away standing proudly on a hill . As locals we get free entry.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_Cathedral .

Windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

This has been on many times! It is another view of the windmill right next door. We can see it from the kitchen and lounge.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 Already 2 stations in central Europe have spotted my QRP beacon, even though it has only been on about 30 minutes.

UPDATE 1526z: Spotted by 6 stations including W4CLQ (5204km). Good to see a spot from the USA.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W system has been on since about 0800z. So far, just English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1044z:  16 stations have spotted my QRP. 

UPDATE 1635z:  20 stations have spotted me. See map.

Rally this Sunday

 This has been notifed to me. Usual caveats about travelling a long way apply.

Sunday September 1st - Telford Hamfest and GQRP Club Convention, Telford, TF10 8NB. Contact hamfest@tdars.org.uk .

Russian Ruble exchange rate - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I watched a YouTube video about the Russian Ruble.  

It explained that inflation in Russia was high and going higher and that the value of the Russian Ruble was declining against other currencies. The Russian central bank had been trying to buy Rubles to keep the exchange rate up, but was failing.

I do hope a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine may be found.

Sunspots - Friday August 30th

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 124. A=5 and K=1.

UK taxes - NOT amateur radio

No matter how you voted in the UK, the present government has some big issues in the short-term. Basically it needs more tax to cover the things it wants to support and to pay debt interest. 

More people are moving away from fossil fuelled vehicles. Electric cars are still very much in the minority, but I still see 5 times more than just a few years ago. In the end, most will move away from fossil fuels, but this will generate less tax income. One suggestion was a charge per mile driven instead.

There is a lot of controversy over the winter fuel allowance. At the moment we all get it whether very poor or very rich, but current plans are to stop this totally unless you get pension credit payment. Why not increase the tax free allowance so those in the greatest need pay less tax? They could keep the tax boundaries so those on higher income pay more?

Surely a very high tax on big land owners is sensible? They can easily afford to pay.

Also, a very small tax on all share trades would be unlikely to impact the poorest, but would hardly affect the richest?

Amazon algorithms - NOT amateur radio

It is interesting (and annoying!) that when you have recently bought something you are bombarded by emails recommending you will buy the very same items, or very similar, again! 

Surely they can adjust their algorithms to not bombard you with the same thing for several months? I am sure even I could do this!

Some time ago we bought our grandson some books to help with GCSE revision. He took his exams months ago, yet I still get told about the same, or very similar, items!

Not Amazon, I ran a group on miracle whip antennas some years ago. Some people got the completely wrong idea!!  😁

Yaesu FTX-1F price

Yaesu and the dealers have a difficult job with price. 

They want to compete with the ICOM IC-705, have it as an FT817/818 replacement, but also compete with the Chinese. In my view, they have to capture the mass market or Yaesu could quit the amateur radio market. 

In my view it has to be less than £1k.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 0800z.

Stations spotting my
6m QRP FT8  today

UPDATE 0828z:   Just 7 English stations have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1120z: 15 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today. 

UPDATE 1435z:  47 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2019z:   73 stations have spotted me. QRT shortly. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

Furthermost (probably F2) was YO2MAX (1802km) who spotted me very early.

UPDATE 2017z:  Spotted by 15 stations across Europe. See table. Now QRT.

Plans for Thursday

Although conditions could be disturbed again my plan is to try QRP 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR. 

Shaft of light - NOT amateur radio

 This was taken by my wife a few days ago and shows a shaft of sunlight in our hall. 

Converting Google Photos HEIC file to JPG - NOT amateur radio

 My photos and videos are backed up to Google Photos. The trouble is these are HEIC files . To convert these to JPG I saw this tool on the internet which does the conversion online.

See https://www.freeconvert.com/heic-to-jpg .

Sunspots - Thursday August 29th

 Solar flux is 212 and the SSN 163. A=26 and K=2.

Flightradar24 - NOT amateur radio

Our younger son is returning from a few weeks with his in-laws who live in Australia. They had a few nights in Dubai to break the journey otherwise it is a very long way! 

We can track the trip with Flightradar24 which is a free app paid for by adverts. With a paid subscription you can get extra features.

See https://www.flightradar24.com .  There are a number of very similar named apps. Be sure to get the correct one! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

Although my QRP beacon has been on most of the morning, no spots. I suspect there’s a problem with WSPRnet. Someone mentioned a radio blackout today. if correct, this might have been the reason?

UPDATE 1953z:  4 stations spotted me in the end today. See table.

Old School Lane, Cambridge -NOT amateur radio

This is Old School Lane in Cambridge, home of the of the original Cavendish Laboratory where many Nobel prizes were won.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 28th

 Solar flux is 212 and the SSN 170. A=28 and K=2.

4m on the Yaesu FTX-1F

According to something I was sent by Steve G1KQH and the MLS pages, it looks like this new radio will ship with 4m.This must be a good USP along with 2m and 70cm.

UPDATE 1442z: Steve has pointed out that Bangood sell the MCHF radio for £264.52.  I think this is made in China. Pretty sure this is a clone.....but the price! I am always nervous about Chinese quality control, but they will get there and really frighten the Japanese. We already buy most of our consumer goods from China.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/ftx-1f. 

Kings College Chapel, Cambridge NOT amateur radio

 

This is King’s College Chapel from an unusual angle.  

We go here most weeks.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 1245z. It looks like I caught a small patch of Es to Portugal. 

UPDATE 1826z:  Spotted VE1SKY (4730km) on 6m FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Not sure if this was F2 or a brief patch of Es.  15 stations have spotted me today.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 

My beacon was turned on at about 1245z. So far, spotted by 3 stations.

UPDATE 1822z: Spotted by 4 stations today. I think these were mostly F2.

Lego dolphin - NOT amateur radio

In the Grand Arcade in Cambridge is a series of animals made from Lego.

Pulls Ferry - NOT amateur radio

 Last month we visited Norwich. Pulls Ferry is where the stones to build Norwich Cathedral came through from Caen in France 🇫🇷.

Tuesday plans

 My current plans are the same as yesterday with QRP 6m FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 27th

 Solar flux is 232 and the SSN 202. A=5 and K=1.

More Google crappery - NOT amateur radio

Just now I got another email from Google. It was entitled "Moving the policies for video inventory to the Google Publisher Restrictions". Having read it several times, I am none the wiser! 

Why do they bother?

Classic Car Day - NOT amateur radio

Every year the museum next door holds a Classic Car Day. It is always very popular with loads of classic cars and motor bikes.

Although biased, it probably ranks as one of the very best local museums in the UK. It is vast.

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Most of the morning I have been on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W QRP. Lots of Es (I think!).

UPDATE 1037z: 36 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 2127z: Spotted by 105 stations today.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW  beacon has been on most of the morning. Spotted by 30 stations. See table.

UPDATE 1617z:   66 stations have spotted me today. I think this is a mixture of Es and F2 propagation.

WISPY 2012

 

Many years ago I designed and built this circuit for 10m WSPR. It was later adapted for 10m FT8. It works really well.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-wispy .

Monday plans

Today I shall stick with 6m QRP FT8 but unlike yesterday (I forgot!) I shall also be on 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW beacon.

Sunspots - Monday August 26th

 Solar flux is 233 and the SSN 178. A=7 and K=2.

70cm Moxon antenna

A reminder that 70cm antennas do not have to be expensive. 

This is a Moxon made from an old coat hanger. It took me about 30 minutes to assemble and worked some useful DX when out portable on QRP SSB. 

Antennas do not have to be pretty to work!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/70cm-moxon .

Classic Car Day - NOT amateur radio

This day at our museum next door is always popular with stacks of classic cars. The windmill sails are turning on a glorious morning.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 0800z.

UPDATE 09510z:  14 stations have spotted me. 10 stations spotted on RX including several from southern Europe.

UPDATE 1934z:   39 stations have spotted my QRP  6m FT8 today. See map. QRT soon.

Sunspots- Sunday August 25th

 Solar flux is 232 and the SSN 172. A=10 and K=2.

Bird roosters - NOT amateur radio

We get fewer small birds in the garden than we did some years ago. In the hope of helping more small birds to survive the winter I have bought some raffia roosters to sleep in overnight.

I hope they get used to these and use them.  These are mainly placed in the tree nearest the bird feeders.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Stations spotting my 2.5W
10m FT8 up to about 1120z

10m FT8  is "humming" with plenty of stations spotted with the furthermost VK3WK (16832km). In all, my 2.5W FT8 has already been spotted by 161 stations. The map shows the stations spotting me until about 15 minutes ago.

Stations spotted here
on 10m FT8 today

UPDATE 2052z:   So far today, I have spotted 565 stations on 10m FT8 and 346 stations have spotted my 2.5W 10m FT8 today. QRT shortly.

Sunspots - Saturday August 24th

 Solar flux is 242 and the SSN 180. A=7 and K=3.

OFCOM updates

OFCOM regularly updates the information it holds on licence numbers etc.. Please see the OFCOM website for the latest.

365project - NOT amateur radio

One of the things I like about 365project is seeing a "window on the world". 

The idea is to post a photo a day. At $19.99 you can have more albums and privacy, but otherwise it is totally free. It has no connection whatsoever with Microsoft.

This photo was taken in the Faroe Islands and recently posted. This is a place I am very unlikely to visit.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands .

OSCAR 100 activity

Every few weeks I like to give an update on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. It has been in orbit now for several years. 

Apart from those keen to assemble a ground station (fixed, small antenna, no tower, much of the world in range day and night, no QSB etc.) it has been under-used. 

The last peek was a Friday evening in Europe. Once again it was sadly quiet. 

It has never appealed to me, but I was quite surprised it was not more popular. Based on this satellite, I can't see another for some time.

By now, I was expecting it to be busy. It is not.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb .

Homegrown tomatoes - NOT amateur radio

For some reason, tomatoes grown yourself always taste better! 

With the tomato bags, feed etc, I am sure they cost more than at the local supermarket, but they smell and taste great. These are some of the first this year.

Yaesu competitor to ICOM IC-705?

Although not available until next year MLS has announced a Yaesu competitor to the ICOM IC-705. At the moment I don’t know the price, but it has to be well below £1k to compete with the Chinese . This HAS to sell well for Yaesu's sake. Expect the IC-705 to drop in price!

The exchange rate against the Yen has improved a lot in the last few months.

I wonder if Yaesu has considered designing in Japan but manufacturing in a low cost area?

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/ftx-1f .

More something for nothing

 

Many years ago I experimented with this QRP transceiver circuit on 80m CW. It is hard to find anything much simpler!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

 

This was one of my granddaughters yesterday at our home.

My dad over 100 years ago - NOT amateur radio

 

This was my dad over 100 years ago at Infants School. He is in the back row 4th from the right.

10m QRP (Friday)

Currently on 10m FT8 with my 2.5W. 

UPDATE 0929z:  Spotted by 62 stations already this morning and on RX the furthermost (115 spotted!) is VK6RK (14469km). 

Stations spotted here in the last day on 10m FT8

UPDATE  2024z:  132 stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP FT8. 705 stations spotted here in the last day (see map).

Sunspots- Friday August 23rd

 Solar flux is 231 and the SSN 175. A=10 and K=2.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 About an hour ago, I decided to go on 10m FT8 instead of WSPR. 

UPDATE 1715z:  43 stations have been spotted and 4 stations have spotted me. See map for the stations spotted here today.

UPDATE 1905z:  Spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost ZS1TX (9753km). 69 stations spotted here on RX.

Rallies this weekend

For many in the UK, Monday is a public holiday, so Monday is also a rally day. As always, check the details are correct before going on a long drive.

• Sunday August 25th - Milton Keynes ARS Rally, Milton Keynes, MK8 9AA. Contact rally@mkars.org.uk .
• Sunday  August 25th - Torbay Annual Communications Fair, Newton Abbot , TQ12 3SF. Contact rally@tars.org.uk .
• Monday August 26th - Huntingdonshire ARS Rally, St Neots, PE19 2SH . Contact henry_hirst@hotmail.com .

Tenner - QRP CW on 10m

This rig is many years old. It is simple, but it worked lots of DX. 

As I recall, it produced about 500mW of CW.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-tenner-qrp-cw . 

Baby crocodile - NOT amateur radio

 

When I saw this twig on our walk yesterday, I immediately thought of a baby crocodile. 

I know it is not, but it is funny how the mind works.

Solar peak - cycle 25

My favourite site for solar data is now showing the smoothed peak of cycle 25 as this October at 162.8. At one time they were showing a much smaller peak last November. 

This suggests good F2 conditions this autumn and spring.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0800z. 

UPDATE 1525z:  No spots. I suspect fewer people use WSPR now preferring FT8. Perhaps I should try 10m FT8 tomorrow?

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My QRP 6m FT8 was turned on about 0800z.  

UPDATE 1046z:  10 English stations have spotted me See map.

UPDATE 1255z:   11 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1518z:  12 stations have spotted me. See map.

Websites and dates

This really annoys me. It would be really helpful if people put dates when webpages were updated. I can’t tell you how often I have seen data only to see it was created some years ago and the data is out of date!! 

As an example CQWW contest website. Dates are shown for 2024, but were these written last year? The last blog update was April. 

This has happened so many times. All it needs is a footer saying when the webpage was last updated.

Sunspots - Thursday August 22nd

 Solar flux is 239 and the SSN 176. A=8 and K=2.

Brandon Country Park - NOT amateur radio

This is about 30km from us. 

It has a series of lovely woodland walks with plenty of heather in bloom on the heath as the photo shows.  

As you would expect with a large quantity of trees, many are felled or fall down naturally.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

Whilst on 6m, I keep forgetting the 10m antenna is available, so I can use my 10m WSPR TX beacon.

UPDATE  0952z:  No spots of me.

UPDATE 1715z:  Spotted by 6 stations.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on about 0800z. 

UPDATE 0843z:  Spotted by 9 English stations. It makes you think how useful 6m FT8 could be inter-G when the band is not "open". Also many of those spotting me so far are probably cross polarised and using horizontal antennas. Just one G spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1721z:  20 stations spotted.  One might be Es.

CQWW contests?

As I recall, CQ magazine has stopped. At one time the CQWW contests were perhaps the most popular in the world. Even without submitting an entry, it was a way to contact new countries. When my voice was good I used to fill pages in the logbook. In later years, it has become too hard for me.

With the demise of CQ, I wonder what is happening with these contests?

Sunspots - Wednesday August 21st

 Solar flux is 244 and the SSN 200. A=7 and K=3.

8m or 6m?

In recent times, I have not been on 8m much, even though I have a UK T&I permit to TX on the 8m band. 

The main reason is I know what the band can do with Es. It is possible to span the European continent with just a few milliwatts of FT8 on 8m. 

The 8m band, being between 10m and 6m, comes into its own when the F2 MUF just exceeds 47MHz. 

With the sunspot count being good recently, it has exceeded 50MHz, especially on N-S paths.  Activity on 6m is much higher, so getting spots is easier than on 8m currently. 

As the F2 MUF goes down, I expect 8m will be more useful showing how the F2 MUF can reach 8m, but not 6m. I shall probably try again on 8m this autumn It would be great if more PTTs allowed amateur access. 

I hope the FCC, OFCOM and the RSGB are listening!

Moulton flowers - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, Moulton (near us) is a delightful village to walk around, with an old packhorse bridge, the church, river, thatched cottages and flowers.