New VLF DX record today: 5.6km on 838Hz earth mode

Today I resumed my VLF earth mode tests using 4W into 20m spaced earth electrodes. The aim of the test today was to determine the absolute maximum range possible by utilities assisted earth mode. Best result was 5.6km along Commissioner's Fen to the west of Burwell. Signals were just copied at this distance using the 80cm 30 turn loop and preamp into the PC running Spectran. A test a 6km resulted in no detectable signal.

An amateur solar plane "satellite"?

Recently, Qinetic managed to keep a solar power plane aloft for 7 days using its onboard navigation to keep it over a fixed location and using solar cells to top up batteries to keep it flying at night. Could such solar powered flying devices could be used as "satellites" flying a few miles above the earth to support amateur VHF/UHF repeaters and experiments i.e. a more sophisticated version of balloon experiments?  See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10664362 .

More 8.97kHz operation from Germany

Just seen this post on the LF reflector from Horst DO1KHS/DI2AN :

"As you know I am planning tests on Dreamers Band from 24. July 2010 on our fieldday at Erpeler Ley, JO30ON.  I will install a 800m earth base. Possibly there is a chance for me to leave the near field. So watch out for my signal.  Beside that there is much space for near field test. So I can compare my vertical antenna with the tv transformer to the big earth base. I will be online there via UMTS so I can give you the details here in the reflector."

So, some further 8.97kHz operation from Germany next week. More details of power, mode etc expected next week but he is expecting to run 100W with QRSS600 and plain carrier.

70MHz, Icom and Yaesu

There are now approaching 40 DXCC countries granting access to the 70MHz (4m) band and further countries are granting access every few months it appears. See  http://www.70mhz.org/bands.htm.  I do hope that some of the commercial "big boys" such as Yaesu and Icom start to make VHF multimode rigs that include 4m in future. It can't be too difficult to add this band. Apart from the latest ChineseWouxun FM handportables (see  www.wouxun.co.uk) and ex-PMR units, only the FT847 has 70MHz coverage. Imagine how operation on 4m SSB/CW would take off if Yaesu's FT817 successor has 4m coverage as well.

Technology Page

The Tech the Future page has an interesting mix of articles on new technology and is worth a read from time to time. See http://www.techthefuture.com/

6m northern Es opening

Just took a look on 6m this evening and heard several northern beacons (GB3RMK, GB3LER, OY6BEC) and worked GM8IEM in IO78 square way up on the north of Scotland followed by GM4DZX in IO88 on CW.  Nothing else about, but this sort of opening to more northern areas is common at this time in the Es season.

Fabulous noctilucent cloud image

Check out this image of a noctilucent cloud formation. See http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2010/10jul10/CROISIER-Alexandre1.jpg

Soundcard based VLF receiver

SM6LKM has a very neat sound card based VLF receiver ideal for listening to sub-9kHz ham signals and SAQ on 17.2kHz. On his website you can download the files and instructions.

Noctilucent Cloud storm

Recent nights have been good for these high altitude night-time visible mesospheric clouds which return strong microwave echoes, so should be good for 10GHz super-DX. See www.spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT STORM: Last night, sky watchers in Europe witnessed the finest display of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) so far this year. Electric-blue tendrils spread as far south as France:"I could see the NLCs from my window," says photographer Alexandre Croisier of Brittany, France. "So I rushed down to the beach to take this picture--a 6 second exposure with my Canon 350D.  

In England, the same display stretched from horizon to horizon. "There was quite a lot of detail visible, including swirls and tiger stripes," reports Mark Jones of Leamington Spa, UK. Even city lights did not overwhelm the NLCs. "I had no trouble seeing them from southwest London," says onlooker Maurice Gavin.

July is often the best month of the year to see these mysterious clouds. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for electric blue in the nights ahead.

iPhone electronics toolbox app

http://www.iphone.roskosch.de/electronictoolbox.php has a useful app for the iPhone (and Touch?) which allows you to carry out lots of useful electronics calculations.