630m - quiet overnight

The lack of G stations on 474.2kHz WSPR was very apparent overnight. My log is very sparse.

Unique 474.2kHz WSPR spots oveernight

From reports given and received, a lot more could have been achieved with more activity.  When I install my longer baseline earth-electrode system,  I'll have another try. I am dependent on others to help me with this because of my stroke.

Amateur satellites

I have only ever had one single SSB contact via an amateur satellite and that was one with a 29MHz downlink many years ago. I cannot recall the satellite or the uplink frequency. I have not bothered since but don't doubt I could have QSOs with a 70cm/2m transponder.  I see from the Southgate amateur radio news pages that the transponder on the FUNcube-1 satellite is to be switched on tomorrow for the weekend.

630m - very quiet so far

With so little local and semi-local activity, I am getting no WSPR results so far this evening on the 630m band. This is more to do with low activity than the earth-electrode antenna system. Lack particularly of G activity is a serious issue: I shall have to abandon the band (with QRP ERP at least) unless more Gs and nearer continentals become active.

UPDATE 1830z:  PA3ABK/2  (306km) was a strong -8dB S/N at 1814z. No-one else!

UPDATE 1915z:  a few spots of me by G6AVK (78km).  No-one else so far this evening.

UPDATE 1940z:  F4DTL (431km) and DF2JP (461km) spotted.

MF again and plans for VLF

This evening, I am re-trying my 15m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" on 474.2kHz WSPR (approx. 5mW ERP) but at the moment there is a distinct lack of in-range stations. I shall keep the system running until tomorrow to see who appears.

The next test may be WSPR at 8-9kHz earth-mode with the same antenna. I may persuade G6ALB to appear on VLF WSPR (3km + away). The match here needs better optimising at VLF.  Presently the earth system looks more like 300ohms resistive at 474.2kHz - a lot higher than at the old QTH.

10m WSPR with new PC

10m WSPRing again now, but with the new Win 8.1 Dell Inspiron 15R PC and 2W RF from the FT817. Immediate success this morning with reports from Russia and Japan in the very first transmission slot. All seems to be well with the new PC.

I am spotting lots of EU stations too as well as PY2WG (9562km) and it is not yet 0930z.

UPDATE 1300z: LZ1OI  is putting in a huge WSPR signal today and I am wondering if this is via Es rather than F layer? 

UPDATE 1350z: as well as transatlantic stations, there are more Europeans in the 10m log today.

WSPR with new Win 8.1 PC

I had a surprise today: my Inspiron 15R does NOT have a touch sensitive screen after all. Dell assure me I did not order, or pay for such a screen  This is not an important feature.

The next surprise was a sort of malware program called "optimizer pro" which managed to install itself and wanted me to buy a subscription to reomve hundreds of errors. A free call to 0800 028 2660 ( the FREE Dell support number) soon had this removed and the PC fully checked remotely. WSPR, Spectran and Ccleaner all installed and worked without issues. Ccleaner is a recommended free download to do the same and a lot more. I run Ccleaner regularly to check PC health.

I tried WSPR on 20m and 10m and the software ran without issues under Win 8.1. A nice surprise with Win 8.1 was that the PC's clock is already sync'd to an internet time server so that timing was not an issue with WSPR. No need to install special software for this purposes.

As far as I can see, Win 8.1 seems to do all I need.

Our bungalow from the top of the Burwell windmill next door

Our bungalow from up the windmill next door

In my present (wobbly balance) state of health because of my stroke , I cannot climb up the inside of the fully restored windmill (above) that is right next door to us.  This morning, our son managed a sneak preview and he took some photos of our bungalow from the very top floor of the mill.

You may see my V2000 vertical and 2m halo on the garage roof if you look at the blown up photo. You may JUST be able to see my HF Par end-fed wire too but you will need to look carefully at the full sized photo.

For the second time this year, a party of school children is visiting the museum, and windmill. The windmill has its official opening on Sunday April 13th.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk.btck.co.uk/StevensMill

The windmill, next to our bungalow, is the highest spot in the village. The church, about 400m away, is on the second highest ground.

A friend has suggested I string a 472kHz antenna up to the top of the windmill! Actually I don't need this - I prefer the view as it is.

Burwell Church from up the windmill

AM and SSB available to UK CBers from July 1st 2014?

According to the Rocket Radio website, AM and SSB will be allowed for UK CB users (for the first time) from July 2014. There will no doubt be a spate of multi-mode rig sales before then. I have no data on frequencies yet. Rigs like the President Lincoln II are 28-29.7MHz only and it is NOT legal to modify these for CB coverage. I guess they will have to get OFCOM type approval for CB versions in the next few months?

New PC due any time now.

According to the tracking data, my new Dell PC has been dispatched from their factory and should be here soon. Assuming all is well, I shall load Spectran and WSPR software and start WSPR tests again. My shack is currently out of action as it is housing my little granddaughter's cot. They go home tomorrow. We will miss them as they have been nice company.

UPDATE 1700z: The new PC has arrived.  I shall start configuring it tomorrow when the grandchildren have gone home.

Netgear Wi-fi Extender

Netgear Wifi Extender

We had intermittent internet coverage in our main bedroom so I invested in a Netgear wi-fi range extender this week from Amazon.co.uk.  Price was just under £28. The unit simply plugs into a free 13A socket with no ugly wires.

The extender takes the off-air packets and regenerates them so the remote signal is considerably improved. It does NOT use the mains wiring to send the signal over. First impressions are good, with a strong signal now in the bedroom. Setting up the extender was simplicity itself.  We'll see how it works over the next few weeks.

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009C9FQNQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .

I may invest in another for the radio shack where coverage is not that brilliant. I need to watch switch-mode PSU noise though. This is unimportant in the bedroom but might be an issue with weak signals. At least I can try the bedroom unit in the shack first before buying another.