Full QTH locator

QTH locator (10m digit version)

Most times people exchange QTH locators as a 6 letter/number combination but for even greater accuracy, more can be added to give a better fix. My full QTH locator is JO02DG95LK. Note the 95LK on the end of JO02DG.

As an example, on the 25km path to G0LRD the error using 6 digits is around 1km. The actual path (using the full 10 digit locators at each end) is 26.516km. Sometimes the error is such that paths appear longer with 6 digits. It all depends on where in the 6 digit square one sits.

6m quiet so far today (to 1130z)

Just the usual local spots on 6m this morning- G4IKZ, G4KPX and GOLRD copied and no Es as yet. Sunspot count is 133 and 20-30MHz forecast is "normal" today.

President Lincoln II transceiver

The price of this rig for 10m is still too high and stocks at Nevada are nil, so demand must be good. I am still thinking about getting one, but am in no hurry. 10m remains my favourite band of all.  I'll wait until the bugs are ironed out and the price drops a bit. People say it is just a fancy CB rig. Maybe, but the Mk 1 version was a good radio.  I used a Mk1 version for several years and some impressive DX was worked on SSB.

See http://www.president-electronics.com/en/The_CB_Radios/Fiche_produit.php?REF=TXSE041

G4IKZ (6m) - turning his beam?

Nick G4IKZ (18km) has been spotting me some 24dB weaker on 6m WSPR in the last 30 minutes or so. I suspect he has just rotated his horizontal beam, maybe towards the USA or Caribbean in the hope of seeing some super-DX by multi-hop Es. I am using just a V2000 vertical (omni) and where his beam is normally aiming (Europe?) the cross-polarisation loss is minimal.

40m,20m,10m WSPR, then back on 6m

Just for a brief change I fired up WSPR on these bands and got EU spots on each band around teatime. On 10m PY2RN (9550km) spotted me, so 10m is still opening N-S over the equator.
 
I have now returned to 6m WSPR and have spotted IK1WVQ (1084km) but only been spotted locally myself this evening.

6m - Sunday

Saturday we went to Canterbury on the train to see my son and family, so no amateur radio yesterday. Was going to listen for G4BAO's test 70cm beacon on my vertical, but John has turned it off I hear.

I have been on 6m WSPR (1W ERP) since just before lunchtime and  DL4MFC (916km) and DK1KW (914km) have spotted me by Es. Also spotting me are the usual locals. Just  been spotted by EA6ZL (1485km) at 1226z at a strong -5dB S/N.

I spotted OE9ICI (857km) at 1230z running QRO fifty watts! Why?? He would have been good copy at 5W or less. WSPR is a WEAK SIGNAL mode and running high power is just daft and a waste. I expect it was one of his first attempts! He will soon learn.

Lots of 6m EU Es evident. 6m seems to be open in most EU directions.

G4BAO - 70cm new beacon testing

John G4BAO (about 8km) has been testing beacon bits for the new 70cm UK beacon network, at 1mW level so far, to a vertically polarised antenna. Not knowing his polarisation, last evening I copied the 1mW signal on my 5 el horizontal 70cm beam at about 559 by ear. Signal is about the same level as the Kent beacon on 2m here.

I will look for his test beacon (G4JNT design,, GPS disciplined) on my V2000 vertical to avoid cross-polarisation losses, if still on the air. Frequency is/was temporarily 432.440MHz.  The beacon sends FSK and JT65.

It will be excellent when the UK 70cm beacon network is running again. At the moment, the only beacon I can copy frequently is in Holland! GB3BSL (Bristol 70cm beacon) used to be a decent signal here and was a good propagation indicator, sadly now QRT like most of the original 70cm UK beacon network.

New 5MHz amateur band soon?

Many countries have allocated small sections close to 5MHz for amateur use. In the UK, these sub-bands are available only by NoV.  At the WRC2015 it is possible a contiguous 5MHz band may be allocated worldwide to the amateur community. If this happens, it will be an interesting band but even if it happens it could be some years before it becomes widely available.

Up to now I have only been on 5MHz a couple of times with WSPR with an indifferent antenna with moderate success. I got an NoV over a year ago.

10m antenna

Homebase-10 10m halo antenna

My reports on 10m seem to be a bit down on those received by others. This may be due to the directionality of my end-fed PAR wire antenna that also covers 20m and 40m or just that the Par antenna is down on a better 10m antenna. I am wondering whether to erect a vertical for 10m (noisy on RX?) or my 10m Homebase-10 horizontal halo antenna which was featured some years ago in PW magazine and is described on my website.

The Homebase-10 antenna worked well and is nearly omni-directional. My problem is where should it go? Although quite a low visual impact antenna, it needs a mast to get it up in the air and in the clear. Something else would have to come down to make room and I like the antennas I have up at the moment.

G4IKZ weaker today

Nick, G4IKZ (18km) is weaker this morning, I assume because he has pointed his beam in a slightly different direction. Others copied today are G4KPX (14km) and CN8LI (2113km) yet again.

Sunspot count is down to 70 today but 20-30MHz conditions are "normal".  Maybe 10m will be less good today?  I shall stick with 6m Es searching.on WSPR.

UPDATE 1742z:  All afternoon it has been G4IKZ alone with 20+ spots since lunch.   Apart from CN8LI's spots several times before lunch no Es noticed on 6m today (well not yet).

UPDATE 2125z:  Still no sign of Es this evening.  Will be closing down soon.