See http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/ .
Steve, G1KQH has just started his own blog. Steve has frequently supplied useful information to me. I usually post these gems to my blog. I wish him well with his new venture. Personally I find blogging compliments what I do in amateur radio, compliments my main website http://www.g3xbm.co.uk and acts as a diary for future reference. I find it fun to share my exploits with others. I hope my readers enjoy it too.
Steve, best of luck with your blog.
10 Oct 2014
10m JT65 and JT9-1
As my wife was having "girly" friends around I was banished to the shack. Usually, since my illness, I turn on WSPR in the shack and monitor progress in the lounge on another PC. WSPR beaconing usually suits my health as it requires minimal intervention.
As I was actually in the shack today, I took the opportunity to try JT65 and JT9-1 modes on 10m. On JT65 I worked the USA, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia and on JT9-1 I worked the USA. Time was limited and I am sure lots more could have been worked.
Since the guests went I QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. As before, the same stations are being spotted and are spotting me, which is disappointing.
As I was actually in the shack today, I took the opportunity to try JT65 and JT9-1 modes on 10m. On JT65 I worked the USA, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia and on JT9-1 I worked the USA. Time was limited and I am sure lots more could have been worked.
Since the guests went I QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. As before, the same stations are being spotted and are spotting me, which is disappointing.
Driving again after 13 months
For 13 months I have not been allowed to drive because of my brain bleed. I have had to rely on my wife totally.
Today, I drove to and from the local garden centres at Fordham. This is a round trip of nearly 10 miles. Both the neurosurgeon and my doctor said "yes" and DVLA agreed I could drive again. I informed the insurer too just in case. I would probably not want to drive too far for a while, but at least I can drive again locally. This is a major step for me. Just a little more independence.
With luck, I hope to be able to resume some amateur radio field experiments quite soon. I am still wobbly on my feet though. It would be good to try some earth-mode tests from this QTH.
Today, I drove to and from the local garden centres at Fordham. This is a round trip of nearly 10 miles. Both the neurosurgeon and my doctor said "yes" and DVLA agreed I could drive again. I informed the insurer too just in case. I would probably not want to drive too far for a while, but at least I can drive again locally. This is a major step for me. Just a little more independence.
With luck, I hope to be able to resume some amateur radio field experiments quite soon. I am still wobbly on my feet though. It would be good to try some earth-mode tests from this QTH.
10m to North and South America
10m is again wide open, with lots of stateside stations spotting my 2W or I am spotting them. In addition, CX2ABP (11127km) in Montevideo has already been spotted here 5 times so far.
RA3APW's 100mW to an indoor whip from Moscow is again blasting in here and Karen has been a good signal a lot of the day so far. In all, another good day on 10m WSPR.
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| 10m WSPR spots from a single 2 minute TX burst today |
146-147MHz to full UK radio amateurs soon
Today, OFCOM announced that 146-147MHz will be temporarily released to full UK licencees from Oct 31st this year, by NoV. Personally, I would have preferred other parts of the spectrum to have been released instead as 2m is never that busy, at least it is very quiet usually around here. If you plan to operate 146-147MHz in the UK you will need to get an NoV via the RSGB. Note that this is temporary.
I wrote to OFCOM suggesting officially allowing UK amateurs access legally to sub 8.3kHz, re-releasing the 73kHz band and a new allocation around 40MHz (ideal for Es experiments). In OFCOM's release they say I asked for a new band at 400MHz. I did not.
I wrote to OFCOM suggesting officially allowing UK amateurs access legally to sub 8.3kHz, re-releasing the 73kHz band and a new allocation around 40MHz (ideal for Es experiments). In OFCOM's release they say I asked for a new band at 400MHz. I did not.
Japan on 10m WSPR
JO3VSR (9403km) using 5W was copied on 10m WSPR at 0854z this morning at a strong -16dB S/N. In addition, lots of stations across Europe have been spotted. Conditions on 10m are still pretty good.
UPDATE 0924z: 4X1RF (3519km) just spotted on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 0924z: 4X1RF (3519km) just spotted on 10m WSPR.
Sunspot activity
The sunspot count today is 65 (slipping lower gradually) and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal". F2 long distance 10m propagation is probable.
I think we are seeing the slow post-peak decline now. It will be some years before conditions on 10m hit rock bottom though. This autumn and winter should still be very good on the higher HF bands.
I think we are seeing the slow post-peak decline now. It will be some years before conditions on 10m hit rock bottom though. This autumn and winter should still be very good on the higher HF bands.
9 Oct 2014
472kHz WSPR - instant success
Since QSYing back to 472kHz (630m) I have met with instant success: up to 5 reports per 2 minute WSPR TX transmission. No new reporters as yet, but lots of support on 472kHz this evening. Last time I looked there were 59 stations active, a new record. G3ZJO seems to be receiving better and putting out a stronger signal recently.
6m WSPR today so far - a non-event?
Well, I am trying! Despite the low level, apparently, of activity on 6m WSPR, I have been active most of the day on RX and TX. So far - it is now 1510z - I have spotted and been spotted by precisely nobody at all! No locals, no GDX, no surprise Europeans, nothing at all. I have checked and double checked that all is working and antennas are connected. All are. Today was just a bad day with nothing, so far at least, to show for my efforts. I even advertised my presence twice on the "chat" facility on WSPRnet. A station on the south coast of the UK said he was also trying 6m. I'll keep trying for a few more hours. Things just might change.
Even on 472kHz last night I was frequently getting 4 reports a call with just 5mW ERP. On 6m I am using an ERP of around 1W (30dBm) but it is doing me no good it seems!
There are just 16 spots for 6m in the worldwide WSPRnet database today. Not the best of days clearly!
UPDATE 1615z: Just looked at the 10m database on WSPRnet. Although there is some transatlantic activity, it is not exactly great. Looks like today has been quite poor generally.
UPDATE 1922z: Still no reports in/out on 6m.Will be QSYing to 472kHz WSPR shortly.
UPDATE 1924z: Well, that was a waste of time on 6m today. Not a single report given or received all day on 6m, and others seemed to be having a bad time too. QSYing now to 472kHz WSPR.
Even on 472kHz last night I was frequently getting 4 reports a call with just 5mW ERP. On 6m I am using an ERP of around 1W (30dBm) but it is doing me no good it seems!
There are just 16 spots for 6m in the worldwide WSPRnet database today. Not the best of days clearly!
UPDATE 1615z: Just looked at the 10m database on WSPRnet. Although there is some transatlantic activity, it is not exactly great. Looks like today has been quite poor generally.
UPDATE 1922z: Still no reports in/out on 6m.Will be QSYing to 472kHz WSPR shortly.
UPDATE 1924z: Well, that was a waste of time on 6m today. Not a single report given or received all day on 6m, and others seemed to be having a bad time too. QSYing now to 472kHz WSPR.
Simple,but good,DC transceiver kits
At under $30 the Hendricks Kits DCxx series of direct conversion transceivers look good value. See http://www.qrpkits.com/. With a decent mixer, these rigs should do better than many. The image below is actually on the Hendricks Kits site. Link to image will be removed if this is a problem.
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| http://www.qrpkits.com/images/DXxxB5.jpg |
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