27 Jan 2015
Sunspots and 10m
After a miserable 10m day yesterday sunspot number today is 110 but 10m propagation is still only forecast to be "fair".
26 Jan 2015
472kHz WSPR
This last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 15 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR. I am still using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna". Several stations who have not been on WSPR so often have reappeared today.
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| 472kHz unique reports of my 5mW ERP to earth-electrodes in last 2 weeks |
70cms AM using data modules
That font of all knowledge Steve G1KQH has found a useful YouTube video:
73
Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/"
"They
are all at it now 
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/"
10m WSPR USA spots
It is now 1232z and, as yet, no USA stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon. 4X1RF (3519m) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) have spotted me many times this morning. I think the band will open to the USA and I may be a little early.
UPDATE 1336z: Still no spots from USA stations as yet.
UPDATE 1421z: Still no spots from USA stations as yet. I have my doubts 10m is going to open to the USA at all today.
UPDATE 1445z: First stateside spot of my 500mW WSPR was AB4QS (7087km) at 1426z - very late indeed today. Conditions to the USA seem poor today.
UPDATE 1545z: Today the only USA station to have spotted me on 10m WSPR is AB4QS and he has only spotted me twice. This is definitely a very poor day on 10m compared with recent months. Usually by now I have been spotted by loads of USA stations, despite running just 500mW on WSPR.
UPDATED 1858z: AB4QS was the last station in the USA who spotted me at a very very early 1500z. This makes today one of the worst days on 10m in months.
UPDATE 1336z: Still no spots from USA stations as yet.
UPDATE 1421z: Still no spots from USA stations as yet. I have my doubts 10m is going to open to the USA at all today.
UPDATE 1445z: First stateside spot of my 500mW WSPR was AB4QS (7087km) at 1426z - very late indeed today. Conditions to the USA seem poor today.
UPDATE 1545z: Today the only USA station to have spotted me on 10m WSPR is AB4QS and he has only spotted me twice. This is definitely a very poor day on 10m compared with recent months. Usually by now I have been spotted by loads of USA stations, despite running just 500mW on WSPR.
UPDATED 1858z: AB4QS was the last station in the USA who spotted me at a very very early 1500z. This makes today one of the worst days on 10m in months.
Poppet 160m AM transceiver
This little top band AM transmitter and a companion receiver were first published in the GQRP club SPRAT magazine. This TX version was built by M0DAD. Where the noise floor allows, 160m AM is quite popular for local nets. There is something nice about "rolling your own" builds and getting satisfying results without spending a fortune. For daytime local use 160m AM is a great mode and rigs are simple. I am still surprised that more is not made of AM on 10m at night for local nets here in the UK.
See http://www.delboyonline.co.uk/m0dad/construcion/poppet_top_band_am_transmitter.htm.
See http://www.delboyonline.co.uk/m0dad/construcion/poppet_top_band_am_transmitter.htm.
QRP 5W CW transmitter from SM0VPO
Many years ago Harry SM0VPO worked at Pye Telecom. I had no idea back then that he was such a prolific and good designer. This is his design for a simple HF 5W CW transmitter. His website has loads of great ideas.
See http://www.qsl.net/qrp/tx/5wtx.htm .
See http://www.qsl.net/qrp/tx/5wtx.htm .
472kHz WSPR overnight
G0MGM (101km) has spotted my 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP or less) several times. I think he is a new reporter and very welcome too. Tonight I may go back on the HF and 6m wire antennas (with loading coil) to see how results compare with the earth-electrode "antenna" currently in use.
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G8HUH (250km) always seems to copy me. He has a good system on RX. He even copied me on 136kHz WSPR from the old QTH, before I had my cerebellum bleed. I have yet to try 136kHz WSPR from this QTH.
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G8HUH (250km) always seems to copy me. He has a good system on RX. He even copied me on 136kHz WSPR from the old QTH, before I had my cerebellum bleed. I have yet to try 136kHz WSPR from this QTH.
Sunspots and 10m - Jan 26th 2015
Sunspot number has climbed a little to 65 and 10m propagation is forecast to be "fair" again today.
UPDATE 0925z: 4X1RF (3519km) has already spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 4 times,which is a hopeful sign on 10m.
UPDATE 0925z: 4X1RF (3519km) has already spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 4 times,which is a hopeful sign on 10m.
25 Jan 2015
Not amateur radio.
This weekend was the Big Garden Birdwatch. People in the UK were asked to observe a garden, park etc. for 1 hour and record the highest number of each species seen, then submit results online to the RSPB. It has become an annual event now. I did a record yesterday in our back garden and, just for fun, I did another 1 hour today at the same time but overlooking the local museum and windmill at the front of our bungalow.
More species were seen yesterday but far more starlings were seen today as they roost on the sails of our windmill next door.
I am still active on 630m and 10m, but will be going QRT on 10m quite shortly.
More species were seen yesterday but far more starlings were seen today as they roost on the sails of our windmill next door.
I am still active on 630m and 10m, but will be going QRT on 10m quite shortly.
Interest in AM
I note that my most popular blog posts recently relate to Amplitude Modulation (AM). Who said this was a dying mode? Clearly it is not judging by the interest levels shown. RSGB and ARRL please take note.
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