QSYed from 630m to 6m WSPR

This morning I decided to move to 6m from MF and was very pleased to spot G3XWR (150km) at 0830z. Measured drift was -3Hz which could be me. He was on the screen about 10 minutes earlier but the drift was too extreme to permit a decode. On his signal that did decode there was some evidence of aircraft Doppler too. I think the decode was tropo but there were aircraft too on the path.

We are approaching the Es season. There is also some TEP between VK and JA on 6m.

EA8BVP on 10m

EA8BVP has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 114 times in the last 12 hours.  I think he has either now gone QRT or the path has closed.  Excellent all day long.  I assume this is single hop F2.

More news on South African 8m band (40MHz)

Read it first hand in: www.icasa.org.za/Portals/0/Regulations/Working%20Docmuents/Radio%20Frequency%20Spectrum%20Regulations/RFSR2015.pdf

In South Africa the latest radio regulations permit the use by radio amateurs of 26dBW (400W) on a 10kHz wide band 40.675 - 40.685MHz "for propagation studies only".    Now this is exactly what OFCOM should have done in the interest of real radio-science research.  Personally I think a wider band would be better, but how far sighted to allocate this at all.  Well done S.Africa.

OK, I  could pay £50 for a special research permit, but this is exactly what radio amateurs need for real self training and radio-science research.  The take-up might be small, but real research would take place.

OFCOM/RSGB - how about it please? You have just allocated 2MHz (2 chunks of 1MHz) of spectrum that will be used by just a handful mainly for DTV tests.  How about a much smaller slice somewhere really useful in the radio spectrum? 40MHz is mid-way between 10m and 6m, so ideal for Es tests and TEP tests over the equator.

10m USA WSPR spots

On 10m, WD4ELG (6287km) was the first USA station to spot me today, at 1646z.  It feels like there will be others, but conditions don't seem as good as yesterday.

UPDATE 1615z:  Only a couple of spots by WD4ELG so far.  At the moment the USA opening is marginal with weakish reports (-26dB S/N).

UPDATE 1812z:  KT5W (6314km) also spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon strongly at -12dB S/N.   The USA opening is getting better!

UPDATE 2012z:  No USA stations spotting my 10m WSPR now for over 2 hours.  I think this marginal opening is over. Time to go QRT on 10m?

UPDATE 2155z:  Guess who was SO wrong again? K9AN (6505km) was still spotting me pretty well at 2126z. The opening may now be over but I shall remain on 10m just in case. 10m is a very odd band and filled with surprises!

More 472kHz WSPR

Recent 472kHz WSPR spots -5mW ERP

Although I am still both TXing and RXing on 472kHz WSPR, the WSPRnet database does not show me as active as I have not spotted, or been spotted, on that band in the last 10 minutes.

PA0A has been copied a few times today but the last spot of my 5mW ERP was G3THQ (88km) at breakfast time, although I have just been spotted by G0HNW (200km), who I think is a new reporter.

I think these will be my last few days on this MF band before the autumn. Before I return, I need to improve my RX system as I know this is deaf. It would be good to come back with a "proper" antenna for the band with an ERP more in line with that of others e.g. greater than 100mW ERP.

UPDATE 1700z:  G0HNW has now spotted me 7 times.  From his reports, I am right on the edge of copy with reports in the -28 to -31dB S/N region.

UK price drop - FT817ND

I see that Martin Lynch is now selling the FT817ND for £449.95 (including VAT) which I guess is reflecting the exchange rate against the yen? Years ago it sold for less than £350 with VAT. I think the dealers are still making healthy profits? Why is this like fuel? When prices go up we soon hear about it. When price or exchange rates massively improve the suppliers are generally slow to respond.

Supply and demand?   People are prepared to buy at silly prices and dealers are happy to make good profits whilst they can. At one time a few years ago £1 would get you about 125 Yen. Today £1 gets you more like 175 Yen. Have prices followed? Of course not! Don't be silly - just a bit cheaper!

It would be nice if they were clearing stock ready for a newer model. Sadly, I doubt this is the case.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ft817 .

FT991 Yaesu flagship "shack in a box"

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=71-001812

The price here in the UK started out at £1279.95, (e.g. Martin Lynch and Waters and Stanton) which seemed high to me. The rig looks very attractive at the right price, but I think UK dealers are banking on "early adopters" who want a new radio at silly prices. Greed? Who said that? Surely not! Prices are a little cheaper in the USA  but not sure of VAT and duty or guarantee.  The usual guarantee from the big UK dealers on Yaesu products is 2 years, but it is wise to check.  Also, further discounts may be offered if paying cash.  I can wait and wait!   £999 seems the right price, or even less.

The latest edition of Practical Wireless shows Haydon Communication now selling it at £1099.99. I assume this price includes VAT.  I can see others matching or bettering this price when the "early adopters" have had their day.

The rig covers all modes 160m-70cms and includes a limited range internal ATU and a colour touch screen. It also supports Yaesu's C4FM digital mode. Nice radio, at the right price. I expect the UK price will soon be £999. Wait.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has risen to 68 today, which is quite a jump. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" yet again. Yesterday a total of 16 different North Americans spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1106z:   Plenty of 10m spots  from  EA8BVP (2886km), one from 4X4TAU (3864km) and a scatter overnight and this morning from G4CUI (172km) the latter probably by aircraft reflection and tropo.

UPDATE 1404z:   Still no USA spots as yet.

UPDATE 1452z:   EA8BVP has spotted me 80 times in the last 12 hours. This is perfect N-S single hop F2 propagation. Still no North Americans spotting me on 10m WSPR.

Cambridge Voices - NOT amateur radio

Late this afternoon, my XYL and I went to a Cambridge Voices concert in Cambridge. We have many good choirs in and around Cambridge but these are up there with the very best, certainly in the UK and probably in the world. To sing in this group you have to be a very good singer indeed.

As you can imagine, the concert was brilliant.

USA spots on 10m today

WD4ELG (6287km) was the first in the USA to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today at 1452z. I was half expecting there to be no opening to the USA at all today. As I write this at 1905z the opening is still in full swing.

UPDATE 2048z:   The USA 10m opening  is continuing. K9AN (6505km) is the latest.

UPDATE 2155z:  The last USA 10m WSPR spot today was WD4ELG (6287km) at 2110z. Looks like the opening is over?