More on Sputnik tests

This email came from Mike Rainey AA1TJ overnight:

"Dear Oleg and All,

I was QRV today in the late afternoon with one GF45011 transistor made by Western Electric in April of 1961. This is the same Germanium transistor type that was used in the original "Vanguard 1" satellite. I was very pleased to have received this as a gift from Jack Ward; curator of the online, "Semiconductor Museum."

http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_VanguardTransistors.pdf  

My GF45011 oscillator/transmitter produces 10mW on 21.060MHz. While receiving this oscillator becomes my receiver beat-frequency signal source. My Morse code keyer switches the 21MHz oscillator between the antenna and receiver via a miniature DPDT electromechanical relay. The single-balanced direct-conversion mixer, or product-detector, uses a pair of 1N4148 diodes, followed by a two-stage audio amplifier. The antenna is an end-fed 44m wire erected 10m off the ground.

I was QRV too late to hear any DX signals today. I also did not make any QSOs, but I hope to be on-the-air after breakfast tomorrow morning. 

I wish you all the best of luck!

Beep-beep,

Mike, AA1TJ "

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Oct 5th 2015

With a sunspot number of just 18 (K=3) and 10m propagation expected to remain "poor" we should not expect great things today of the higher HF bands. Any good results on 10m will be a pleasant surprise. So far just spots by local G4IKZ (18km). I am not on 6m today. I shall be on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) all day - ever hopeful! In the past 10m has surprised me with good results when the solar forecasts were "poor". A bit like the UK weather, HI.

UPDATE 1438z:  Well so far today 10m has resulted in just early spots from G4IKZ (18km) and no DX at all so far. It said it would be "poor" and so it has proved so far.

10m WSPR to Brazil again

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was received several times in Brazil again around teatime. As yet, there are no signs of reception in North America (USA or Canada) this autumn although I was spotted in Canada one evening a few weeks ago. I was hoping that I'd be getting regular spots on 10m from the USA by now.

Back on 472kHz RX (with preamp)

I am again looking on 472kHz RX (with preamp) for WSPR spots. DK7FC (669km) is the best DX so far. Stefan is always a good signal.  At the moment he is still not that strong but I expect he will be much stronger after dark.

UPDATE 1730z:   DK7FC is already 12dB better than when first spotted on 472kHz WSPR. It is still light here.

UPDATE 1752z:   DJ0ABR (983km) is the best DX so far tonight.

UPDATE 1815z:   DK7FC is now over 20dB stronger.

UPDATE 2101z:  With 13 unique spots so far, 472kHz WSPR is proving productive.

Sputnik QRPp Days

A reminder from Oleg has appeared in my inbox:

"Dear Space Friends,
tonight (October 4) at 00 UTC Sputnik QRPp Activity Days begin.
Over two weeks (before October 18) "Sputniks" (valves) and "Vanguards"
(pnp Ge transistors) will be sound "beep-beep-beep..." or "V V V...".
All  QSOs  are approved. SWLs must copy Sputniks or Vanguards QSOs or
CQs. See details on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
I  welcome  all  operators  to  take  a  part and looking for photos,
schemes,  comments  daily.  All info will be published on the Club 72
page,  on  the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/ also in the
mail "Sputnik" group and "72 Newsletter" bulletin.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

"Dear Space Friends,
don't  forget  to send reports about your Sputnik/Vanguard QSOs/SWLs,
please.  Also  pictures, schemes of your TXs are appreciate to add on
the Sputnik gallery.
Victor UA1CEX operate on the old valves military TX 1 W G5RV on 20 m.
Peter  PA0PJE  informed he QRV on 21 MHz on Sputnik clone TX with two
"rod"  valves.  Also Peter operate on 20 m with Vanguard TX on Ge pnp
AF118 transistors 40 mW.
Sergey RV3DSA informed about his 1960 valves TX made in Germany
RV3GM  used  50  mW  TX  on  14060  +/-  kHz  (old USSR Ge pnp GT320b
transistors) together with DC RX also on old Ge types transistors (CQ
and RBNs reports so far only).
Sorry,  I  have  not info about Sputnik/Vanguard QSOs for the moment.
Check "Sputnik Days" page on the Club 72 site - www.club72.su

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB "

Even later swallows - NOT amateur radio

Fenland sky today

Well, this is extraordinary.

Today along the River Cam, about 5 miles from Cambridge, I saw 3 more young swallows. It is Oct 4th 2015 today and this is weeks later than I have seen these locally before.

There are quite a few in Devon still but this is late for up here. Maybe it is because I am looking for them or these young birds are totally thrown by our mild,warm spell? Anyway, I was very pleased to see them today. There was no doubt that these were swallows, by their appearance, flight and movement in the air.

Maybe we should expect these summer birds to stay longer these days?  I used to think Sept 21st was late for this part of the UK, but today is October!

472kHz - some interesting observations

Overnight M0LMH (223km) was the most distant report of my 5mW ERP. Well done! On RX I copied 12 unique stations without the preamp and my best DX spot was 995km again, the same as with the preamp. There is no doubt the preamp helps, but it is interesting that without it I have managed to copy much the same stations, albeit with poorer reports.

I shall be back on MF again tonight, probably RX only with the preamp.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Oct 4th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen again. It is 47 today. K=4 so conditions are disturbed and 10m propagation remains "poor" today. So far just locals G4KPX (14km) and G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR. I have decided not to try 6m today.

UPDATE 1210z:  All very quiet on 10m WSPR so far with just local spots.

South Creake - NOT amateur radio

South Creake church

Yesterday we visited light and airy South Creake church in north Norfolk. I have updated the East Anglian Churches blog to include this. South Creake is a few miles south of the north Norfolk coast and not too far from Burnham Market. The church has been important in the village for over 1000 years.

Soon be time to QSY to 472kHz WSPR

6m WSPR has produced better results (so far) today than 10m, but only with spots of G stations. Tonight I shall leave 10m WSPR running, but QSY to 630m (472kHz) transmit (20%) and receive (80%).

Unfortunately I shall not be able to use the RX preamp, so this will really be a test for others looking for my 5mW ERP signal.  Copying a weak signal on a sometimes noisy band demands a very good RX system, so all credit to those who manage it.  In past DX seasons this has been detected on WSPR at more than 1000km.

I shall go QRT on 10m later this evening, but will probably run MF WSPR through the night.

UPDATE 1710z:  Although there was a weak carrier on 6m about 10 minutes ago, I have QSYed to MF now for the evening and overnight

UPDATE 1935z:  I realised at 1900z that I had not been reporting my ERP correctly as I forgot to reset this when I QSYed to 630m from 6m. This has now been corrected to 5mW ERP.  For the record, my 630m ERP has been 5mW all evening and not 1W.

UPDATE 2152z:  Just about to go QRT on 10m WSPR, but will stay on 630m WSPR overnight.