Julian Moss - almost a year on.

It is nearly a year now since Julian G4ILO died. He was a tower of strength and has been sadly missed. I used to read his blogs regularly. His "One foot in the grave" blog was inspirational. He tried everything to beat his brain tumour, but sadly it got him in the end.

More Sputniks

This just arrived from Oleg:

"Dear Space Friends,
First of all I happy to inform about Sputnik QSOs.
Thanks Cosmonauts Jos ON6WJ and Jozef OM6TC for reports and very nice
pictures of their Sputniks.
Using 800 mW TX on 3561 kHz Jos ON6WJ/S logged follow stations ON5JD,
PA0FOX, DG3DBO, ON4ADI, F3ET.
Jozef OM6TC used 100 mW two "rod" tubes TX 21060 kHz logged OM3PV.
Me, over a hour I CQ'ed on 14060 kHz with my "Vanguard" 50 mW but got
only  RBN  reports  from  DL,  HA,  SM  2...10 dB. Sorry no one alive
operator copied my "Vanguard" TX.
See pictures and read comments on the "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"

2m UKAC contest

This is on this evening from 1900z. The contest lasts for 2.5 hours, although I can usually manage only an hour or less because of my poor voice. I actually feel below par so an hour will be the most I can manage. I shall be using the FT817 at 5w pep and the 2m big-wheel horizontal omni.

UPDATE 2008z:  In the end I only stopped for about 30 minutes to make 4 QSOs as I was just too unwell to continue. Had I stopped on I am sure lots more QTH squares were workable.  On top of my other problems I think I may have caught a virus as I feel more exhausted and tired than I have done in over a year. Hopefully it will pass. At the moment I am WSPRing (RX only on 472kHz) with my Par tribander as antenna. This is an experiment as I can monitor WSPRnet on a laptop in the lounge.

472kHz antenna analysis

Because conditions vary so much, it is not possible to make sweeping statements about antenna effectiveness however I can draw some impressions.

Judging by my experiments on 472kHz last night loading up the 2m big-wheel and feeder, I have concluded that the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground works as well.  I am sure a much more efficient 472kHz antenna can be made but, looking at compromise antennas the earth-electrode  "antenna" is not at all bad. I suspect this works as a loop.

North Devon on 10m

G3XKR (347km) spotted me on 10m WSPR this morning. No-one else has spotted me so far today - no other Gs and no DX.   This is an odd distance: probably tropo, but possibly with the assistance of aircraft? With quite a bit of drift, it suggests aircraft may well have been involved.  G3XKR is more commonly on MF. In the past I have worked all over the UK with QRP SSB on 10m. I am surprised that there is not more GDX on 10m. I guess low activity levels on 10m WSPR don't help.

UPDATE 1235z:   Local G4IKZ (18km) is spotting me too.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Oct 6th 2015

With a sunspot number of just 15 (K=4) and 10m propagation expected to be "poor" it would be a brave man who forecasts decent results on the higher HF bands today, but you never can be sure! I shall have my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on shortly, but I'll give 6m a miss again today. I may well be on 472kHz WSPR later.

472kHz WSPR with the 2m big-wheel and feeder

As an experiment, I have loaded up the feeder and 2m big-wheel on 472kHz. I am using the earths from my earth-electrode "antenna" as grounds. Matching and tuning are done with a ferrite rod coil that I found after being lost!

UPDATE 1545z:   M0LMH (223km) was the first station to copy me.  So far he has copied me 4 times at -26/-27dB S/N. It is still very light here and in IO93 square, so I assume this is ground wave.

UPDATE 1848z: M0LMH (223km) has spotted me many times as has local G4KPX (14km). G8HUH (250km) has been spotted. As yet, I have not spotted any Germans or been spotted by any.  At the moment, the results suggest the vertical feeder is not as great as I might have expected. I may try changing the grounds tomorrow.

UPDATE 1955z:   DH5RAE (995km) has been spotted 58 times in the last week.  Although it is too early to be sure, initial indications are that the vertical feeder and 2m big-wheel is no better than the earth-electrode "antenna". The feeder and top capacity hat is not a great 472kHz antenna as much of the feeder is low. I really need a dedicated 472kHz antenna and proper ground directly outside the shack to improve my ERP dramatically. Compromise antennas are "OK" but I could do much better.

Rev George Dobbs G3RJV?

One of my fríends has expressed concern about George. Several emails have gone unanswered, which is not like him. Does anyone know if he is OK?

George, if you read this blog could you update us please? We are concerned for you.

UPDATE 0905z next day:  Does anyone have any news please? I do hope George is OK.

Russian air strikes in Syria - NOT amateur radio

Well, I have mixed feelings over these. It would be much better if Russia and the USA would agree who the real enemy is and sort things out. This is the first Russian air action since WW2 outside of the old USSR, I believe. Russia clearly wants to be seen in the Middle East. It is also looking to Syria for forward bases in the region. Indiscriminate bombing is not the answer.

472kHz WSPR

Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX and there were 14 unique stations logged since teatime yesterday. G3XIZ (46km) was the last station logged - Chris was very strong last night- but I shall probably go QRT on this band until later. Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX remains 995km, again last night and previously.

Unique stations received on 472kHz WSPR last evening and overnight

I may give 472kHz WSPR TX (5mW ERP) another go later i.e. this evening and overnight. My antenna for RX and TX is still the short baseline earth-electrode "antenna" buried in the garden. It works quite well, surprisingly.