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.
6 Oct 2015
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.
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.
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.
5 Oct 2015
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.
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 frÃends 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.
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.
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.
 |
| Unique stations received on 472kHz WSPR last evening and overnight |
IC7300 blog
See http://ic7300.blogspot.co.uk/ .
My comments on the mystery behind the disappearance of the ICOM IC7300 in UK adverts appeared on amateurradio.com and drew several comments. The consensus seems to be that dealers had not been expecting this product and they were rather caught by surprise. Maybe we will not see it until next year?
The ICOM IC7300 still looks a better radio than the Yaesu FT991, although lacking 2m and 70cm coverage, but adding 4m in the European version. The IC7300 SDR architecture is capable of better performance and lower BOM (bill of material) costs than the Yaesu FT991. If the IC7300 is delayed it gives Yaesu a real selling advantage.
My comments on the mystery behind the disappearance of the ICOM IC7300 in UK adverts appeared on amateurradio.com and drew several comments. The consensus seems to be that dealers had not been expecting this product and they were rather caught by surprise. Maybe we will not see it until next year?
The ICOM IC7300 still looks a better radio than the Yaesu FT991, although lacking 2m and 70cm coverage, but adding 4m in the European version. The IC7300 SDR architecture is capable of better performance and lower BOM (bill of material) costs than the Yaesu FT991. If the IC7300 is delayed it gives Yaesu a real selling advantage.
More on Sputnik tests
This email came from Mike Rainey AA1TJ overnight:
"Dear Oleg and All,
"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."
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 "
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