Our hobby - very diverse

There can be few hobbies that embrace so much as amateur radio. Some enjoy QRP, often making their own simple gear and each QSO is a thrill. Others spend a great deal of money on rigs, towers and antennas and enjoy just talking to others around the world. Some like the challenge of microwaves or optical.  The list is endless.

We are lucky that our hobby can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities and in so many different ways.  It is very easy to be critical of how others enjoy the hobby - I know as I am guilty of this!  We should be thankful we are a "broad church" and allow each of us to enjoy the hobby in the way that suits us best. I used to enjoy building and field work, but because of my stroke I have had to adapt. Thankfully, I enjoy the hobby as much as ever.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Oct 19th 2015

With a still climbing sunspot number, currently 81 (K=2) I think we are set for another good 10m day, even though the 10m forecast is "poor". Yesterday was a good 10m day with several spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon in the USA as well as elsewhere by F2. I'd be surprised if conditions today were down as, if anything, conditions are less disturbed today.

I am again active on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR. 6m I am only hoping for some inter-G DX. Anything else on that band would be a bonus. On 10m I am hopeful of some decent DX spots via F2.

My very first 10m spot was by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) via F2. All quiet on 6m so far today.

UPDATE 1320z:  EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 19 times so far this morning, but no other spots received.  At the moment 6m is still very quiet. The impression is that 10m is not as good as yesterday, although it is really too soon to tell.

Ego trip?

Just seen a copy of the tweet about the antenna at GB3GP for JOTA. Does this give Scouts a fair view of amateur radio? I think this is about egos and little else.

Incidentally, with a tiny, low, wire antenna my 500mW WSPR on 10m today has been spotted in 5 continents. You do NOT need monsters.

A promising start on 10m WSPR

Very early today I was getting spotted on Reunion Is and in Brazil on 10m WSPR.  Conditions seem even better than yesterday, so I am very hopeful for more USA spots today on 10m.

Is it too much to hope for some TEP F2 on 6m WSPR? Yes, probably too much to hope!  So far, absolutely nothing on 6m WSPR, given or received.

CQWW SSB contest is next weekend, so I hope we see good conditions for this major contest. For the last 2 years I have missed it. Although we have visitors over the weekend I hope to get on.

UPDATE 1205z:  Several spots from LZ stations on 10m WSPR, which I assume are via F2. They could be Es, but this is less likely.

UPDATE 1254z:  Spots on 10m WSPR from DK6UG (633km) are harder to explain. I guess these could be some sort of back-scatter? Also getting spots from Greece.

UPDATE 1338z:   W1VR (6965km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR today. Looks like he is in Florida. I do find USA call areas SO confusing these days! I blame the FCC.

UPDATE 1530z:   More USA spots, another station spotting me on Reunion Island and EA8/LA3JJ  for the first time in months. Autumn has returned to 10m WSPR! Great conditions.

Unique 10m WSPR spots so far today

Yet more Sputniks

I had these 2 emails from Oleg yesterday and today:

"Dear Space Friends,
yesterday   was   nice QSO between Sputnik US5EVD (two rod valves 500
mW) and Vanguard UI7K (one Ge pnp transistor 100 mW) on 3579 kHz. Also
US5EVD  operated  with EW6FA on 80 m. Day before op. Alexander US5EVD
can't to finish QSO with EW6FA because his battery was discharged. See
the  picture  of  Alex's  Sputnik  TX  on  the "Sputnik Days" page on www.club72.su Note: all components are old ex USSR types. On the green
battery you can see words "Сделано в СССР" (Made in USSR by Russian).
Two big size Ge transistors rectifier for high (anode) voltage used in
the TX.
Tomorrow October 18 is the last day in the Sputnik/Vanguard activity.
I  wish  all  Cosmonauts and Astronauts good luck and looking for any
reports.
>> It will be nice to log QRP QSO with Pampus Fort Island
For  sorry  I  have not radios for 30 and 40 m so far. I see a lot of
RBNs  reports  of  PA6FAP  today.  Hopefully, Peter PA0PJE enjoyed in
Pampus Fort shack today :-)
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"


"Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik activity days close to finish. Jos ON6WJ informed about 4 QSOs
today,  all QSOs on 80 m band in a circle distance of 150 ml - PA and
ON. I be happy to get any news in last Sputnik hours.
Have a nice soft landing!

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

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Oct 18th 2015

Sunspot number has climbed up to 83 (K=4) with a solar flux a respectable 117 today. 10m is again forecast to be "poor" but after yesterday I am expecting decent results on 10m WSPR. I am again active on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR. On 6m I am not expecting any F2 but might catch some Gs.

At last - 10m WSPR spots from the USA

They were a long time coming, but starting at 1414z I have received 10m WSPR spots from the USA. K9AN (6505km) was the first followed by KB9AMG (6300km). I am sure we will now see openings to the USA regularly I think on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1736z:  Lots more spots from the USA. This is definitely the best day on 10m this autumn so far.

UPDATE 2104z:  It ended well with lots of USA spots as well as WSPR spots from Reunion Is and Brazil. A great day on 10m WSPR.

Uniques on 10m WSPR today

Autumnal garden - NOT amateur radio

Gradually, the gardens are taking on a more autumnal look. The sunflowers have passed, the apples are ripening next door, we have harvested our crab apples and taken in the sunshade for the winter ahead.  Every season has something good about it and this year the autumn colours are splendid. I hope to run an antenna down the garden for 472kHz. Not visible in this picture is my current 472kHz "antenna", which is a couple of earth rods separated about 12m apart! With an ERP of around 5mW this reached over 1000km last winter. The 472kHz wire or loop will only be in place over autumn and winter and be taken down next spring. Every season has something good about it here in the UK.

RadCom and the IC7300

My RadCom arrived by post today. Unlike in the recent edition of PW, the advertisers were publishing details of the new ICOM radio and were keen to take deposits. Perhaps they have got later data? I quite like the look of the new IC7300 radio, but feel the price will soon fall to £799 or less. I can wait. I may wait to see what the FT817 replacement looks like. A 5W (or maybe 10W) radio would suit my needs better.

The latest RadCom has a review of ICOMs latest flagship radio, the IC7851, selling for around £9000. Does anyone really spend this sort of money on amateur radio gear?  With PSU, tower, big beam and big rotator this implies over £10000 on amateur gear. I suppose some people must spend this sort of money. My FT817 has served me for over 14 years now. To me, this was an investment and I had to give it careful thought.  I wonder how many XYLs are happy for their husbands to spend over £10000 on a hobby?

Each to their own. If you really have that kind of disposable income how you spend it is your decision.

10m F2 DX

I see that KD0VWO (7412km) has been spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon in Brazil today. I remain hopeful of some USA spots later today on 10m WSPR.

FR1GZ (9724km) has already spotted me too.

This looks like another good day on 10m WSPR, despite the "poor" forecast.

So far today nothing at all (given or received) on 6m WSPR.