It was good to see EA5DOM (1525km) in the 472kHz logs on RX several times. At some points he was strong at -11dB S/N. In all, he was spotted 38 times last night. Again this was just using the earth-electrodes and the FT817 without a preamp. He have a very effective MF system as he gets out well.
I went QRT on 630m (472kHz) WSPR at breakfast and am now active in 6m and 10m WSPR
10 Dec 2015
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Dec 10th 2015
Solar flux is 108 today and the sunspot number is 77 (K=4). Predictions for 10m propagation remain "poor". 10m cannot be worse than yesterday! With quite disturbed conditions, I have doubts about 10m WSPR spots from the USA today.
UPDATE 1000z: All quiet so far on 10m and 6m WSPR.
UPDATE 1000z: All quiet so far on 10m and 6m WSPR.
9 Dec 2015
2m and 70cm UKACs
It must be my age! My XYL said last Tuesday "have you got a contest tonight?" I said, "no" thinking it was the end of November. Somehow I also read my email reminder of the 70cm UKAC too late last night. So, I managed to miss both the 2m and 70cm December legs of the monthly RSGB activity contests, thinking it was the end of November still!
Incidentally, my article on the big-wheel antenna for 2m is in the January RadCom. If I had remembered, this is the antenna I would have used! It works well and is a horizontal omni with gain. Mine was very kindly erected by David G0LRD, to whom I am much indebted.
Incidentally, my article on the big-wheel antenna for 2m is in the January RadCom. If I had remembered, this is the antenna I would have used! It works well and is a horizontal omni with gain. Mine was very kindly erected by David G0LRD, to whom I am much indebted.
Steve's blog (G1KQH)
A reminder to check out Steve's blog from time to time:
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73
Steve
Sunspots and 10m - Wed Dec 9th 2015
Solar flux is 105 and sunspot number 58. K index is 1 so quite undisturbed today. I think 10m WSPR should open to the USA this afternoon. If not, there is little hope for the rest of the winter and spring! The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" though.
UPDATE 1104z: No spots at all on 10m WSPR as yet. By now, I'd have expected a few Russians on 10m WSPR at least.
UPDATE 1104z: No spots at all on 10m WSPR as yet. By now, I'd have expected a few Russians on 10m WSPR at least.
Return to 6m and 10m WSPR. QRT on MF
Just before breakfast I returned to 10m and 6m WSPR. G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted several times on 6m WSPR.
8 Dec 2015
Back to MF
I have closed down on 10m and 6m WSPR and returned to 630m (472kHz) for the evening and night. G8VDQ (93km) was spotted 3 times on 6m WSPR probably by a mixture of tropo and aircraft reflection. On 10m WSPR only the single spot of me was by DK6UG this morning. Where are the USA WSPR reports?
UPDATE 2148z: On 472kHz WSPR just the same stations copied on RX with best DX, so far, DH5RAE (995km). No-one has copied me yet this evening.
UPDATE 2238z: PA0O/1 (440km) has copied me this evening on 472kHz WSPR as has G4AYT in Kent.
UPDATE 2148z: On 472kHz WSPR just the same stations copied on RX with best DX, so far, DH5RAE (995km). No-one has copied me yet this evening.
UPDATE 2238z: PA0O/1 (440km) has copied me this evening on 472kHz WSPR as has G4AYT in Kent.
Stroke exhaustion - NOT amateur radio
It is perhaps surprising that well over 2 years since my stroke, I still get very exhausted so easily. We have had good old friends staying for a couple of nights and after helping to prepare lunch, I was totally exhausted. After 10-15 minutes I am OK again, but anything physical or mental gets me very tired after a short time. I guess I have to accept this is how it is going to be, although people tell me I am getting slowly better. They can see progress, although I cannot generally see it.
ICOM IC7300
Although UK dealers are happy to take a deposit, I am not aware of a "final" (initial!) price or of any shipments. Maybe the design is still be optimised? I would hope that 5MHz is covered as standard as there will be a worldwide allocation (in most countries) from 2017 and some European nations have contiguous allocations of up to 150kHz I believe. Maybe they are looking at the FT991 to see if there are any bands/features that can/should be added?
Personally, I hope they release the 10W version in Europe as well as Japan. This would be a fine successor to the IC703. I'd buy one of these. Buy the 100W version? Probably not.
It is a pity 472kHz TX is not included in any Japanese (any?) transceivers. I guess this design would stretch the PA and ATU designs too far.
Personally, I hope they release the 10W version in Europe as well as Japan. This would be a fine successor to the IC703. I'd buy one of these. Buy the 100W version? Probably not.
It is a pity 472kHz TX is not included in any Japanese (any?) transceivers. I guess this design would stretch the PA and ATU designs too far.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues Dec 8th 2015
Solar flux is 101. Sunspot number is 50 (K=2) but 10m propagation is yet again expected to be "poor". How 10m will be today is anyone's guess!
UPDATE 1054z: All quiet, so far, on 10m and 6m WSPR here.
UPDATE 1122z: Again DK6UG (633km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1054z: All quiet, so far, on 10m and 6m WSPR here.
UPDATE 1122z: Again DK6UG (633km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR.
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