30 Dec 2015
SPAM comments deleted
Someone has been posting comments on recent posts in the attempt to add links for free advertising. Be aware that these comments have been deleted and I shall delete anything similar I find in future as soon as spotted. SPAM comments are not wanted, or tolerated, here. Play your silly games elsewhere please "MarkDonald".
Return to 630m WSPR
After an abortive outing on 10m and 6m WSPR, I have returned to 630m (472kHz) WSPR a few minutes ago. G3KEV (232km) has already spotted my 5mW ERP signal at -22dB S/N. He has a very good set-up on MF. I think he is ex-merchant navy?
UPDATE 1808z: Plenty of stations spotting me and being spotted by me on 472kHz. Sadly these are all stations seen before. I am using WSJT-X tonight without the RX preamp. Now it is dark there are more stations appearing, but again few in Europe on TX.
UPDATE 1808z: Plenty of stations spotting me and being spotted by me on 472kHz. Sadly these are all stations seen before. I am using WSJT-X tonight without the RX preamp. Now it is dark there are more stations appearing, but again few in Europe on TX.
Grandchildren gone - NOT amateur radio
Today, the last of our grandchildren went home to Kent with their mum
and dad. The house now seems very quiet. At least it is tidy, although
we prefer it with a slight mess and them here. They are all great kids.
Sunspots and 10m - Wed Dec 30th 2015
Solar flux has dropped to 102. Sunspot number is 54 (K=0) and the 10m propagation is expected be "poor". I reset/re-synced the 10m WSPR beacon and am currently active on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR, although no spots as yet on either band.
29 Dec 2015
10m WSPR
Sorry to report that my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was not spotted at all today. It has been on since mid-morning and I was surprised not to get spotted even once. The WSPR beacon is still on but I doubt it will get spotted now until the morning, if at all, tomorrow. In the morning I shall do a full reset of the 10m WSPR beacon.
FT817 replacement this coming year?
It is rumoured that Yaesu will, at long last, announce a replacement to the FT817 at Dayton this year. Lots of people are awaiting this rig, which is only about 4 years too late! If I was Yaesu I'd have launched this on the upward slope of the last sunspot peak. In their infinite wisdom (or plain stupidity?) they have still to announce such a radio. If they are to capitalise on the replacement demand they'd better make sure it has some really nice features and get the price right. I cannot imagine it making it to Europe much before autumn 2016 or even Christmas.
By the time it is available here in Europe we are likely to be suffering with relatively low (and falling) sunspot numbers. If I was Yaesu I'd think about offering 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m and 4m, 2m and 70cms (and possibly 1296MHz) and not offer the lower HF bands at all. In the next 20-30 years the VHF bands will be more important. 15m,12m , 10m, 6m and 4m are all useful for Es especially in the summer months. With just a few watts of SSB one can work much of Europe with just a whip antenna and QRP.
By the time it is available here in Europe we are likely to be suffering with relatively low (and falling) sunspot numbers. If I was Yaesu I'd think about offering 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m and 4m, 2m and 70cms (and possibly 1296MHz) and not offer the lower HF bands at all. In the next 20-30 years the VHF bands will be more important. 15m,12m , 10m, 6m and 4m are all useful for Es especially in the summer months. With just a few watts of SSB one can work much of Europe with just a whip antenna and QRP.
Lawns - NOT amateur radio
At least 3 people were cutting their grass today, even though it was Dec 29th! We have had the mildest December I can ever recall. OK, things could change to heavy snow very quickly, but if things do continue as they are, I shall be cutting our lawns all winter, which would be so different from normal.
Dual banders at stupid prices!
This from Steve G1KQH earlier:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/
73 Steve G1KQH
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Oh
the price just gets daft!
How
can they make them and ship them for 12 quid never mind make a
profit?
Hang
on!
Its
just got dafter!
Dual
band for what £9.99!!!!
73 Steve G1KQH
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Sunspots and 10m - Tues Dec 29th 2015
Solar flux is 113 today and sunspot number 64 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today. I QSYed from 50mW on 20m to 500mW on 10m around 1030z this morning. So far, no spots received on 10m WSPR using the W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon.
28 Dec 2015
Swallow - NOT amateur radio
A swallow (migrant bird that usually leaves for South Africa mid September) was seen in Bantham, South Devon on Dec 26th. This is incredibly late. If we have a mild winter it is possible this bird will over-winter. I have not seen any records of these birds surviving through the winter before but this winter has been very mild so far. The best chances are on or near mild coasts where there is a plentiful supply of insects near seaweed.
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