QSYed to 40m WSPR

The 10m and 6m WSPR stations have been closed and I have moved to 40m WSPR for the evening and overnight. Tomorrow I shall return to 10m WSPR (2W TX 20%, RX 80%). On 10m WSPR I received no spots at all all day.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

A reminder that as the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the 2m leg of the RSGB actvity contest from 2000-2230z. I am about to have a go with 5W and my big-wheel horizontal omni antenna.

UPDATE 2130z:  Five stations worked in 4 QTH locator squares, although I also heard stations in France and Belgium that were not worked. I was active for less than an hour because of my poor voice.  I find working speech modes very hard these days. Best DX was 172km.  Most of the QSOs were at 2.5W,  although the best DX, on the south coast, was with 5W pep.  Antenna was my big-wheel horizontal omni.

Stations worked on 2m this evening with 5W or less to omni antenna

China, the hard truth - NOT amateur radio

This came to me via Steve G1KQH:-

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQNurSUNNs0 .
Any slowdown in China matters to the West.

OFCOM and amateur radio

See http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/ .

I am trying to think up a good name for this quango we know in the UK as OFCOM.  Any suggestions?

• Office of Comical gents and ladies?
• Official Company of Morons?

As you can tell. I have not been impressed by them in the past. I wish they were able to make pragmatic decisions. Maybe I do them a great injustice, but in past dealings they have been hopeless. In all my years in business I know of you have to add value. What value do they really add? Every time I have contacted them the official has had to consult the law. They seem far removed from reality and pragmatic decisions. No doubt they will claim they can do no other. Sorry, I do not agree! OFCOM should be able to act with pragmatism or they deserve to be disbanded.

Raspberry Pi 3

This came in from Steve G1KQH:-

Note the bit at the bottom that will now sell even more and more!

http://www.biztekmojo.com/002142/raspberry-pi-3-computer-now-available-wi-fi-bluetooth-capabilities-only-35

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

The original Rasperry Pi was expected to sell in thousands but they sold millions.  Some have used them as "stand alone" WSPR beacons running very low power.

10m WSPR

As you know I have reverted to my 10m WSPR beacon today. This is 6dB less output powet than the FT817 and is TX only. The advantage is it is on all the time, so I have a better chance of being copied in brief openings, but the disadvantage is I cannot receive 80% of the time as I do with the FT817. Overall, I think using the FT817 is better.

FTSE 100 up? - NOT amateur radio

It is now 1245z and the FTSE 100 UK share index stands at 6143.29, which is up 0.76%. With all that is happening in China, I was half expecting a dramatic fall. It seems the stock market wants a recovery, whereas world events are pulling the other way. I reckon we will see dramatic falls before things start  to recover. The world will move away from China, much as they did with Japan. China will become too expensive.

"We ain't seen nothing yet", as the famous phrase went.

UPDATE 1738z:   The FTSE 100 index closed 0.89% higher on the day.

First 6m WSPR spot today

G8XWR (150km) was just spotted on 6m WSPR. This is an interesting distance and probably by a combination of tropo and aircraft reflection judging by the Doppler on the signal. Of course, the drift could be settling drift and not Doppler at all. Looking at later traces, there is little evidence of aircraft. A couple of strong traces did not decode showing strong QSB and disappearing for a good part of the slot.

UPDATE 1302z:  I spotted G8XWR (150km) again a few minutes ago. He was stronger and there was no sign of aircraft involvement with just a single trace with QSB. No 10m WSPR spots yet.

UPDATE 1340z:  G8XWR (150km) near Haslemere in IO91oc is getting stronger. If this was via aircraft I'd expect multiple reflections and Doppler but all I see is a single carrier with QSB.

UPDATE 1512z:  G8XWR has been spotted 7 times so far. Although there is no evidence of aircraft involvement, Heathrow and Gatwick stacks are nearby.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues March 1st 2016

March already and the first day of spring according to the Met Office calendar. I agree with their seasons.

Solar flux is 91 today and sunspot number 44 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

UPDATE 1034z:  Still no WSPR spots on 6m or 10m today.

10m and 6m WSPR

Following an overnight spell on 40m WSPR (lots of spots again from the USA)  I am now on 10m WSPR (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequency) and 6m WSPR (1W, 20% TX vertical, 80% RX). No spots as yet.