17 Mar 2016
10m and 6m Es
The sporadic-E (Es) season will soon be with us in the northern hemisphere. This usually peaks May to July, although there are openings less frequently outside these times. I shall probably return to 6m WSPR soon in the hope of catching some short-skip DX on the band. If I go on 6m, I shall return to the W5OLF beacon on 10m. This stand alone 500mW WSPR beacon runs 100% TX but randomises the TX frequency within the WSPR window. In previous summers I have been copied by 4X1RF (3519km) on 6m WSPR. Although the conventional wisdom is that this is multi-hop Es, I have my doubts. Es yes, probably, but some sort of chordal hop?
630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight
G0MRF (103km) was very strong and consistently spotted, but otherwise the same stations spotted and spotting me. With 5mW ERP I think it unlikely I'll be spotted by anyone else now this spring on 472kHz WSPR.
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 17th 2016
Solar flux is 92 today. On average this is gradually decreasing. It is typically below 100 now. Sunspot number is 53 (K=5) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". Although I have been on 10m WSPR since about 0700z, I am not really expecting great things, although I have frequently been proved very wrong on 10m.
UPDATE 0850z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet today, although it is very early.
UPDATE 0850z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet today, although it is very early.
16 Mar 2016
Amateur Radio Balloons
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/ubseds14_flying_across_pacific.htm .
Quite a few radio amateurs are "into" balloons. These often contain tracking systems so they can sometimes be recovered. Tracking the flights and constructing the lightweight electronics is a challenge. Southgate News reports on one such flight. Some of the distances covered are remarkable.
Quite a few radio amateurs are "into" balloons. These often contain tracking systems so they can sometimes be recovered. Tracking the flights and constructing the lightweight electronics is a challenge. Southgate News reports on one such flight. Some of the distances covered are remarkable.
Ads from the past
AmateurRadio.com has an interesting post with old ads from 73 magazine back in the 1960s. As the post says, we have come a long way.
See http://www.amateurradio.com/50-years-ago-ads-73-magazine/#more-44841 .
See http://www.amateurradio.com/50-years-ago-ads-73-magazine/#more-44841 .
Summer bird migrants returning - NOT amateur radio
The wheatears have started arriving back in Devon and soon it will be
martins and swallows. The long winter will soon be behind us.
See http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/devon_bird_sightings .
The image below is not on this site but at the link below. It will be removed if a problem.
http://www.devonbirds.org/images/library/dbn/public/stoke_point_male_wheatear_10617_0.jpg.
See http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/devon_bird_sightings .
The image below is not on this site but at the link below. It will be removed if a problem.
http://www.devonbirds.org/images/library/dbn/public/stoke_point_male_wheatear_10617_0.jpg.
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| Wheatear in Devon |
Our hobby in 30 years?
Although I cannot speak for other countries, here in the UK ours is a hobby mainly of older people and mainly men. When I was fitter, I gave several talks to local radio clubs in East Anglia and without exception it was mainly OAPs who came along. OK there were a few youngsters and women, but the vast majority were older men.
Amateurs and SWLs are a dying breed, unless we can attract young people into the hobby. I am 67 and will be dead within 30 years, probably a lot sooner. An aging population will not buy so many rigs, will not support magazines etc. Numbers will fall, activity will fall, interest will drain away.
In 20-30 years we will be very much in uncharted territory. What will our hobby be like in years to come?
Amateurs and SWLs are a dying breed, unless we can attract young people into the hobby. I am 67 and will be dead within 30 years, probably a lot sooner. An aging population will not buy so many rigs, will not support magazines etc. Numbers will fall, activity will fall, interest will drain away.
In 20-30 years we will be very much in uncharted territory. What will our hobby be like in years to come?
Sunspots and 10m -Tues March 16th 2016
Solar flux is 93 today. Sunspot number is 44 (K=2) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor", although I rarely find an absence of 10m DX even when the forecast is "poor".
A lot of 10m seeming dead is people taking a casual look, hearing no stations, and moving down the bands. If on SSB or CW call CQ. Better still, go on WSPR - little power is needed and if DX is about you will find it!
A lot of 10m seeming dead is people taking a casual look, hearing no stations, and moving down the bands. If on SSB or CW call CQ. Better still, go on WSPR - little power is needed and if DX is about you will find it!
10m WSPR again
After being on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight - no new stations - I have now returned to 10m WSPR for the day. No 10m WSPR spots as yet, although there was a strong (no Doppler) signal as I switched on: this was drifting a lot and did not decode.
UPDATE 1212z: Still nothing here on 10m WSPR so far today. It is disappointing.
UPDATE 1424z: Still no 10m WSPR spots here all day.
UPDATE 1512z: Just a couple of spots of G4CUI (172km) on 10m WSPR so far and no DX so far.
UPDATE 1212z: Still nothing here on 10m WSPR so far today. It is disappointing.
UPDATE 1424z: Still no 10m WSPR spots here all day.
UPDATE 1512z: Just a couple of spots of G4CUI (172km) on 10m WSPR so far and no DX so far.
FTSE 100 roller coaster - NOT amateur radio
The roller coaster ride continues. Presently, the FTSE 100 UK share index is up 0.49%. This is budget day in the UK so a lot can change later. I am still expecting big falls once the punters wake up in the real world with all its problems. I would not be surprised to see the FTSE 100 at 5000 rather than around 6169. It will recover later, but we have uncertainty ahead.
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