Around teatime there was a widespread 10m Es opening with spots from all over western Europe on 10m WSPR. It is not at all unusual for Es to peak at lunchtime and teatime.
I think tomorrow I shall try 6m WSPR with the FT817 and stick the 500mW beacon (TX only) on 10m.
21 May 2016
Even fewer G3 calls
In the Silent Keys list in June RadCom I see another 4 G3 stations have died. Most months there are 4-6 who have died. My G3XBM call was issued in December 1967. Some date much earlier, probably just after WW2? If the G3s are a dying breed then those issued between the wars must be even rarer. In 20 years there will be very few of us left. There is a real chance that our hobby will just die unless the younger generation is enthralled. I very much hope I am wrong.
Young people get excited by different things. As a youngster, amateur radio was the only way to communicate around the world. TV was limited to Europe. Short-wave was magic: hearing Radio Australia with heavy QSB early in the morning was very exciting. These days young people can video conference for nothing with any part of the world. No, amateur radio is no longer magic as it was to me. Getting my G3 call was a passport to worldwide communications. This is no longer the case.
We are not alone: many churches seem to be totally unattractive to young people and the bulk of their congregations are old women. In time, these will die and these churches will die too. There are some exceptions.
Young people get excited by different things. As a youngster, amateur radio was the only way to communicate around the world. TV was limited to Europe. Short-wave was magic: hearing Radio Australia with heavy QSB early in the morning was very exciting. These days young people can video conference for nothing with any part of the world. No, amateur radio is no longer magic as it was to me. Getting my G3 call was a passport to worldwide communications. This is no longer the case.
We are not alone: many churches seem to be totally unattractive to young people and the bulk of their congregations are old women. In time, these will die and these churches will die too. There are some exceptions.
472kHz antenna calculator
See http://www.472khz.org/pages/tools/antenna-simulator.php for a very useful tool to estimate the performance of antennas on 472kHz. This tool was produced by Rik ON7YD. Based on my own limited experience you do not need big ERP at all to have fun with WSPR on the band.
If you know your antenna current you can use it to work out your ERP or EIRP. The tool will show how much power you need to reach the ERP or EIRP limit for the band.
If you know your antenna current you can use it to work out your ERP or EIRP. The tool will show how much power you need to reach the ERP or EIRP limit for the band.
Home again. Active on 10m WSPR
After 9 nights away, we are now home again. I have turned on the 10m WSPR (20% TX 2W, 80% RX). As the gear has only just been turned on, it may be some time before 10m WSPR spots are given or received.
UPDATE 1338z: Just 10m WSPR spots exchanged with G4KPX (14km) at good strength so far.
UPDATE 1540z: Still just exchanging 10m WSPR spots with G4KPX (14km). No Es or F2 seen here today. The best report was -9dB S/N. This was probably aircraft reflection as there was a lot of Doppler. I seem to exchange spots with Richard more typically at -11dB S/N to -20dB S/N.
UPDATE 1338z: Just 10m WSPR spots exchanged with G4KPX (14km) at good strength so far.
UPDATE 1540z: Still just exchanging 10m WSPR spots with G4KPX (14km). No Es or F2 seen here today. The best report was -9dB S/N. This was probably aircraft reflection as there was a lot of Doppler. I seem to exchange spots with Richard more typically at -11dB S/N to -20dB S/N.
10m Es and F2
This morning there is Es on 10m WSPR already and N-S F2 propagation. A promising start.
From Steve G1KQH - Spybot anti-beacon for Windows
This came in on an email from Steve G1KQH. I have not tried the link.
73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Someone
sent me this link stops them spying on you!
Seems
to work
73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Rallies this weekend.
Notification has been received about these rallies:
Sunday 22 MAY : BLACK COUNTRY RADIO RALLY MARK 2
Portway Lifestyle Centre, Newbury Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 1HE. The venue is 1 mile from junction 2 of the M5. Doors open at 10am and the admission is £2. A raffle will be drawn at 2pm.
Sunday 22 May : 33RD DUNSTABLE DOWNS RC ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO CAR BOOT SALE
Stockwood Park, Luton All the usual facilities will be there. www.ddrcbootsale.org.
Sunday 22 MAY : BroadBand HamNet MEETING
A get together of BBHN Mesh Operators and those interested in this system of digital communications on the amateur microwave bands has been arranged at Tilgate Forest Rec. Centre, Hut 18, Tilgate Forest, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ. For details and an agenda contact Ted, G4ELM via BBHN.Event.2016@gmail.com.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
Sunday 22 MAY : BLACK COUNTRY RADIO RALLY MARK 2
Portway Lifestyle Centre, Newbury Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 1HE. The venue is 1 mile from junction 2 of the M5. Doors open at 10am and the admission is £2. A raffle will be drawn at 2pm.
Sunday 22 May : 33RD DUNSTABLE DOWNS RC ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO CAR BOOT SALE
Stockwood Park, Luton All the usual facilities will be there. www.ddrcbootsale.org.
Sunday 22 MAY : BroadBand HamNet MEETING
A get together of BBHN Mesh Operators and those interested in this system of digital communications on the amateur microwave bands has been arranged at Tilgate Forest Rec. Centre, Hut 18, Tilgate Forest, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ. For details and an agenda contact Ted, G4ELM via BBHN.Event.2016@gmail.com.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
Sunspots and 10m - Sat May 21st 2016
Solar flux is 101 today. Sunspot number is 43 (K=3) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor" today.
20 May 2016
6m WSPR Es
This evening there has been a little Es on 6m WSPR. Not a lot, but some. We need more stations on WSPR.
I have not been on 6m WSPR for more than a week as we have been away but I shall be on 6m and 10m WSPR once home again.
I have not been on 6m WSPR for more than a week as we have been away but I shall be on 6m and 10m WSPR once home again.
Sunspots and 10m - Friday May 20th 2016
Solar flux is 100 today. Sunspot number is 38 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m (F2) propagation remains "poor".
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