At the moment I am on both 10m and 630m WSPR. Overnight, my shack PC installed updates and closed the WSPR program.
G8LCO (58km) has been spotting me on MF and there was very early Es on 10m WSPR with DK0SC (827km) spotting me as early as 0738z. Since then I have had further spots on 10m WSPR including from northern Spain in the form of EA1FAQ (1249km).
UPDATE 1406z: Spots on 10m WSPR from Germany all day.
23 May 2016
Sunspots and 10m - Mon May 23rd 2016
Solar flux is 98 today. Sunspot number is 15 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".
EU referendum - NOT amateur radio
The UK votes in a referendum on whether to remain in the EU or leave on June 23rd.
Like many, I am undecided.
The UK is not a world power with an empire - this went years ago. The EU is a gravy train for bureaucrats and is an unelected quango in the main creating so many laws that most small companies cannot keep up with them. At the same time, WW3 starting in Europe has not occurred and as long as there is an EU is unlikely. There is much wrong with the EU but much of it is a force for good. The EU needs to reform.
No I am still undecided. What I do know is this is a very important decision which will effect us for years to come. I think the vote will be very close. Should we vote to leave, I think others will follow too not many years down the line. My gut says leave but my logical self says stay in.
UPDATE 1400z: I am really fed up with NEGATIVE messages and spin.
Like many, I am undecided.
The UK is not a world power with an empire - this went years ago. The EU is a gravy train for bureaucrats and is an unelected quango in the main creating so many laws that most small companies cannot keep up with them. At the same time, WW3 starting in Europe has not occurred and as long as there is an EU is unlikely. There is much wrong with the EU but much of it is a force for good. The EU needs to reform.
No I am still undecided. What I do know is this is a very important decision which will effect us for years to come. I think the vote will be very close. Should we vote to leave, I think others will follow too not many years down the line. My gut says leave but my logical self says stay in.
UPDATE 1400z: I am really fed up with NEGATIVE messages and spin.
22 May 2016
Now on 10m WSPR (TX only 500mW) and 630m (5mW ERP TX, 80% RX)
With just a single spot all day on 6m from a station 33km away, I have left the 10m beacon still running (still Es about) and QSYed from 6m to 630m WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna". In recent days 630m has not been brilliant.
UPDATE 1915z: PA3ABK/2 (306km) being spotted on 630m (472kHz) WSPR.
UPDATE 2256z: On 10m WSPR I have been reported at incredible strength (+4dB) by DF4UE (758km) when running 500mW. This implies he would copy me at uW levels!
UPDATE 1915z: PA3ABK/2 (306km) being spotted on 630m (472kHz) WSPR.
UPDATE 2256z: On 10m WSPR I have been reported at incredible strength (+4dB) by DF4UE (758km) when running 500mW. This implies he would copy me at uW levels!
Dad's Army Van - NOT amateur radio
IC7300 video
This was received from Steve G1KQH yesterday. I think he expects me to buy one. With no FT817 replacement shown at Dayton, he may well be right, when the price drops and the bugs are ironed out, but I am in no hurry. It uses 15 band-pass filters in the front end. These stop overload in most, but not all, cases.
73
Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
15
bandpass filters Roger?
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Sunspots and 10m - Sun May 22nd 2016
Solar flux is 99 today. Sunspot number is just 17 (K=2). The 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". I doubt we will see better F2 conditions until the autumn. Come that time we will be falling solar activity so F2 openings to the USA will be much less often.
Sunday 10m WSPR Es
Today I put the 500mW (TX only) beacon on 10m WSPR. As well as lots of spots by local G4KPX (14km) I was spotted at 1008z by I4ZTO (1185km). This is quite early in the day for Es.
Although also active on 6m WSPR (TX and RX), there have been no spots (yet) on 6m.
UPDATE 1140z: Quite a few 10m WSPR spots (Es) received in the last few hours, but still no spots on 6m WSPR. Either people are using SSB/CW or there is no Es on 6m.
Although also active on 6m WSPR (TX and RX), there have been no spots (yet) on 6m.
UPDATE 1140z: Quite a few 10m WSPR spots (Es) received in the last few hours, but still no spots on 6m WSPR. Either people are using SSB/CW or there is no Es on 6m.
21 May 2016
10m WSPR Es here
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.
I think tomorrow I shall try 6m WSPR with the FT817 and stick the 500mW beacon (TX only) on 10m.
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.
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