Queen at 90 - NOT amateur radio

Although not a royalist, I think the UK queen has done very well over her long reign. The very survival of the institute of monarchy is in no small part due to her. The money that royalty brings in must more than make up for the expense of the royal household.

Ours is a constitutional monarchy: although the queen has weekly discussions with the Prime Minister of the day, she in no way influences the day-to-day running of the nation. She does open Parliament (The State Opening of Parliament) in her "official" role as queen and head of state.

I cannot imagine us as a republic with a president. We are lacking people that we could all look up to and respect. Somehow I cannot imagine the monarchy after Elizabeth dies. It is bound to happen sooner rather than later. Will we still have a monarchy 50 years from now?

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
72 QRP Net (Rendez-Vous) weekly report (June 6 to 12, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  US5EFU, UA1CEG, RU3NJC, F/PA0PJE/p, UA1ADF, SM7RYR,  UR0ET,  UA3PCJ,  UR7VT,  UA4NU,  R1OA, RN4NAA, US3EN, ON6KZ, US5ERQ, IT9IFI
IT9IFI became Rendez-Vous Frequenter
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - www.club72.su
Welcome  all  QRP  operators  on  the  "72  QRP Net" (Rendez-Vous) in Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  Saturdays  at  9 UTC on 14060 kHz (alternative 10116 kHz if contents) +/- QRM, QRL.
P.S. Full "rendezvous" weekly reports published on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

472kHz transverter

472kHz transverter (homebrew design and build)

All winter, spring and indeed right up to now, I have been using my FT817 and a homebrew transverter for 472kHz WSPR. Although the transverter puts out about 12W, my ERP on 472kHz is a measured 5mW from the earth-electrode "antenna". Although far from efficient, it provides me with a means of radiating a signal on 472kHz WSPR.  Best TX DX this season on the band was well over 1000km to Norway on several occasions. It has copied 1525km on RX with just the FT817 without a preamp.

New UK record on 241GHz

I guess we do things the hard way "because it is there".  There are far easier ways to communicate over this distance! As  I said before, personally I think 481THz (optical) is much easier than microwaves.

UK distance on 241 GHz improved to 400m in latest tests by G8ACE. Tweeted by @UKGHZ which is the UK microwave group.

See https://twitter.com/UKGHZ/status/74124618582711091 .

Local Church Fete - NOT amateur radio

Church Fete in the churchyard

This is usually held the next weekend in June each year, but it was changed to coincide with the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations. Although thundery showers have been threatened all afternoon, they have kept off for now. My wife is running the cake stall as she does most years. It is usually a good chance to meet village people not seen for a while.

6m daytime and thunder

OH5MD (1757km) spotted me on 6m WSPR this lunchtime, but there were no spots on 10m WSPR of my 500mW WSPR beacon.  Because of the risk of thunderstorms this afternoon I have gone QRT on 10m and 6m and disconnected antennas and power plugs to the rigs and PC. I may return at teatime.

There is quite a high risk of storms this afternoon.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org .

UPDATE 1715z:  In the end it was muggy, but dry, all afternoon, The storms seem to be in the Ipswich area and moving away. I shall probably return to 10m and 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1730z: 10m and 6m WSPR now on. There was a strong signal on 6m just after turning on, but being the first cycle it did not decode.  I shall have to hope this signal returns soon.

6m Overnight

Although my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was not spotted overnight I did see OH7TE (1861km) running 10W at 0418z on 6m WSPR with quite a bit of drift. Although likely to be Es, I am not certain. G4NRG (58km) was spotted on 6m WSPR this morning.

It certainly to be on the right frequency in the 6m band! See my post yesterday!

Sunspots and 10m - Sat June 11th 2016

Solar flux is 85 today and sunspot number 28 (K=2). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Marlon Brando

Tweeted by the RSGB:

Friday fun fact – Marlon Brando used the call signs KE6PZH and FO5GJ. He said amateur radio allowed him to be himself.

10GHz DX

I get excited about German spots on 10m WSPR. Meanwhile I noticed this from G4HTZ:

"Just worked DF6IY on 10GHz SSB at 618km ..fantastic conditions but little activity @UKGHZ

Now that is DX!  No doubt helped by being on the coast, but really well done Steve.