QRP and QRPclub

As I have been away these posts from Oleg were not published earlier.

Dear Space Friends,
remind the rules - www.club72.su

Devoted  to  Sputnik  and  Vanguard launches and to HAMs copied their signals.
Dates: October 4 to 18 annually
Mode - CW, output power less than 5 watts
Bands  -  all,  including  WARC  (it's  not  a  contest),  around QRP frequencies recommend
Categories:

"Sputniks"
-  use old type valves (50'th)  TX, output power recommend less than 1watt.  To  identification  add series of "dit" (beep-beep-beep...) in start or/and finish of transmission

"Vanguards"
-  use  old  type  Ge (germanium, 50'th) transistors TX, output power recommend  less  than  100mW. To identification add series of "V" in start or/and finish of transmission

SWLs
- copy time and freq of Sputniks and Vanguards (CQs or QSOs). Use main callsign as SWL.

Each  operator  may  take  a  part in any categories sending separate reports/logs for each category. Any QSOs in account. Same station may operate on other bands or in other category on the same band.
Reports/logs  must be send daily (preferably) to the "Center of Space Communications" :-) to - mr72@club72.su
Add  photos  of equipment, antennas including any comments. Dead-line for reports/logs before October 25. Memorably certificate will be sent to each station/SWL.

Ask  "Mr  72"  to add your e-mail in the special "Sputnik" discussion group (reflector)
Enjoy last years results, logs, pictures -
http://club72.su/sputnik-res.htm

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (September 12 to 18, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  RU3NJC, US3EN, R1OA, UR0ET, UA1CEG, IK5ZWN, EA5DNO,  HA2BFO,  DK1HW,  DL1VTL,  SM2FIJ,  RW3AA/p, RX3DIT, RA1M/mm, RN4AO,  R1CAF, LZ1TS, UA9MLY, DL1FU, DL2ASG, UA1CCA, RV3DSA/0, RV3UF, OH6NPV,  UR5EFD, UA0SBQ, Z35M, RW9TN, ON6KZ, LZ2RS, UR5FA/mm, IT9IFI, SA4BLM, CT1DBS/p, DK3WX
Congrats! DK1HW became Rendez-Vous Frequenter
Comments: ...... Read more and see pictures at Club 72 blog/news page-
http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72" 

10m JT65

Since before breakfast I have been on 10m JT65 but no spots at all so far.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday Sept 24th 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number 49. K=1. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Sunspots and 10m - Friday September 23rd 2016

Sorry for the lack of posts this last week but we have been away. Solar flux is 83 and sunspot number 30. K=0. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". I shall be on 10m JT65 in the morning.

Back from holiday - NOT amateur radio

As you can see I have returned from a week in Corfu on holiday. Although I had some internet, I was unable to update the blog, so I missed the last week. If previous "absences" are anything to go by, it takes several days before people notice I am back. At this time of year Corfu starts to cool down a bit. It was still  hot and sunny most of the time but we did have a few storms. Corfu is among the greenest of the Greek islands with views that are truly great, although I still think the South Hams beats them all.

South America yet again on 10m JT65

CE3GDR in Chile was spotted on 10m JT65 earlier. I have now gone QRT and disconnected all plugs and antennas as there could be thunderstorms later.

Blog posts unlikely for a week - NOT amateur radio

Although the house is occupied, it is probable that I will not have internet for about 7 days. So, if no posts appear, don't panic! If things go to plan I should be blogging again around Sept 23rd or 24th.

10m Es

With modes like JT65, it is possible to find out what 10m is doing, almost in the background. For example, today has seen Es spots from 3 countries despite running QRP to a relatively poor antenna. If this was SSB, these openings would probably have been missed. We are now well outside the main Es season yet 10m still shows that Europe is workable on very many days. I have copied South America on 10m JT65 many times in recent weeks. No, JT65 is proving very useful on a so-called "dead" band.

"In the midst of life...." - NOT amateur radio

"In the midst of life we are in death" - so goes the famous saying. Recently I have been made aware of this more than before with another of my university friends dying from cancer. I expect this is an age thing with more of my own generation dying. In the meantime,we must all milk life like Dame Sarah Storey at the Paralympics. She is the daughter of a university friend.

My son Tim Lapthorn is raising money for cancer research. If you are able, please support this good cause by giving just a little.  Every little helps.

See https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tim-Lapthorn-dryathlete2016

"Media vita in morte sumus ; quem quaerimus adjutorem, nisi te Domine, qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris? Sancte Deus, sancte fortis, sancte et misericors Salvator, amarae morti ne tradas nos."

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_vita_in_morte_sumus 

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday September 15th 2016

Solar flux is 84 today and the sunspot number 24. K=2. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". There is a little 10m Es.