QRP - yet more on Sputniks

This just came in from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
the  2016  totals, comments, pictures page opened on the Club 72 site
today. There is a 1'st QSO in the log today - RV3GM/S to G3XJS.
Preferably, to send me results daily.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
thanks  to  Peter  PA0PJE  for report and picture. I add photo on the
results  page  on www.club72.su  I only ask you to send me details of
today's "sputnik" QSOs to add in the totals log, please.

2'nd  picture  of  Yuri's UA1CEG "Vanguard" tcvr is on the page also.
Yuri informed he operated from the forest "wigwam" position today, but
no success for sorry.

Evening I CQed on 200 mW TX on 14060 but no one RBN copied my signals,
sorry.  For  TX I use VXO and PA, both transistors are GT320B Ge pnp.
Ant is 42 m Delta at 6 m AGL.

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

Sepura Takeover Rumours - NOT amateur radio

Shares in my old company Sepura (SEPU) have tumbled in recent months. The LSE listed company was started in 2002. They are now rumoured to be a takeover target. Time will tell, but with TETRA likely to take off in the USA, someone should do well. Since retiring in 2008, I watch fro  the sidelines. I want them to do well. Their main market is TETRA - digital radio for professional users.

UK Stock Markets post BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 UK share indexes are currently at record high levels. I am sure the weaker pound helps exports, but these levels are high. Of course, being shares, they could tumble tomorrow! At the moment, the stock markets are not phased by BREXIT.

UPDATE 1216z: FTSE 100 at 7110.43 (up 1.82%). FTSE 250 at 7110.43 (up 2.2%).

QRP - now on 10m JT65

As of 1135z, I have gone QRT on 6m JT65 and 10m WSPR and am now on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1155z: Nothing yet spotted, or spotting me, on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1800z: Nothing still on 10m JT65. Plenty of South Americans on 10m JT65, but no luck yet this evening.

UPDATE 1820z: My first Argentinian tonight spotted on 10m JT65 a few moments ago in Buenos Aires. 10m JT65 has "come good" again! These spots are so regular. I am sure we are seeing TEP (trans equatorial propagation).

UPDATE 2102z: Only 3 South Americans copied this evening on 10m JT65.

Lunchtime Es (again) on 10m WSPR

EA1FAQ (1249km) has been consistently spotting my 10m WSPR strongly,  even though well outside of the main Es season and my little WSPR beacon runs just 500mW to a very average, low,  wire antenna. Virtually every day I am spotted by someone. I assume this is Es. Backscatter is unlikely and the distance too short for F2.

I shall soon be moving over to JT65 on 10m only.

QRP Sputnik days reminder

More from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
I only wish all sputniks and Vanguards happy flight!
All  comments,  reports,  pictures are appreciate here in the list or
direct  to  my  e-mail. All info's will be published on the "Sputnik"
results page - www.club72.su - totals log, soapbox, pictures etc.
SWLs are welcome also.
My  "Sputnik"  is  old  valves trcvr called "UW3DI" (14 valves) power
reduced  less  than  a  1 watt. My "Vanguard" trcvr is "Micro-80-pnp"
(only  Ge pnp 5 transistors on board) VXO 14060 kc 200 mW. Helping RX
is  "UA1FA" (home made in 70-80-th not mine hands). Antennas: 20 m GP
and Delta 42 m, both 6 m AGL.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP this morning: 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Today I started out on 10m WSPR (no reports yet) and 6m JT65 (just G0LRD at 25km spotting me). Later, I'll probably move to 10m JT65. On both bands I am QRP with 500mW WSPR and 2W JT65.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday October 4th 2016

Solar flux is 89 today and the sunspot number 32. However K=5 and the 10m F2 propagation forecast remains "poor".

Yet again - South America on 10m

This evening, South Americans stations, lots, were received on 10m JT65. The conditions did not look that promising, but yet again 10m using JT65 has proved to be "open". There were quite a few Europeans copied and copying me today. I love 10m and JT65.

QRP News - Sputnik days

From Oleg earlier:

Some years ago, G6ALB and I made a simple QRP CW rig, using Sputnik valves, for 21MHz and we worked a stateside station who replied to my CQ call.

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 1
watt.  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  100 mW. 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.
See totals log/comments/pictures since October 4 on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
Ask  "Mr  72"  to add your e-mail in the special "Sputnik" discussion
group (reflector)
72! Deep Space Communications Center
Operator in duty -
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB beep...beep...beep...