QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
See  full  WQR  Report  (Weekly  QRP  Rendez-Vous)  with comments and
pictures on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

Note, a lot of Visitors and Frequenters visited QRP Rendez-Vous this week! See the list:
RV3GM, OM1WX, UA1CEG, G4SSH, HA43ZN, EA4BL, UR0ET, UR7VT, US3EN, R1OA, US5ERQ, OH6NPV, SP3LRS, US7IB, UR5EFD, SM0EQG, RU3NJC, IK2RMZ, DF5SF, G3KAN,  ON6KZ,  EA6BB,  R1CAF, IK1GPK, EA4GPY, IT9IFI, G4PSI, EA6AIF, UA9MLY,  SM2FIJ,  DK1HW,  RW3AI,  DK4AN,  SM2ELN, G3XJS, LY3G, 4X1ZZ, G4GQL,  LZ2OQV,  UA4NU,  UW5EKR, LZ1WF, RN4NAA, EW4DW, OH5LP, HA2EDX, LZ1WT, DL8NGC, EA4EPY, YO7LHE, EA5AHN, TK8QY, UA0SBQ, OM6TC, SV2BBK, EU6AA, G3VIP.
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - club72.su

Congrats!
For  activity  in the "rendezvous" round tables G4SSH, EA6BB, DL8NGC,
SV2BBK became Honor Frequenters operators

Note: now we have on-line QRP Chat on the Club 72 page - enjoy to talk
with colleagues!
Thanks all QRP operators for activity and comments, see you all on the
next week "rendezvous" round tables.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Re-reading old stroke posts - NOT amateur radio

Having just re-read some of the comments to my few posts in the second half of 2013 when I was in hospital with my stroke, I realise how much support you all gave me at that dark time.

It is now 3 years later and I am able to drive, eat normally and most of me works although I still feel giddy on my feet, have a poor voice and I find drinks hard. Overall, I am grateful as things could have been so much worse.

From the bottom of my heart - thank you. You cannot begin to realise just how valuable this support was.

VHF Spectrum Forum Notes

See http://rsgb.org/main/files/2016/11/5.2_VHF-Managers-report_Oct2016.pdf .

According to Southgate News OFCOM have recognised that the VHF lo-band noise (man-made) is much worse than it used to be.

Choosing a new band for JT65 this evening and overnight

As the 10m JT65 DX seems to have ended for the night, I might try JT65 on a completely different band this evening and overnight. I have yet to choose a band. Although I have tried WSPR on most bands, I have yet to try JT65 on the lower HF bands or MF. This could be fun. I shall need to use the auto ATU. Whatever band is chosen, I shall be beaconing "B G3XBM JO02".

UPDATE 1945z:  In the end I chose 30m using my Par antenna via the ATU. We'll see what happens. The local noise level is very high compared with 10m.

UPDATE 2014z: This is puzzling. No spots given or received as yet. Am I using the right frequency? I was using 10.138MHz but maybe I should try 40m instead? I have now QSYed to 7.039MHz on 40m but still just 1 spot. Compared with 40m and 30m WSPR, results so far have been very disappointing.

UPDATE 2100z: Would someone please let me know the correct JT65 frequencies in Europe?  Judging by the levels of activity I am sure I cannot be using the correct frequencies.

UPDATE 2122z:  In view of my confusion, I think I am going to move to 14.076MHz. Moved to 20m at 2125z.

UPDATE 2134z:  Here was me expecting loads of 20m JT65 spots! So far, nothing given or received.  Maybe I am assuming these HF bands would be "open".

Disappointment on 10m JT65 today

After a promising start, today has been a disappointment on 10m JT65. It is now 1538z and although I have spotted 8 countries and 3 continents on 10m JT65, not a single person has copied me! I checked all was well about 1 hour ago.

Things could change, but I am beginning to think this is not going to be so good. 10m is like this: some days it defies the forecasts and is good. Other days, like today, it started off well and has gone downhill. Ho hum - better luck tomorrow? I shall remain on 10m JT65 until bedtime in the hope it will improve.

There is a newer version of WSJT-X, although I don't think this is on general release yet. I may try this although V1.6 seems to serve me well.

Prices up?

In recent months we have seen the pound lose value against the yen and the dollar.  It now looks as if these are being passed on to customers in increased prices.

MLS is offering a deal on the IC7300 at Kempton. See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-icom-base-station-radio/icom/icom-ic-7300-hf-50-70mhz-transceiver-pd-6016.php?mc_cid=ce97983f94&mc_eid=e7d0ed0d96. At the same time they are offering the FT450D at £499.

I appreciate dealers have to make a profit and their prices have increased, but I was expecting the IC7300 to drop in price. Are we being warmed up to think around £1049 was a good price? The IC7300 should be less expensive than the FT450D as it has a simpler architecture.

For now, I am happy to wait.

The FT991A will be a direct competitor to the IC7300, so expect a Yaesu-ICOM price war in 2017 with both transceivers fighting it out. I think both will be below £1000 in 2017 despite the exchange rates.

What a difference 2 years makes

Exactly 2 years ago to the day, I was using 50mW WSPR on 10m and getting lots of spots from the USA. This autumn I have been on 10m JT65 and been spotted just once in the USA on 10m when using 2W. Solar activity is on the slide.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday November 5th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 25. K=1.

Already 10m JT65 is promising today, but time will tell.

After 2m JT65, a return to 10m JT65

Last night, and overnight I was on 144.166MHz JT65B. Several spots were exchanged with G3WKW (133km) and G6AVK (77km) spotted me several times. It was altogether a successful 2m outing and my thanks go to both stations for being on and doing the test. Yet again JT65 looks better than WSPR on 2m. I wonder if there is a need for a WSPR1 with 1 minute TX times? I am sure the shorter TX time helps in some cases, especially if there is Doppler.

This morning I returned to 10m JT65 with spots of stations in the UK, Germany, Ukraine and Russia. Nobody has yet spotted my 2W.

UPDATE 1155z:  With 7 countries and 2 continents so far spotted this morning on 10m JT65, I am surprised that my own signal has not yet been spotted.

UPDATE 1354z: LW2DAF (11211km) in Buenos Aires is the best DX spotted on 10m JT65 RX so far today. He was spotted at 1318z. Still no spots of my 2W, which is surprising. I may close and restart in case something odd is going on at my end and I am not actually TXing.

2m JT65B on 144.166MHz

Since about 1900z I have been on 144.166MHz using JT65B. I am doing a test with G3WKW but if anyone else wants to listen and report to PSK reporter than would be appreciated, of course.

UPDATE 2002z:  G3WKW (133km) spotted me 36 minutes ago on 2m at -24dB S/N! Thanks Bob.

UPDATE 2035z: Now G6AVK (77km) has spotted me on 2m. Thank you.