21 Dec 2016
No WSPR or JT65 currently
As mentioned in an earlier post, I am downloading WSJT-X v1.7 to my shack PC, but it failed saying it was missing a dll. I have a clean copy of the file and have emailed it to myself and will try to reinstall on the shack PC later with this dll installed first. Until then, I am not currently active. With Christmas, operation is likely to be intermittent!
20 Dec 2016
WSJT-X and missing Qt5core.dll
WSJT-X V1.7 (available now from https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html) successfully installed on one PC but not on my shack PC saying "Qt5core.dll" was missing. Version 1.6 installed on the shack PC fine earlier this year. I am no Windows expert and have not a clue what this is! BTW both PCs use Windows 10.
Does anyone know where I can get a free and virus free copy of this file please?
Does anyone know where I can get a free and virus free copy of this file please?
More OFCOM
OFCOM has outlined why it is reviewing the Wireless Telegraphy Act licences held by the BBC for its TV and radio services across the UK.
See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/4AD2C82AB9E3890B/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/4AD2C82AB9E3890B/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday December 20th 2016
Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is 12. A=5 and K=1.
More ULF amateur DX
The latest ULF DX news from Stefan DK7FC:
Hi ULF,
In addition to the informations from older mails about this experiment, here are the results of the post-processing:
First, a spectrogram in 424 uHz FFT bin width (after sferic blanking) showing the whole transmission: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
The SNR reached levels up to 22 dB. Even during the (relatively) strong QRN periods at night, the transmissions are still visible. Even the EbNaut transmissions were visible. All this is about 10 dB stronger than i expected. The low winter noise levels and the quiet location certainly plays a big role here. The 'short' DFCW-10800 (3h per element) message "FC" is O copy as the experts say. Inbetween the "F" and "C" there is an EbNaut message (#2) with the content "73". One more example showing the power of EbNaut.
In the last experiments i've shown reference spactrograms beeing generated in low distance (tree grabber) just to give a better overview of what was transmitted, but this is not necessary here :-)
3 EbNaut messages were transmitted. All of them have been decoded with a strong SNR:
1st message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
2nd message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
3rd message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
Last but not least a spectrogram showing the recorded range from 0...12 kHz, without a noise blanker: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
A new experiment in 140 km distance is in the pipeline. The plan is to run it in 2016.
73, Stefan
Hi ULF,
In addition to the informations from older mails about this experiment, here are the results of the post-processing:
First, a spectrogram in 424 uHz FFT bin width (after sferic blanking) showing the whole transmission: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
The SNR reached levels up to 22 dB. Even during the (relatively) strong QRN periods at night, the transmissions are still visible. Even the EbNaut transmissions were visible. All this is about 10 dB stronger than i expected. The low winter noise levels and the quiet location certainly plays a big role here. The 'short' DFCW-10800 (3h per element) message "FC" is O copy as the experts say. Inbetween the "F" and "C" there is an EbNaut message (#2) with the content "73". One more example showing the power of EbNaut.
In the last experiments i've shown reference spactrograms beeing generated in low distance (tree grabber) just to give a better overview of what was transmitted, but this is not necessary here :-)
3 EbNaut messages were transmitted. All of them have been decoded with a strong SNR:
1st message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
2nd message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
3rd message: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
Last but not least a spectrogram showing the recorded range from 0...12 kHz, without a noise blanker: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.
A new experiment in 140 km distance is in the pipeline. The plan is to run it in 2016.
73, Stefan
Waters and Stanton
My friend Steve G1KQH has sent me this:
http://blog.hamradiostore.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IHSG.pdf
Is this the end for W&S as we know it, or a new beginning? I hope a new beginning, as they have been fair to me in the past.
In my view many UK, mainland European and US amateur radio dealers will be looking for ways to streamline their businesses and reduce costs. The alternative is closing down. Dealers in the amateur market have seen better times.
We can expect many well known names to disappear in the years ahead as the amateur radio hobby evolves, active amateurs get older and maybe buy less. One thing is certain. That is we can expect the amateur radio hobby to be very different in the years ahead.
I have said this before, but expect fewer and smaller radio magazines, fewer adverts, fewer suppliers, fewer kits and fewer dealers.
Have you counted the number of radio magazines on the newsagents stands recently compared with mags on other subjects? 30 years ago there were several magazines about amateur radio, but these days they are rare.
http://blog.hamradiostore.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IHSG.pdf
Is this the end for W&S as we know it, or a new beginning? I hope a new beginning, as they have been fair to me in the past.
In my view many UK, mainland European and US amateur radio dealers will be looking for ways to streamline their businesses and reduce costs. The alternative is closing down. Dealers in the amateur market have seen better times.
We can expect many well known names to disappear in the years ahead as the amateur radio hobby evolves, active amateurs get older and maybe buy less. One thing is certain. That is we can expect the amateur radio hobby to be very different in the years ahead.
I have said this before, but expect fewer and smaller radio magazines, fewer adverts, fewer suppliers, fewer kits and fewer dealers.
Have you counted the number of radio magazines on the newsagents stands recently compared with mags on other subjects? 30 years ago there were several magazines about amateur radio, but these days they are rare.
2m UKAC results
In the yearly totals, I was 80th out of 193 in the AL section of the RSGB's 2m UK activity contests held on the first Tuesday evening each month. As I only run 5W QRP to a big-wheel omni (3dBd gain max) and am only on for 30-60 minutes because of my poor, stroke impaired, voice, I think this is not too bad.
If you want 2m SSB activity in the UK, then I can recommend these Tuesday evening contests, even if you don't send in a score. Activity levels are usually very good and a very modest set-up works. It has been successful for me with just an FT817ND. My typical maximum distance is 200km in this contest. On RX it is unusual not to hear lots of DX even in the short time I get on.
If you want 2m SSB activity in the UK, then I can recommend these Tuesday evening contests, even if you don't send in a score. Activity levels are usually very good and a very modest set-up works. It has been successful for me with just an FT817ND. My typical maximum distance is 200km in this contest. On RX it is unusual not to hear lots of DX even in the short time I get on.
19 Dec 2016
Sunspots and 10m - Monday December 19th 2016
Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13. A=9 and K=1.
More OFCOM
OFCOM is consulting on the use of UHF bands in the UK from 410-470MHz. I think this will not involve a look at amateur radio use of the 70cm band in UHF (band 1).
They are also looking at some microwave allocations.
See
http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/4559A73E8304B6CD/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/67C9780756CAEC6A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
They are also looking at some microwave allocations.
See
http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/4559A73E8304B6CD/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/67C9780756CAEC6A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
Snow - NOT amateur radio
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