12 Jan 2017
Sunspots and 10m - Thursday January 12th 2017
Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is again zero. A=8 and K=0. Will 10m be any good? Who can tell?
11 Jan 2017
Other bands WSPR or JT65?
As I am unlikely to be able to erect a better MF antenna before next autumn, I wonder what band I should use overnight on WSPR or JT65? 5MHz (60m) I can manage as I've resonated the antenna before. My noise floor is bad on 5MHz, but I should be able to TX (beacon) with either WSPR or JT65. I know 40m or 30m are possible (but little challenge), but in "quiet sun" years 5MHz (60m) is likely to be "open" more.
I may give 5MHz a go tonight. I have still to decide WSPR or JT65. As usual, I'd use 2W.
UPDATE 2008z: I could not load my antenna up on 60m, so have gone on 40m WSPR this evening and overnight.
UPDATE 2230z: Most spots of my 40m WSPR (2W) are from Germany. Best DX on TX was SA6BSS/RX (1059km). My antenna is far from ideal on 40m. It is very low.
I may give 5MHz a go tonight. I have still to decide WSPR or JT65. As usual, I'd use 2W.
UPDATE 2008z: I could not load my antenna up on 60m, so have gone on 40m WSPR this evening and overnight.
 |
| 40m WSPR spots this evening |
UPDATE 2230z: Most spots of my 40m WSPR (2W) are from Germany. Best DX on TX was SA6BSS/RX (1059km). My antenna is far from ideal on 40m. It is very low.
10m JT65
Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m JT65 (2W), but no spots given or received as yet. Although the chances of catching N-S F layer DX is not great (but possible) there is still a chance of winter Es around Europe.
UPDATE 1415z: Another quiet day with just G4CJC (73km) spotted on 10m JT65.
UPDATE 1415z: Another quiet day with just G4CJC (73km) spotted on 10m JT65.
472kHz WSPR
Last evening and overnight until breakfast I was on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP). Yet again, very few spots received (4 uniques) making 472kHz hard work.
The noise floor is going up at most RX stations. As an example my own RX noise floor was S1 on 472kHz. It is now S8 with the PC I bought a year ago on its SMPSU. Sadly, this is fairly typical and RX stations are struggling more now. QRP is harder than it was even a few years ago, especially on LF, MF and lower HF. Luckily my noise floor is OK on 10m upwards into VHF and UHF, although I know others struggle.
The noise floor is going up at most RX stations. As an example my own RX noise floor was S1 on 472kHz. It is now S8 with the PC I bought a year ago on its SMPSU. Sadly, this is fairly typical and RX stations are struggling more now. QRP is harder than it was even a few years ago, especially on LF, MF and lower HF. Luckily my noise floor is OK on 10m upwards into VHF and UHF, although I know others struggle.
Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday January 11th 2017
Solar flux is 72 today and sunspot number remains 0. A=10 and K=2.
OFCOM
More to justify why they are there? They must add some value?
See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/103888809ED4609A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/103888809ED4609A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C
Tests at even lower frequencies
DK7FC has been testing at even lower frequencies:
Hi ULF,
Since a few hours i'm running 15 mA antenna current on 970 Hz, the 309 km band. This requires to apply 5 kV to the antenna. You can see a very faint trace on the lower image at http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.
Just about 10 dB SNR in 424 uHz in 3.5 km distance, or in 0.011 lambda distance. The receive antenna is a H field antenna that is not even pointing to the transmitter. Also the preamp noise is dominating the background noise on that frequency. So the RX is deaf on that band. Anyway, there is something.
The ALC into SpecLab does a very good job, it holds the antenna current stable during all the changes and working point drifts. The plot can be seen at http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.
15 mA results in an ERP of 3 nW.
My new preamp circuit is waiting for a first test together with the large loop. I hope to pick up the signal in at least 5 km distance with that preamp which is really low noise down to the lower Hz range.
An E field reeiver would be a better choise for the reception from that E field Tx antenna, at least in the lower near field. Maybe that will give another test then.
With 30 kV i could reach 0.3 uW. Not sure where this could be detected? And who knows the advantages of this part of the spectrum for our purposes!?!
Since 21:20 UTC, a 2 character EbNaut message is running. It will take 2h, 2min, 40s. Hopefully the tree grabber is available until the message ends. It will shut down in a few hours due to lack of solar energy in these days (an improvement of this system has already been prepared and waits for the installation).
73, Stefan
Hi ULF,
Since a few hours i'm running 15 mA antenna current on 970 Hz, the 309 km band. This requires to apply 5 kV to the antenna. You can see a very faint trace on the lower image at http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.
Just about 10 dB SNR in 424 uHz in 3.5 km distance, or in 0.011 lambda distance. The receive antenna is a H field antenna that is not even pointing to the transmitter. Also the preamp noise is dominating the background noise on that frequency. So the RX is deaf on that band. Anyway, there is something.
The ALC into SpecLab does a very good job, it holds the antenna current stable during all the changes and working point drifts. The plot can be seen at http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.
15 mA results in an ERP of 3 nW.
My new preamp circuit is waiting for a first test together with the large loop. I hope to pick up the signal in at least 5 km distance with that preamp which is really low noise down to the lower Hz range.
An E field reeiver would be a better choise for the reception from that E field Tx antenna, at least in the lower near field. Maybe that will give another test then.
With 30 kV i could reach 0.3 uW. Not sure where this could be detected? And who knows the advantages of this part of the spectrum for our purposes!?!
Since 21:20 UTC, a 2 character EbNaut message is running. It will take 2h, 2min, 40s. Hopefully the tree grabber is available until the message ends. It will shut down in a few hours due to lack of solar energy in these days (an improvement of this system has already been prepared and waits for the installation).
73, Stefan
Work - NOT amateur radio
When I started work (1970), most worked 37.5 hours a week and no more. We went home and enjoyed life.
Today the work ethic is to work longer and longer hours, but I doubt people are any more productive. Longer working hours, like the paperless office, are a myth.
If you are in a job, I know you have to do things to "look busy" and "please the boss", but stand back for a minute - look at yourself and ask yourself, "am I really adding any value?". If not, change the way you work or get a different job.
Today the work ethic is to work longer and longer hours, but I doubt people are any more productive. Longer working hours, like the paperless office, are a myth.
If you are in a job, I know you have to do things to "look busy" and "please the boss", but stand back for a minute - look at yourself and ask yourself, "am I really adding any value?". If not, change the way you work or get a different job.
10 Jan 2017
Back on 472kHz
This evening, I am back on 472kHz WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" and 5mW ERP. Best DX on TX is PA0RDT (243km). So far, just 4 unique spots received.
70cm UKAC and FMAC
As this is the second Tuesday, it is the 70cm leg of the RSGB's UKAC this evening starting at 2000z. As I have no 70cm horizontal antennas I shall use my 2m halo omni and the FT817ND. Because my voice is poor, I usually do not go on for very long, with 30 minutes being usual on 70cm. UKAC runs from 2000-2230z.
In the hour before the UKAC is the first 70cm FM contest of the year - the 70cm FMAC. I shall try my V2000 vertical for this. Again, this will be a brief outing for me. FMAC runs 1900-2000z.
See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2017&contest=70cmsfmac&seq=
and http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2017&contest=70cmsukac&seq=
UPDATE 2100z: 70cm UHF UKAC contest this evening. 7 contacts in 20 minutes (before I had to stop) with 5W and a 2m VHF halo fed with lossy coax. Fun. Best DX was G4CLA (105km). Nothing at all heard or worked in the FM contest.
In the hour before the UKAC is the first 70cm FM contest of the year - the 70cm FMAC. I shall try my V2000 vertical for this. Again, this will be a brief outing for me. FMAC runs 1900-2000z.
See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2017&contest=70cmsfmac&seq=
and http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2017&contest=70cmsukac&seq=
UPDATE 2100z: 70cm UHF UKAC contest this evening. 7 contacts in 20 minutes (before I had to stop) with 5W and a 2m VHF halo fed with lossy coax. Fun. Best DX was G4CLA (105km). Nothing at all heard or worked in the FM contest.
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