12 Feb 2017

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday February 12th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is 18.  A=5 and K=1.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (February 12, 2017)
Visitors of the week: SM2FIJ, OK2PDT/p, RV3GM, YU1KM, PA3DEU, UA1CEX, GI3TME,  UR7VT,  UR0ET, F6ABG, US5ERQ, UW5EKR, UY1IF, UA1CEG, OH6NPV, DJ2DW,  EA8/DK6XM,  F5SSI, RW3AA, R1CAF, DK1HW, OH5LP, F8WBD, SP9AMH, EA6BB,  EW1CY,  DL1HSI,  OK1FAO, UR3VZ, SM7RYR, DF3QE, DF6IA, RU3NJC,
R1OA, OM6TC, RV3DSA/0, UR4MME, IZ0RQF, RY3AAA, R2AJA, 9H3FC
Congrats!!!
F6ABG, OK1FAO, R3VZ, UR4MME became Honor Frequenters
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page
Comments...
See  full version of the WQR Report on the Club 72 blog page (link on
the web age available).
See you all QRPers on the next Rendez-Vous round table!

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.

11 Feb 2017

Amateur ULF: 5 wavelengths on the 101km band?

From Stefan DK7FC:

Hi all,

Meanwhile my 1 week taking transmission, starting  01.FEB.2017 23:30 UTC on 2970.000000 Hz at 150...170 mA is completed. I tried to leave a trace/peak into a range beyong 3 wavelengths.

Renato Romero / IK1QFK is running a 5 uHz FFT spectrogram on 2970 Hz. He's using a well working E field antenna in Cumiana/Italy.
The spectrogram is running since christmas evening 2016, available at
http://www.webalice.it/rromero/live_cumiana/last-LFtest_2970.jpg

There are time markers in 1 week intervals.


I can see a dash, a trace right on the frequency. It appeared 2 days after i started transmitting, which is expected with an FFT window time of nearly 3 days. The SNR was up to 12 dB during the visual observation of incoming spectra.
Partly, the trace disappered during the transmission time (destructive interference with QRN). However i can see a resulting trace of a high average SNR and exact (!) frequency stability relative to the other traces beeing present in the spectrogram.

I would tend to call it a serious detection of my signal. Spectrogram experts, what's your opinion please?

The distance is quite exactly at 5 wavelength on that 101 km band!
It would be a
first detection on ULF (0.3...3 kHz) between DL - I !

73, Stefan

Analogue or switch mode PSUs?

Although I have a linear PSU, I am thinking of getting a new PSU  to complement the one I have. Although I mostly use QRP, it would be good to get one that will power a modern 100W rig. I think this means one that can run 25A without overload.

SMPSUs tend to be smaller, but can be noisy both electrically and because they tend to have fans. Linear PSUs tend to be larger, but often don't have fans.

Any recommendations?

At the moment W&S are offering a special deal on a linear PSU with a 2 year warranty.

Growing amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Our amaryllis is growing and now has 8 flower heads from 2 stems.

It has been great fun watching it grow and flower. I think next week will be the peak.

On 10m WSPR TX and 6m MSK144 RX

At the moment I am receiving on 50.280MHz MSK144 and transmitting on 10m WSPR.  My 9th country received on 6m MSK144 in the form of PE1FYH (325km). I suspect the Netherlands station was received by aircraft reflection rather than MS.

UK Charity Bags - NOT amateur radio

This is a UK thing. I have no idea what happens in the rest of the world.

RANT -

I hate charity collection bags (dropped on UK doorsteps most weeks) emblazoned with this or that registered charity name and numbers, but buried in the small print you see that the collection is by a private company who will donate so much a year to that charity.

Basically this is a CON. No doubt they make huge profits and are able to claim back their "gift" against tax. How can this CON be allowed?

My wife is taken in and so I guess are most who receive such bags in their doors most weeks.

- RANT ended.


I have started a petition. Please respond by clicking the link.

5 sponsors are needed for this petition to go public.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday February 11th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 18. A=8 and K=2.

10 Feb 2017

Donald (Mr Men style) - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2017/02/08/donald-trump-mr-men-cartoon-just-superb/

I am no great fan of USA politics (to me it is all about being money rich), but great politicians are able to laugh at themselves in any nation. Those who think they are above humour deserve to fail. Sadly there are too many politicians who take themselves far too seriously both in the USA and in Europe (including the UK).

The great politicians are the gentle giants who go into power, not for self-glory, but for the greater good of the society they live in. Sadly we have very few in 21st century politics who will go down in history as great leaders.

I understand why many in the USA voted for their latest president. I also understand why so many in the UK voted to leave the EU.

UK Rally this weekend

FEBRUARY 12th 2017 : HARWELL AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY

Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY. Talk-in using G3PIA on 145.550. Free parking nearby (disabled parking next to Leisure Centre). Doors open at 10am. Admission £3 (children under 12 free). There will be radio and electronics stalls, Special Interest Groups and an RSGB Bookstall. Refreshments will be available all day. Details for both traders and visitors from Ann, G8NVI by email to ann.stevens@btinternet.com www.g3pia.org.uk

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/