Back to 6m MSK144 RX again

After a day on 2m WSPR, I have returned to 6m MSK144 RX. This is my log for the last week on 6m MSK144 RX.

In all, 14 countries have been copied on 6m MSK144 RX.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens - NOT amateur radio

Today was very mild at 16 deg C. We visited the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge to see the orchid display in the hothouses. It is the first time I felt warm this winter. I dispensed with my coat.

Outside, there were lots of snowdrops out, but very few daffodils. Another few weeks and the daffodils will be out. Everything seems late this winter.

VLF amateur messages

From Eddie G3ZJO:

"Hi All
Since my last post Stefan DK7FC has been sending data using EbNaught on 8270.100 Hz. A 2 letter message was decoded by RN3AUS near Moscow a real first for Amateur operation.
Overnight on 17the Feb 2017 Stefan set the following challenge.

Let's risk something more again and try:

f = 8270.100000 Hz
Start time: Saturday 18.Feb.2017   18:00:00 UTC
Symbol period: 30 s
Characters: 7
CRC bits: 16
Coding 16K21A
Duration: 10h, 24m, 0s
Antenna current: 700 mA

By this time I was set up and operational for EbNaut after several Spectrum Lab freezes using the latest software release, and I had decoded theEbNaut files received by RN3AUS.
Next morning I loaded the overnight capture for decoding and concentrated intently on the computer screen.
Wow, in just 7 seconds ................... DREAMER
What a wonderful message for this iconic event on Sub9KHz, I didn't give thought to the significance of the test being 7 characters, expecting a dry radio call or expression. What could be better on the frequencies where we "are all dreamers and will never get any further than our own garden fence".
Today I can reveal the message as RN3AUS received it also and posted to the VLF Group. Currently there are 3 stations receiving EbNaut on VLF in addition the the 2 developers, Paul Nicholson and DF6NM plus DK7FC the TX'ing station.
DF6NM decided to run an EbNaut TX test concurrently with DK7FC on the night of 17th Feb. After the initial shock of decoding DK7FC I gave thought to looking for a 2 symbol decode, again in seconds appeared his message, a decode over a distance of more than 900Km. A surprise decode since I have not been able to spot his signal on my Spectrogram.
73 Eddie G3ZJO"

2m FSK441 - not

Yesterday evening I was all prepared to give 2m FSK441 RX a go. Then I discovered this mode was not supported in WSJT-X V1.7, so instead I stayed on 6m MSK144 RX.

I think the assumption was 2m MS users would migrate to a new mode, but they appear not to have done so yet. As the previous post shows, I went to 2m WSPR instead and had quite a bit of success on RX and TX.

2m and 10m WSPR

For a change, I returned to 2m WSPR and 10m WSPR. Already I have been spotted and I have spotted others, on 2m WSPR, but nothing on 10m.

2m WSPR - spots today so far (at 1620z)

Sunspots and 10m - Monday February 20th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and sunspot number 23.  A=10 and K=2.

2m UKAC results published

The results for the first 2 months have been published. I am currently 60th out of 98 in the AL section. This is not bad considering my low power (5W), my omni antenna and usually being on for less than 40% of the time because of my poor voice. If I am at home, I try to go on most months.

Smartphone mod into a walkie talkie

Southgate News brought this to my attention. How to convert a smartphone into a walkie-talkie without internal mods. A neat idea. Maybe this could be done using an amateur handheld?

See https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/linc-the-smart-walkie-talkie-smartphone#/ .

House quiet again - NOT amateur radio

Over school half-term we have been very busy and had all the 4 grandchildren to stay. It is lovely to see them all, but I get very exhausted these days. This evening, the house is quiet again, just leaving the (clean) mess to tidy up. Tomorrow!

6m MSK144 today

Three countries spotted today so far (EI, G OZ) today on 6m MSK144. Next week, I might give 2m random MS a go (RX only).