Sunspots and 10m - Sunday June 11th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today. Sunspot number is zero again. A=4 and K=2. There is Es on 10m and 6m, but no signs of F2 propagation DX.

10m WSPR TX

As on previous mornings, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) with my stand-alone WSPR beacon. Plenty of EU spots, but no spots from further afield.

Es better this year?

The impression I am getting is that this Es season is better than the last one. Certainly, I seem to be copying more on 6m JT65 than last year.

What do you think?

Yet more stroke artefacts - NOT amateur radio

Yet another after-effect of my 2013 stroke is that I am less able to see spelling errors. In the past I'd just look at a word and know the spelling was wrong. These days I find it much harder to see these. It is as if my brain is functioning differently.

Also, I drive slower than in the past and worry more in general. Stroke (?), although I am getting older anyway.

Inference is different too, often seeing potential dangers that others miss. What is hard to tell is, "is this real?".

Even nearly 4 years after the stroke, I still have effects - I still feel giddy on my feet, thin liquids are a problem and my voice is poor. I get tired easily too.

Rallies this Sunday

11 JUNE 2017 : JUNCTION 28 AMATEUR RADIO RALLY
Bowls Hall Alfreton Leisure Centre, Church Street, Alfreton DE55 7BD Contact rally secretary for further details on 01159 307 322

11 JUNE 2017 : EAST SUFFOLK WIRELESS REVIVAL (Ipswich Radio Rally)
NEW VENUE: Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton. IP10 0PW just off the A14. Doors open at 9:30, free car parking, entry fee £2. There will be trade stands, car boot sale, Bring & Buy, Special interests groups, GB4SWR HF station and an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin, G8MXV,0771 0046 846 www.eswr.org.uk

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

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 10th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=1. There is widespread 10m and 6m Es, but no signs here of F2 DX on 10m.

6m JT65

This morning, I am again on 6m JT65 receive after a very brief transceive period (1W ERP). Best DX so far are Israel, Jordan JY9FC (3650km) and Bahrain A92GE (5068km).

UPDATE 1022z: Although I see some EU stations are working JAs on 6m this morning, I spotted none today. I guess they have better gear or the propagation was right for them.

Amateur radio prices

Just now, I received an email from MLS giving details of their "something for the weekend" special offers. Now I appreciate that dealers have to make a profit - after all, this is their business - but I remain amazed by some of the prices. All dealers are similar, so I am not singling out MLS.

For example, one HF antenna sells for £409 when the manufacturing cost is unlikely to be more than £10, especially if made in China. Someone is making a huge profit. Of course, dealers sell for the prices we are prepared to pay. Reasonable is fine, but rip-offs are not. More fool us for playing the game.

In 20 years many dealers will be gone. Those that remain should be those that provide a good service, make reasonable profits and do not rip off their customers. Any dealer that rips off customers deserves to fail.

Low cost amateur radio

As many of you know I am a miser who does not like spending money on amateur radio. My ethos has always been to get the most for the least money. If I do spend real money, it is an investment that has to last years. My FT817 is almost 17 years old!

Perhaps this is one reason why I have always liked QRP: gear is low cost to make and every contact gives you a sense of pride, especially if home made. I hope you can take some inspiration from the various projects on my main website.

See http://www.g3xbm.co.uk . Drill down on each page to find all the various projects.

ARRL book about JT65 and JT9

There is an ARRL book on the digital modes JT65 and JT9. These are among my favourite modes and ideally suited to QRP. I have used JT9 on bands up to 10m. I have used JT65 on bands up to 6m.

See http://www.arrl.org/shop/Work-the-World-with-JT65-and-JT9/ .

At the moment there is a special ARRL deal so you get this book free when you buy a new ARRL Handbook.