80m FT8 and HAARP experiments

As I was already on 6m FT8, I thought I'd try 80m FT8 for a total change. At first, no-one was spotted, then I copied G8IHT (257km) in IO94 square calling CQ. I soon went back to 6m as stations were working the USA.

I have a theory about the HAARP WSPR experiments on 80m. Perhaps they know lots about HAARP but little about WSPR, particularly how important timing is. To get no reports at all on 80m WSPR last night with over 1GW ERP seems impossible to me. OK, I may be wrong, but with this huge ERP and so many monitors, it suggests something fundamental must have been wrong. OK it could have been poor propagation, but I just wonder.

UPDATE 1805z: Now gone back on 80m FT8 RX. Most 15 second periods I am getting spots.

80m FT8 RX spots so far today

UPDATE 1940z: I am back on 80m FT8 RX. There are lots and lots of stations active. My guess is this is twice as popular (at least) as WSPR.

UPDATE 1956z: A45XR (5794km) is currently the best DX spotted. This station is being widely spotted in Europe and in India, so I think this is genuine.

Magnetic loops

With high power transmitters, magnetic loop TX antennas often require special capacitors for tuning as the voltages can be high if these antennas are efficient. With QRP this is not the case and great success can be had with "ordinary" parts.

I have been amazed in the past how well they work, especially considering how small they can be. The secret is to use thick wire, ideally copper pipe or coax for the coil. For modes like WSPR, FT8 and PSK31 where big changes in frequency are not needed, these can be perfect.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/magloop

10m WSPR TX again (500mW)

As the antenna is available, I have just (at 0904z) turned on the 10m WSPR beacon. It is very unlikely I'll get any spots for a while, even if there is Es around. It usually takes 15-20 minutes for things to settle.

UPDATE 0930z: Surprisingly, already 6 German spots even though the crystal in the beacon is still settling.

UPDATE 1134z: So far today, 68 spots by 11 different stations, of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon with best DX EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is..

Return to 6m FT8

At least for the day, I have returned to 6m FT8 using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. A brief CQ much earlier (2.5W) brought spots from the UK and Portugal, but no QSOs. Since then I have been RX only with 17 different stations in 7 EU countries spotted, mostly presumably by Es.

UPDATE 1420z: 73 different stations in 22 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1615z: Although I have not spotted any today yet, the better stations in the UK and The Netherlands are working the USA on 6m FT8. I shall remain on 6m FT8 RX until later this evening.

80m WSPR HAARP test

Well, it appears the HAARP test from Alaska last night was only on 40m and not on 80m after all and they were only copied in North America on 40m.

Overall, using the earth-electrode "antenna" I spotted 51 different stations with best DX spotted on 80m WSPR being KC2WUF (5599km). Fellow local David G0LRD spotted 60 stations and more USA stations. Not sure what antenna he was using.

Overall I was quite surprised what I could copy on the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground. I shall have to try this on 160m WSPR or FT8 sometime. I think it acts as a loop so may be more directional than a long wire

UPDATE 1257z: According to John (see comment) they were on 80m WSPR. I shall try again tonight. See more recent post about the schedule for July31st.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 31st 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=5 and K=2.

80m WSPR RX

Well, I am all set to monitor 80m WSPR late this evening for the HAARP experiment from Alaska. Best results seem to be on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The map shows the stations spotted in the last hour. It seems to work remarkably well as an 80m RX antenna.

UPDATE 2119z:  40 different stations spotted so far on 80m WSPR this evening with the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground with best DX spot being SV8QG (2488km).

Cycle 25 hope?

"As of July 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24."

The above was on http://www.solen.info/solar/ . We live in hope!

East Cambridgeshire 2m FM Net

A reminder for those in the area of the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM at 1900z Mondays. Yes, one four four. This started out as an AM net. Newcomers are welcomed. We rarely stay on more than 30 minutes. Vertical polarisation. If the frequency is busy we usually QSY down 25kHz, although this is rare.

East Anglian Churches blog - NOT amateur radio

When we visit churches in East Anglia we try to update our East Anglian Churches Blog.

This has just been done to include Holme next the Sea in north Norfolk. This is a simple, light and airy church, not far from the coast.

I am afraid the updates to this churches blog are quite infrequent!