472kHz WSPR

In a few moments I shall be returning to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX, 80% RX) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Unlike 432MHz, this always gets results.

UPDATE 1510z: Within seconds of turning on the transverter G1GKN (99km) was spotted strongly on 472kHz WSPR RX.

OFCOM cost recovery

OFCOM is to recover costs of satellite filing from industry.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/satellite-filings-cost-recovery

Rallies this weekend

Saturday 16 MARCH : LAUGHARNE RALLY

Laugharne Millennium Memorial Hall, Clifton Street, Laugharne, Wales SA33 4QG. Doors open from 10am to 1pm. More details from Matthew on 07398825024.


Sunday 17 MARCH : 34th WYTHALL RADIO CLUB HAMFEST

Club HQ, Wythall House, Silver Street,Wythall B47 6LZ. Doors open at 9.45am (9.30am for disabled visitors). Free on-site parking. Admission £4. Four halls of traders including Bring & Buy and a club stand. A selection of refreshments available all day and bar facilities within Wythall House from midday. Contact Ian Reeve, M0IDR, 01386 839655, wrc4hallsradio@outlook.com (www.wythallradioclub.co.uk).


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

70cm FT8

As a further experiment, I am calling CQ on 70cm FT8 on 432.174MHz vertical (2.5W). I am not too hopeful, but you never know.

UPDATE 1308z: After being RX only, as we were out, I have returned to 70cm FT8 calling CQ (2.5W vertical on 432.174 USB dial). No spots on TX or RX as yet.

UPDATE 1420z: Now RX only vertical on 70cm FT8. No spots, despite over an hour calling CQ.

UPDATE 1457z: I am going to give up on 70cm FT8. I have been on most of the day and called CQ twice for long periods, yet I received no spots and have received no others either. All in all, a complete waste of effort.

Kings - NOT amateur radio

This photo of Kings College Chapel, Cambridge was taken a year ago. Now is probably a good time to visit the city as there are fewer visitors.

Storms

At the moment it is windy and rainy here. At one point, I thought (wrongly) I had seen lightning. I was thinking about disconnecting my rigs and antennas, then checked the lightning map. It looks like the nearest storm is in the Mediterranean, so I think things can remain connected.

UPDATE  0953z: Now blue skies and sunshine!

160m FT8 RX last night

I definitely think conditions on 160m are changing.

Last night 3 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted on 160m. In total 304 stations spotted here with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX was KV4FZ (6764km) in the US Virgin Is.

Stations spotted here in the last day on 160m FT8 RX

10m FT8

A local was looking for someone to TX on 10m FT8 so he could test his RX. From about 0853z I have been calling CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8. He may well have got others active before me. No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 0912z: Now RX only on 10m FT8. I see G4WSZ (12km) copied my 10m FT8 CQ call.

UPDATE 0952z: No RX spots on 10m FT8 RX so far today here. A bit like BREXIT, no results yet.

UPDATE 1100z: Just G0OYQ (177km) spotted. I have now QSYed to 432.174MHz vertical calling CQ on 70cms FT8 (2.5W) vertical with the V2000 omni antenna.

15m QRP CW Transceiver

Many years ago, I designed and built this little 800mW CW transceiver for 15m. It worked really well, although sadly it was pulled apart years later so the box could be re-used. Now I wish the rig was still complete.

Maybe I should try a rebuild sometime? The first challenge would be finding the box, as I haven't seen it for years. It may be in a box in the loft. I haven't been in the loft since my 2013 stroke. Climbing the loft ladder makes me so giddy these days.

It worked some very impressive DX despite just having a low dipole. Details are on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit .

Sunspots - Thursday March 14th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.