160m FT8 RX

Having just switched to 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 38 stations spotted so far with best DX spotted UA0SE (6370km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 2315z: Now 68 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Average!

In all, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 5 stations with the best being a spot by DL/PA0EHG (493km). On RX only 7 stations spotted with best DX again LA2XPA (1310km).

472kHz WSPR overnight

10m FT8 today

Since early morning I been on 10m FT8. A brief CQ call earlier was spotted by local G4WSZ (12km).  On 10m FT8 RX I have spotted 5 stations with best DX LA7DFA (1311km).

Spelling - NOT amateur radio

This must be another after-effect of my 2013 stroke. These days I find spelling harder. It is as if my brain does not do the "auto-correct" it used to do. It is almost a sort of word blindness and that obvious errors are not spotted. In the last few days alone I made 3 mistakes. This could just be old age, but it feels like something else. I just need to check things more carefully in future.

Whatever our situation, we have to make the best of it. We are what we are now.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

Sunspots - Friday March 15th 2019

Solar flux today is 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=7 and K=3.

Kuhne 2.4GHz upconverter for Oscar 100

I am told that Kuhne is doing a factory mod to their transverter free of charge to stop it FMing. They are also adding an external reference input, allegedly. There have been reports of poor audio on SSB TX with some of these units and drift. Sounds like newer builds will be much better. I guess they were surprised by how popular these were and had to rush production.

I believe there are other upconverters available too.

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.