Updated solar data

Early in the new month I look forward to reading the latest solar predictions. These are usually available by the 2nd of each month. With the solar conditions so dire in July, these are especially important as, until now they have forecast that we have passed the solar minimum.

In my view we are only now at, or near, the solar minimum. In the past, solar minimum conditions have lasted for many months. With luck, 2020 could see conditions start to improve, but only time will tell. In the meantime, we have to make the best of things. With luck, 10m could again be our best DX band again in a few years.

UPDATED 1855z: This page (see below) has now been updated and is still showing that we may have passed sunspot minimum.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

G3XBM YouTube channel

A reminder that many of my projects are featured on my YouTube channel. Often a video helps to explain what is on the G3XBM website.

See https://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM
See also www.g3xbm.co.uk

472kHz transverter

A few years ago my design for a simple 472kHz transverter was published in the ARRL journal QST. It is also on my website. Several derivatives have been constructed including a version using SMD parts.

Although simple and low power, it has been copied as far north as Norway on WSPR. Although the transverter produces 10-15W output, the ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" is a measured 10mW.

Now is the time to get ready for "the season" which tends to start in the autumn. In the summer months quite a few stations desert the band. This transverter and a simple earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground are all that are needed to get on the band.

Certainly with more power and a "real" antenna and ground system better results can be expected, but this "KISS" approach you can get over 1000km on WSPR on winter nights.

2m FT8

As the day draws to a close, I decided to QSY to 2m FT8. Best DX on TX was GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE  2025z: Despite TXing OK on 2m FT8 I was puzzled why nothing was being received. After investigating I found an error in my settings. Once corrected, stations were received OK. I called (without success) a PA0, but the best spot was by EI3KD (583km) in southern Eire.

3 year old falls from high-rise and survives

This is the sort of horror story you watch and hope. Apparently the 3 year old was caught in a blanket and escaped without injury.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-china-49175524/china-toddler-three-year-old-falls-six-storeys-and-survives

70cm FT8

The last time I tried 70cm FT8 the results were abysmal with no spots!  I can now run a bit more power on TX, so may well try again tomorrow (Thursday August 1st 2019).

If you want to give it a go, I should be on most of the day on 432.174MHz FT8. Some of the time I shall try TX. I think I shall try horizontal polarisation.

Bell flowers - NOT amateur radio

My wife has a way with plants. I just cut the grass and make a mess!

This bell flower (sorry I do not know the Latin name) is growing on our patio. At the moment, it is looking good.

Clematis - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago I accidentally cut back a clematis whilst pruning a plant nearby. The whole stem with flowers was cut back to the root stock. Thankfully it has quickly regrown.

In the long run this "heavy" pruning was probably a good thing. Hopefully, there will be some attractive flowers on it next year, if not this.

Pye PF1 transceivers

My first job in 1970 at Pye Telecommunications was to convert the PF1 transceiver to 12.5kHz channel spacing. I am pretty sure this was a test to see how I got on.

We used 995 signal generators at that time and, boy, did they drift! For the first hour or so they were unusable and you might as well drink coffee and wait.

The PF1 was a 2 unit UHF transceiver widely used by the UK police in the  late 1960s. Some were converted to 70cms. I remember putting a 2m super-regen RX in a PF1 RX case.

This challenge was set by Mike Gotch who was later G0IMG (now SK). Apparently Mike was a pirate in his early days. In later years he was a keen 6m man.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/pf1
See also http://www.pyetelecomhistory.org/

6m FT8

As the storm risk locally is low, I am about to turn on 6m FT8, mostly RX. It is getting late in the Es season, so it will be interesting to see what comes through.

UPDATE 1019z: Initially I went on TX with 12 spots of me. My best spot was by OY1OF (1163km). On 6m FT8 RX just 3 spots so far with best being F6HGB (985km). Certainly not much early Es here today.

UPDATE 1122z: Now 7 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Best DX spotted is OH8BXT (1916km).

UPDATE 1255z: Now 15 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.