472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

As usual, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX for the evening and night. Within the last hour 10 stations have spotted me with best DX F6GEX (590km). Once again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

2m FT8

Before lunch I QSYed to 2m FT8. I called CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni) and was spotted by 4 stations with best being EI2FG (565km).

On 2m FT8 RX 19 stations in 5 countries spotted with best DX spotted being  DK6JU (529km).

By using FT8 I think my range has more than doubled. This is possible at any time.

Stations so far spotted today on 2m FT8 RX
with the FT817ND and big-wheel omni to 1445z

UPDATE 1414z: 26 stations in 5 countries so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX spotted DF7IW (612km).  On 2m FT8 TX 6 stations have spotted my 2.5W CQs so far.

UPDATE 1416z:  FT8 has totally changed 2m for me!  DX that would once have seemed impossible is there every single day whether conditions are up or not. Even my 2.5W to the big-wheel seems to be quite enough. Amazing is an understatement.

UPDATE 1445z:  So far today, my 2.5W 2m QRP to the big-wheel omni has been spotted by 9 stations in 3 countries on 2m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1811:  Now 71 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX is DL6IAK (669km).

UPDATE 1918z:  Now QRT on 2m FT8 RX. In the end, 77 stations in 7 countries spotted with best DX DL2AKT (761km). QSYed to MF WSPR.

ICOM IC-705

https://icomuk.co.uk/

As of December 27th 2019 I have no further updates on this transceiver other than the expected release date in Japan is around April 2020 and the expected price in the UK is similar to the IC-7300.

If the price is sensible, I may buy one, once the bugs are overcome. I cannot see it on sale in the UK before the end of 2020. It would not surprise me if this is 2021. The absence of an internal auto-ATU is a big mistake, I think.

At the moment my best advice is keep checking the ICOM UK website.

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Overnight was another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX. My 10mW ERP was spotted by 2 stations in Norway plus many others. There appear to be more stations monitoring this season.

UPDATE 1147z: At the moment, I am still on 472kHz WSPR TX, although I may QSY to 144MHz  (2m) FT8 soon.

Stations spotting my 472kHz WSPR
10mW ERP signal overnight

Big-wheel 2m antenna.

Most of my 2m activity is FT8 for which I use my big-wheel horizontal antenna.  This works very well. It has a few dB of horizontal gain and being omni-directional does not need a rotator.

Although this has been mentioned before on this blog, some may be interested.

It is mounted on the side of our bungalow at about roof height. If higher it might be even better.

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

Another LW broadcaster closes

According to Southgate News another LW broadcaster (Europe 1)  is closing.

As a recent purchaser of a small internet radio, I can see more and more people moving to these: my unit is able to receive 40000 stations like locals from right across the planet. There is no interference, no fading - perfect. It is as easy to listen to a station in Sydney or Capetown as the BBC and the quality is as good.

Does this mean a greater chance of access to some of this spectrum for radio amateurs? In the USA people can get access to LW frequencies even without a licence with 1W and antennas shorter than 50 feet. It would be good if OFCOM allowed some limited access to some LW frequencies even if by NoV, with very limited power and with antenna restrictions, on a strictly non-interference basis. I have advocated a more liberal approach to spectrum generally before.   If power is limited and no interference is caused why not? If users are traceable they can be closed down very quickly if there is a problem.

In my view radio amateurs in the UK should be given access to all frequencies on a low ERP basis with an NoV and on a strictly non-interference basis. I guess this is too radical! Imagine the real value to radio science if this was possible. There would be few takers with an NoV, so not hard to police.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/europe-1-on-183-khz-closure-confirmation.htm#.XgS2Q-iTLnE

SPAM emails - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I got a couple of spam emails from "friends". I suspect these friends are totally unaware. Usually my Gmail spam filter catches these. I regularly check and delete. If you get any emails from "friends" with odd links just delete them! Do NOT open them, ever.

Some words of advice:

• Change passwords often.
• User virus protection - update this often.
• Use an email service that tries to remove spam links.

Sadly, the internet can be a nasty place these days with all sorts of crooks trying to get viruses and malware on to your PC.

Oscar 100

Periodically I check activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous  satellite. I do this by looking at the webSDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall, UK. In the UK yesterday was a public holiday. At the moment activity seems lower than a few weeks ago. As this is the holiday season throughout the coverage area, I would have expected to see more activity. Perhaps all operators are busy with families.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Christmas day walk - NOT amateur radio

Christmas day was bright and sunny so we went for a walk in the village. This cat seems to have taken a liking to me! In all, we walked 1.68 miles according to my phone.

Sunspots - Friday December 27th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1.