That magnetic loop on other bands

The magnetic loop
antenna

As you may remember, I have been experimenting with my tiny magnetic loop antenna on the shack windowsill. It is at most about 50cm diameter and the wire is not very thick. To my amazement, I am getting spots with about 10W on 20m FT8. It seems to match on most bands above 20m. If stuck for a "proper" antenna, I can always try this!

20m FT8 TX spots in 30
minutes on the tiny loop

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Ely Cathedral in the bright winter sunshine.

We went to the cathedral today to see the "Crowns and Gowns" exhibition. Needless to say, I chose not to go to the exhibition.

Like many high streets there plenty of coffee shops and charity shops and few independent shops left.

Green fingers? NOT amateur radio

My wife seems to have a way with orchids! The photo shows just one.

Best night ever on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight 32 stations spotted my 10mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR. Best DX was again a spot from Norway.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR TX overnight 

Sunspots - Friday February 7th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=15 and K=3.

New IC-705 video

Southgate News has a link to the IC-705 video in which Ray N9JA gives a detailed walk-through of this QRP radio which we hope will be on sale in the UK and EU later this year. It looks very much like the IC-7300 on the screen.

This is the most detailed video of this transceiver I have seen.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/february/icom-ic-705.htm#.Xjxk5I6TLnE

Coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

It is understandable that governments are being very cautious: at the moment there are no vaccines and it is not totally clear how it is spread. It could yet become a global pandemic. At the moment the death rate seems pretty low.

Several things are certain:

• As many things are now made in China, supplies will be disrupted. 
• Demand for oil is falling in China. 
• Cruises will become less popular. 
• The impact on the global economy could be massive.

A lot will depend on the next few weeks.

Another rally

Sunday 9 FEBRUARY : HARWELL RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY

Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 8AY (3 miles from A34 Milton Interchange). Doors open 10am to 3pm, admittance £3 (under 12s free). Free car parking. Disabled parking and facilities. Talk in on 145.550MHz, using G3PIA. Local and national traders, Special Interest Groups and RSGB Bookstand. Home-made refreshments available all day. Details from  www.g3pia.net.

Return to 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

After an absence of several weeks, I have returned to 472kHz WSPR TX. My measured ERP is less than 10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  The output of the transverter is about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is pretty inefficient, although better than expected.

Even in daylight I was quite surprised to see 3 unique stations spotting me with best DX spots by G0MRF (139km).

All being well, I hope to stay on overnight.

UPDATE 1206z: So far today, 4 different stations have spotted my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR signal.

UPDATE 1835z: 17 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP so far (see table below).

160m FT8 overnight

With over 600 stations spotted overnight it was another good session on topband. Antenna is again the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted on 160m
FT8 RX overnight