Optical 481THz line of sight

It is some years since I seriously worked on optical communications. My main "thing" was over the horizon, so called non-line-of-sight (NLOS) beaconing. I was surprised that with very simple, homemade gear I could get well over the horizon, with no clouds to help. If my poor health had not got in the way, I am sure far greater ranges would have been possible. The record (in Australia I think) is an incredible distance.

I only had one speech contact over 11km line of sight and that was with G4HJW. All my gear was made in the back of the garage and it was very simple. The optics used low cost PVC drain pipes and the lenses were made from magnifying glasses obtained from a local Poundland store. The electrical gear was very simple and low cost. It was not worth making PCBs. Test gear is very simple. Optical experiments are low cost and fun.

My main G3XBM website has much more on my gear and experiments including NLOS tests.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/line-of-sight .

Lincoln meal - NOT amateur radio

Last week, we had a few days in Lincoln, UK. 

On the second evening we ate at Wildwood. I had the burger as shown in the photo and a red wine.

On the first night we ate at the famous pie shop. We ate here some years ago.

10m WSPR TX with 500mW (Sunday)

At 0806z, I turned on my tiny 10m WSPR beacon designed by W5OLF.  Although 100% TX, this changes frequency randomly every slot to prevent being clobbered by a mega-station. 

So far just spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1030z:   A single spot by OH6BG (1718km).

UPDATE 1140z:  Now spots by 3 unique stations (see photo).  G4KPX has spotted me 101 times!

UPDATE 1748z:  Still just 3 stations spotting me.  This is not a good day.You get the impression there is very little Es and just occasionally it appears for a few seconds and then is gone again. Unless things radically change in the next few hours, I shall put this down as a day best forgotten!

Sunspots - Sunday September 5th 2021

 Solar flux is 87 and the SSN 68. A=5 and K=2. 

160m FT8 RX with the active loop

In the end I gave up on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX and went instead to 160m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood active loop. So far this evening, 3 spots including an EA and DO.

UPDATE 2136z:  9 stations spotted mostly in northern Europe.  QRT.

472kHz WSPR RX

 As last night, I am on 472kHz WSPR RX with the Wellgood active loop with the 1m diameter loop indoors on the shack window. It is now 1857z and, so far, no spots.

UPDATE 2136z:  No spots this evening. Very disappointing. I may QSY.

10m WSPR QRP TX (500mW)

At 1424z, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my 10m WSPR beacon by W5OLF. This is about the size of a pack of cards and 100% TX, although the TX frequency is randomised on each slot.

UPDATE 1437z:  So far, just local spots by G4KPX (14km). From Richard's spots, it looks like the crystal is still settling.

UPDATE 1500z: Still just G4KPX spotting me, although my drift has stopped. It looks like things have stabilised, as usual. This normally takes about 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1510z:  OE3XOE (1233km) now spotting me.

UPDATE 1635z:  No further stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1845z:  QRT. 

Lincoln cathedral - NOT amateur radio

We have been back from Lincoln about a day. It was a good break. 

The photo shows the cathedral from Steep Hill. As Keith said in a comment to an earlier post, it is very steep, especially with shopping. If you want to visit the cathedral it is worth the climb.

Lincoln is an interesting place. We have been there several times. We could probably get there and back in day trip on the train.

10m FT8

In the end I decided to QSY to 10m FT8 RX. 

At 1259z, 5 stations were spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX. I may try 10m FT8 TX with 2.5W shortly. My antenna is a Par end fed dipole antenna at about 3m above ground.

UPDATE 1304z: TX switched on. 1 spot of me on TX by G6TUS (18km).

UPDATE 1318z:  6 stations spotted on RX and 6 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost IS0AWZ (1598km).

UPDATE 1359z: So far this afternoon, I have been spotted by 8 stations on TX (as the map shows) and  I have spotted 15 stations on RX.

30m FT8 RX with the indoor active loop

I am trying FT8 on 30m with the Wellgood active loop. I think there is an internet connectivity issue as I am getting local spots, but these are not appearing on PSKreporter. I tried a reboot without success.

UPDATE 1023z:  Working now. 10 EU stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1206z: 17 stations spotted with the furthermost UA3DPM (2893km).

UPDATE 1233z: 35 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being JW4PUA (2952km).  Soon be time to QSY, but unsure where to!