Sunspots - Monday August 19th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0.  A=6 and K =1.

Back to 2m FT8

A few minutes ago, I switched to 2m FT8 QRP (2.5W to the big-wheel omni). My best report on TX is G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX the best DX is DJ6AG (689km).

The impression I am getting is that there are fewer stations now on 2m FT8. This may just be a "time of day" thing, but it could be people now know what is possible on this mode and band and are moving on.

Stations spotted this evening 

on 2m FT8 RX to 2118z

UPDATE 1925z: So far this evening, 7 stations spotted including 3 Germans.

UPDATE 2052z: Now 14 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening. Judging by previous occasions, I think this is normal "flat band" tropo although I guess it could be some aircraft reflections and MS.

UPDATE 2123z: Now 17 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening.

Yaesu FT991A

The dealer, MLS, has been contacted (web form) and I am awaiting a phone call tomorrow. This has been a good radio, but certainly in its current state, it is not fit for its intended purpose. If a software upgrade can fix this fine.

Oscar 100 - never seen it so busy!

As you know, I periodically check the Goonhilly SDR that monitors the narrowband transponder on this geosynchronous satellite. I have never seen it so busy! When I looked a few moments ago there were 10 SSB signals at once. I get the feeling that people are realising this is up and works and is a reliable route to DX.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

QRP again on 6m FT8

Well, I decided to go back on 6m FT8 using the FT817ND at 2.5W. Almost immediately my CQ call was spotted by 4 stations with the best being SM7CAD (1140km). On 6m FT8 RX the most distant station spotted so far this morning is EA5BRE (1548km).

UPDATE 1330z: 79 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today and a QSO with an HA7 earlier (I was using 2.5W to the V2000 vertical). Most of the time I have been on FT8 RX. We had an internet outage, so I may have spotted more that did not get uploaded to PSKreporter. Best FT8 RX DX is SV3BSF (2275km).

UPDATE 1342z: A recent 6m FT8 QRP CQ call was only copied by G8VR/P (69km).

UPDATE 1553z:  A recent 6m FT8 QRP CQ was copied by M1BXF only. So far today, 85 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX, many Es.

2m FT8

As reported in an earlier post, I am currently on 2m FT8 using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the big-wheel omni antenna. Best DX on TX is G4HGI (244km) and on 2m FT8 RX PD1BHZ (366km).

6m FT8 and FT991A bugs?

I think my FT991A has some bugs.

Yesterday I mentioned that I could not adjust the bandwidth to 3000Hz on 2m FT8 using USB digital. Now, the power on 6m FT8 is far lower and it looks like the audio to the PC is "different". On a different rig (my FT817ND) all seems fine. The antenna is the same.

Unless I can prove this is "finger trouble", I am afraid the rig is going back. This is a pity as the rig suits me well.

UPDATE 0845z: Back to the FT817ND. On 2m FT8 I have been spotted by 3 stations in 2 countries using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. On 2m FT8 RX the best DX so far is ON3ML (236km).

15m Pipit QRP CW transceiver

It is amazing to think this was first designed and made in the 1980s! It worked some impressive DX in its day and worked very well with just a low wire dipole. At one time I used a borrowed trap dipole from G3TFX for 10m and 15m and even this worked well.

With just this rig on the bench, it looked quite empty! I am pretty sure this has been on the blog before, but it may give some people some ideas. You definitely don't have to spend much or have high power to have good fun! This rig was 800mW output. If you bought all parts new you'd probably get change from a £20 note.

The USB position just chose a VXO frequency in the SSB part of the band so I could have cross mode QSOs. Most QSOs were CW around 21.060MHz.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit

2023 WRC threat to 23cm band?

Southgate News reports that the 23cm band could be threatened at the 2023 WRC (World Radio Conference). The main issue is possible interference to Galileo satellite systems.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/august/threat-to-amateur-radio-23cm-band.htm

Sunspots - Sunday August 18th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2. Basically still poor.

What is it? - NOT amateur radio

This insect, about 2cm long, was climbing up our front wall here in the UK earlier. I think it is a cricket, but really I haven't a clue! If you know what it is, please let me know.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, a couple of my wife's friends from her school teaching days popped around. The photo shows them in our lounge. My wife is on the right. They normally get together each year in the summer.

Iran tanker Grace 1 - NOT amateur radio

As Gibraltar has received assurances from Iran that this vessel will not break EU sanctions, they say it can sail. It was impounded as it was thought bound for Syria.

However, the USA now wants to seize it. I am not party to the USA's intelligence, but this looks like President Trump is out to show how tough he is in the run-up to the next elections. He may impress some, but not me. So far his foreign policies have seemed poor to me. Others may disagree.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49379144

6m FT8 - amazing

Just now I called CQ on 6m FT8 TX. 7 people copied me with the best being 4Z5LX (3633km) in Israel. On RX 3 stations spotted with 2 probably being by Es. The Es season is far from over.

6m dead did someone say? Rubbish I say!

UPDATE 0937z: 31 stations spotted so far this morning on 6m FT8 RX with best DX being 5B4ALX (3259km) on Cyprus.  A recent CQ call got lots more Es spots, but no QSOs.

Stations spotted today on 

6m FT8 RX to 1135z.

UPDATE 1135z: Now 43 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today as the map shows.

UPDATE 1812z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ was spotted by 4 Gs and nothing further.  Best was G0GGG (211km). The Es seems to have stopped for the day here.

UPDATE 1852z: Just now, I called CQ again on 6m FT8. Just 1 G spot by G1IDZ (182km).

Heathkit HW8

One of my favourite transceivers was the Heathkit HW8 QRP CW rig.  I bought this ready built from a local who later bought it back!

This rig covered the main HF bands and produced about 1.5W. It had a direct conversion RX. For a while it was my only rig.

You occasionally see these for sale and lots were modified, although mine was fine just as it was.  I liked it and worked some good stuff with mine using just low wire dipoles.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8

6m propagation at this time of year

According to "the experts" the main northern hemisphere's Es season should be over. In my experience, 6m is good for European DX (even with QRP SSB) way beyond now and way into September.

With FT8, which can work with stations well below CW levels, stations are in the same few kilohertz of band. If 6m opens, even briefly, there are plenty of monitors able to catch the opening.

On CW or SSB, you have to have stronger signals and know where to look. Also, it is harder to look back at what happened over the day.

FT8 only occupies 50Hz of bandwidth and a single transmission only takes 15 seconds. If the band opens, even briefly, the chances are someone, somewhere, will notice. This why I like FT8.  I agree it is not a chatting mode, but it is an ideal Es mode.

When the band opens with F2 propagation, which it will do nearer sunspot maximum, FT8 should be ideal for brief openings, especially TEP ones N-S.

Sunspots - Saturday August 17th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=5 and K=1.

DST100

We all have a tale to tell about how we started. Although I had been interested for several years, my interest was really started when my dad bought me a DST100 receiver from a local garage for £7. It was huge and needed 2 people to lift it. It was "attended to" by local amateur Roger Thorn G3CHN (SK) and this served me well for several years. I think it was designed for use in tanks in WW2.

In the 1950s and 1960s there was a lot of war surplus gear around and many of us used these as a start in amateur radio. Common receivers were the AR88, CR100 and HROs. These days new amateurs often buy a Japanese SSB transceiver.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/dst100

Enough? - NOT amateur radio

The UK pound has been gaining against most major currencies this morning. This may be a blip as BREXIT uncertainties continue. However, maybe the world has said, "enough".

International Politics - NOT amateur radio

The world is in a mess.

Britain is busy navel gazing and losing friends in Europe. North and South Korea have fallen out again, Israel continues to treat Palestine as if it didn't exist, the USA is spoiling for a war with Iran, civil war continues in Syria, Yemen continues to be fought over by proxi, Kashmir continues to be troublesome to Pakistan and India, the USA seems to want a trade war with China, and we have a climate crisis that the world chooses to ignore. These are to name but a few.

Oh for some common sense! Almost all these conflicts could be solved by compromise and talking.