Globe - NOT amateur radio

At the moment there is an exhibition on inside Peterborough Cathedral called "Gaia". The centre piece in the nave is a 7m diameter globe of the Earth (see photo). It is very impressive and free in the daylight hours.  They charge in the evenings when there is music and the globe is illuminated.

End fed half wave antennas

The problem with end fed half waves is they are a high impedance at the ends. This is often outside the range that can be tuned with auto-ATUs in many modern rigs that tune out mismatches to about 3:1 VSWR. The common solution is to add a matching transformer so the auto-ATU can cope. There are several ideas around.

See https://vk3il.net/projects-antenna/efhw-matching-unit/

Sunspots - Wednesday August 21st 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1. Still no sunspots!

BREXIT deal? - NOT amateur radio

We have a Prime Minister who is on record as saying that we will be leaving the EU at the end of October deal or no deal. He has also said the chances of a no deal are 1 million to 1 against.

At the moment both the UK and EU seem to be playing chicken to see who blinks first. It seems to me that the divisions are only over the border between Eire and Ulster. Surely to goodness a compromise can be found that suits both the EU and UK?

If a compromise is not worked out, both lose. No-one wants that.

2m FT8

A few moments ago I switched to 2m FT8 TX. 4 spots with best being GI6ATZ (479km). Yet again, I am running just over 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna.

Already a couple of Germans are in the RX log. FT8 makes things possible that simply would not be possible on SSB or CW for me.

UPDATE 2048z: Just worked F6BTP (323km) on 2m FT8. I called him in answer to his CQ call. I was also copied in Germany (562km) and Eire (565km). Quite amazing with just over 10W to an omni antenna.

Punts in the rain - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken earlier this summer.

We had a shower of rain, so all the punt occupants suddenly erected umbrellas! They are on the Cam just outside Kings College.

136kHz and 472kHz RX with the E-field probe.

In the coming LF and MF DX season, I hope to be on RX with an E-field probe antenna. As this has to go in a tree, this depends on getting some help as it needs ladder work!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/winter

FT991A web page updated

Yesterday I had occasion to ring MLS about my FT991A. Their service on the phone was very good, so I have updated my webpage to share the advice they gave me.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ft991a

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

In our minds, Norwich is one of the nicest cities in the UK. It has a Norman cathedral and castle, some very old streets, fine shops and a good market amongst its many attractions.

The photo shows one street not far from the cathedral.

6m FT8

An early 6m FT8 CQ 

this morning (0800z)

Yet again, the evidence suggests Es on 6m FT8. A recent FT8 CQ was spotted by 7 stations including SQ9KFZ (1305km). On FT8 RX just G3XDV (45km) and G6NNS (26km).

The moral is stay on 6m!!

One of the issues is people monitoring 6m FT8 RX when at work. Clearly the band is open, but FT8 CQ calls go unanswered. My recent CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 5 countries including OH1QX (1823km).

An FT8 CQ was spotted by 3 stations including 9A2DI (1530km). Es, but no takers.

Another 6m FT8 CQ call by me was spotted by 7 stations in Southern Europe (Es I assume) although no QSOs resulted again. It looks like there is widespread, strong, Es on 6m yet again.

Just after 1100z I again called CQ on 6m FT8. This time I was spotted only by 4 G stations.

UPDATE 1238z: Yet again, good evidence of 6m FT8 Es this morning.

UPDATE 1420z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ call was spotted by 6 people as far apart as Poland and the Faroes. OY1OF (1163km) was getting me at +5dB S/N, which is very strong. He was +17dB with me - just like a pipe. I thought he was a local!

UPDATE 1540z: A recent 6m FT8 CQ was only spotted by 3 G stations.

See the photo of the 6m FT8 RX spots this morning.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

More 2m FT8

2m FT8 TX spots this 

evening so far (1847z)

As the storms seem to have passed, I am back on 2m FT8.

A recent 2m FT8 CQ (10W to the big-wheel omni antenna) resulted in 11 spots, but no QSOs. Best DX was a spot by GI6ATZ (479km).

On RX 28 spots so far this evening with the best DX on 2m FT8 RX being DF6PW (562km).

2m FT8 RX spots this 

evening so far (1847z)

Although some RX reports will be aircraft reflections, quite a lot will be normal "flat band" tropo as these distances (N.Ireland and Devon + Cornwall) seem to possible at any time, not just when aircraft are in the right spots.

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 to 2020z 

this evening in the last few hours.

UPDATE  2020z: It seems hard to believe that all these were spotted on 2m! It seems this sort of DX is available all the time with FT8. And remember, this is with the big-wheel omni - no beams!

Storms stop play

We have quite nearby storms. According to the gap between the lightning and the thunder, it is about 2 miles away (5 seconds a mile). I have disconnected antennas, rigs, and PSU.

UPDATE 1452z: All quiet again. Have the storms passed? Everything reconnected.

Flightradar24 - NOT amateur radio

On my Android phone I am able to track my son and family on their plane journey back from Australia. This is a free app available on the Play Store. It has quite a good rating (4.7 out of 5) and is supported by ads.

Be careful!! There are several with very similar names.

UPDATE 1957z: After a flight from Hong-Kong of almost 12 hours they are now approaching the UK. They will be knackered!

6m Es

It is now the second half of August and there still seems plenty of Es around on 6m FT8. At this time of year, I think the main issue is too few people and not propagation.

Try 6m FT8. You might get a nice surprise.

6m FT8

After the help from Steve at MLS the issue with FT8 on the FT991A seems to be resolved. Using about 10W and the V2000 vertical omni, I had plenty of East Europeans replying to my 6m FT8 CQ calls just before lunch.

On 2m too it seems to be working fine with 2m FT8 spots by 10 stations in 5 countries.

MLS - thank you FT991A issue solved

Well, that was good service from Steve at MLS who phoned me 3 times to resolve my FT991A issue on FT8.

I did a full factory reset but the real trick seems to be to use USB rather than D-U to get the full RX bandwidth. I cannot thank him enough. He was bending over backwards to help.

This was the reply I got from MLS:

"You are very welcome Sir; it’s not just selling a radio to a customer for us it’s looking after them once the item has been purchased.

When we’re asked to match other traders’ prices that generally can’t get anywhere near us for aftersales support, (I employ 4 on-site engineers) we try our best.  Occasionally we have to walk away because I won’t compromise my company standards & indeed reputation.

It’s my name above the door after all.

Enjoy your radio and you are welcome to print my reply on your Blog if you so wish.

Best 73,

Best Regards

Martin Lynch  G4HKS

ML&S Martin Lynch & Sons Ltd.,

Wessex House"

QRP 6m FT8

A few moments ago I switched from 2m FT8 on the big-wheel to 6m FT8 on the V2000 vertical. So far just M0NKR (27km) and G0BNR (37km) spotting me. As before running 2.5W. Nothing yet spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

Operating Pedestrian Portable

This has been on before, but as it is holiday season, now is a good time to remind people. Some surprising results can be had out portable. Even though the power is normally low, the antenna can be optimised for the best angle and some remarkable DX can be worked, especially in the Es season on the higher HF bands and 6m.

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

2m FT8

At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 8 stations in 4 countries spotted today, with the best being DF7IW (612km).

UPDATE 0858z: A brief CQ call (2.5W to the big-wheel) was spotted by G4RRA (334km) in Devon amongst others.

UPDATE 1400z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ (about 10W to the big-wheel omni)) was spotted by 6 stations in 3 countries. At +3dB S/N I think the spot by F4HRD (182km) must have been aircraft reflection.