Sunspots - Friday September 16th 2022

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 71. A=6 and K=1.

PI4 decoding

For some reason (probably by mistake) I assumed that PI4 was one of the modes supported by WSJT-X. Imagine my surprise today when I found it not there. My version of WSJT-X is 2.5.4.  

Instead I had to download some special software to decode PI4. I have not yet checked if there is a map upload a bit like PSKreporter maps.

I was hoping to decode one of the Irish beacons, EI1KNH/B on 40.013 MHz PI4.

If PI4 is not supported by WSJT-X why is it used rather than FT8 or WSPR by beacons? I don't think it is magically better than FT8.

My other questions are (1) what mode do I select and (2) what dial frequency do I set to decode EI1KNH/B in PI4? At the moment it is set to 40.013 DIG on the FT817ND, but I have no idea if this is correct.

UPDATE 2057z:  It looks like EI1KNH/B now uses FT8 instead of PI4, so I am now monitoring FT8 instead. It sends FT8 every 10 minutes. See https://www.qrz.com/db/EI1KNH/.  I shall monitor overnight.

HF conditions

It is rare for me to go lower than 28 MHz on HF. Certainly conditions on 10m seem good with loads of spots of my QRP 10m FT8 from the USA. I had to QSY, but when I left the band it was still good.  

I was hoping this was my first chance of F2 to/from the USA on 8m, but not this time. Whenever 10m F2 looks promising E-W, I shall try 8m FT8. Hopefully there will be other chances. 

Having worked the USA with QRP SSB handheld from the bedroom, I am in with a chance on 8m FT8.

23cm portable?

At one time there was very good 23cm transverter available from the Ukraine, but I doubt that is currently available. 

I was considering 23cm portable operation next year using the FT817ND as the driver/IF. What 23cm transverters are currently available and at what price please? What would you recommend? I assume 2W is the typical power for a /P station.

Sadly, my fine motor skills these days rule out kits, so I would be looking at a ready made unit.

Rally

The following rally is due this weekend. As ever, check first before travelling far.

Saturday September 17th - Angel of the North Radio Rally, Gateshead. Contact westona84@gmail.com 

Cornish 8m beacon

I gather the GB3MCB beacon cluster has got approval to add 8m and 5m beacons. I don't think these are active yet, but the 8m beacon will be interesting to monitor on PI4. I expect it will beam towards the USA. 

For me in East Anglia  the most likely propagation will be random MS or aircraft. I think tropo is unlikely.

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

The 10m WSPR QRP (500mW) beacon has been on for just over 1 hour. Furthermost (at 1238z) is FY5KE (7110km). The only other station spotting me is local G4KPX (14km).

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Yesterday was wide open to the USA on 10m FT8, so I was hopeful of copying, or better still being copied, on 8m in the USA. No such luck! The only 8m station spotted was G9PUV on the south coast of England.

UPDATE 1134z:  8m QRP FT8 gear turned on at 1127z.

UPDATE 1234z: No spots.

UPDATE 1517z:  EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me and I have spotted him this afternoon on 8m FT8. I am still wondering what the propagation mechanism is - MS, aircraft? Es would seem unlikely at this distance and time of year. It seems too far for tropo.  EI9KP spots me far more often than others.  Interesting that EI9KP is about 7dB stronger at G9PUV/A than with me. Is this because Paul has a beam? Now 8m FT8 RX only.

That free PDF book

So far, all the feedback has been positive. 

Already, I have thought of things left out, so these will be included in an issue 2 later. 

Feel free to download the free book if you want. You can keep it as a soft copy or print out relevant pages.

See https://tinyurl.com/y56vjhd6

UPDATE 1306z:  Someone in the USA has very kindly made a donation. Thank you! As I have said before, I have absolutely no wish to make any money at all from this book. It is a labour of love. I shall give this to the local foodbank, but I really appreciate the kindness.

Sunspots - Thursday September 15th 2022

Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 57. A=9 and K=4.

10m QRP FT8

At 1352z I switched from 10m WSPR and 8m FT8 to 10m QRP FT8.  On 10m WSPR and 8m FT8 I have had no spots all day. 

23 spots of me on 10m FT8 QRP TX mostly in the USA. On 10m FT8 RX, 131 spots, mostly from the USA. 

The photo shows some of the stations, mainly in the USA, that  spotted me. Considering it is just a few watts, quite a few!

The death of the UK Queen and the new King - NOT amateur radio

Whether or not you are a royalist, the UK queen worked very hard as head of state. She was well respected across the world. 

My own view is that nobody deserves respect or wealth just because of who you were born. Much wealth is based on slavery. This is wrong.

In the case of the queen she has dedicated her whole life to the service of the UK. She has earned respect. I hope King Charles III can similarly earn our respect. 

He has a hard act to follow. Initial signs are good.

70cm FT8 contest this evening

If things are normal, this evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. Activity is usually high. 

Even with the V2000 vertical or 2m big-wheel omni I usually copy PA and EI and manage a few QSOs. Normal FT8 QSOs are fine. No special contest software. Even if you don't enter a score, this is a good chance to find activity.

If you think 70cm is quiet, you are in for a shock! 

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2022&contest=70cmsgmac. The RSGB contest starts at 1900z.

UPDATE 1958z:  I only stopped on for about 30 minutes, but despite 5W to the 2m omni big-wheel I was copied as far away as Devon. Had I been on longer I am pretty sure further would have been possible. 1 QSO was had and I was called by another but we did not complete. On RX, the furthermost was Cornwall and the Netherlands.

Last night's 70cm activity contest

Last night I was only on for 30 minutes. Conditions seemed a bit up, but after 30 minutes my voice had had enough. Also, I had probably worked all the stations that I was likely to with my 10W pep and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In all, 5 stations were worked. The map shows the stations worked.

Amsterdam gables - NOT amateur radio

This is probably the last of the photos from our break in Amsterdam last week. It show the gables on the ends of buildings. There are loads of beautiful houses in the city.

We like the Netherlands very much. 

We have been there many times.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 Since about 0930z I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. No spots.

Change of plan - 8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

A change of plan. I decided to try QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz right away. Rig turned on about 0930z. No spots after 6 minutes.

UPDATE 1106z:  No spots so far. Rig going off to cool.

10m FT8 RX

After breakfast I hope to be on 10m FT8 RX again. Yesterday was successful. If 10m FT8 is promising, I shall switch to 8m FT8 QRP TX and 10m WSPR. 

UPDATE 0942z:  Change of plan. See other posts.

Squirrel - NOT amateur radio

 

This was seen at Anglesey Abbey yesterday. 

Sunspots - Wednesday September 14th 2022

Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 93. A=4 and K=0.