10m inter-G?

Many years ago, the RSGB organised some 10m activity contests in the evenings. This must have been 40 years ago at a guess. 

Despite using 10W pep and a dipole, I could work stations 150km away consistently. With more power and a small beam, even better results would be possible. These days we have digital modes that can work with very weak signals indeed, so spanning such distances with very simple antennas like dipoles and CB whips should be even easier.

At the moment 10m is a great DX band, but at sunspot minimum, people often desert it, sadly. What I am advocating is that more of us should stick with it in the quieter years when it behaves more like a VHF band.

As a final reminder, Es is good in the Es season at any point in the solar cycle. DX has been worked from the UK by F2 N-S with QRP SSB even when the sunspot count was zero at solar minimum. People often desert it when it is a lack of activity and not poor conditions. I hope FT8 will help at such times.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Since about 0800z, I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX. Just 3 inter-G spots of me so far. It is a bit early.

UPDATE 0859z: TA9J (3463km) has also spotted me by what I think is F2 propagation. Now 5 Gs have spotted me. No Es apparent.

UPDATE 1510z:  29 spots of me today with the furthermost FR4NB/QRP (9722km) on Reunion Is in the Indian Ocean.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

The May leg of the RSGB organised activity contest on 2m is tonight starting at 1900z. Activity levels are usually good with portables on hilltops. 

It lasts (I think) for 2.5  hours although with my QRP, omni antenna and poor voice I am usually on less than an hour. 

This really does not feel like a contest. It is more a way to stimulate activity and work squares.

Lichfield - NOT amateur radio

This is where my brother-in-law lives. It is classed as a city but feels more like a town. It has a fine cathedral and mill pond. 

Sunspots - Tuesday May 2nd 2023

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 87.  A=10 and K=3. 

Local UK elections - NOT amateur radio

This Thursday, many in the UK vote in local elections. 

Admittedly, some enter politics for selfish reasons, but I would like to believe that most do so from a wish that they can do some good. For the first time, voter ID is needed. This may put off some less affluent voters. 

Whatever your political affiliation please use your vote. I have known some good and honest people in all political colours. Use your democratic right. 

8m band experiments

Later this week I expect to resume 8m experiments. 

After about 3 weeks I am still awaiting a response from OFCOM about changes to power levels. This is after several chases too. They obviously treat this as a really high priority!! 

Perhaps I should just run 10kW and a 10 el yagi?? 

OFCOM = OFfice for Comatose Old Men?

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band. 

Solar Maximum - cycle 25

The site below was updated yesterday. The forecast peak of solar cycle 25 has now been pushed back a month to December this year. We can expect conditions to be good for a few years.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Stubborn - NOT amateur radio

This plant was dead, so I thought I would just dig it up. Two days later, yes two days, I eventually got it up. Whenever I thought I was there, I found yet more deep thick roots! I have never, ever struggled so hard.

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Shortly, I shall turn on my QRP FT8 using the QDX transceiver.

UPDATE 1058z:  9 spots of my QRP FT8 today.

UPDATE 1739z:  20 stations have spotted me today.

Reach Fair - NOT amateur radio

There has been a fair here since the 1200s when King John gave it a charter. It will have changed a bit over the centuries, but it is great to think people have walked to it for centuries. It is on  today and traditionally opened by the Mayor of Cambridge. 

Sunspots - Monday May 1st 2023

Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 105.  A=10 and K=2.

10m FT8 simple receiver

This has been on before, so this is just a timely reminder. 

10m FT8 is becoming very popular and this receiver allows 10m FT8 reception without tying up the main rig. It is simple, very low cost and works really well.

I could probably convert it into a full FT8 transceiver!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

"London" grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Two of our grandchildren are half French. On May 2nd their French grandfather has his birthday, so we took a photo in our back garden to send.

10m (28 MHz)

At various times of the solar cycle our largest HF allocation enjoys most propagation modes. At all parts of the solar cycle it experiences Es openings in spring and summer. It is often open when people desert it. This is where FT8 could prove useful in the quieter years.

It is also good for local chats. At one time modified CB rigs were very popular. With these and a CB vertical ranges of about 30km locally were common.

At the moment, it is a great DX band. It is usually better in the daytime, although when it is really good, it is often open for DX in the evenings.

It is wide enough for all modes. Even digital TV has been tried above 29 MHz.

It remains my favourite HF band.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .

Spring - NOT amateur radio

 

These flowers were in a garden in a nearby village. For the last couple of days it has felt like spring at last.

Getting ready - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson has rung in 109 towers now including this one at Isleham where they seem prepared for the coronation next weekend. 

In general, the whole preparation for the coronation feels very low key. I am old enough to remember the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II!! I guess we were still getting over WW2 and this was a bit of light relief. 

I remember going to watch the coronation on a neighbour's tiny TV screen in black and white. We did not have a TV until 1957 and that was just one channel and back and white. At the time we thought it was amazing. Before then, we used to watch a snowy TV picture whilst sitting on the floor a a local radio/TV shop. At that time we were about 150km from the nearest TV transmitter.

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX

 

Since about 1120z, I have been on 10m QRP with the QDX. So far, mostly Europeans, I presume by Es.

UPDATE 1340z:   80 stations have spotted my QRP.

Crabapple - NOT amateur radio

We only have one crabapple tree. It seems to be good every other year, so we are hoping for a good crop this year and some good crabapple jelly, as last year was poor. 

Sunspots - Sunday April 30th 2023

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 82.  A=20 and K=1.