SSTV

Apart from a half-hearted attempt at decoding a SSTV (slow scan TV) picture on my smart phone many years ago, I have not really tried this mode. It sounds fun to try. 

The best software looks like YONIQ which is a derivative of MMSSTV.  I shall install this software unless anyone suggests anything better.

The maximum power I can run is 10W pep. I am not sure if I need more.

UPDATE 0842z: I have seen the comment yesterday by Bas about digital SSTV. I must investigate!

UPDATE 0955z: Before running, try walking!  It looks like the first "baby steps" with SSTV should be trying to receive some images, both analogue and digitally. My first few days will be downloading suitable software and having a play.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 6th

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 152.  A= 7 and K=2 .

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at 2130z. 

UPDATE 2215z:   10 stations have spotted me this evening so far.

22m HiFer ISM band

 Again I am trying my luck on the HiFer band. No luck with being spotted in the USA although both OE and DC have spotted my QRPP.

New experiments to try?

As many know, I enjoy experimenting. In recent years, my health has not been too great, so I have been looking at things I can do from home rather than going out and about. In the past I have tried VLF and over the horizon ((NLOS) optical tests, both with great success.

My problem is I am running out of new things to try!  

I have tried 500uW WSPR on 10m (best DX USA) , got to the Caribbean, USA, Canada and South Africa with 2.5W and a dipole on 8m FT8, 630m QRP WSPR (got to Finland) and have tried the 22m and 8m ISM bands with QRPP WSPR.

If you have any ideas, I'd like to hear from you. These are the criteria:

• Must be able to do it from home.
• No complicated antenna erections.
• Not expensive.
• Does not involve fine motor skills as I am no longer good at these sadly.
• Interesting and fun.
• Contributes to knowledge.

I am sure there must be things to have a go with.  What I would really like is something "meaty" that needs doing. With plenty of time on my hands, things can spread over many months.

Some of the things I might try:

• More 137kHz CW and QRSS3 tests.
• 1296MHz  QRP
• FT8 with real QRPP on 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20m.
• 8m this Es season with ISM power and WSPR.

Monday plans

 In a few moments I intend to have another go on 22m (HiFer band) with ISM power using WSPR. This evening my plan is to QSY to 630m QRP WSPR.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 630m 10mW ERP WSPR has been spotted by 17 stations in the last 24 hours.

Sophisticated wine tastes? - NOT amateur radio

For a long time I have enjoyed Merlot as my favourite red wine. Today, my wife said she really liked a certain rose wine. 

We must be simple beings as both are among the cheapest wines at our local supermarket!! The red wine is liked by both my sons too. 

All this proves expensive wines are wasted on us!

Sunspots - Monday February 5th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 138. A=6 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 2036z. So far, the usual suspects have spotted me.

UPDATE 2117z: The table shows the stations spotted here in the last 2 weeks. If the earth-electrode "antenna" has directivity, this is hard to discern. Judging by comparisons with others with more conventional antennas and earths, I would assume my antenna is definitely a few dBs worse. Nonetheless, it works!

Ultra QRPP

It seems to me that, when conditions are good, very  little power is needed to be spotted on WSPR. I tried 10m WSPR with 500uW and was spotted in the USA. I tried running legal ISM powers on 22m and, again was spotted widely.

What's next?

Ultimate questions - NOT amateur radio

From time to time I ask myself ultimate questions. As a teenager, I had quite a strong (if unconventional) Christian faith. These days I am far less sure. To me, I cannot square up the Christian faith with a vast universe. Life on Earth seems so tiny. Christianity seems so narrow.

I also cannot square that here on Earth what we believe seems to be an accident of where I live. If I was born in Saudi Arabia I might well have ended up a devout Muslim. If I was born in Israel, I would probably be Jewish. If born in Siberia, I would probably have no faith at all!

There are some mysteries than our human brains just cannot ever understand. My philosophy is try to leave this life making it a little better than we found it and do to others as you would have them do to you.  Be kind to everyone.

Everyone is different and they must be free to believe as they want.

By King's - NOT amateur radio

We walk through the grounds of King's College, Cambridge most Tuesdays on the way to our free lunchtime concert given by students at the university.

22m (HiFer) ISM band (Sunday)

 Keeping to the ISM rules (very low milliwatts) I am on 13.5539MHz USB dial QRPP WSPR.  Any reports (local or DX) appreciated.

UPDATED 1200z: I am totally surprised!  3 EU stations have already spotted me! I was not expecting HiFer spots from Europe.

UPDATE 1225z: The chances of me spotting others is very low. The 17dB attenuator is in circuit on RX too, so if a station is running low mWs it would effectively be running 17dB less for me!

UPDATE 1629z: All my 22m spots (lots!) have been by 3 Europeans. My gear will remain on 22m (HiFer band) for several hours. It is not clear to me when my best time would be to be spotted in the USA. It seems my chances will diminish after dark?  I am no propagation expert.

UPDATE 1714z:  Looks like I have missed my chance of being spotted in the USA on the HiFer (22m) band today. I was quite hopeful as with the same small power I had been successful on 10m every time I tried recently. I guess local noise levels could be more of a problem as the frequency is reduced?  On very weak signals, I could just be buried under noise!

UPDATE 1757z: My last 22m spot was over an hour ago. No USA today then I think!

Window display - NOT amateur radio

One of our local shops,Tina's, sells just about everything to do with sowing:  cotton, buttons, material, you name it. They also do dry cleaning and alterations. 

They always have great window displays. In the photo it shows toy snakes for the children. Our grandchildren love it.

10m WSPR 10mW ERP (Sunday)

 Yet again, I am on 10m QRPP WSPR this morning and already 3 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1117z:  7 stations spotting me. It would see any power would do!! 10mW ERP QRPP WSPR seems to work just fine!

Plans for Sunday

In a few moments, I expect to again go on 10m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. After lunch I shall probably  try the 22m (HiFer) band with ISM conditions. I shall probably use my G3XBM call still as I know that works with WSPRnet.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 22 stations  have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 630m in the last 24 hours. No astounding DX, but a good haul.

Sunspots - Sunday February 4th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 123 . A=3 and K=1.

Crab apple jelly - NOT amateur radio

Each autumn, I try to make crab apple jelly with the crab apples on our one tree. Last autumn was pathetic. Looking around the shops, we found it impossible to buy.

In the end we turned to Amazon who had some. We ordered it and it was delivered next day. Some are dead against online shopping. There is little doubt our shopping habits are changing. Having things delivered to the door next day is very convenient!

Having used them for many years, I have never been disappointed.