2m UKAC contest this evening

As it is the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the October 2m leg of the RSGB's UKAC activity contest. The contest runs from 1900z to 2130z. I shall take part for under an hour because of my poor voice. I shall be using 5W QRP and my big-wheel omni antenna.

As I have said many times, this is a friendly affair and there is no compulsion to send in an entry. Go on, enjoy the activity and maybe work a few new squares.

UPDATE 2030z: I had to stop because of my voice, but worked some decent distances with real QRP. Best DX was a station on the Welsh border G1YBB/P, well over 200km.

Stations worked tonight on 2m with 5W and omni antenna

QRP - yet more on Sputniks

This just came in from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
the  2016  totals, comments, pictures page opened on the Club 72 site
today. There is a 1'st QSO in the log today - RV3GM/S to G3XJS.
Preferably, to send me results daily.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
thanks  to  Peter  PA0PJE  for report and picture. I add photo on the
results  page  on www.club72.su  I only ask you to send me details of
today's "sputnik" QSOs to add in the totals log, please.

2'nd  picture  of  Yuri's UA1CEG "Vanguard" tcvr is on the page also.
Yuri informed he operated from the forest "wigwam" position today, but
no success for sorry.

Evening I CQed on 200 mW TX on 14060 but no one RBN copied my signals,
sorry.  For  TX I use VXO and PA, both transistors are GT320B Ge pnp.
Ant is 42 m Delta at 6 m AGL.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sepura Takeover Rumours - NOT amateur radio

Shares in my old company Sepura (SEPU) have tumbled in recent months. The LSE listed company was started in 2002. They are now rumoured to be a takeover target. Time will tell, but with TETRA likely to take off in the USA, someone should do well. Since retiring in 2008, I watch fro  the sidelines. I want them to do well. Their main market is TETRA - digital radio for professional users.

UK Stock Markets post BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 UK share indexes are currently at record high levels. I am sure the weaker pound helps exports, but these levels are high. Of course, being shares, they could tumble tomorrow! At the moment, the stock markets are not phased by BREXIT.

UPDATE 1216z: FTSE 100 at 7110.43 (up 1.82%). FTSE 250 at 7110.43 (up 2.2%).

QRP - now on 10m JT65

As of 1135z, I have gone QRT on 6m JT65 and 10m WSPR and am now on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1155z: Nothing yet spotted, or spotting me, on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1800z: Nothing still on 10m JT65. Plenty of South Americans on 10m JT65, but no luck yet this evening.

UPDATE 1820z: My first Argentinian tonight spotted on 10m JT65 a few moments ago in Buenos Aires. 10m JT65 has "come good" again! These spots are so regular. I am sure we are seeing TEP (trans equatorial propagation).

UPDATE 2102z: Only 3 South Americans copied this evening on 10m JT65.

Lunchtime Es (again) on 10m WSPR

EA1FAQ (1249km) has been consistently spotting my 10m WSPR strongly,  even though well outside of the main Es season and my little WSPR beacon runs just 500mW to a very average, low,  wire antenna. Virtually every day I am spotted by someone. I assume this is Es. Backscatter is unlikely and the distance too short for F2.

I shall soon be moving over to JT65 on 10m only.

QRP Sputnik days reminder

More from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
I only wish all sputniks and Vanguards happy flight!
All  comments,  reports,  pictures are appreciate here in the list or
direct  to  my  e-mail. All info's will be published on the "Sputnik"
results page - www.club72.su - totals log, soapbox, pictures etc.
SWLs are welcome also.
My  "Sputnik"  is  old  valves trcvr called "UW3DI" (14 valves) power
reduced  less  than  a  1 watt. My "Vanguard" trcvr is "Micro-80-pnp"
(only  Ge pnp 5 transistors on board) VXO 14060 kc 200 mW. Helping RX
is  "UA1FA" (home made in 70-80-th not mine hands). Antennas: 20 m GP
and Delta 42 m, both 6 m AGL.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP this morning: 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Today I started out on 10m WSPR (no reports yet) and 6m JT65 (just G0LRD at 25km spotting me). Later, I'll probably move to 10m JT65. On both bands I am QRP with 500mW WSPR and 2W JT65.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday October 4th 2016

Solar flux is 89 today and the sunspot number 32. However K=5 and the 10m F2 propagation forecast remains "poor".

Yet again - South America on 10m

This evening, South Americans stations, lots, were received on 10m JT65. The conditions did not look that promising, but yet again 10m using JT65 has proved to be "open". There were quite a few Europeans copied and copying me today. I love 10m and JT65.

QRP News - Sputnik days

From Oleg earlier:

Some years ago, G6ALB and I made a simple QRP CW rig, using Sputnik valves, for 21MHz and we worked a stateside station who replied to my CQ call.

Dates: October 4 to 18 annually
Mode - CW, output power less than 5 watts
Bands  -  all,  including  WARC  (it's  not  a  contest),  around QRP
frequencies recommend
Categories:
"Sputniks"
-  use old type valves(50'th)  TX, output power recommend less than 1
watt.  To  identification  add series of "dit" (beep-beep-beep...) in
start or/and finish of transmission
"Vanguards"
-  use  old  type  Ge (germanium, 50'th) transistors TX, output power
recommend  less  than  100 mW. To identification add series of "V" in
start or/and finish of transmission
SWLs
- copy time and freq of Sputniks and Vanguards (CQs or QSOs). Use main
callsign as SWL.
Each  operator  may  take  a  part in any categories sending separate
reports/logs for each category. Any QSOs in account. Same station may
operate on other bands or in other category on the same band.
Reports/logs  must be send daily (preferably) to the "Center of Space
Communications" :-) to - mr72@club72.su
Add  photos  of equipment, antennas including any comments. Dead-line
for reports/logs before October 25. Memorably certificate will be sent
to each station/SWL.
See totals log/comments/pictures since October 4 on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
Ask  "Mr  72"  to add your e-mail in the special "Sputnik" discussion
group (reflector)
72! Deep Space Communications Center
Operator in duty -
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB beep...beep...beep...

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

It is now 4.40pm local time and both the UK FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 share indexes are well up. The pound has weakened somewhat making UK goods even better value overseas. BREXIT will mean a break from the EU, but I do not think we will see the "melt down" many were expecting. If anything, this is an opportunity to forge our destiny in the world.

The next few years will be bumpy, but it is ours, and ours alone, to make successful. I honestly think the EU is in deep trouble: it would not surprise me if radical changes were to be made in the years ahead within the EU. They have the Euro, Greece, high youth unemployment, migration and stagnation to deal with. One of the most important players - the UK - will be gone by 2019.

SPRAT and GQRP Club

Today SPRAT 168 arrived. This is the quarterly magazine of the GQRP Club. Every one is excellent and full of ideas. As I have said in the past, if all other mags had to go, this is the one I'd keep.

By the way all SPRATS 1-160 are available to GQRP Club members on a DVD for £5 plus postage - a real bargain.

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

Weak signal modes

This has been said here many times, but weak signal modes like WSPR and JT65 are ideal running  "in the background" modes for bands that seem dead but that may not be. At the moment and for the coming years 10m is in this category for many months of the year.

If it is SSB contacts you are after, then move down a few bands. If, like me, you are interested in "pushing the boundaries" then I recommend JT65 or WSPR is left running in the background on 10m. Both modes are ideal for beaconing and there are usually plenty of monitors. On JT65 I send "B callsign locator" when busy or not looking for 2-way QSOs and this then shows up on PSKreporter if I am copied. On WSPR the standard format is used. Both modes only need low power. JT65 seems to get more results than WSPR,even though not quite as good theoretically. The 1 minute TX period may also help.

No, I am convinced that 10m is "open" far more often than was previously thought. It is just we have not had such effective weak signal modes in the past. As we go down cycle 24 and into cycle 25 modes like JT65 and WSPR will really "come good" on 10m.

Join those of us out to prove the experts wrong!

UPDATE 1704z:  In the last week alone 19 countries have been spotted here on 10m JT65. Sunspot count is low or very low and South America as been copied most days, as have stations in Europe. There is still life on 10m for those prepared to look, even with very simple gear and antennas.

UPDATE 1836z: Best DX on 10m JT65 RX is LU3VCC (12470km).  So far this evening, 4 South American stations spotted here as well as Canary Is and several Europeans.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday October 3rd 2016

Solar flux is 84 today and the sunspot number 13. K=4. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

10m JT65 this morning

This morning, I decided to give 6m a miss and started on 10m JT65 before breakfast. I am only active on 10m JT65. At 0650z I checked the PC was aligned to internet time.

So far just G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1217z: DO5GLM (833km) in north east Germany was spotted on 10m JT65 in the last 30 minutes. Es? Nearly every time I go on 10m JT65 I spot, or get spotted, by stations in Europe. I remain convinced that modes like JT65 and WSPR are ideal to "smoke out" openings than otherwise would be missed.

10m Es "out of season"

As if to prove a point, there has been some E layer propagation just about every day I have tried in recent weeks on 10m. 10m is certainly far from dead out of the Es seasonal months. My recommended mode is JT65 which can be used for 2-way QSOs or beaconing. WSPR should be better, but activity seems lower.

UPDATE 1544z: Plenty of Es on 10m JT65 today. I think the spots of Holland and Belgium were probably by aircraft reflection. No South Americans yet.

UPDATE 1705z: 2 South Americans (near Rio) have been copied on 10m JT65. Sunspots? Who needs them?

UPDATE 1826z:   12 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far this evening (best DX Chile and Argentina), although no-one has spotted my 2W yet. Is this TEP?

UPDATE 1915z:  20 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65. This is very high, when the sunspot count is zero! Nothing today from the Caribbean or North America.

Just QSYed to 10m JT65 (QRP)

With just local spots on 6m and nothing at all on 10m WSPR, I have just moved to 10m JT65 only. I am hoping to catch some F layer DX later, but with a sunspot number of zero, I may be unlucky today. I am now QRT on other bands and modes. I changed to 10m JT65 at 1308z.

UPDATE 1322z: SP5UAF (1424km) has already spotted my 10m JT65, so there must be Es about again. I also spotted SP4TKR at a similar distance.

UPDATE 1330z: G0LRD (25km) is also copying me, but much weaker than on 6m. I think my antenna is far less efficient on 10m, at least in David's direction. Our antennas are cross-polarised, which will not help on 10m.

UPDATE 1335z: The nearest storms are in Denmark, so I think I should be OK on 10m JT65 this afternoon and evening.

MDT40 kit

Steve, G1KQH is building a kit from Australia - the MDT40. Because of family commitments, this is going slower than he'd like. The kit is 84 Australian dollars complete if buying outside Australia. It is a DSB rig for 40m available in 2 frequency ranges.

See http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/ .

Southgate News - holiday?

I often check Southgate Amateur Radio News but there have been no updates for a week. Perhaps someone is away? Usually this is a good place to look.

UPDATE 1440z  Oct 3rd 2016: This is what I see when I link.

UPDATE 1815z Oct 3rd 2016: As "anonymous" said this was on their HOME page, where I don't normally look! Back tomorrow.

QRP on 10m and 6m

After the storms yesterday, I have returned to 10m WSPR and 6m JT65. After waiting for the PC to configure Windows updates, I turned on JT65 software and resynced to internet time.

UPDATE 0900z:  Nothing so far on 10m WSPR and just G0LRD (25km) spotting me on 6m JT65. No Es or F2.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday Oct 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 79 today but the sunspot number is zero! K=3. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

QRT

Darn it! Just when I was having 10m JT65 fun, there was a nasty storm quite close, so I have had to go QRT. Never mind. There will be other days.

UPDATE 2038z: The storm is now well out in the North Sea. I shall be back on tomorrow morning around breakfast time probably 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 until the afternoon.

South America (again) on 10m JT65

PU4EPM (9212km), Rio,  was copied at 1552z. Yet again this proves that 10m is far from dead.

UPDATE 1644z: So far, 4 Brazilian stations spotted on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1704z: Lots of Es from all over Europe on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1715z: Now it is 5 Brazilians all in the Sao Paulo and Rio areas on 10m JT65.

Solar activity

At the moment, although on the downward part of the solar cycle, conditions are still holding up. This autumn may yet be better than we had hoped. See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

MW0CSO spotting me on 10m JT65

MW0CSO in North Wales is spotting me on 10m JT65. This is probably tropo or aircraft reflection. It is too close for Es/F and backscatter is unlikely.

Romania on 10m JT65

YO3GXC (2086km) in Bucharest has been spotted on 10m JT65. I assume this is Es, but it could be F2.

Storms?

With thunder and lightning not too far away, I need to keep a watchful eye out. If it gets too near I shall go QRT and disconnect rigs, antennas and PC. At the moment the storms are to the east and moving away, but things can change!

See http://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en

UPDATE 1510z: Storms now in Kettering/Thrapston area. Keeping an eye out!

USA call areas

USA callsign numbers mean little these days.

At one time you could be sure where a station was located in the USA by his number. W4 for example was Florida or nearby and W6 California or nearby.  KF1BUZ is monitoring 10m JT65 but he is located in Nevada! A W6 could be in New England now!

I blame it on the FCC. Whoever thought up the present scheme needs his/her head relocating to a different call area. As someone located in Europe, the present system is poor.

Caribbean on 10m JT65

FM/DD5ZZ (6798km) in FK94 square (Martinique) has already spotted my 2W on 10m JT65. This is very promising. This is the most northerly station to have spotted me in the Americas this autumn.

USA next? We live in hope, HI.

UPDATE 1438z: DL2IAU (648km) in the Rhineland-Palatinate has been spotted on 10m JT65. Es again I assume.

UPDATE 1458z: GM4OAS (653km) in the west of Scotland has recently spotted me on 10m JT65. I assume this is Es.

South America on 10m WSPR

As well as Northern Europe on 10m WSPR I see that FY5KE (7117km) spotted my 500mW WSPR earlier. 10m is very far from being a "dead band".  Just be patient!

QRT and QSY

My 6m JT65 has been closed down as has my 10m WSPR. As of about 15 minutes ago, I am just on 10m JT65 looking for Es and possibly F layer DX.

There is some Es about on 10m. With South America in the log on 10m yesterday, there is a decent chance of DX today: conditions are a little less disturbed and the solar flux and sunspot number are similar to Thursday's values.

New walkie-talkie

This link came from Steve G1KQH:
http://www.409shop.com/409shop_product.php?id=124064
The band is not clear from the advert, but the price is low and the size small.

The same online shop does other transceivers at ridiculous prices:
http://www.409shop.com/409shop_shopcat.php?&usercat=1426&parentid=1426

Unless clearly stated, I have no idea of the CE status of these radios. You may have to pay import duty and VAT in your country. Without the necessary approvals these may not be legal in your country. Caveat emptor.

10m WSPR and 6m JT65 this morning

This morning I am again active on 10m WSPR (500mW) and 6m JT65 (2W). On 10m G4KPX (14km) is spotting me and on 6m G0LRD (25km) and G6GEI (73km) are spotting me. No Es or F2 evident here yet.

UPDATE 1207z: OZ7IT (853km) spotted me on 10m WSPR,4 times so far at good strength. Es I assume. 

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday October 1st 2016

It is hard to believe it is October already! Solar flux is 79 and sunspot number 12. K=4. The 10m F2 propagation forecast is again "poor" although I have reached deep into South America this last week with QRP JT65 on 10m and there has been some Es on the band.

South America (again) on 10m JT65

LU8HGI (11257km) in Corduba, Argentina was the best RX DX on 10m JT65 today. There was Es on 10m today with an Italian spotted earlier. At lunchtime my 500mW WSPR was received in Denmark. OK, you have to go looking, but the DX is still around on 10m.

Rally

Sunday 2 OCTOBER : BLACKWOOD ARS RALLY
 
Rougemount School, Llantarnham Hall, Malpas Road, Newport NP20 8QB. The venue has free car parking. A talk-in station will be on 145.550MHz. Doors open at 10am to 4pm with disabled access 15 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands a car boot sale, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and a lecture programme. There is catering available on site. Details available from Mike Rackham, GW4JKV on to 01495 226 149 or by email to rackhamone@aol.com. Or Wynn Wright, GW8UAM on 02920 889 156 or email wynnwright7@aol.com .

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

QSY to 10m JT65

Both on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 I have now gone QRT.  Since about 1531z I have been active (RX and TX) just on 10m JT65. In recent days despite "poor" 10m forecasts, low sunspot numbers and disturbed conditions, I have been quite successful to South America even with QRP on 10m JT65.

Es again on 10m

OZ7IT (853km) has spotted my 10m WSPR this lunchtime. I presume this is Es. G4KPX (14km) is also spotting me on 10m.

No signs here of Es on 6m with G0LRD (25km) and G6GEI (73km) spotting me recently on 6m JT65.

Waters and Stanton Newark Rally Offers

W&S are offering the Yaesu FT450D at a special Newark rally price of £469. This is quite a bargain. I wonder if this rig is not selling as well as it should? At this price it should certainly sell. They have other offers too, but this one caught my eye.