Granddaughter's note - NOT amateur radio

Last weekend was our elder grandson's birthday. His sister stared at him and she wrote him this note!

10m JT65

At just before 0730z, I returned to 10m JT65 with 2W QRP. As yet no spots.

UPDATE 1236z: Still no spots given or received on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1900z: No spots (given or received) all day on 10m JT65. This has been one of the worst days on 10m JT65 this autumn. Mind you, it seems to confirm that if the South Americans are coming through by TEP, you need some means of extending this to northern Europe.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday November 14th 2016

Solar flux is 79. Sunspot number is 13. K=3. Yesterday, quite a few South Americans were spotted here on 10m JT65. Conditions today look broadly similar, albeit the sunspot count is lower.

Beginnings - NOT amateur radio

Flete House, where I was born. Always impresses! Actually it was a nursing home after WW2 for many years. Now posh flats. I like to say I was born in a stately home - well I was! If I bought one of the flats I could die where I was born.

Trump's Wall - NOT amateur radio

Partly a fence now. Mr Trump changing his mind or influenced by his peers? It will be interesting to see his policies when he is in charge.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37969112

New Zealand Earthquake - NOT amateur radio

It was interesting that the BBC News this lunchtime on Radio 4 did not even mention the latest earthquake in New Zealand. We are fed what they think we should hear. Some reports say it was stronger than the earthquake that so badly damaged Christchurch a few years ago.

We were in Christchurch exactly 2 years before this happened. New Zealand is a beautiful country with a small population. When an earthquake strikes, it can be a real burden to cope financially. Of all the places I have been fortunate enough to visit, this was the loveliest, followed by Iceland. Iceland we assumed would be barren but it was beautiful with lupins in flower all over the place. Both in New Zealand and Iceland the people were kind and welcoming.

Rallies - no news

If you want me to publicise your local rally just contact me. I am happy to push your rally. The blog has a worldwide readership, so whether Telford or Timbuktu, it matters not: just let me know.

At this time of year, things on the rally front are quiet in the UK as the weather is "dull November".

10m JT65

I returned to 10m JT65 (2W QRP)  just over 1 hour ago. So far, spots given and received from Europe, but nothing further as yet.

UPDATE 1230z:  Best DX on 10m JT65 are spots (given and received) in the Canary Is. and Russia. As conditions seem quite decent, I think South America should be in reach on 10m JT65 this afternoon. USA? This remains to be seen.

UPDATE 1515z: As yet, no evidence here of South Americans on 10m JT65, which is surprising.

UPDATE 1530z: Did someone say 10m was dead? This is my log so far today. I run 2W QRP to a very average, and low, wire antenna. No beams! I am sure others can do much better.

UPDATE 1554z: LU5CQC (11211km) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is the first South American spotted on 10m JT65 this afternoon.

UPDATE 1635z: 4 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far this afternoon: Argentina (2), Brazil and Uruguay.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday November 13th 2016

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number has gone up to 51 (not bad at this part of the solar cycle). However K=4.

UPDATE 1534z: The K index seems to be improving. K=3 now.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

WQR Report (November 12, 2016)
see full report with comments and pictures -http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report
Visitors of the week:
RW3AA,  UA1CEG,  R1OA,  DK1HW,  OH6NPV,  RV3GM, UA0SBQ, US7IB, US3EN,
UW5EKR,  UR0ET, ON6KZ, RU3NJC, R1CAF, UR5EFD, RV3DSA/0, DL4HG, G3XJS,
UA1CEG,  UR7VT,  SM2FIJ,  IK2RGV, DL3XZ, SM2BYW, RA1M, UA1CEX, UA4NU,
DM5JL, SM7RYR, HA7NE, R2FAE, SP1CVP, RN4W, SA7BOA, UA4Z, RZ3QS, US5ERQ

Congrats!
US7IB,  IK2RGV,  DL3XZ,  HA7NE,  RN4W entered in the Frequenters list
(regular visitors)
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club72 web page

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

47GHz Beacon

47GHz beacon reception. I wonder if this person is professionally involved in microwave work? If not, I am very impressed. Lack of access to microwave test gear has always put me off. Optical test gear and optical gear was easy.

Still life on 10m

Every time I've been on 10m recently, I have found JT65 activity and DX. My antenna is just a low wire and definitely nothing special. I have never had a tower or an HF beam!  People assume 10m is "dead" and QSY down the bands. OK, it is not as easy as a few years ago, but change modes and use the band.  Don't assume it is useless, as it is still a DX band.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Autumn

This has nothing to do with amateur radio but shows the season with the berries and leaves in our garden. It seems to have suddenly changed. I heard recently that a local town has already had more frosts this autumn than all last winter. Are we in for a very cold winter? It does feel colder although we have had fewer gales than normal. Usually October and early November can be windy.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday November 12th 2016

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 26. K=2. Already I am spotting Israel and European Russia on 10m JT65. I have the feeling this is going to be a reasonably good day on 10m JT65. This is more than can be said for the weather here at the moment: it is cold and wet!

10m JT65 again today

I switched bands and am now back on 10m JT65 again after a day on 2m JT65. Already I have spotted several stations who are not sending spots to PSK Reporter Maps and RA9CNF (3812km) has been spotted. I am sure this is F2 propagation. As yet, my 2W QRP has still to be spotted.

UPDATE 1134z: 4Z5ML (3571km) in Israel and TA1BM (2899km) in Turkey have been spotted on 10m JT65 this morning.

UPDATE 1234z: RU4H (3294km) spotted my 2W QRP 10m JT65 about half an hour ago.

UPDATE 1546z: 5 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far today.

UPDATE 1912z:  14 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far today.

Lunch out (again) - NOT amateur radio

For the second time this week, we ate lunch out with old friends. This time not as far (38 miles round trip). We  have known these friends since the early 1970s.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
keep in your diaries -
Club 72 events Calendar 2017 year

February, 4 and 5 - "Snowman" QRP Field Game (two tours)
April - "Look In the Horizon" QRP Marathon (over a month)
June, 17 - World QRP activity day
October 4 to 17 - "Sputnik" QRPp Activity Days
see details on the club72.su page
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

2m JT65 again

It seems that 144.165MHz is being adopted as the 2m JT65B  frequency in Europe. This morning, starting shortly, I shall be beaconing sending on that frequency (USB dial). Any reports would be appreciated. Best to upload your spots to PSK  Reporter Maps. My actual transmission will, of course, be slightly HF of the dial setting.

UPDATE 1040z: Within minutes of starting I copied DL1BEC (487km) on 2m JT65B in Lower Saxony, Germany. This was totally unexpected! No spots of my 2W QRP as yet.

UPDATE 1904z: Several spots from G6AVK (77km) - thank you.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday November 11th 2016

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 13 (was zero yesterday). K=2. On the face of it, similar to Thursday, albeit a little more disturbed.

Trump - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am no expert on politics but, like many, I take an interest in the USA presidential elections. I am amazed, although not totally surprised, that so many supported Trump and that he won. I am sure to many there he represents "the American Dream". He also tapped into the general discontent felt by many across the world in the "ruling class elite".

There is, at the present time, a swing to the right. In many ways the politicians in many nations have lost the confidence of many in their nations. Things will swing back when the electors feel they are being represented by those they empower to rule and make decisions.

Time will tell whether or not a rich billionaire really can command the respect of the common man and woman of the USA. In my view neither main candidate was a good choice.

Rosetta probe

Yesterday we went to lunch with old university friends who, like us,  are retired. They live in Letchworth, which is about an hour away.  The husband was the Project Manager of the Rosetta Project during his working life. This successfully orbited an asteroid and landed a probe on the surface. He was interviewed on the TV and made national news recently. He is a very modest fellow, but very bright. He got a 1st in Physics, but you would never believe it. We have been friends for nearly 50 years.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday November 10th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today and the sun is spotless (zero sunspots). K=1. It will be interesting to see how 10m does today with no sunspots.

Yesterday and today on 10m JT65

Only now did I realise I was on JT65B and not JT65A on 10m yesterday. Not being an expert, I assume I would have not been able to decode anyone and no-one would be able to decode me! Doh! Anyway I am now back on 10m JT65A having just turned the rig and PC back on and done manual sync to internet time.

UPDATE 1020z: ZS6WB (9095km) in South Africa has just been spotted on 10m JT65. Who needs sunspots?

UPDATE 1036z SV8RV (2268km) has recently spotted my 2W QRP JT65 on 10m.

UPDATE 1134z: 10m JT65 spots being given and received today from across Europe, deep into Russia and South Africa. Today looks good on 10m even with no sunspots.

UPDATE 1740z:  2 South Americans spotted so far today.

Straight to 10m JT65 today (QRP)

Just after breakfast, I went straight on to 10m JT65 only. As yet, no spots given or received, but I am hopeful. South America seems to depend on TEP extensions into the UK. At the moment this seems to be mainly when there is some E layer propagation, which is not plentiful at this time of the year. I am still hopeful of a few USA openings.

UPDATE 1930z:   No 10m JT65 spots all day. This has been a very quiet day.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday November 9th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 24. K=1.

Solar cycle 25?

We are on the way down to the end of cycle 24, with the minimum expected around 2020. Already the experts are predicting what cycle 25 will be like, and solar activity is likely to be poor. Some are even predicting a Maunder Minimum with no sunspots at all for several years and a drop in global temperatures. The truth is we cannot be sure.

The world is warming up, fact, although some think this is not the fault of man. Somehow, I think we are involved. We owe it to future generations to look at the facts and not behave like ostriches. A Maunder Minimum might buy us a little extra time to put things right.

See https://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/01/25/first-estimate-of-solar-cycle-25-amplitudesmallest-in-over-300-years/ .

Whatever your views, equip yourselves with FACTS as much as possible.

70cm UKAC activity contest this evening

As this is the second Tuesday in the month, it should be the 70cm leg of the UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. My 2m halo is a good match on 70cm. Although a very poor antenna, I shall be on at 2000z (ish) to work a few stations before my voice shouts "no"! Usually I am on for less than 60  minutes, often much less.

UPDATE 2048z: I stayed on for about 10 minutes only and had 1 contact. Although conditions on 70cm weren't too bad, the level of activity seemed low to me. GB3UHF (432.430MHz) beacon was -9dB here on JT65B on the FT817 with a 2m halo fed with lossy coax, which is quite good. The beacon is in JO01 square.

Back on 10m JT65 tomorrow

Although I got no spots at all on 10m WSPR today, I did copy G6NLZ (153km) on the south coast of the UK on 6m JT65. This could have been tropo or aircraft reflection. No non UK stations today. Tomorrow I intend to go back to 10m JT65 at breakfast time. I'll probably go QRT on 6m and 10m shortly.

Botanic Garden, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we dodged the showers and went to the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge. As I mentioned yesterday, another week and the trees could be bare.  At the moment it looks very autumnal.

Tuesday's QRP

Today I started out on 10m WSPR (500mW) - no spots, and 6m JT65 (2W) - just spots from G0LRD (25km). Later, I shall probably go to just 10m JT65.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday November 8th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today and sunspot number 23. K=1.

QRT - all bands

After listening a bit after 2000z on 10m JT65 and taking part in the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM, I decided to go QRT on all bands. I shall be back on 10m JT65 tomorrow, hoping for better results than today.

OFCOM - microwave licence free operation

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/wt-exemption-2016 .

OFCOM has published notes on licence exempt use of some microwave bands.

Cambridge Botanical Garden - NOT amateur radio

We checked the weather forecast this morning and it said no rain all day. In fact, it said full sun much of the day. So we decided to go to the Botanical Garden in Cambridge. Yes, you guessed right - it rained! Really, you cannot plan anything based on the UK weather forecasts! We dodged the showers and managed some nice autumnal shots.

Another week and the best of autumn colours would be gone.

Return to 10m JT65

After a day on 20m, I returned to 10m JT65 a few moments ago. 10m is more of a challenge than 20m, which proved very easy with lots of spots at 2W. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1005z: RV6FT (3095km) near Krasnodar spotted already on 10m JT65. F2?

UPDATE 1832z:  No further spots all day on 10m JT65 here. No Es. No South Americans. Altogether, disappointing.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday November 7th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 24. K=1

Currently on 20m JT65

Last night and overnight I have been (still am) on 20m JT65. Things didn't start to liven up before this morning. I guess the band was "dead" last night with little or no propagation. As an experiment, I shall remain on 14.076MHz JT65 for a while longer before I move up to 10m, which is more interesting.

UPDATE 1014z: Busy on 20m JT65!! The image shows the stations spotting me so far. Quite a few despite a low antenna and just 2W. There is far more challenge on 10m JT65. I'll give 20m a few more hours, then QSY to 10m. I am glad I tried 20m JT65, but it is too easy and I like a challenge.

UPDATE 1322z: Lots and lots of 20m JT65 spots including the USA down as far as Georgia. I've decided to stay on 20m JT65 for the rest of the day and go back on 10m JT65 tomorrow.

UPDATE 1422z:  More 20m JT65 spots from the USA.

UPDATE 2024z:  More USA stations spotted and now South Americans logged on 20m JT65 RX.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday November 6th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 24. K=2.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
See  full  WQR  Report  (Weekly  QRP  Rendez-Vous)  with comments and
pictures on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

Note, a lot of Visitors and Frequenters visited QRP Rendez-Vous this week! See the list:
RV3GM, OM1WX, UA1CEG, G4SSH, HA43ZN, EA4BL, UR0ET, UR7VT, US3EN, R1OA, US5ERQ, OH6NPV, SP3LRS, US7IB, UR5EFD, SM0EQG, RU3NJC, IK2RMZ, DF5SF, G3KAN,  ON6KZ,  EA6BB,  R1CAF, IK1GPK, EA4GPY, IT9IFI, G4PSI, EA6AIF, UA9MLY,  SM2FIJ,  DK1HW,  RW3AI,  DK4AN,  SM2ELN, G3XJS, LY3G, 4X1ZZ, G4GQL,  LZ2OQV,  UA4NU,  UW5EKR, LZ1WF, RN4NAA, EW4DW, OH5LP, HA2EDX, LZ1WT, DL8NGC, EA4EPY, YO7LHE, EA5AHN, TK8QY, UA0SBQ, OM6TC, SV2BBK, EU6AA, G3VIP.
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - club72.su

Congrats!
For  activity  in the "rendezvous" round tables G4SSH, EA6BB, DL8NGC,
SV2BBK became Honor Frequenters operators

Note: now we have on-line QRP Chat on the Club 72 page - enjoy to talk
with colleagues!
Thanks all QRP operators for activity and comments, see you all on the
next week "rendezvous" round tables.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Re-reading old stroke posts - NOT amateur radio

Having just re-read some of the comments to my few posts in the second half of 2013 when I was in hospital with my stroke, I realise how much support you all gave me at that dark time.

It is now 3 years later and I am able to drive, eat normally and most of me works although I still feel giddy on my feet, have a poor voice and I find drinks hard. Overall, I am grateful as things could have been so much worse.

From the bottom of my heart - thank you. You cannot begin to realise just how valuable this support was.