Sunspots and 10m - Sunday February 5th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 22. A=11 and K=3.

10m does not look that promising, but 10m has a habit of throwing surprises!

6m MSK144 RX and 10m WSPR

This morning I am on 6m MSK144  (RX only) and 10m WSPR (500mW 100% TX, randomised frequency).

Overnight I was on 630m (5mW ERP) using the earth-electrode "antenna".  I am informed by LA3EQ that LA2XPA (1310km) has a beverage antenna on 630m RX and that he lives on an island. His MF noise floor is low. This probably helps explain why he can copy my weak MF signal.

UPDATE 1200z: G4YHF (77km) spotted on 6m MSK144. Nothing yet on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1915z: Apart from EI4DQ (576km) and a couple of Gs, no DX as yet on 6m. I am about to go QRT on 10m, but will remain on 6m MSK144 RX overnight. I may go briefly on 6m TX as well as RX for a period.

UPDATE 1923z: I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR but I am for a while only transceive on 6m MSK144 (15 secs TX period). M1BXF/SDR (14km) copied me about 10 minutes ago on 6m MSK144.

Growing Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We usually get an amaryllis bulb as a gift at Christmas. This last Christmas was no exception. They are great fun. Ours is now 68cm tall and both flowers have started to split. There is a chance both will be fully in flower next week. I thought one flower would have been out last week.

Amateur Radio Blog

This is always worth a look as there is usually something of interest.

See http://www.amateurradio.com/ .

Norway spot (again) on 472kHz WSPR TX

For the third evening in a row my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted in Norway by LA2XPA (1310km) on 472kHz WSPR. Tonight has started well. PA7EY (306km) has also spotted me on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1912z: LA2XPA has already spotted me 3 times on 472kHz WSPR this evening.

UPDATE 2145z: LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted despite my S8 noise floor when the PC is on the SMPSU. He must be a very good signal. BTW, LA2XPA (1310km) has now spotted me 4 times this evening on 472kHz WSPR.

Winter cheer - NOT amateur radio

This is a gloomy time of the year. Although there are hints of better days ahead with the days lengthening, we have had a very wet and gloomy January. February has started much the same. This moorhen had some much needed colour. Days are lengthening about 4 minutes a day presently.

472kHz WSPR yesterday evening and overnight

Although LA2XPA (1310km) copied me lots of times again, I don't think conditions were quite as good as the previous night. In all, I was spotted in 4 countries on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP) by 10 unique stations. In all, I spotted 14 unique stations in 6 countries on 472kHz WSPR RX in the last day.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday February 4th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 39. A=18 and K=3.

First daffodils - NOT amateur radio

Last autumn we saw our first daffodils out at the end of November 2015. This year, we have only just seen the first daffodils fully in flower. Things are much later this year. At Anglesey Abbey the snowdrops and aconites are at last coming out.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

After the great successes of last night, I have gone QRT on 10m JT65 and started up on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP). At the moment I am on battery power, so the noise floor on RX is very low. I doubt I can repeat the successes of last night, but you never know.

UPDATE 1950z: LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted 3 times already at up to -13dB S/N. There is a chance he could copy me.

UPDATE 1954z: Despite the FT817 being a bit "deaf" on 472kHz, I still hear most of what is going on.  I think this proves sensitivity on this band is limited by external noise, so S/N is more important than basic rig sensitivity.

UPDATE 2000z: LA2XPA (1310km) in Kristiansund, Norway has already spotted my 5mW ERP. Promising again this evening.

UPDATE 2238z: LA2XPA (1310km) has spotted me 5 times so far this evening. At the moment conditions on 472kHz seem similar to last night.

UPDATE 2315z: Judging by the spots this evening and yesterday from Norway, I can only conclude that those receiving me up there must have a very low noise floor.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

just  reminder  about Snowman QRP Game this weekend. February 4 and 5 both in period of 9 to 13 UTC. Not competition, just for enjoy. Every QRPers  can operate in Home or Field or both categories. Declare QSOs results  separately  for  Home  or Field positions. Each gamer become
Winner and get certificate. Also there are lot of nominees for special marks.  See  details  and  last  years  results on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su

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.

Rally this weekend

32nd CANVEY RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY, Feb 5th (Sunday)

The Paddocks Community Centre, Long Road, Canvey Island, SS8 0JA.

Doors open at 8.30am for traders and 10.30am for the public. There is free parking and the venue has disabled facilities including space outside main doors for disabled visitors. There will be trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Refreshments, including Mark's famous bacon baguettes on site. Details from Vic Rogers, G6BHE, 0795 746 1694 or Dave Speechley, G4UVJ, 01268 697 978, g4uvj@btinternet.com.

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

HF conditions - use the higher bands

For about a day, I went on 20m JT65. It was too easy, with spots all across Europe and the USA even with 2W and a poor antenna on 20m.

HF conditions are not as good as at the sunspot peak, but they are often better than people realise: of late the sunspot number has been in the 40s or higher and the solar flux has been above 80. Even 10m is capable of supporting DX, although few realise as they leave the higher bands and go for easy pickings on 20m or lower.

My strong recommendation is try digital modes on 10m. OK, it is not as easy as a few years ago, but DX still pops up. 10m remains "open" far more often than is realised, even in the quiet solar years What is needed is activity!

Amateur radio is about self training and exploring the boundaries. If you just want to speak across the planet you can video conference for free with Skype on the internet. 10m with digital modes and QRP is much more fun.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday February 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is 40.  A=21 and K=4 .

Great night on 472kHz WSPR

472kHz WSPR TX last night - a great night!

Last night was, without a shadow of a doubt, the best night so far this season. My 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was copied by 4 different stations in Norway with LA2XPA (1310km) in Kristiansund copying me 23 times - amazing. My best TX DX was a spot by LA9IY (1393km) in Trondheim. In all, 13 unique spots on TX.

I had to pinch myself this morning!

Trinity St, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge is famous for its Backs and Colleges. This is a view along Trinity Street. Lots of bikes!  Kings is about 400m further along on the right.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

At 1418z I closed down on 14MHz JT65 (2W) and started up on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"). It usually takes about 10-15 minutes for the transverter crystal to settle before I get reports.

Initial 472kHz WSPR spots today

UPDATE 1810z: LA1TN (1269km) was copied in the last hour on RX. This is the best DX this season on the band. LA8AV has also been received.

UPDATE 1905z: LA2XPA (1310km) spotted me an hour ago. This is my best TX DX this season by some way! At last my 5mW ERP has blasted through the 1000km barrier at last.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday February 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and sunspot number 28. A=29 and K=4.

20m JT65 still

Being lazy, I left the rig and PC on 20m JT65 overnight and it is still on as I write. My own signal is being widely spotted around Europe.  Oregon, USA and Brazil are currently the best DX on RX. Personally, I find 20m no real challenge.

Swans - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we went for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey and saw these mute swans near the water mill.  They are always there.  In the summer the flowers are out in the herbaceous border, although at this time of  year they look dead.

As mentioned before, things are much later this year.

Moved to 10m, then 20m JT65

First I moved to 10m JT65. Then I moved to 20m JT65. I called a couple of stations calling CQ but without success. Of late, I have been beaconing to see where I am getting - all over the place! 20m really is too easy! I only use a low end fed antenna.

20m initial spots on JT65

UPDATE 1446z: At the moment, the best DX on 20m JT65 RX is Cuba, but on 20m JT65 TX I am being widely copied in the Eastern USA as well as right across Europe and Russia.

UPDATE 2108z: Lots on 20m JT65, which is still running in beacon mode. Too easy! I'll probably stay on 20m until tomorrow now.

472kHz WSPR

A few minutes ago I QSYed from 6m FSK144 RX to 630m WSPR (5mW ERP). The PC is on battery power so the RX noise floor is low.

472kHz WSPR this morning so far

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday February 1st 2017

Solar flux is 77 and the sunspot number 42. A=24 and K=3.

Weather forecasts in the UK - NOT amateur radio

OK, people keep telling me how complex and difficult it is to predict the UK weather. But we still buy millions of pounds worth of super-computers so we can do a better job.

Today (this very morning) the local forecast for Burwell and Cambridge both said dull, but dry until after dark. At 2pm this afternoon it rained when I had to walk 0.5 miles in Cambridge. You would expect TODAY's local forecast would be correct!

The only reliable forecast seems to be to look out of the window. Super-computers? Met Office, please spend the money on something more useful and stop pretending. Wet seaweed is a lot less expensive!

More 6m MSK144

Only Eire, France, Germany and England spotted on 6m MSK144 RX today with the FT817 and omni vertical and poor coax. 6 countries this last few days. Amazing what this mode produces.

Solar hole

Southgate News reports on a Spaceweather post that a solar hole is spewing the solar wind towards Earth. The worst should hit around Feb 1st, which is tomorrow. Obviously, this could impact HF conditions.

See http://spaceweather.com/ .

Burwell Cottage - NOT amateur radio

Although our village (Burwell, Cambs, UK) has grown a lot in recent years, it still has some lovely cottages like this one.  Some parts of our church are around 1000 years old and the oldest house dates from around 1200AD. I suspect this cottage dates from the 1700s, so is quite new!

6m MSK144

Nothing copied overnight, but EI4DQ (576km) in IO51 near Cork, Eire was again spotted this morning. I am monitoring on 50.280MHz. Aircraft reflection? I  think so.

One more day and night on 6m, then time for a new challenge.

With such a simple system here I am amazed to spot so much.

UPDATE 1216z: France and Germany spotted on 6m MSK144 this morning.

UPDATE 1325z: EI4DQ (576km) was recently spotted on 6m MSK144. At the moment, this is the furthermost.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday January 31st 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 35. This cycle is far from over! A=6 and K=3.

East Cambridgeshire 2m FM Net

A reminder that the East Cambridgeshire Net is on 2m (144.575MHz), yes one four four, at 8pm clock time on Mondays on FM vertical. Everyone welcome.

Usually we are on the air for about 30 minutes. If the channel is already busy, we usually QSY down 25kHz. This started life as an AM net on 144.55MHz.

As this uses the same antenna I use on 6m, I'll try loading up my long wire for 6m for the duration of the net.

6m today so far

6m has not disappointed again today with quite a few stations spotted by MSK144 on 50.280MHz RX. Judging by the distances, I think these were tropo or aircraft reflection and not random MS. I shall probably remain on this band and mode overnight. It is fascinating to see who just pops up, especially by MS.

Italy, Switzerland and Eire on a flat band? Can't be bad with just an omni vertical, FT817 and lossy coax! I assume this sort of DX is there at any time in the solar cycle too.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

We are very lucky to live within very easy reach of Cambridge which is about 10 miles away "as the crow flies". I used to work in the city. It has a rich academic history with its world famous university, Kings College Chapel, Samuel Pepys Library and probably the highest concentration of Nobel Prize winners on the planet! People come from all over the world to see what we can see for free at any time. As a local, we can get into the colleges for free. And we take it all for granted.

As an "oldie" we can take advantage of the vast number of University of the Third Age (U3AC) courses on offer. Often the lecturers are ex-university staff, who give their time without charging. It is great learning to simply find out knowledge without exams or pressure.

At some point we will realise just how lucky we are.

See http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/index.html

6m overnight and early today

EI4DQ (576km) was spotted on 50.280MHz (6m) on MSK144 at 0819z. Overnight nothing copied. I shall remain on 6m MSK144 RX all morning, reporting to PSK Reporter Maps what I pick up.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday January 30th 2017

Solar flux has fallen slightly to 77 today. Sunspot number is 24 (dropped). A=7 and K=1.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - NOT amateur radio

In all, 10 unique bird species seen, but some very commonly seen birds were not seen in the hour from 3pm to 4pm. I twice tried to submit my results to the RSPB, but on both occasions it told me there was an error.  On another page it said I had submitted the results! Rubbish!

For the benefit of anyone who wants to know, these are the birds spotted in our back garden 1500-1600z:

Woodpigeon 3
Starling 15
Robin 1
Blackbird 1
Black headed gull 1
Collared dove 3
Dunnock 1
Crow 1
Goldfinch 1
Jackdaw 1

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we did a short walk around part of our village. I saw my first little egret in our village (these were rare in the UK before the 1980s) as well as a buzzard overhead. The weather was dull.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/l/littleegret/ .

IW4AOT on 6m - MS?

This morning I spotted IW4AOT calling CQ on 6m MSK144. I assume this was random MS. He did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps. Maybe I lost internet for a while?

UPDATE 1438z: G4CLA copied at 1349z on 6m MSK144. Tropo?

UPDATE 1842z: Now back on 6m MSK144 with 15 secs TX periods.

UPDATE 2212z: Now back on 50.280MHz (6m) MSK144 receive only for the overnight period. My apologies to G0LRD (25km) who was trying to work me earlier, but I was beaconing.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday January 29th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today. Sunspot number is 28. A=9 and K=2.

QRP and QRP Club

In the last day I have received a couple of emails from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (January 29, 2017)
Visitors of the week: RA1M, US3EN, UR7VT, UR0ET, UA1CEG, RV3GM, R1CAF,
RW3AA, UA0SBQ, DK1HW, F6FAI, DH0DK, OH6NPV, OK2FAO, RU3NJC, UA3LMR/p,
UA1ADF,  US7IB,  DK2QX, SM2FIJ, EA6BB, US5ERQ, UA1CEX, OM6TC, SM7RYR,
SM7ZDI
Congrats!
F6FAI entered in the Honor Frequenters list
Comments...
See full WQR Report on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su

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.

Dear Club 72 members and friends,just reminder about the Snowman QRP Winter field game soon.
Keep in your diary - February 4 and 5, 2017
Short rules as follow:

This is not Contest but only QRP activity game just for enjoy
Two tours in the game:
February 4 and 5, both in time of 9.00 to 13.00 UTC
Bands - 20 and 40 m around QRP frequencies
Modes - CW, SSB, Digital
Power - QRP only, 5 watts output or less
Calling - CQ SN (CW) or CQ Snowman (SSB, Digital)
For "Field" positions:
- QSO with all stations
-  the  mandatory  information  in report - RST (RS) / power output /
temperature on working position (Celsius).
For example, 579/5W/minus15C. Any info form and order in report may be used.
For "Home" positions:
- QSO with only "Field" stations claimed
-  in  report  must be sent - RST (RS) / power output / identification
"HOME". For example, 559/3W/HOME
"Home" and "Field" positions may be changed during the game in your opinion.
No contest logs, fill the declaration only  (form on the Club 72 page):
The memorable certificate will be send to all stations. Also special marks for:
- the lowest temperature on the "Field" position
- the unusual original "Field" position
- the original home brew station in the "Field" position
- the greatest number of QSOs in the "Field" position
- the greatest number of QSOs with "Field" stations in the "Home" position
- the lowest power in the "Field" position
- the most absurd comic working position design (for both categories)
Donations or prizes are welcome.
See full rules on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su

Last night on 6m

Well, MSK144 proved productive with EI4DQ (576km) spotted not long ago and HB9Q (794km) spotted earlier. G6GEI (73km) also spotted.

Currently, I am on TX and RX on 50.280MHz MSK144.