"Kent" grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

My wife with the "Kent" grandchildren earlier today. It is interesting comparing our two sets of grandchildren. At the same ages our two boy grandchildren are interested in the same things. I guess this is a phase of middle childhood.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday February 12th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is 18.  A=5 and K=1.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (February 12, 2017)
Visitors of the week: SM2FIJ, OK2PDT/p, RV3GM, YU1KM, PA3DEU, UA1CEX, GI3TME,  UR7VT,  UR0ET, F6ABG, US5ERQ, UW5EKR, UY1IF, UA1CEG, OH6NPV, DJ2DW,  EA8/DK6XM,  F5SSI, RW3AA, R1CAF, DK1HW, OH5LP, F8WBD, SP9AMH, EA6BB,  EW1CY,  DL1HSI,  OK1FAO, UR3VZ, SM7RYR, DF3QE, DF6IA, RU3NJC,
R1OA, OM6TC, RV3DSA/0, UR4MME, IZ0RQF, RY3AAA, R2AJA, 9H3FC
Congrats!!!
F6ABG, OK1FAO, R3VZ, UR4MME became Honor Frequenters
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page
Comments...
See  full version of the WQR Report on the Club 72 blog page (link on
the web age available).
See you all QRPers on the next Rendez-Vous round table!

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.

Amateur ULF: 5 wavelengths on the 101km band?

From Stefan DK7FC:

Hi all,

Meanwhile my 1 week taking transmission, starting  01.FEB.2017 23:30 UTC on 2970.000000 Hz at 150...170 mA is completed. I tried to leave a trace/peak into a range beyong 3 wavelengths.

Renato Romero / IK1QFK is running a 5 uHz FFT spectrogram on 2970 Hz. He's using a well working E field antenna in Cumiana/Italy.
The spectrogram is running since christmas evening 2016, available at http://www.webalice.it/rromero/live_cumiana/last-LFtest_2970.jpg

There are time markers in 1 week intervals.

I can see a dash, a trace right on the frequency. It appeared 2 days after i started transmitting, which is expected with an FFT window time of nearly 3 days. The SNR was up to 12 dB during the visual observation of incoming spectra.
Partly, the trace disappered during the transmission time (destructive interference with QRN). However i can see a resulting trace of a high average SNR and exact (!) frequency stability relative to the other traces beeing present in the spectrogram.

I would tend to call it a serious detection of my signal. Spectrogram experts, what's your opinion please?

The distance is quite exactly at 5 wavelength on that 101 km band!
It would be a first detection on ULF (0.3...3 kHz) between DL - I !

73, Stefan

Analogue or switch mode PSUs?

Although I have a linear PSU, I am thinking of getting a new PSU  to complement the one I have. Although I mostly use QRP, it would be good to get one that will power a modern 100W rig. I think this means one that can run 25A without overload.

SMPSUs tend to be smaller, but can be noisy both electrically and because they tend to have fans. Linear PSUs tend to be larger, but often don't have fans.

Any recommendations?

At the moment W&S are offering a special deal on a linear PSU with a 2 year warranty.

Growing amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Our amaryllis is growing and now has 8 flower heads from 2 stems.

It has been great fun watching it grow and flower. I think next week will be the peak.

On 10m WSPR TX and 6m MSK144 RX

At the moment I am receiving on 50.280MHz MSK144 and transmitting on 10m WSPR.  My 9th country received on 6m MSK144 in the form of PE1FYH (325km). I suspect the Netherlands station was received by aircraft reflection rather than MS.

UK Charity Bags - NOT amateur radio

This is a UK thing. I have no idea what happens in the rest of the world.

RANT -

I hate charity collection bags (dropped on UK doorsteps most weeks) emblazoned with this or that registered charity name and numbers, but buried in the small print you see that the collection is by a private company who will donate so much a year to that charity.

Basically this is a CON. No doubt they make huge profits and are able to claim back their "gift" against tax. How can this CON be allowed?

My wife is taken in and so I guess are most who receive such bags in their doors most weeks.

- RANT ended.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/184607/sponsors/IlTvgHICEDOYFfgm3r

I have started a petition. Please respond by clicking the link.

5 sponsors are needed for this petition to go public.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday February 11th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 18. A=8 and K=2.

Donald (Mr Men style) - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2017/02/08/donald-trump-mr-men-cartoon-just-superb/

I am no great fan of USA politics (to me it is all about being money rich), but great politicians are able to laugh at themselves in any nation. Those who think they are above humour deserve to fail. Sadly there are too many politicians who take themselves far too seriously both in the USA and in Europe (including the UK).

The great politicians are the gentle giants who go into power, not for self-glory, but for the greater good of the society they live in. Sadly we have very few in 21st century politics who will go down in history as great leaders.

I understand why many in the USA voted for their latest president. I also understand why so many in the UK voted to leave the EU.

UK Rally this weekend

FEBRUARY 12th 2017 : HARWELL AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY

Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY. Talk-in using G3PIA on 145.550. Free parking nearby (disabled parking next to Leisure Centre). Doors open at 10am. Admission £3 (children under 12 free). There will be radio and electronics stalls, Special Interest Groups and an RSGB Bookstall. Refreshments will be available all day. Details for both traders and visitors from Ann, G8NVI by email to ann.stevens@btinternet.com www.g3pia.org.uk

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

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

I enjoy breakfast. The picture shows today's: ham, an egg and potato cake all cooked without fat.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday February 10th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 15. A=6 and K=2.

6m MSK144 RX- give it a go!

6m MSK144 RX so far today

G8EPQ (77km) and HB9Q (794km) copied on 6m MSK144 this morning. I think the former was aircraft scatter and the latter random MS.

It amazes me what just appears on 6m in this mode at any time, irrespective of conditions. Mine is a very basic setup with just an FT817, a V2000 vertical omni and RG58 coax and free software. If I can copy these so can anyone! Give it a go.

UPDATE 1318z: GI4SNA (488km) has been spotted on 6m MSK144 - my 8th country.

UPDATE 1845z: LA3EQ (768km) and F6ECI (811km) spotted on 6m MSK144. LA3EQ is a new country on this mode on 6m. Random MS?

UPDATE 2240z: And another country spotted on 6m MSK144!  This was OZ1PIF (850km) - probably random MS.

Late winter flowers - NOT amateur radio

This winter things are very late. Snowdrops are now appearing and I have only just seen a few daffodils out. At a guess I'd say we are 6 weeks behind last year.

This is a view of a quiet lane in our village. This cottage dates from the 1700s at a guess.

As yet, we have had no snow this winter; a few flurries, but nothing that has settled. In the past we could expect a week of snow on the ground. These days snow is rare here. It is definitely wetter and milder.

Sweden on 6m - random MS?

SC7C (1155km) near Kalmar, Sweden was copied this evening for my 7th country heard on MSK144 on 6m. I suspect this was random meteor scatter. Yet again, at +5dB S/N, the ping was strong.

The UK Pound - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the pound is holding up fairly well against the Yen, Euro and the US Dollar. OK, it dropped following the BREXIT vote but, for now, it is not falling. What happens when Article 50 is triggered is anyone's guess. My guess is the Euro will lose value this year. Against the Dollar and Yen I am uncertain how the pound will do.

Rally - N.Ireland

FEBRUARY  11th 2017 : BALLYMENA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY

Ahoghill Community Centre, 80 Cullybackey Road, Ahoghill BT42 1LA.

There is free parking on site. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £3. There will be trade stands, Bring & Buy and a prize draw. Light refreshments will be available. Please note this is a Saturday daytime rally Hugh Kernohan, GI0JEV 0282 5871 481 or email HKernohan@aol.com

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

6m MSK144 RX

Overnight I remained on 6m MSK144 RX and I am still on this mode and band this morning. M6GAN (122km) and DK9WI (508km) spotted, by aircraft reflection I think.

UPDATE 1430z: EI7BMB (462km) also spotted in the last hour. Aircraft I'm pretty sure.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday February 9th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number is zero. A=5 and K=0. Although conditions are not disturbed, with an absence of sunspots I expect 10m will be quiet due to a lack of activity.

6m

Outside of the Es season, 6m appears very quiet. With Es, I find that with a few watts and a simple antenna it is easy to work all over Europe and North Africa on SSB. Last year and the year before my 2W was copied in Israel and I copied Kazakhstan on WSPR.

Since discovering 6m MSK144 I have learnt that DX is possible at almost any time. Most of my MSK144 reception has been aircraft reflection, but some remarkable DX seems to have been by random MS. Judging by the reports, I am sure I could work MS DX by MSK144 in a decent MS shower.

OFCOM and 5G frequencies

OFCOM has published a paper outlining its proposed 5G frequencies.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/7261046CD05FE3E5/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

NEXIT? - NOT amateur radio

Will the Netherlands be next to swing to the right along the lines of the UK and the USA? According to the BBC this is possible.

Like many, I feel ashamed about the populist view of immigrants. The USA is a nation of immigrants. In the past the UK welcomed in true refugees such as the Huguenots and German Jews. Yes, there is a difference between a true refugee and an economic migrant. I hope this swing to the right is a blip. Basically a large swing to the right is dangerous. Think of Hitler.

In my view refugees fleeing war, famine, etc. should always be welcomed. These are desperate people who need our love and kindness. How would we feel if the "shoe was on the other foot" and we were the refugee?

The common thread in the UK, USA, The Netherlands and France seems to be a disillusion with globalisation and a wish to control who comes to a particular country, and the fall from grace of career politicians. All need to wake up or this move to the right will gather pace.  I am not a right winger, but I can see the common man at odds with those in power. There is a danger of nations turning inwards.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38891753 .

VHF/UHF DX Handbook

Southgate News brings news of a free digital download of this famous book from the 1990s.

See http://www.trpub.net/assets/applets/VHF-UHF_DX_Book.pdf

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday February 8th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 11. A=7 and K=1. On average, solar conditions are declining progressively towards the next minimum, although in January conditions improved a little.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

6m MSK144 (50.280MHz) RX

Overnight I was on 6m MSK144 RX only on 50.280MHz. So far only M6GAN (122km) spotted, presumably by aircraft reflection rather than random MS. This was in the hours before sunrise.

So far, I have spotted 6 countries on 6m MSK144 in totally flat conditions with Italy being the best DX and my 6m set-up is very average, if anything below average!

UPDATE 1930z: Best DX on 6m MSK144 today are EI7BMB (462km) and F4GTG (654km).

Local museum kiosk - NOT amateur radio

As I mentioned yesterday, the local museum and windmill next door had a new entrance kiosk erected yesterday. It has still to be fitted out inside, but they made good progress building it. It was all done within a day.

OFCOM

As usual, they have produced a monthly update.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/075B54357750E53A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

2m UKAC tonight

Just a reminder than the next 2m leg of the RSGB's monthly activity contest is this evening 2000-2230z. Activity levels are usually high and it is a good chance to work a few new squares. It is preceded by an hour long FM activity contest.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs tonight in 5 squares with 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna in 47 minutes. Then I had to stop because of my poor voice!

2m UKAC - stations worked with 5W tonight in 47 minutes

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday February 7th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 15. A=13 and K=1.

Weak signal modes compared

My old work colleague Bob G3WKW kindly sent me this link knowing I'd be interested. It compares the decode capabilities of various weak signal modes.

See http://destevez.net/2016/10/simulating-jt-modes-how-low-can-they-get/ .

6m MSK144 this morning

Despite an S4 noise floor which I'd not had before (a ticking sound) I still managed to spot DK9WI (508km) and G6GAN (122km) on 6m MSK144 this morning. I assume these are aircraft reflections. My antenna is still the V2000 vertical omni fed with lossy RG58 coax.

UPDATE 1400z: F6ECI (811km) spotted strongly about an hours ago.

Return to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP)

After being on 6m MSK144 RX I have now returned to 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At the moment the PC is on battery power so the noise floor on RX is low. I shall probably turn on the SMPSU overnight.  I spotted a DL this morning on 6m MSK144 but he did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps suggesting I lost internet connectivity for a time.

UPDATE 2016z: These are the initial spots of me so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR.

472kHz WSPR spots so far

UPDATE 2055z: LA2XPA (1310km) has spotted me yet again on 472kHz WSPR. LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted here again on 472kHz WSPR. Sometimes he is very strong. MF conditions appear to be good tonight.

Simple yagi for wi-fi router

This was first seen some weeks ago and I saw it earlier today in an email from Twitter. It shows you how to make a simple add-on yagi for your wi-fi router.

In my case I get sufficient range with the router "as is". You might find it useful if you need to increase the range in a certain direction. It is a simple idea, which I like.

See https://hackaday.com/2017/01/24/a-simple-yagi-antenna-for-your-wi-fi-router/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Monday February 6th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 22. A=15 and K=2 .

Museum changes - NOT amateur radio

As many of you know, we live right next door to Burwell Museum and its restored windmill. Today they are erecting a new entrance kiosk. There is a lorry unloading and people working on it right now.  The museum is amazing and houses so much in its various parts and is well worth a visit. It is probably one of the best, if not the best local museum in the whole of the UK.

6m MSK144

No overnight random 6m MS spots but G4CLA (104km) and G0GGG (210km) spotted this morning. I assume these are either tropo or aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1230z: G8RLZ (123km) near Reading has been spotted. I assume this is off aircraft. Nothing seen from outside the UK yet on 6m MSK144.

Spring hints - NOT amateur radio

Already there are signs of spring.

Yes, we are still in the depths of winter, but snowdrops are well out and there are now plenty of aconites, although very few daffodils yet; in a few weeks these will be out too. This is a quiet lane in our village, taken on a walk this afternoon.

Already the evenings are drawing in an hour later. Still winter, but hopeful signs.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (February 5, 2017)
Visitors of the week: UR7VT, US3EN, RA1M, UA1CEG, RV3GM, DK1HW, RW3AA,
UA0SBQ,  R1CAF,  OM6TC, RA3AL/m, US3ERQ, RU7KD, UR8QV, RU3NJC, G3XJS,
EA6BB,  UA1ADF,  RV3DSA,  ON6KZ,  R2FAE,  UA4NU, Z35M, OH5LP, SV2BBK,
DL8NGC, IZ0RQF
Congrats!
UR8QV became Honor Frequenter
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web-page
Comments...
See full WQR Report on the Club 72 blog page

Warning!  the  last date for Snowman QRP Game results is February 10.
Fill  the declaration form on the "Snowman" page of the Club 72 site,
please.

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.

Successful message decode of an amateur signal at over 3 wavelengths at ULF

Paul Nicholson has successfully decoded a message on 2.97kHz from DK7FC using clever analysis.

Hi Paul,

Am 25.01.2017 19:30, schrieb Paul Nicholson:

> f = 2970.000000 Hz
> Start time: 25.Jan.2017   07:00:00 UTC
> Symbol period: 30 s
> Characters: 5
> CRC bits: 16
> Coding 16K25A

Decoded at Bielefeld via DL4YHF (303.8km).  Copied 'DK7FC' with
Eb/N0 +4.5 dB and constant reference phase.

S/N 19.1 dB in 29.8 uHz, -60.1 dB in 2.5kHz.

Just excellent! Thanks for working out the decode!
My call passed over 3 wavelengths on ULF, that's a dream! I am sure we will manage even more.

Very interesting to see the high Eb/N0 relative to yesterday. From the calculator it should have been weaker. And the QRN didn't look much lower than yesterday, at least from here.
Some there's a relatively high uncertainty down there, and the risk of getting no decode when coming to close to the limit. The stacking is an advantage again.

I'm still working on the recordings from the weekend.  Gained a further
3dB by using very strong hum filtering, a threshold only 1.5 times the
mean amplitude and narrow notches.  Enough to suppress not just the
harmonics but also the sidebands of the harmonics.   Still no trace
here in Todmorden - yet.  Still some permutations of polarisation
and azimuth to try.

Am 23.01.2017 18:52, schrieb Paul Nicholson:

Still no trace of the signal here.  But tweaking the blanker
isn't going to go from 'no trace' to 'significant detection'.

3 dB is very significant! Congrats to that. It will also help to get better results from Renatos data. But as far as i remember he is offering the stream with the blanker already applied.
We could ask him to disable it temporarily, if that helps. If he knows what we're trying, he will do it i expect :-)

We are having fun with this!  Constantly pushing at the limits.

Oh yes, and also a lot to learn about the optimisation work for the different bands.

73, Stefan