Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

At quite short notice, we had 2 of our grandchildren and their dad this weekend. The photo shows them in our lounge.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday February 26th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 25. A=7 and K=1. Conditions have supported DX (again) on 10m JT65.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (February 26, 2017 - full version on the
blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
9H3FC  became  Honor  Frequenter of the QRP Rendez-Vous round table -
Congrats!
Visitors  of  the  week:  SM7RYR, RV3GM, R1OA, UR5EFD, UR0ET, UA1AQC,
UA1CEG,  DK1HW,  OM6TC,  R1CAF,  RD6MZ,  EW1CY, RW3AA, G4HOM, HA7YUB,
UA1ADF, G4LJU, RA1OIM, UA9MLY, SM2FIJ, DL4EPM, UA4NU, UA1CEX, OH6NPV,
LX1RFJ,  DF1HK,  RX3DOR,  UC3C,  R2AJA,  G3UD, RZ6FW, RU3NJC, UW5EKR,
R2FAE,  SV2BBK,  OH5LP,  UR7VT,  9H3FC,  Z35M, DK2SY, OK1FAO, US7IJW,
RN6AN, IZ0AYM, HA9RF, US5ERQ
New Visitors of the Rendez-Vous: HA7YUB, G4LJU, RA1OIM, LX1RFJ, RZ6FW,
DK2SY,  US7IJW, HA9RF - friends you are welcome! Hopefully you become
Frequenters soon.
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists as well as Rendez-Vous details
on the Club 72 web page - www.club72.su
Note for New Visitors:
if  you'd like to get "72 Newsletter" bulletin regularly send request
by e-mail to address - "mr72 (at) 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.

Kenya on 10m JT65

Since mid-morning, I have been on 10m JT65 transceive (2W). Best DX so far is a spot of 5Z4/DL2RMC (6859km) in Kenya East Africa. Who said 10m is dead?

6m MSK144 RX evening and overnight

As the DX on 10m seems to have stopped some hours ago, I QSYed to 6m MSK144 RX. So far I have only spotted PA5Y (384km). I assume this was by aircraft reflection.

Overnight I expect to remain on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 2200z: OZ1PIF (850km) has just been spotted on 6m MSK144.

IC7300 Brochure and News

There are details on the ICOM, UK site about the IC7300. It is my view this radio is overpriced and I expect the price to be slashed later.

I think it will be head-to-head against the Yaesu FT991A and the IC7300 could easily be sub-£1000 in the UK because of its architecture. If the FT891A is retailing at £699 in the UK, then the IC7300 can be less expensive. I know they are very different radios, but the dealers charge what people are prepared to pay. Too many are prepared to pay inflated prices.

See http://www.icomuk.co.uk/IC-7300/Amateur_Radio_Ham_Base_Stations .

Now on 10m JT65

Since about 1045z, I have QSYed to 10m JT65 hoping to catch some N-S DX. Yesterday was quite good on 10m with South America coming through even with my poor antenna. Today could be as good.

At this point in the solar cycle we get openings less often, but they still occur. I know one Danish station who has been spotting an Australian station regularly on 10m WSPR. Although JT65 is theoretically a few dB worse than WSPR, there seems to be more activity on that mode.

UPDATE 1428z:  LU8DIO (11228km) has been spotted on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1510z: Now PY2FA (9580km) spotted. This is starting to look like last autumn! There are other stations in South America who were not being uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps, probably because I lost internet connection?

UPDATE 1555z: 2E0CIT (94km) spotted.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday February 25th 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number is 27 (rising). A=20 and K=2. 10m could be reasonable for DX again today. Definitely worth me QSYing to 10m JT65 soon.

15th country on 6m MSK144 RX

EA2ARD (1010km) was copied earlier on 6m MSK144 calling CQ, making my 15th country spotted on 6m MSK144. This is an impressive mode bringing most of Europe in range at any part of the sunspot cycle and any time of the year.

Several other countries have also been spotted on 6m MSK144 today.

UPDATE 1040z: about to QSY to 10m JT65 transceive (2W).

Now on MSK144 RX

Just a few minutes ago I QSYed to 6m MSK144 RX. As yet, no spots. The RX will be running overnight.

UPDATE 2235z:  No spots yet on 6m.

Landwade walk - NOT amateur radio

Each February we do a walk at Landwade, UK. It is rare to see anyone. There were plenty of snowdrops and aconites out, but very few daffodils yet. As you can see, there is an old church there, which is usually locked sadly. This is a lovely short walk.

Rallies (Australia and UK)

FEBRUARY 26th 2017 : CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY
Wyong Racecourse, Howarth St, Wyong NSW 2259, Australia.
Billed as the largest event in Australia. More information at www.ccarc.org.au
FEBRUARY 26th 2017 : PENCOED AMATEUR RADIO CLUB TABLE TOP SALE
Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed. CF35 5PB Tables will be £10 each (first come first served). Doors open at 8am for sellers and the setting up of tables. Buyers will be allowed in when the doors open at 9.30am. Entry fee £2. Hot food will be available in the morning and at lunch time. Hot and cold drinks will be available from the bar (non alcoholic drinks till lunch time). Table bookings through Madeline Roberts Tel. 01639 767056/0773 837 5775.

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

10m JT65

Since about 1012z, I have been active on 10m JT65 hoping for some activity. Solar flux is in the mid 80s, so 10m could be quite reasonable.

UPDATE 1405z: EB8RO (2888km) has exchanged spots with me. I assume this is F2.

UPDATE 1530z: LU6DAX (11594km) in Argentina spotted on 10m JT65. This band is definitely waking up.

UPDATE 1906z: Now going QRT on 10m JT65 and QSYing to 6m MSK144 RX.

2m WSPR overnight

Sadly, nothing at all on 2m WSPR on RX or TX. I was on overnight but will soon QSY to 10m JT65 transceiver I think.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday February 24th 2017

Solar flux is 84 and sunspot number is 18.  A=11 and K=3.

Soccer managers - NOT amateur radio

One job that has zero security is managing a UK soccer team. Leicester have sacked the manager who led them to become Premier League champions last season. In this season they are just above the relegation zone.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39070927

2m WSPR

After a day on 10m WSPR (no spots) I have returned to 2m WSPR (RX and TX) and will remain on overnight. 144.489MHz USB dial.

Soon be spring - NOT amateur radio

As Storm Doris rages outside, there are signs that spring is not far away. Daffodils are at last coming out in our garden and in our road and last weekend there were plenty of snowdrops out. Aconites are also appearing. The first swallows (birds) should arrive here from Africa in about 6-7 weeks' time.

6m MSK144 RX yet again

Again, I am monitoring 6m MSK144 RX but I have only copied UK stations so far today, presumably by aircraft reflections.

I suspect the "experts"  know the best times and the best routes to catch aircraft reflections as the same stations seem to be copied at similar times each day. This is not the case with random MS.

UPDATE 1440z: SK0TM (1156km) again spotted.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday February 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 84 today and sunspot number 17.  A=10 and K=2.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX 100% with randomised frequencies on each transmission. No spots as yet, but I shall be on all day I expect.

UPDATE 2200z:  No 10m spots all day.

More EbNaut VLF testing

Stefan DK7FC is doing another EbNaut test tonight:

Hi all,

Hereby i'm announcing the next EbNaut attempt for a longer night transmission, starting in a few hours:
f = 8270.100000 Hz
Start time: 22.Feb.2017   18:00:00 UTC
Symbol period: 30 s
Characters: 8
CRC bits: 16
Coding 16K21A
Duration: 11h, 12m, 0s
Antenna current: 700 mA

73, Stefan

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Thanks all QRPers for activity in the game! See results on the Club 72
web page (Archives in the menu).

Winners in nominations:
R4NX - the lowest temperature in the field position (-13C in the garden)
UT3XT - the unusual original field position (in the forest)
UA1CEG - the original home brew radio in the field (DC TRX 3 W in the forest Wigwam)
RU3NJC - the lowest power in the field (Pixie 200 mW in the field)
OM6TC - the greatest number of QSOs in the field (52 QSOs on the summit 970 m ASL)
ON6WJ - the greatest number of QSOs with field operators in home (6 QSOs)

The memorable certificates has been sent to all participants.
See you all in the next Snowman QRP Game 2018!

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.

6m MSK144 RX

As usual, I am monitoring 6m MSK144 RX in the background, So far only EI7BMB (462km) spotted in the last 12 hours. I assume this is aircraft reflection rather than random MS.

UPDATE 1712z: Spots of stations in G, GM and GD today so far, but nothing yet outside the British Isles.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday February 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number 19.  A=4 and K=3.

Given up on 10m?

It would appear that most have given up on 10m and migrated to lower frequencies where there are easier pickings. Understandable, but a shame as it means there are now far fewer people around to catch the openings that still do occur on 10m.

For a long time I have recommended digital modes like WSPR or JT65 running in the background. Only low power is needed.  WSPR creates its own beaconing format, but sending "B callsign locator" in JT65 appears on PSK Reporter Maps, so you can soon see where your JT65 signal is being copied. Yes, 10m DX is still there, but harder to find now than a few years ago.

But, are you man enough to take the 10m challenge?

I have said before, but if all you want to do is chat to friends around the world you can do this by video for nothing on the internet. Amateur radio is about learning and pushing the boundaries. For many years 10m will be that final HF frontier.

Care to join us?

Back on 10m WSPR

For about 15 minutes now I have been back on 10m WSPR TX (100%, randomised frequency, 500mW). It will be interesting to see if anyone spots me on 10m WSPR. As yet, no spots.

UK Pound to Euro exchange rate - NOT amateur radio

It is my view that the Euro will lose value this year so the UK Pound will buy more Euros. Of course, I could be entirely wrong! The reasons for thinking this are:

• Greek debt is still a big issue and there will be fewer nations able to bail them out.
• Several nations are disillusioned with the Euro project and are worried by totally free movement within the EU.
• Several nations are in favour of tariff-free borders to trade but are nervous of ever closer integration.
• I think the UK will show the world it can succeed outside of the EU.

No, several things point to an improved exchange rate. As for the US Dollar and the Japanese Yen exchange rates, I am less clear.

By the way, in last year's EU referendum I voted to "remain" in the EU. I believe the EU faces a difficult year ahead and this year will be "crunch time".

10GHz made simple

The HB100 Doppler radar modules can be bought for just a few UK pounds on eBay. These are the modern day equivalent of the Gunnplexers of old. A range of 161km has been achieved with one of these at the focus of a dish antenna on wideband FM.

In conjunction with a separate LNB converting down to 600MHz and a wideband FM RX and you have the makings of a low cost 10GHz system. This was recently used by G4HJW to cover a 10km path. I think Bernie was using just the HB100's own antenna. The HB100 is basically a small PCB unit.

At least one UK station is trying to design a stand-alone 10GHz transceiver based on the HB100 module. Watch this space!

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday February 21st 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 25 . A=10 and K= 1

6m MSK144 RX again today

At the moment I am on 6m MSK144 RX again, but only receiving G stations (G3RED and G4CLA) so far today. No real DX as yet, although both these stations are at a good range.

UPDATE 1422z: Now 5 stations received including GD and EI. I suspect these are aircraft reflections.

UPDATE 1648z: SK0TM (1156km) now spotted on 6m MSK144.

Back to 6m MSK144 RX again

After a day on 2m WSPR, I have returned to 6m MSK144 RX. This is my log for the last week on 6m MSK144 RX.

In all, 14 countries have been copied on 6m MSK144 RX.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens - NOT amateur radio

Today was very mild at 16 deg C. We visited the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge to see the orchid display in the hothouses. It is the first time I felt warm this winter. I dispensed with my coat.

Outside, there were lots of snowdrops out, but very few daffodils. Another few weeks and the daffodils will be out. Everything seems late this winter.

VLF amateur messages

From Eddie G3ZJO:

"Hi All
Since my last post Stefan DK7FC has been sending data using EbNaught on 8270.100 Hz. A 2 letter message was decoded by RN3AUS near Moscow a real first for Amateur operation.
Overnight on 17the Feb 2017 Stefan set the following challenge.

Let's risk something more again and try:

f = 8270.100000 Hz
Start time: Saturday 18.Feb.2017   18:00:00 UTC
Symbol period: 30 s
Characters: 7
CRC bits: 16
Coding 16K21A
Duration: 10h, 24m, 0s
Antenna current: 700 mA

By this time I was set up and operational for EbNaut after several Spectrum Lab freezes using the latest software release, and I had decoded theEbNaut files received by RN3AUS.
Next morning I loaded the overnight capture for decoding and concentrated intently on the computer screen.
Wow, in just 7 seconds ................... DREAMER
What a wonderful message for this iconic event on Sub9KHz, I didn't give thought to the significance of the test being 7 characters, expecting a dry radio call or expression. What could be better on the frequencies where we "are all dreamers and will never get any further than our own garden fence".
Today I can reveal the message as RN3AUS received it also and posted to the VLF Group. Currently there are 3 stations receiving EbNaut on VLF in addition the the 2 developers, Paul Nicholson and DF6NM plus DK7FC the TX'ing station.
DF6NM decided to run an EbNaut TX test concurrently with DK7FC on the night of 17th Feb. After the initial shock of decoding DK7FC I gave thought to looking for a 2 symbol decode, again in seconds appeared his message, a decode over a distance of more than 900Km. A surprise decode since I have not been able to spot his signal on my Spectrogram.
73 Eddie G3ZJO"

2m FSK441 - not

Yesterday evening I was all prepared to give 2m FSK441 RX a go. Then I discovered this mode was not supported in WSJT-X V1.7, so instead I stayed on 6m MSK144 RX.

I think the assumption was 2m MS users would migrate to a new mode, but they appear not to have done so yet. As the previous post shows, I went to 2m WSPR instead and had quite a bit of success on RX and TX.

2m and 10m WSPR

For a change, I returned to 2m WSPR and 10m WSPR. Already I have been spotted and I have spotted others, on 2m WSPR, but nothing on 10m.

2m WSPR - spots today so far (at 1620z)

Sunspots and 10m - Monday February 20th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and sunspot number 23.  A=10 and K=2.

2m UKAC results published

The results for the first 2 months have been published. I am currently 60th out of 98 in the AL section. This is not bad considering my low power (5W), my omni antenna and usually being on for less than 40% of the time because of my poor voice. If I am at home, I try to go on most months.

Smartphone mod into a walkie talkie

Southgate News brought this to my attention. How to convert a smartphone into a walkie-talkie without internal mods. A neat idea. Maybe this could be done using an amateur handheld?

See https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/linc-the-smart-walkie-talkie-smartphone#/ .

House quiet again - NOT amateur radio

Over school half-term we have been very busy and had all the 4 grandchildren to stay. It is lovely to see them all, but I get very exhausted these days. This evening, the house is quiet again, just leaving the (clean) mess to tidy up. Tomorrow!