North Norfolk

Yesterday we drove up to North Norfolk. We ate at "The Old Reading Room" in Kelling. This is a simple place run by real locals and serving simple, no nonsense food.

Later we went to the coast for a short walk where we saw these hardy fishermen.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
members of the Club 72 invites all QRP operators to take a part in the
trial   Evening Rendez-Vous at 18 UTC on 7030 kHz +/- QRM/QRL started
today in Friday March 24.
Next  schedule  is  the same days as traditional 14060 "rendezvous" -
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
9 UTC on 14060 kHz
18 UTC on 7030 kHz
alternative 10116 kHz if Contests QRM
All  comments  (soapbox)  and  lists  of  worked/heard  QRP  stations
appreciated after each "rendezvous" to "mr72" e-mail, please.
Each  Sundays  I publish the Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report in the "72
Newsletter" (shorted) and on the Club 72 blog-page (full).
Keep your activity and enjoy QRP!

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.

Back on 6m MSK144 RX again

At breakfast I returned to 6m MSK144 RX.  Best DX so far today is EA2ARD (1010km) in the Basque region of Spain.

UPDATE 1310z: 5 stations in 4 countries on 6m MSK144 in last 12 hours.

UPDATE 1726z: OZ2TG (878km) spotted bringing the total 6m MSK144 RX total today to 6 stations in 5 countries.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 24th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 12. A=11 and K=2. 10 propagation is expected to be "poor".

First swallow (bird) seen in Devon - NOT amateur radio

A first swallow was reported in Devon yesterday. If this report is correct, this is the first seen this year. They usually start to arrive about now in Devon, but it is usually later up here in East Anglia.

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

UPDATE 1740z 26.3.17: Well apparently the first swallow in South Devon was reported a week earlier, which is very early.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
I'm happy to inform about new Club 72 member -
RU6ME op. Eugene (# 96)
Who's next?

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.

VLF (8.97kHz) TX

8.97kHz 5W TX

Before my stroke in 2013 I did a fair bit of experimentation at VLF, successfully receiving quite a few European amateurs on VLF doing radiated tests. I did some "through-the-ground" utilities assisted earth-mode tests out to 6km using just a 5W transmitter. At some point I'd like to do more.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter

6m MSK144

This morning, I am again on 6m MSK144 RX. At the moment, the best DX is Switzerland.

UPDATE 1806z: GI4SNA (488km) brings my country total on 6m MSK144 to 17 now.

UPDATE 1834z: 7 stations in 5 countries received on 6m MSK144 RX today so far.

UKAC results

The results of the 2m and 70cm UKAC activity contests have been published and I notice I had points deducted for logging errors. These were me being careless - sometimes it is as if my brain runs at a slower rate than it once did and I fail to get everything written down. Later, I see there are missing data, but it is too late. I notice this with driving too - these days I drive slower as my reactions are not as fast.

Nonetheless, on both bands my scores were still respectable considering I use just 5W and a big-wheel omni on 2m and 5W and a 2m halo fed with lossy coax on 70cm! I enjoy these contests but I need to take more care with the logs in future. In the end, it is more about taking part than the actual scores, but I need to try harder. Getting accurate logs should be straightforward.

uBitX 10-80m HF rig

This came in from Steve G1KQH:

Recent interview with Ashhar Farhan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9al-RiitWQ

Scroll video forward to around 54 mins to start.

uBitx HF-10-80 plus Gen coverage RX in production within the next couple of months, to be not much more expensive than Bitx40!!

(If you want to cut out some of the waffle and get down to it. Scroll video fwd to around 1:12 to watch the uBitx stuff) Link here:

https://youtu.be/T9al-RiitWQ?t=4343

Performance of FT-817???

Very interesting well worthy of watching with a glass of beer..

Alien space travel? - NOT amateur radio

This is pure speculation and there may well be other explanations, but two Harvard scientists have speculated that alien lifeforms on distant planets may be travelling through the cosmos using powerful radio beams to power their sails.

See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/aliens-space-travel-fast-radio-bursts_us_58caf1f7e4b00705db4d8f65

Man has been searching for alien life for about 50 years. It is surprising that nothing has been found.

New cloud type - NOT amateur radio

Apparently, a new, rare cloud type has been officially acknowledged in a cloud atlas.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39351843

Although I am not "into" clouds, I know some people are.

I do recall seeing lenticular clouds in the Yorkshire Dales some years ago.


The full version of the image on the LHS is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud#/media/File:Lenticular_Cloud_over_Harold%27s_Cross_Dublin_Ireland_30-6-15.jpg

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud

Cowslips - NOT amateur radio

The first cowslips have appeared here and, by any measure, we are now officially in spring. The clocks go forward this coming weekend.

100 sand martins (birds) have been seen in Devon. These are migrants often seen returning about now. I remember my dad telling me when he first saw these over the golf course. He died in 1987 sadly. I miss him.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday March 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number is (don't hold your breath!) 12. A=27 and K=2.

10m? Anyone's guess.

Back on 6m MSK144 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 6m MSK144 RX. So far EI7BMB (462km) and HB9FX (778km) spotted.

UPDATE 1120z: G0GGG (210km) now spotted on 6m MSK144.

UPDATE 1650z: 5 stations in 4 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 so far today (G, OZ, EI, HB9).

472kHz WSPR RX

As 10m JT65 got me no spots at all today, I QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX this evening. So far on RX the best DX is DH5RAE (995km). ON7ZO (355km) is a new station for me, I think, on 472kHz RX.

To ensure a low noise floor, the PC is running on its batteries and the battery charger is not being used. With the SMPSU charging the batteries the noise on RX runs at S8. Just on batteries, the 472kHz noise floor is S0.

UPDATE 2138z: LA2XPA (1310km) is now the best DX on 472kHz RX.

UPDATE 2236z: EA5DOM (1525km) is now the furthermost DX on this band this evening.

Don Miller W9WNV DXer

If, like me, you are getting a bit old, you may recall some of the great DXpeditions of the 1960s undertaken by Don Miller W9WNV. He became a legend at the time. Later, some of his reported DX sites were questioned.

There are some YouTube interviews and his story is at http://www.k6qqq.com/the-don-miller-story-as-told-by-hugh-cassidy-wa6aud/ .

Just maybe, some are too young to remember him!

472kHz WSPR webpage

My main website at www.g3xbm.co.uk  has a new page on 472kHz WSPR.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

6m QRP aurora

Shortly after 6m was released in the UK back in the mid 1980s I only had 1W to a simple wire dipole. This antenna was not very high and just strung from the gutter. I chanced on an aurora and managed to work some DX on 6m SSB, even with this set-up.

GB3RMK, the beacon way up in Scotland, was copied many times with this set-up on meteor pings on 6m. I used to leave the RX running and in just about every 15 minute period I would copy part or all of the callsign on CW. On 6m, auroras can be good.

On 10m QRP SSB I recall working the USA aided by auroras too.

365project - NOT amateur radio

For several years now my wife and I have (separately) taken a photo every day and submitted them to 365project. For $19.99 a year you can make the images private so only the people you choose can see them. You can then also have more albums if you want.

Some of the photos sent in are "arty", but many are just a record of ordinary life. Looking back over the years, you can see what you were doing.

Often the most mundane subject matter is popular. Some years ago I remember a photo of mine of a mole hole being widely viewed whereas something I thought would interest many turned out not to be popular in the least.

We mainly do this for a record of what we did rather than to be particularly popular. It is great fun.

Auroras?

See http://spaceweather.com/ .

We could be in for some auroras with a strong blast of solar wind over the next few days. This could lead to some auroral DX on VHF.

Heathers - NOT amateur radio

At this time of the year, heathers are in flower in UK gardens. This show was in a nearby garden. Sadly, they do not look so good all year around.

10m JT65 (2W)

Although I have been active on 10m JT65 since breakfast, no spots given or received on 10m so far.

A reminder that my webpage about 10m JT65 is at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10mjt65

This is a most effective mode for basic QSOs and beaconing. If propagation is there, this mode will find it, even with QRP.

UPDATE 1635z: No 10m JT65 spots so far today here. I shall be on for a few more hours hoping to catch a few locals if no DX.

UPDATE 1928z: With zero JT65 10m spots all day I shall shortly go QRT.

Sunspots at last! - sunspots and 10m Wednesday March 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot count is 11. A=26 and K=3. This is the first day with sunspots in several weeks.

IC7300 - price drop time?

To my thinking, the IC7300 is still way over-priced.  It uses a much simpler architecture than the FT991A and the true price, even with the dealers taking a decent margin, should be well below £1000 especially with the retail price of the FT891 being what it is. Yes, I know they are different radios, but I want to see the IC7300 at a fair price. Dealers are clearly trying to make handsome profits whilst they can.

2m WSPR webpage

Based on my experiences with 2m WSPR, I have written a short webpage on my main site at www.g3xbm.co.uk . This is not a mode well suited to 2m and I recommend other modes.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2mwspr .

Triggering Article 50 and leaving the EU - NOT amateur radio

On March 29th the UK government will trigger Article 50, which signals the start of the process to leave the EU.

Although it is in the interests of both the UK and the EU to come to a decent deal, the outcome is not known. I am sure that the people of the UK would have stayed in the EU if the EU had been prepared to "think outside of the box".

I am sure most in Europe want free trade but are nervous about uncontrolled free movement. The UK has a proud history of helping refugees fleeing from conflict. I am sure the EU is worried about other member countries leaving "the club". To me, this is old-fashioned thinking.

If the EU supported free trade and not free movement or political union, then the EU would have a rosy future. As it is, I think the EU faces a difficult future.

Rare sunny day - NOT amateur radio

We live in the last bungalow on the left overlooking the restored windmill. The windmill is nearly 200 years old. Today we have had a rare sunny day, although the rest of the week looks rainy. We are lucky to have a nice spot.

The museum, of which the windmill is a just a small part, goes on and on. It must be one of the very best local museums in the whole country. It is open from Easter to late October on Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. If you visit, you may be surprised by what is there.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday March 21st 2017

Solar flux is 72 and the sun remains spotless yet again. Dire! A=2 and K=4.

Back on 6m MSK144 RX

So far this morning 3 stations in 3 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX. Best DX is DK8NE (704km). I think all these were aircraft reflections?

UPDATE 1715z: 5 stations in 5 countries on 6m MSK144 RX so far.

Martin McGuinness Dead

Martin McGuinness has died of a rare heart condition at the age of 66. In his younger days he was a key member of the IRA and wedded to violence.

In later years he was deputy first minister in Northern Ireland working with Ian Paisley and was one of the "chuckle brothers", showing that mutual respect between two very different people is possible.

I am sure to the end he was very much in favour of a united Ireland, but he came to realise votes not bullets would bring this about.  He changed, as did Ian Paisley.

My hope and prayer is that those that follow will walk in the path of peace. Jaw, jaw is always better than war, war. This applies whatever your political beliefs.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39185899 .

New page on my main website

As regular readers of this blog know, I have been very impressed with 6m MSK144 RX. Because of this, I have created a new page on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/6m_msk144

New Country on 6m MSK144 RX

OK1DNT (956km) is another new country spotted on this mode on 6m. If memory serves me correctly, this is the 16th country spotted via this mode.

I went QRT on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) at about 2000z. No spots (at all) on 10m today.

481THz NLOS (over the horizon)

Before my stroke in 2013 I enjoyed building and operating optical communications gear. My stroke has rather scuppered this, for now! Although I had one over 10km line-of sight speech contact with G4HJW/P, my main interest was weak signal, over the horizon, communication. I did tests at over 8km non line-of-sight using QRSS3. Although there was no evidence of the optical signal in the sky, the QRSS3 signal was clearly decoded on the PC at the receive end. Overall, I was left with the impression that much further would have been possible.

At some point I really want to continue this work. All my optical gear was home-made using material that was low cost and easily obtained. Test gear for optical work was simple and low cost too. In my view, optical work is more rewarding than microwaves and the test gear simpler.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical

St Johns College, Cambridge, UK - NOT amateur radio

Recently, we visited the Backs (of the colleges) in nearby Cambridge, UK. With all the flowers out, this really is a sight. This is in the grounds of St Johns College.

We really are quite lucky living so close. As residents, we get free entry into the colleges.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 20th 2017

Solar flux is 72 and the sun remains spotless (as in no sunspots rather than recently polished). A=2 and K=0. I think any sunspots appearing from now on will be a bonus!

See http://news.spaceweather.com/sunspots-vanish-space-weather-continues/

6m MSK144 RX and 10m WSPR TX (again)

Yet again I am on 6m MSK144 RX and 10m WSPR TX. So far, just Gs south west of London spotted on 6m, but no spots on 10m WSPR. I have been active since about 0745z.

UPDATE 0950z: No 10m WSPR spots still and no further 6m MSK144 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1050z: DF5VAE (904km) spotted on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1430z: 6 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 6m MSK144. No spots on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1545z:  7 stations in 5 countries now on 6m MSK144 RX today.

UPDATE 1735z: 9 stations in 7 countries on 6m MSK144 RX today so far.

6m MSK144 RX today

UPDATE 2100z: G3YDY (65km) is the latest station to be spotted on 6m MSK144. What amazes me is how strong all stations are. I think most stations have positive S/N ratios and the weakest is -3dB S/N. Even quite distant stations are strong. If random MS, this suggests the ionised trails reflect really well.  If aircraft reflection, the reflected signals are very good.

472kHz WSPR RX

I have now gone QRT on all bands, but I am monitoring 630m (472kHz) WSPR. So far DF2JP (448km) and G8HUH (250km) spotted. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and the (deaf) FT817.

UPDATE 2140z: Not a bad evening so far on 472kHz WSPR RX.

Unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX this evening

10m in the quiet years

Firstly, 10m is good for Es (sporadic-E) at any part of the solar cycle. In the northern hemisphere May-August are the best Es months. There is a smaller peak around December-January. There are many theories about Es. Also, as mentioned before, N-S real DX can occur on 10m even in the quietest solar periods with no sunspots.

As 11m CB demonstrates, 10m is a useful band for local nets - the proverbial "natter across town". 4W from a converted CB FM rig regularly enabled me to work 30km with a CB halfwave antenna.

Another possibility is a derivative of my Tenbox AM rig. Simple to make and a possible club project? What was done before my stroke is a possible source of ideas.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

If you follow the link and click the schematic it will bring up a larger clearer version.

Northern Ireland - NOT amateur radio

One of the thorny Brexit issues will be Northern Ireland (Ulster). This has a land border with Eire which will remain in the EU. Currently, there is free movement north and south across this border. What happens when the UK leaves the EU?

Most unionists do not want a united island of Ireland. Most in Sin Fein would like to see the island reunited. I, for one, do not see how this will be resolved. Maybe a political "fudge" with the north somehow independent? No, I think Theresa May, the UK PM, has a really tricky issue here.