Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Most of this week we have our "London" grandchildren, although we spent most of the afternoon with our granddaughter having an x-ray! She fell over the weekend and hurt her arm. We were afraid she'd broken it but all was well.

The photo shows her looking pretty happy!

Sunspots and 10m - Monday April 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 107 today and the sunspot number 75. These are high numbers. A=8 and K=1. All these figures are better than yesterday. I urge you to try 10m digital modes as propagation could be quite decent.

10m JT65

Quite late on yesterday, I moved to 10m JT65. Last evening several South Americans were spotted on 10m JT65, so conditions were quite decent on 10m. I am on 10m JT65 now.

UPDATE 1937z:   Lots of South Americans and Italy on 10m JT65 today.

Windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

We are very lucky to have a good view of our local restored windmill from our home. Every day usually someone comes to take a photo. It is about 200 years old and fully restored. Not many are lucky enough to look at a working 4 sailed windmill whilst eating breakfast! It is literally "over the garden fence". The hedge is in our garden.

10m JT65 after 20m JT65

After all day on 20m JT65, I have (rather late) moved to 10m JT65, changing at about 1615z. On 20m most of the spots of my 2W were from Europe with a few from North America. On RX the best was Brazil.

UPDATE 1622z:  No spots on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 2112z: EU7FBB (1931km) spotted on 10m JT65 earlier this evening. I left things running on 10m overnight.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday April 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 99 today and the sunspot number is 79 (both are high figures). A=16 and K=3.

Devon Birds - NOT amateur radio

Certainly swallows (birds) are being seen in increasing numbers in Devon. Cattle egrets are also being increasingly seen. The cattle egret sightings remind me of the first  little egret sightings in Devon 30-40 years ago.

I suspect several species will become far more common in the years to come e.g. bearded tits, bee-eaters. At the same time, some will be lost. Before 1955 to see a collared dove in the UK would have been amazing. Nowadays they are one of the most common birds in our garden.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee-eater .

472 and 137kHz allocations in the USA nearer

The latest news from the FCC suggests the USA is nearer allocating the LF and MF bands to amateurs at last.

I used to think OFCOM was bad, but the FCC seems even worse. It is years since most countries had access to these bands. If the FCC was concerned about other users they could have set very low ERP levels and allowed amateur operation on a strictly "non-interference" basis.  Instead they waited and waited. They are still waiting!

The FCC seems, at least to me, to be a bunch of pen pushing idiots who know little about radio. Perhaps I am being unfair? In many ways I think of the USA as having fairly liberal policies on the use of the spectrum, but the FCC seems to do themselves no good at all over these bands.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/new-bands-fcc-issues-amateur-radio-service-rules-for-630-meters-and-2-200-meters

See also http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0329/FCC-17-33A1.pdf

April Fool's Day - NOT amateur radio

Certainly here in the UK, April 1st is April Fool's Day when people usually play tricks. Often there are spoof news items in the papers or on TV. Apparently one UK paper did a piece on Prince Harry saying he had got married in secret.

Sorry, but all here will be "straight" with no April fools stories.

10m JT65

Just before 0900z I QSYed to 10m JT65.

UPDATE 0910z: No spots as yet on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1330z: Still no 10m JT65 spots today.

UPDATE 1350z: With no spots at all on 10m JT65, I think it is time to QSY.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday April 1st 2017

Solar flux is 91 (quite high) and the sunspot number 65 which is also good. A=28 and K=3. 10m is again forecast to be "poor".

Blog Hacking - NOT amateur radio

It looks possible that my blogs are being probed by hackers. This seems to have been attempted much of this week.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39401637

UK Pound against Euro - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, the UK pound is stronger against the euro. Some were expecting it to tumble. The last time I looked it was up another 0.5%. Early BREXIT days. but my gut feeling is the euro will weaken further later this year.

20m JT65

Hoping the band is still usable, I have QSYed to 20m JT65 (2W). So far I have only been spotted by S52NR (1318km).

UPDATE 1734z: Spotted by 5 Europeans so far, but nothing further afield.

UPDATE 1755z: Now 8 Europeans spotting me, although I think the band is closing now. I may leave it running overnight to see what happened early Saturday.

UPDATE 1810z: Now 14 Europeans spotting my 2W 20m JT65. The band is still open.

UPDATE 1848z: Now 18 Europeans spotting my 2W on 20m JT65.

UPDATE 2020z:  K1GUY, in the USA, spotted me on 20m JT65 about an hour ago.

MUF

It certainly seems that HF conditions get better nearer the equator. http://www.hamqsl.com/solar3.html shows a diagram of MUF (maximum usable frequencies) and going closer to the equator does seem to help. I am definitely no propagation expert!

"Near miss" asteroids - NOT amateur radio

http://spaceweather.com/ gives details of asteroids that are quite close to Earth. Most, thankfully, are quite a way away. Near miss is being a big generous!

Rally News

APRIL 2nd 2017 : HACK GREEN HANGAR SALE

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL
Doors open 10am. Sale of amateur gear, electronic equipment, comps, military radio sets and vehicle spares. Refreshments are available on site. More details from Lucy Siebert on 01270 623 353 or by email to lucy@hackgreen.co.uk

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

Food in North Norfolk - NOT amateur radio

If I have posted this before, please accept my apologies!

When in North Norfolk, about 1 hour from here, we usually eat at "The Old Reading Room" in Kelling. The food is nothing special, but the service is by the same good Norfolk people who have been there for years. The place is filled with second-hand books, chutneys and jams. Lots of locals eat there. We love it and have been going there for years.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 31st 2017

Solar flux is 86 today (not bad). Sunspot number has dropped back to 33. A=23 and K=5. Yet again 10m is forecast to remain "poor".

Remember though that 10m often surprises and some of my best days on 10m WSPR have been on days when the forecast suggested otherwise!

10m WSPR transceive (2W)

In the end, I decided to go on 10m WSPR this morning. I have been active since breakfast running 2W (20%) with the rest of the time on RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1024z: Some life!

UPDATE 1148z:  Just local G spots of late on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1348z: No further spots, yet, on 10m WSPR. I wonder if the high Doppler on local spots is a result of aircraft approaching Lakenheath, Mildenhall or Cambridge?

UPDATE 1644z:  No further spots all day on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1810z: With no further spots, I think I am going to QSY, maybe to 20m WSPR or 20m JT65.

Now QRT

Everything is now off until after breakfast tomorrow.  As yet, I've not decided what band to try on Friday.  Maybe 10m JT65 or WSPR? It depends on the K-index. If this is low, there is a chance of some DX on 10m.

Otherwise I may return to 6m MSK144 again as this is largely (entirely?) independent of solar conditions. Certainly 6m MSK144 has been a total surprise, but I like the challenge of 10m: there is still life there, but it needs activity to prove this.

Post BREXIT letter UK pound up - NOT amateur radio

OK it is very early days, but the day after the letter triggering the BREXIT process the UK pound is up against most currencies including the euro and US dollar.

UPDATE 2025z: The UK pound is still up against most currencies. Against the euro it is up over 1% in the last day.

Going home - NOT amateur radio

After a few days with us, my brother returned home today by train. Here he is with me in our front garden. The primroses get replaced with begonias in the summer.

New Beam, but not for me thanks

Thanks (again) to Southgate News comes information about a new beam from SteppIR. Covering 40-6m I am sure it will appeal to some. To me it is still huge and my neighbours would be appalled. I prefer to use low power and simple antennas. Luckily we are all different!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/march/new-steppir-beam-huge-signal.htm#.WN0DTYWcHIU .

OFCOM annual plan

OFCOM has just released its annual plan.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/annual-reports-and-plans .

QRP Marathon

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
just  inform  about  annually  QRP  Marathon "Look In the Horizon" in
April.  See rules on the Club "72" web page (club72.su) Registration
page  will  be open in 00.01 UTC April 1'st. Add your QRP QSOs on the
on-line  form daily and  collect  "luk" points depend of distance and
both stations power. Memorable certificates for all Marathon'ers.

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.

60m (5MHz)

It seems that several administrations have reduced the total 5MHz spectrum available and the power limits permitted when making available the 5MHz WRC15 15 kHz allocation. The RSGB, working with OFCOM and the UK military, has been trying to avoid this (see the GB2RS news last week).

Really I'd like to see the WRC15 allocation released in the UK too as soon as possible, but with the other "channels" still available. As a seasoned QRPer the power levels really don't bother me. 5W would be fine!

Many times we (I) take for granted the work done on our behalf by volunteers at the RSGB. A quiet thank you. You know who you are, HI.

6m MSK144 RX yet again

As you can tell, I love this mode. I was on 6m MSK144 RX overnight again. In the last 12 hours I have spotted 9 stations in 6 countries on 6m MSK144 RX. In the last day I have spotted 13 stations in 7 countries on this band/mode.

UPDATE 1308z: Now 12 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX in the last 12 hours. Best DX today is SM0NKZ (1404km).

UPDATE 1528z: Now the totals on 6m MSK144 RX are 15 stations in 10 countries in the last 12 hours.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday March 30th 2017

Solar flux is 83 today. Sunspot count is 53. A=21 and K=5

2.97kHz amateur DX

By careful analysis over 9 days in 25uHz bandwidths, Paul Nicholson has proved beyond doubt that DK7FC was copied in Todmorden, UK on 2.97kHz. This is with amateur powers and amateur (i.e. small) antennas.

Article 50 and leaving the EU - NOT amateur radio

Article 50, the trigger to leave the EU, has now been invoked, with 2 years ahead to negotiate our exit from the "club".  Although we have some tough decisions and negotiations ahead, the UK pound has not collapsed. If anything it is a little stronger against the euro. Although I voted to remain in the EU, I am pretty sure we'll be fine in the UK.  The rest of the EU faces quite difficult times ahead. In truth, Europe needs us as much as we need them.

At Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

As we are having some new windows fitted, I took my brother for a walk at Anglesey Abbey this morning. Although cloudy, it was quite mild. Many of the daffodils there are dying now.

More nations get the WRC 5MHz band

The Netherlands is joining the growing list of nations gaining access to the 15kHz wide international WRC15 amateur allocation at 5MHz (60m) although, you will have read, the UK will not be joining the list anytime soon. We have non-contiguous bands at 5MHz that allow access to more spectrum with higher power. Personally, I'd prefer a contiguous allocation and the power limits do not bother me.

Solar storm

It looks like we are in a solar storm. Although this will pass, HF conditions will have been affected. Luckily modes like MSK144 on 6m are little impacted. I guess the chances of lower latitude auroras improves, but I am no expert.

See http://spaceweather.com/

Sunspots and 10m

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 51. A=28 and K=4.

Probing again? - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, 3 of my blogs have seen exceptional activity for a third day and yet again this coincides with much increased views from Russia. I have no problem with people from any country who genuinely are interested, but this looks like bots probing. Highly suspicious.

6m MSK144 RX overnight

The 6m MSK144 RX was left running overnight, but nothing until breakfast-time when F6ECI (811km) was spotted in JN05 square very strongly (+10dB S/N). The bursts may be short, but they are usually strong when they occur.

UPDATE 1132z: Currently 7 stations in 4 countries spotted today.

6m MSK144 RX

Although I have not been on long, EA2ARD (1010km) has already been copied.

Gardening - NOT amateur radio

The weather these last few days has been glorious, so it has been a chance to do some gardening. My brother John has been up for a few days and busy doing "odd jobs" which I used to be able to do, but struggle with these days. Here he is putting some new top soil in the garden.

Waters and Stanton move

The shop of Waters and Stanton is moving to Portsmouth on April 1st.