Pound still up against major currencies - NOT amateur radio

The UK pound is still up against the Euro, the Yen and the US Dollar. Let us hope this continues as BREXIT talks take place.

In my bones I think the Euro will significantly weaken - after all, most of it serious weaknesses remain. In the last few days the Yen has weakened a lot.

UPDATE 1840z: Still up.

10m JT65

As I had been getting no spots on 10m and 6m WSPR I have swapped to 28.076MHz (10m) JT65. As I recall, this mode was more successful than WSPR in the last Es season. Unfortunately, I can only use JT65 on a single band.

UPDATE 1216z: No 10m JT65 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1546z: Still no 10m JT65 spots today.

UPDATE 1845z:  Just a single spot of M0AAX (107km) on 10m JT65.

10m and 6m WSPR

Yet again I am back on 10m and 6m WSPR. 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW) and  6m WSPR (20% TX 1W ERP, 80% RX).

As yet no spots today.

QRP and QRP Club

As usual, Oleg RV3GM has written a report of recent activity:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (April, 30, 2017)
Visitors  of  the  week:  UR0ET, RV3GM, US5ERQ, US3EN, UR7VT, SM2BYW,
OF5LP,  OH6NPV,  R1OA,  R1CAF, UA1CEG, RW3AA, UR5EFD, UA0SBQ, RU3NJC,
R2FAE, R1CAN, IZ0RQF, RA1M/mm, Z35M, RV3DSA/0
Thanks all for activity!
Some pictures:
- ants hill on the UA0SBQ's forest position
- UA1CEG in the snow forest position
See full WQR Report and pictures on the blog page -http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks all for activity and see you on the next Rendez-Vous!

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.

Concert - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was my wife's concert at the Cambridge University Music School in West Rd, Cambridge, UK. She sang Mendelssohn's "Elijah".  We were joined by old Liverpool university friends. The acoustics at this concert hall are very good. The concert was very good.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday April 30th 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 34. A=6 and K=2.

CCS Concert Tonight - NOT amateur radio

Wife's concert tonight. West Rd Concert Hall, Cambridge at 7.30pm. Tickets should be available on the door.

See https://sites.google.com/site/cambschoral/ . Guess who does their website?

Turkey blocks Wikipedia? - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39754909 .

This online encyclopaedia is one of the most famous in the world. Access to it is a sign of a nation being at one with itself and one that trusts its citizens. Countries that ban access to it usually have something to hide.

Bank Holiday Rally

This Monday is a national holiday in the UK - May Bank Holiday. There is a west country rally as detailed below.

MAY 1st 2017 (Bank Holiday Monday) : 33rd DARTMOOR RADIO RALLY

Tavistock College, Crowndale Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8DD Doors open at 10:30am with disabled visitors gaining access at 10:15am. Admission is £2 with under 14s free accompanied by an adult. There is ample free car parking on site with catering available too. There will be trade & club stands and the usual Bring & Buy. Details from: Viv Watson, G7AWG on 01752 823 427 or by email to vivwatsondrc@aol.com

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

Crystal set DXing

This is not as easy as it once was as there are fewer English language AM broadcast stations left on the traditional shortwave broadcast bands. Nonetheless, you may be surprised by what you hear.

My best DX on a simple crystal set is Radio Australia (broadcasting from Australia, not via a relay), All India Radio, Cuba and the VOA from Liberia years ago. You can even envelope detect amateur SSB signals although IDing these can be tricky. Remember, all the power is provided by the TX with none required at the RX end.

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

10m and 6m WSPR yet again

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW) and 6m WSPR (1W ERP 20% TX,  80% RX). I am seeing some UK spots on 6m, but no Es yet on either band.

UPDATE 1312z: G0LUJ (278km) is the best copied on 6m WSPR this morning. EA1FAQ (1249km) spotted me on 10m WSPR. I think the latter was Es. There is some Es about. G4APB (88km) has also been spotted on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1324z: I see that G4KPX (14km) has spotted my 500mW beacon on 10m WSPR. No doubt Richard is looking a bit further afield!

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday April 29th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today. Sunspot number is 35. A=6 and K=2.

Drivers - NOT amateur radio

Some of the most courteous drivers on UK roads are women.

I also note the high numbers of young women drivers who seem to take risks. This is by no means "getting at" women drivers but, in my judgment, women often seem to take more risks than men.

Certainly, this is not a proper statistical survey. Perhaps I am used to bad male drivers! Maybe I just notice this as I am looking, but I can't begin to tell you how often I see bad driving and say to myself, "that was impulsive and poor" and it turns out to be a young woman at the wheel. Call me a male chauvinist pig if you like, although I am not. I am only saying what I notice.

UK Rallies this Sunday

APRIL 30th 2017 : CAMBRIDGE REPEATER GROUP RALLY

Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridge, Cambs CB22 6RN. Doors open at 9.30am with traders gaining access from 7.30am. Entry is £2. There will be a talk in station and car parking is free on site. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, car boot area and RSGB bookstall. The usual burger van will be in attendance. Contact Lawrence M0LCM on 0794 197 2724, email rally2017@cambridgerepeaters.net. www.cambridgerepeaters.net


APRIL 30th 2017 : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)

Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. There will be a talk in station and on site car parking is free. Doors open at 10am with disable d visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stations, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Other attractions are lectures, a raffle and catering on site. Details from Paul, M0CJX on 0845 165 0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.

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

Sunspots and 10m - Friday April 28th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today. Sunspot number is 23.  A= 7 and K=1.

60m band

According to Southgate News, Malta has just released its new frequency plan that includes the WRC15 5MHz amateur band. This is only 15kHz wide, so we must hope for more later.

See http://www.mca.org.mt/sites/default/files/pageattachments/
NFP_edition%205-4.pdf

10m and 6m WSPR again

Once again I am trying 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW) and 6m WSPR (20% TX 1W ERP, 80 % RX). Yesterday was hopeless, so I hope today is better! It cannot be any worse, HI. As we approach May there should be more Es.

UPDATE 1034z:  A 10m WSPR spot by DK6UG (633km), so there is some Es about on 10m today.

UPDATE 1835z: EA1FAQ (1249km) spotted me at lunchtime on 10m WSPR. No 6m WSPR spots all day.

Pye PF8 on 70cm FM

The Pye Telecom PF8 was, in its time, a very futuristic handheld UHF transceiver. They are very rare. I was fortunate to be part of the design team a very long time ago. I was responsible for the TX audio and the antenna which was quite novel. At the time Sir Clive Sinclair asked me for advice!

The PF8 was made famous in the UK TV series "The Professionals". If you can find one, they can be made to work on 70cms. Finding one is very hard. Before you ask, no, I do not have any. TX power was 500mW.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/pf8 .

4m Allocations Worldwide

Certainly in Europe and in a few countries elsewhere, the 4m (70MHz) band is being allocated to the Amateur Service. Lower VHF is not so popular for PMR users as antennas are quite large. There is a real chance of more widespread amateur allocations at 4m. This is an interesting band which has decent tropo ranges and Es openings especially in the summer months.

See http://www.70mhz.org/

M.E. petition - NOT amateur radio

See https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/190618 .

The current treatment for M.E. is ineffective. This petition aims to get the UK government to "wake up" to this debilitating condition. If you agree, please consider signing it.

Heathkit Lunchboxes

These simple rigs for 10m, 6m or 2m were kits sold by Heathkit mainly in the 1960s. The limitation was the super-regen RX. I liked the styling and simplicity: no memories, AM only and just one crystalled channel on TX. It has long been my aim to make a modern version with similar styling.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/lunchbox .

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday April 27th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 36.  A=9 and K=3.

10m?  Maybe we'll see some Es? I doubt there will be any N-S F2 propagation.

New patio - NOT amateur radio

Our new patio has just been completed. Hopefully we will be able to use it this weekend if the weather is dry. It is about twice as big as the old one so should be far less cramped when the patio table and chairs are in place.

Back on 10m and 6m WSPR

This morning I have returned to 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW) and 6m WSPR (1W ERP 20% TX, 80% RX) hoping to see some Es.  Late last night I realised I was on the wrong 6m frequency, so I would have missed any activity. This morning, all is correct! As yet, no WSPR spots here on 10m or 6m.

UPDATE 1655z: No spots here on 10m or 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1905z: Now QRT on all bands. No WSPR spots all day! Might try again tomorrow.

More stroke news - NOT amateur radio

No-one, and I really do mean no-one, seems to understand how I am inside. Most of the time when on my feet I feel giddy and exhausted, but outwardly I look well. I cannot begin to explain how hard this is.

Anything mental or physical taking over 15-20 minutes and I am done in - totally exhausted.  Until my stroke I had no idea what total exhaustion was. After a rest I am back to "normal".

My short-term memory is also poorer.  It is now over 3.5 years since my cerebellum brain bleed, but I think there has been little improvement over the last year or so.  Walking on pavements with traffic is very hard.

In many ways my symptoms mirror those of M.E. in that I feel profoundly tired at times, a tiredness like nothing I have ever had to deal with before my stroke. What is so disappointing is there is little sign of any improvement. I struggle on, but it is very tough.

ESEO satellite

Southgate News reports on testing of the ground control for this upcoming satellite. It has an FM transponder planned for 23cms to 2m.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/eseo/ for more about the satellite.

East Anglia - NOT amateur radio

We have well over 1000 medieval churches in our part of the world. Some are real gems. With aging and falling congregations it is far from clear how these will be maintained in future years. At the moment most are looked after and many are open.

Whatever you are a Christian believer (or not), these are well worth a visit. We are lucky as most are less than 90 minutes drive away. We try to visit many of these and those we do I record in another blog. See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

Alibris - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, I am getting "never to be missed" discounts every week it seems. Do they really take us all for morons? As a marketing ploy, I am tired. Just reduce your prices and put us out of our misery.

If you ever buy books from this lot do wait for an offer. These come around so often that it is never worth buying without using an offer.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday April 26th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 36. A=12 and K=2.

10m? Maybe some Es and a chance of some N-S F2 propagation.

WSPR today

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR (100% TX, 500mW) and 6m WSPR (20% TX, 1W ERP, 80% RX). As yet, no spots in either band. Assuming their will be some Es today, it is likely to be patchy.

UPDATE 1010z:  Still no WSPR spots here on either 10m or 6m. We may get lucky and see some Es - who knows?

UPDATE 1440z:  Still no spots here.

UPDATE 1654z: Still nothing.  There are lightning strikes near St Neots. OK for now, but I may have to go QRT later.

UPDATE 1900z:  Unless things change soon, this looks like another day with no WSPR spots here on either 10m or 6m. Disappointing. As all seems quiet on the storm front, I shall leave things running on 10m and 6m WSPR until bedtime.

UPDATE 2240z:  With no spots all day. it is time to go QRT.

Lightning risk?

For the first time this year we are threatened with lightning. If you want to check where the storms are in the UK check out this map.  If the storms get close, I shall disconnect rigs and antennas as a precaution.

Garden Colour - NOT amateur radio

This garden in our village is always filled with colour in spring and summer. The couple who live in this cottage work hard on it. Sadly, they are getting older, so I am not sure how much longer they can maintain it. At the moment it is a sea of colour.

10m WSPR and some Es?

This morning, I am on 10m WSPR (20% TX 2W, 80% RX). Although no-one has yet spotted me, it looks like there is some Es with a couple of spots of others.

UPDATE 1220z:  No further 10m WSPR spots since earlier this morning.

UPDATE 1735z:  My 10m (2W) signal was copied in northern Spain at 1658z. This is Es I'm sure.

Cattle Egrets - NOT amateur radio

Increasingly I get the feeling that cattle egrets (birds) are gradually becoming more common in the UK. Before 1955 collared doves were rare - now they are common. Before 1989 little egrets were virtually unknown here. Now they are common. Cattle egrets are being spotted regularly in Devon and I see they have been spotted up here in East Anglia.

As climate changes, the species we see will change. Changes have always happened I guess but species that hitherto have been found further south will move north.

It would not totally surprise me if some birds that winter further south decide to stay for our milder winters. When will swallows decide it is warm enough to fully over-winter? I know there are rare records of swallows staying and lasting until January living on insects near seaweed, but I don't think there are any records of swallows lasting the full winter, although I am no expert.

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

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday April 25th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 41.  A=20 and K=3.

Macron win in France? - NOT amateur radio

He is the book favourite to win the final contest against the far right Le Pen in France. As Trump and BREXIT warned us, experts are often wrong.

Overall, I hope Macron wins.

There is a lot wrong with the EU, but Macron has the chance of putting these things right. If Le Pen wins then the EU project is dead and with it European security in the next 50 years. France needs Macron in my view.

Now on 6m JT65 (1W ERP)

As of 1340z I moved to 6m JT65 in beacon mode sending "B G3XBM JO02". I want to see how this compares with WSPR.

I am still on 10m WSPR (500mW TX, 100%) at the same time with the little beacon on a different antenna.

UPDATE 1510z: 2 stations spotted on 6m JT65 with best DX G6NLZ (153km) towards the south coast of England in JO00kw. No spots of me yet on 6m JT65.

A great quote

I found this on Steve M0MVB's website:

"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat." - Albert Einstein

Looking for swifts - NOT amateur radio

Swallows are more common as we enter the back end of April. Four flew past the window earlier.

The next are swifts. Several have been seen in Devon and even a few up here in East Anglia, but they are not common yet. As yet, I have not seen one this year.  By June they are very common, but they do not stop long.

Cuckoos should be about soon, but I have not heard any. They often lay their eggs in reed warbler nests up the lode (waterway) not far from here, but we rarely hear cuckoos these days.

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

First 6m WSPR spots this year

M0MVB (33km) has spotted me several times on 6m WSPR. No great DX, but at least I know the system works. Meanwhile my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been widely copied in northern Europe.