Storms Tuesday?

The weather forecast for the next few days is bad. Rain (heavy at times) is forecast before things might improve on Thursday. There is a chance of thunder too. If so, I may be off air for a few days.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

UPDATE 1558z: At the moment, it looks like we may miss the storms tomorrow. I''ll check in the morning.

Plenty of Colour - NOT amateur radio

Last week we visited Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, where there was still plenty of colour in the walled garden. This place is owned by the National Trust.

10m WSPR

Although on since breakfast time, no spots received at all so far.

UPDATE 1015z: Still no spots received today so far on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1354z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1548z: Since 1358z EA1FAQ (1249km) has been spotting me intermittently by Es. At the moment, he is my only reporter today on 10m WSPR His last spot was at 1446z.

UPDATE 1825z: 2 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon

Return to 6m FT8 RX

Yesterday was very good for Es, so I am again on 6m FT8 RX.  I am amazed how this mode has taken off. It is  not officially released yet. There were loads of stations on this mode yesterday.

UPDATE 0835z: Only G0GGG (210km) spotted on 6m FT8 so far. No Es today as yet.

UPDATE 0858z: OZ1DJJ (763km) spotted, I assume by Es. Also G8TTI (185km).

UPDATE 1016z: Now 5 countries spotted with best DX today so far being SM0NKZ (1404km).

UPDATE 1253z: 12 stations in 8 countries spotted so far on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1806z: Plenty of Es today on 6m FT8. The photo shows the stations spotted in the last day.

Maudlin? - NOT amateur radio

As we get older (this year I enter my 70th year) I guess we become grateful for small things. Even waking up in the morning is a blessing! Seeing migrant birds return always fills me with wonder at nature.

Years ago, I had quite a strong faith. These days I am unsure.  There are so many faiths and I am sure all are an attempt to come to terms with our humanity. Yet it seems hard to think we just become nothing when we die. I am sure all world religions hint at the truth, but all are wrong. You only have to think of all the evil in the last few thousand years done in the name of religion.

Indeed, it is possible that what each of us experiences is unique to us, but this is straying into philosophy. The simple answer is that not one of us knows with any certainty.

In the meantime, we must live each day as if our last: be kind to others and kind to ourselves. Milk every day for the best.

Sunspots - Monday August 7th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 13. A=13 and K=1.

More VLF success?

This was posted Saturday by Stefan DK7FC:

VLF,

After nearly 8 days the carrier is still on the air without an interruption, despite occasional thunderstorms :-)
It looks like the SNR is suffering by summer QRN, as expected.

The stable carrier was good for doing local tests with my Raspi+Octo-soundcard. The system is now completely configured including system time setting via the GPS module. I recorded a few days from the carrier, converted the data files into wav, reprocessed them in SpecLab: The carrier is stable and on the expected frequency, so the sample rate correction via vlfrx tools seems to work.

Forthermore i corrected some bugs in the circuit of my portable RX loop preamp for VLF (must have been late in the night when i built it up a few months ago). Now the noise is much lower. It looks promising! So it is time for a portable VLF experiment in the far field, just to check the system more seriously.

The crew of DL0AO has built up and optimised their VLF system to receive the weak 3675.005 Hz carrier in abt 220 km distance. Looks like there is something on their cardioidal spectrogram pointing to West,
http://df6nm.bplaced.net/dl0ao/VLFgrabber/vlfgrabber_dl0ao_test.htm
Something like 10 dB SNR in 31 uHz. That's not so bad!

I will run it for some more time until the trace is a bit longer. Then in some days i like to start transmitting an EbNaut message on that frequency which can be stacked until a decode appears. Markus has developed a tool for windows to do the stacking, maybe it works in that experiment... It will also be a test to see if i can decode the message from my own recording using vlfrx tools, an important step to pass...

So far so good. What are YOUR projects you are currently working on, LF/MF/VLF related?

73, Stefan

Back on again

At breakfast time I resumed 10m WSPR TX and 6m FT8 RX. Although dull, I think there are no storms likely locally today.

QRT until tomorrow

As the Es seems to have stopped, I have gone QRT on 10m and 6m. I should be on at breakfast time in the morning.

Patio - NOT amateur radio

Our patio was enlarged in the spring. Luckily the weather has been good, so we have managed to use it! Our alstroemeria plants (one on RHS and one out of shot) have done well this year. We have managed a few meals outside, which has been good.

QRP and QRP Club

As usual, Oleg gives his weekly report:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly Rendezvous and Parade (WRP) Report (August, 6, 2017)
Of  course,  any  MW (milliwatt) or SR (simplest radio) operators are
welcome  on  the  Rendezvous  and  MRP  (Micro  Radio Parade) events.
Strongly recommend to use "CQ MRP" if you use MW or SR equipment.

Visitors  of  the week: OM6TC, IT9QAU/m, G3XJS, PA3JD, HB9DAX, I2AOX,
YU1RK/p,  US5ERQ, G3JFS, DL3XZ, SV9/DL5DBY/p, RW3DF, DK4AN, UA1CEG/p,
UY1IF,  UA6BFE,  PD0HRS,  RV3GM,  DK1HW,  R1CAF, R4NX, US3EN, UR5EFD,
UR7VT,  RA7RA,  UA1CEX,  UA9MLY, Z35M/p, RU3NJC, RW3AA, F3MB, UA3APU,
F8BBL, OF5LP, ON4ADR, DL4CF/p, R1CAN, ON6KZ, UR5FA, F6DIZ, IK2WQH
MRP operators - UA1CEG, UA1CEX, RV3GM, UA3APU, RW3AA, Z35M, RA7RA, UR5FA

Congrats!
F3MB became Frequenter (regular visitor)
New Visitors - PA3JD, YU1RK, DL5DBY, UA3APU, F8BBL, IK2WQH - you are welcome!
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 page

Comments...
see full version of the WRP Report including comments and pictures on
the blog page - https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
That's all Folks for now!
Thanks all for activity, comments and pictures
See you on next week RV and MRP

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 FT8 RX

After  a successful outing in this mode yesterday, I am again on 6m FT8 RX. It does seem to have really taken off.

UPDATE 0822z: Quite a few early Es spots this morning. Widespread too.

UPDATE 1251z: Lots of 6m JT8 spots today  (more than 26). Best DX on 6m FT8 Rx is currently OH5ELO (1942km). Es.

6m FT8 RX up to 1739z today

UPDATE 1739z: Lots of 6m Es today.

10m WSPR TX (500mW) again

As the 10m WSPR TX beacon (500mW) is "stand alone" and does not need the PC and uses a different antenna from that used on 6m, I am on 10m WSPR this morning.

UPDATE 0823z: No 10m WSPR spots yet today.

UPDATE 1230z: Several spots on 10m WSPR this lunchtime. Germany, Poland and Denmark spotted my 500mW. Es I assume.

UPDATE 1733z: Best spot today of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by EW2ABC (1812km).

UPDATE 1902z: 10 unique 10m WSPR spots today. Not bad.

Sunspots - Sunday August 6th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 13.  A=16 and K=3

10m WSPR

Since the storm passed through this afternoon, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). After a slow start, lots of spots from Germany and Austria by Es.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 unique spots today on 10m WSPR, although I only started this afternoon. Now QRT on all bands.

Swifts gone? - NOT amateur radio

We spent about 40 minutes outside enjoying a cup of tea in the late sunshine this afternoon.

Although looking, I saw not a single swift overhead. A few weeks ago and I'd have seen maybe 20. Most have started to move south. They only stay for a few months then they are gone. Ephemeral.

A few may still be around, but most have left us until next spring.

Back on again after storms

As the storms seem to have cleared through and we are now bathed in sunshine, I am back on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX after a very brief TX period.

The impression I am getting is there is less Es than a month, or so, ago. There is still Es but not as frequent.

UPDATE 1454z: A couple of stations copied my brief 6m FT8 CQ. Best DX was a spot by G6GEI (91km).

UPDATE 1604z: IZ1AZJ (967km) was recently spotted on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1612z: Nothing at all on 10m WSPR TX.

Kangaroo - NOT amateur radio

My younger son is with his family visiting the Australian in-laws. Here is a shot of one of our granddaughters feeding a kangaroo. Actually, I think the joey is helping itself!

QRT - storms

Just before 1300z, there was thunder forecast (and it came) so I went QRT on all bands and disconnected everything. Although it is still raining, the forecast for the rest of the day is now better. I may come back, this time on 6m FT8. As there are still plenty of storms around, I may wait a bit.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

MLS offers

Yet again, I received a "something for the weekend" email from Martin Lynch. They also have offers on other items.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/ .

Sunspots - Saturday August 5th 2017

Solar  flux is 74 and the sunspot number 13. A=23 and K=4.

7 countries on 6m MSK144 so far

Since yesterday, I returned to 50.280MHz MSK144 RX. So far, 7 countries spotted. There seem to be most users of this mode on the old frequency rather than the new.

Return to 6m MSK144 - but on 50.280MHz

After reading some of the recent comments, I have returned to MSK144 on 6m, but on 50.280MHz RX.  Already I have spotted PA5JS (370km).

More OFCOM rubbish?

Sorry, but my personal view is OFCOM seems incompetent. Recent tests on VDSL seem to re-enforce this. Is OFCOM really saying the noise pollution of the spectrum, especially in cities, is not getting worse? If so, they must be plain stupid. Even in my village it is much worse than 20 years ago. Please OFCOM get real. There is more to life than money. Sometimes I hear/read nothing but bollocks.

In the USA you have the FCC.

Perhaps OFCOM assume we only go on the internet and digital radio/TV? Well, if you know very little or nothing, about radio you might think that.

See http://rsgb.org/main/files/2012/12/VDSL-RFI-RSGBOfcom-meeting-June-21-2017.pdf

Busy bee - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we visited the walled garden at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. This bee was busy collecting pollen.

6m FT8 RX

After a day on 6m MSK144, I have now gone on 6m FT8 RX monitoring 50.313MHz.  Already spotted G0MBL (130km) in Kent.

North Norfolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

Norfolk is one of the most rural and unspoilt counties in the UK. Today we drove up there and back 167 miles in all.

Our favourite place to eat in Norfolk is The Old Reading Room at Kelling, which is run by real locals. "We don't do change in Norfolk", one of them said. This is a place not "up itself". Food is low cost, simple and just great. Surrounded by second hand books in the longest sale in history,"all books half marked price". I think the signs are so old they have faded. 😊

UK Rallies this weekend

6 AUGUST 2017 : 28th KING'S LYNN ARC GREAT EASTERN RADIO RALLY
Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4DZ. Car parking on site is free and talk in will be provided on 145.550MHz. Doors open at 9am, with admission £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio pitches outside as well as tables inside. On site Catering will be available. Details from Ted, G4OZG on 01553 768 701, 0794 683 8656 or email g4ozg@raynet-uk.net www.klarc.org.uk

6 AUGUST 2017 : LORN RADIO RALLY
Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8QN Doors open at 10.30am and entry is £2. There will be trade stands (tables are free but a raffle prize appreciated) as well as a Bring & Buy. There will be a raffle drawn at 1.30pm. Catering is available on site. Details, by email, to lornradioclub@gmail.com

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

New Weather App (free) - NOT amateur radio

Those who know me know that I have little faith in the UK weather forecasts from the Met Office. Quite often the local forecast for now is wrong! There is a new (free) app that might be useful. My thanks go to Richard Fusniak for bringing this to my attention.

See http://www.anglia.ac.uk/news/app-can-help-banish-those-barbecue-blues .

Sunspots - Friday July 4th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 13. A=12 and K=4.

6m MSK144 - what frequency to use?

The "old" 6m MSK144 frequency (still used by some) was 50.280MHz but in the latest WSJT v1.8 this is now 50.360MHz. I have been monitoring the "new" frequency since just before breakfast, but nothing spotted so far.

I am beginning to think many who I'd have copied on the "old" frequency have not yet moved. With the Perseid meteor shower I was hoping to catch some activity. Maybe I turned on too late. Even so I would have spotted a few stations by aircraft reflection by now.

UPDATE 1855z: Well, I was monitoring 50.360MHz MSK144 RX all day until just now and not a single spot all day.  I have now swapped to 6m FT8 RX and already spotted a station in Kent.

472kHz band

In the autumn and winter, this is one of my favourite bands.

For several seasons now I have been on 472kHz WSPR transceive with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Despite the very low ERP (around 5mW!) it has been spotted well over 1000km away several times. My transverter which appeared in QST magazine about a year ago produces 10-15W, so with a decent antenna it could do well.

As far as I know, the USA is still awaiting access to this band. This is a fascinating band, well suited to WSPR.

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

6m FT8 - plenty of Es

All morning, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. There is plenty of activity and plenty of Es from all over Europe. The take-up of this new digital mode is nothing short of phenomenal. It seems that this is being adopted as the successor to JT65. It takes less bandwidth and it takes far less time to complete a QSO.

UPDATE 1550z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX, so far, is SV1DH (2432km). There was a lot of 6m Es earlier.

UPDATE 1920z: There has been no Es lately on 6m FT8. The last was EB1DWF (1215km) at 1741z. I am still on 6m FT8 RX.

OFCOM annual communications market report

OFCOM as released its annual report on the communications market.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/818C622B3FCCEACB2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

DXing with crystal sets

OK, a confession: it is a long time since I last listened with a shortwave crystal set.

One thing is certain: at the right time it is possible to hear true worldwide DX, and not via relays.

These days there are fewer English language SW broadcasters and it is much tougher. We are also in a period of declining solar activity, so fewer HF bands are open and these stay open for less time. Nonetheless, crystal sets are easy to make and require no power. DXing with crystal sets is a fun activity.

One of my many planned projects is a multi-band crystal set capable of covering from VLF to VHF. It may never get made, but this would be fun.

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

Perseid Meteor Shower

See http://spaceweather.com/ which writes:

"This week, Earth is entering a stream of debris from huge comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Specks of dusty debris hitting the top of Earth's atmosphere at 110,000 mph are burning up in the night sky, producing a spray of shooting stars from the constellation Perseus."

Wicken windmill - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Wicken where this windmill is. There is another at Wicken Fen which used to pump water. I think this one ground corn for flour.

Sunspots - Thursday August 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot count is 12.  A=5 and K=1.

Return to 6m FT8

Actually, I was going to go on 6m MSK144 RX, but the frequencies recommended in WSJT-X v1.8 are not those I expected, so I have returned to FT8 instead. I see that M1BXF (14km) copied my brief CQ, but mostly I am RX only.

UPDATE 1925z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX this evening is G8AQP (123km). This is probably aircraft reflection, although it could be tropo.

UPDATE 2035z: G3YDY (65km) is the latest on 6m FT8 RX. I think I'm too late for Es.

UPDATE 2118z:  Although I have spotted no new stations in the last hour, I think I'll remain on 6m FT8 RX overnight.

Near Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This morning we enjoyed a walk near Wicken Fen. Fenland skies are large and, in their own way, beautiful.

The walk was longer than I thought. These days I find it harder to judge distances and speeds.