6m FT8 TX

So far this morning, a couple of Gs spotted plus F6BAX (308km). These could well be aircraft reflections or tropo.

UPDATE 1225z: No further spots.

UPDATE 1522z: A further G spotted, but nothing else today.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Well, there is some life on 10m with an early spot of my little beacon by DK6UG (633km).

UPDATE 1226z: No further spots today so far.

UPDATE 1520z: Still just the early spot by DK6UG. Nothing else today.

Back on the air

Having been in Italy for 10 days, I have not been on the air. Now back home, I am on 6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX (500mW).

Visiting Pompeii if walking is hard - NOT amateur radio

Before going to Pompeii, I read some reviews and was nearly put off going by what I read. The impression I got was that it would be very hard and very tiring.

4 years ago I had a stroke which left me permanently giddy when walking. Armed with a rambling stick I managed to "do" Pompeii. It was a unique and humbling visit.

The streets have uneven stones and there are a few steps, but if you can walk, you can do Pompeii. I was amazed by what I saw and was not tired at the end.

2m UKAC results published

Today I got an email saying the results were out for the latest RSGB 2m activity contest.

In the last one I was only using 5W pep for about 20 minutes into my omni antenna (no beam). Nonetheless, I still sit 56th out of 174 in my section. Had my voice allowed me to be on for the whole 2.5 hours, I am sure I could have worked many more stations and squares. Still, it was fun and it exercises my poor voice.  The contest is on every month on the first Tuesday starting at 8pm UK clock time.

Although I am not a great contest person, this one is very friendly and activity levels are good. As I make few contacts, transcribing my log only takes a few minutes, so I submit a score.

Low cost amateur radio

Many times I have said that you don't have to spend a lot to get fun with our hobby. WISPY is just one example, but there are many.

Some choose to spend huge amounts on rigs, linears, towers, rotators and beams. Each to their own, but this is not for me. I am sure many newcomers are put off thinking it is an expensive hobby.

With QRP and simple, low, wire antennas I have worked the whole world with less than 10W SSB. DXCC? Well I have lost count, but it is way over 100!

Sunspots - Monday September 18th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 13. A=17 and K=4.

WISPY on 10m WSPR

Some years ago I designed and used this very low cost rig as a beacon on 10m WSPR. Even the crystal is low cost. With 10m in decline, this is an ideal time to try 10m WSPR. More power can be had by adding more low cost transistors in the PA. 2N3904s are very inexpensive.

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

Old mans hobby?

Many times I have cautioned that our hobby could die unless we attract and keep younger people. According to Southgate News, this will be discussed at a forthcoming IARU session.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/september/the-future-of-the-amateur-radio-service.htm#.Wb7fr7pFzIU

QRP and QRP Club

More news from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (September, 10, 2017)
New!!!  Keep  in mind Evening Rendez-Vous each Wednesday at 19 UTC on
14060 kHz +/-
Major  Coordinator  ON6KZ  op. Peter invite all QRPers to "QRP 14.060
MHz" group in the Facebook.
The  old  QRP  Rendez-Vous  have  a  place  each Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays at 9.00 UTC on 14060 +/-

Visitors  of  the  week:  UA1CEG,  IK2RGV,  RV3GM, UR5EFD, 9A/HB9DAQ,
OH6NPV,  G3JFS,  I1/DL2WA,  UR5IFM/p, DH0DK, DL8BDF/p, RW3DF, UA9MLY,
IZ6FCK,  RV3UF, RU3NJC, ON6WJ, UA1CEX, IZ7VHF, YO3BL, RA1M, UA0SBQ/p,
OK1DPX, SM2FIJ, F8WBD, UR0ET, DK1HW, EA7/HB9AFH, ON6KZ, RD6MZ, ON4ADR
Congrats!
IZ6FCK became Frequenter (regular visitor)
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 web page
Comments...
Enjoy  full  version of WQR Report including comments and pictures on
the blog page - https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks all for activity and reports!
See you on the next week 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.

Pompeii, Italy - NOT amateur radio

Until Vesuvius erupted in AD79, Pompeii was a busy port town with 20000 inhabitants. Streets were busy with shops, houses (and brothels). Really, life was not so different from now. Then the eruption came and all was buried for centuries.

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

USA and LF/MF bands

According to Southgate News USA amateurs will at last get access to the LF and MF bands, with some reservations, from Oct 16th.

Not before time.  I honestly cannot believe how slow the FCC has been. It seems most of us have had access to these bands for ages! FCC please get a grip.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/september/630-220-meters-to-open-october-16-pre-registration-required.htm#.Wb4OwLpFzmQ

Sunspots - Sunday September 17th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13. A=30 and K=3.

Vesuvius - NOT amateur radio

Periodically, this Italian volcano erupts. When it does, as in AD79, the results can be devastating.  Today it broods menacingly. Millions live nearby playing Russian roulette.

Italian Beams

When I first got interested in amateur radio in the 1960s, we heard lots of Italians, many with big signals that were often poor. In recent years there are still Italians on, but with much better signals. On our holiday (as I usually do - call me sad) I notice how many HF beams I see. So far, I have only seen a couple and these could be CB antennas. I was expecting far more.

Virtual Ham Radio

Although this does not "float my boat" some may be attracted to virtual ham radio, where the internet is used to simulate the ionosphere. If you just want to talk to like-minded others, this may satisfy some as conditions on the higher bands get worse for DX.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/virtual/hamsphere .

Sunspots - Saturday September 16th 2017

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number 13. A=36 and K=5.

Rally this weekend

17 SEPTEMBER 2017 : WESTON-SUPER-MARE RALLY
The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-super-Mare BS24 7DX The venue has a large car park with space for 120 cars. Doors open from 10am and admission is £3 for adults. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, auction at the end of the day and lectures. There will also be amusements and activities for all the family including competitions and contests, interactive displays and fun activities. Catering will be available on site. Enquiries to mjones129@btinternet.com or 01278 786 684. www.G4WSM.club

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

Monte Cassino, Italy - NOT amateur radio

On our way to Caserta today we visited the abbey at Monte Cassino. This was totally destroyed in WW2 as it was believed to be occupied by Nazi forces blocking the allied assault on Rome and Northern Italy. It is perched high up above the town of Cassino. It was very old and totally rebuilt after the war ended. It took 20 years of rebuilding. 50000 people died before the allied forces took it in 1944. It occupies a very strategic point.

Geosynchronous amateur satellite?

As you know, we are entering a period which could last very many years when the higher HF bands will not be good for F layer DX. OK, we will have Es to liven things up, but much of the time bands like 10m will seem "dead".

To the rescue (if successful and this is a big "if") could come amateur geosynchronous satellites using linear transponders at microwaves. One such is a Qatar satellite that may be launched next year. I say "maybe" as the launch has already been delayed. Geosynchronous satellites stay in the same place, so antennas can be fixed.

A 2.4GHz uplink and 10GHz downlink is quite an investment, but could be worth it if the satellite is a success.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/

Sunspots - Friday September 15th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 11. A=25 and K=6.

Colosseum, Rome - NOT amateur radio

Another shot from Rome yesterday - this time the famous Colosseum. This is an amazing place. As I said yesterday, Rome was very busy.

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

Rome, Italy - NOT amateur radio

Today, we visited Rome, Italy. We were last there in 1974. We saw most of the main sites, but all were very crowded and heavily guarded by armed police and troops. It is still a fine city though.

OFCOM latest

OFCOM has recently published its penalties.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/9352918349A715362540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots - Thursday September 14th 2017

Solar flux is 73 and the sunspot number is 11. A=15 and K=2.

Anagni, Italy - NOT amateur radio

Local cheese and coldmeats

We visited this hilltop town this morning. At one time it was the place where popes came to in high summer to avoid the oppressive heat in Rome.

It was market day so there were stalls a various places along the main medieval street. It had a nice atmosphere: local out enjoying the market.

We also had a decent coffee for just 1 euro each.

15m Pipit QRP Rig

Some years ago my only rig in use was my homebrew QRP transceiver on 15m. With just a low wire dipole and 800mW I worked lots and lots. Sadly, it got dismantled so I could use the case for another project.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 13th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today. The sunspot number is 23. A=11 and K=3.

Fiuggi Citta' - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited the medieval hilltop town of Fiuggi Citta' in Italy with lots of steps.

Solar Flare

Southgate News has a piece on the solar flare this weekend.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/september/solar-flare-causes-ground-level-event.htm#.WbfOibpFzIU

Italian Blog - NOT amateur radio

It is surprising how soon one forgets a holiday, so I am keeping a blog so I can recall things more easily in years to come. It is mainly for family but you are welcome to look as it is public for those with the link.

See https://italy2017rl.blogspot.it/

Siena, Italy - NOT amateur radio

This is the famous Il Campo square in Siena, Italy. We visited here yesterday.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 12th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 23. A=11 and K=3.

QRP and QRP Club

Oleg's weekly report:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (September, 10, 2017)
The  Facebook  group  'QRP  14.060  MHZ'  is a success. More than 180
members already. Not a member yet? You are welcome. 72 Peter ON6KZ

Visitors  of  the  week:  DF6YF,  RA1M/p, DH0DK, YO3BL, 4Z5NX, RV3GM,
R2FAE,  UR5EFD, OH6NPV, UR7VT, RA3AL/m, UA1CEG, G3XJS, RW3DF, OK1DPX,
UR5IFM/p,  HB9DAX,  PA/ON7BAS/mm,  G4VBS, HA7NE, G3JFS, DK1HW, RV3UF,
UY1IF,  G3OKA,  RN4NAA,  9H3RV,  RU3NJC, UA2FAI, RN4AO, RN4W, IT9IFI,
OE5EIN/p, OM6TC, UR0ET, DL2HWI, R1CAF, EA2DT, EA2BD, UA1CEX
Congrats!
YO3BL became new Frequenter (regular visitor)

Comments...
See full version of the WQR Report on the blog page -
https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks all for activity and comments!
See you on next weekly 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.

Sunspots - Monday September 11th 2017

Solar flux is 92 and the sunspot number is 38. A=7 and  K=3.

Sunspots - Saturday September 9th 2017

Solar flux is 117 and the sunspot number 89. A=96 and K=2

Sunday Rally

10 SEPTEMBER 2017 : TORBAY ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS FAIR
Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon TQ12 3AF Plenty of free parking on site. Doors open 10am with disabled visitors gaining access at 9.30am. Entry is £2. There will be a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstand. Catering is available on site. There will be a raffle held on the day. To book tables call Pete, G4VTO on 01803 864 528 or Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941, email rally@tars.org.uk
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Es (late)

It is now autumn and Es peaks May, June, July. Maybe there are now more people on WSPR, FT8 and the like, but we seem to be getting 10m and 6m Es still. I know Es can occur at any time, but this year the season does appear to be longer.

Maybe these digital modes are allowing us to catch openings that we would have missed previously? The fact that so many are now looking in the same narrow slots of spectrums must increase chances of catching very brief openings.  Of course, some paths on 10m could be F layer. Some 10m/6m brief openings could be MS.

Leaving the EU - NOT amateur radio

It was never going to be easy, but I detect a note of "sour grapes" on the part of the EU. Fewer big countries remain to finance the experiment and they are peeved we are leaving. I detect a note of bitterness.

Many (including me) voted to remain, but a majority wanted to leave. In the situation, we have to forge a new way forward in the world that is fair for all.

Tough negotiations are ahead, but I hope both sides come to an adult and just deal. Both sides are not served by a poor outcome.

Time - NOT amateur radio

Years ago, someone once told me that time appears to go faster as you get older. Well, they were right! I am not sure where this year has gone, but it seems to have whizzed by. It is already September 7th and it seems no time at all since last Christmas. Summer? When was that? I missed it! If anything it says milk each moment. Enjoy the now.