Ely riverside - NOT amateur radio

As reported a few days ago, we went for a walk by the river in Ely. It was the last time we had any sun. The photo shows the River Ouse into which the River Cam flows.

Return to 472kHz WSPR, but zero power?

For a last try, I returned to 472kHz WSPR. Although I am copying stations I seem to have no power. Perhaps I am doing something silly? This is probably true!

UPDATE 2150z: I still cannot see what is wrong. I shall have to check things out tomorrow.

70cm activity contest tonight

At 8pm UK clock time is the first 70cm activity contest of the year organised by the RSGB (UKAC). Although the contest runs for 2.5 hours I usually manage far less because of my poor voice and set-up.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2018&contest=70cmsukac

After about 25 minutes I had to go QRT. Best DX worked was G4CLA (106km).

Popularity - NOT amateur radio

Well, some enjoy this blog but I am not stupid.

According to the statistics I have already had about 40 times the normal number of visits today! This is either a mistake or bots looking to do something malicious. 

Unlike previous occasions most "visits" are from the USA and not Eastern Europe. So far, no harm done, but it pays to be vigilant.

OFCOM latest

Every month Ofcom publishes its "Communications Monthly" which updates us on what it is doing. The latest is December 2017.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/84E6FA313BB717BF2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

20m FT8 RX

For a change, I am on 20m FT8 RX using the coax to my 2m antenna via an ATU. Lots of stations being copied!

Initially I was getting nothing on PSK Reporter Maps. After a Windows Update all was well.

UPDATE 1055z:  Best DX so far is RU7T (3118km).

UPDATE 1140z: It is just too easy on 20m FT8 - I have lost count of all the Europeans and Russians copied. I shall leave it running during today to see what else comes in from outside Europe.

UPDATE 1237z:  First stateside station spotted was WW1WW (5184km) just before noon.

UPDATE 1818z:  Best DX so far is WB3JSW (5914km). Also spotted was TR8CA (5820km) in Gabon, W.Africa.

Disappointment on 630m WSPR

There is a distinct lack of TXing stations on this band on WSPR in Europe. Last night there were hardly any active TXing Europeans on 630m WSPR. My own 10mW ERP WSPR was copied by just 3 unique stations. I spotted just 4 uniques. I am seriously thinking of abandoning the band. OK my noise floor (S7) does not help, but there are fewer stations.  It is some time since new stations were spotted and the band is losing its appeal to me.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 9th 2018

Solar flux is 69 again today and the sunspot number 13. A=9 and K=4.

Return to 630m WSPR

At about 2008z I returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far I have been spotted by 3 G stations, but no others yet spotted here above my S7 noise floor.

Tribal Knowledge - test gear

My thanks to Steve G1KQH for this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jmiL14CeQBWNY30eDuRdng1WlUpMDwVtPzy_MSFm0CQ/edit

Heathkit Twoer and Sixer transceivers

If, like me, you are rather old you may remember the Heathkit Twoer, Sixer and similar rigs. These were 5W AM transceivers covering either 10m, 6m or 2m. I think there was also one covering 11m for the early USA CB market.

These were single channel transmitters with a super-regen RX. Although I coveted one, the nearest I got was owning a manual!

In its day, it opened up the VHF bands to the masses, long before SSB and FM. I liked the style then and do so even now. To be honest, today they would struggle, as there is not much AM on VHF and the bandwidth of the RX would be too wide for serious use.

In 1966 it sold for £26 in the UK! On the second-hand market good ones command a good price, no doubt bought by nostalgic old timers!

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

Local museum - NOT amateur radio

Our local Burwell museum (one of the best in the UK) can be chosen as the charity, so it gets some money when one purchases Co-op goods with a Co-op card here in the UK. You get money back for yourself as well as benefitting a local charity of your choice. The Co-op has some keen prices too.

See https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/14610?_ga=2.248622607.92229215.1515413139-1524151408.1508532784

Bots again - NOT amateur radio

Well, according to my stats I have already had 21 times the normal daily blog visits! Yesterday it was about 5 times normal. Either this is just an error or I am being targeted by bots with bad intent. If you spot anything odd, please let me know. Should this blog disappear you'll know why.

UPDATE 1145z: Blog seems normal so far. Most visits are from the USA and not Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1330z: Blog visits WAY, WAY above normal.

Sunspots - Monday January 8th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=1.

6m MSK144

Since just before breakfast, I have been monitoring 50.280MHz MSK144. So far today, nothing spotted.

UPDATE 1148z:  Just G0GGG (210km) spotted so far today on 6m.

630m WSPR overnight

Average. 10 uniques spotted my 10mW ERP and I spotted 6. Those that spotted me were all Gs.

Bots - NOT amateur radio

Funny how blog numbers have gone back to normal again at the very same time visits from Romania have taken a nosedive. Need I say more?

If you see any unusual postings, especially comments on postings, let me know right away, so I can check and if necessary remove. As far as possible I try to ensure all links are safe.

UPDATE 2144z: Blog numbers have risen sharply again, as have visits from Ukraine. Suspicious?

Return to 630m WSPR

As is my normal pattern, I have returned to 630m WSPR for this evening and overnight (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far my best TX DX is M0NKA (154km). Although drift is reducing, the crystal in my transverter is still settling. It usually settles within 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1815z:  G0LUJ (266km) is currently the best TX DX.

Ely - NOT amateur radio

As the weather was sunny and bright (if cold) we decided to go to Ely for a walk. The photo shows the cathedral from the river.

Bye, bye Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we put away the Christmas things. Time seems to fly by!  It seems no time since Christmas 2016. As always, the grandchildren love it.

EME on TV?

According to Southgate News the next Michael Portillo "Great British Rail Journeys" may include a piece recorded at Goonhilly Downs showing him operating 5.6GHz EME under supervision.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/bbc-tv-to-show-michael-portillo-moonbounce.htm#.WlIA00x2vIU .

10m FT8 today

Today, I am back on 10m FT8 RX. So far just 2E0XXO (120km) spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: So far, the best DX on 10m FT8 RX is DM1FL (495km).

UPDATE 1625z: 5 uniques in 2 countries so far today.

630m WSPR overnight

As usual, I went on 630m WSPR last night with my 10mW ERP. In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations and I spotted 6. Unusually, all the stations that spotted me were Gs.

Best DX on RX was (again) LA8AV (1035km) up in Norway. He must have a good set-up as he always beats my S7 noise floor.

Sunspots - Sunday January 7th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=0.

630m WSPR

Rather later than usual (2145z) I have QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) from 6m MSK144. I have spotted a couple of stations, although no-one has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 2220z: So far 7 unique stations have spotted me with the best DX being G0LUJ (266km).

Free French Mag

The December 2017 edition of the French Radio mag Radio-REF is available as a free download.

See http://www.r-e-f.org/images/201712_INTERACTIF.pdf .

Real time HF predictions

A reminder that almost real time HF predictions are available at http://www.convectiveweather.co.uk/ionosphere/graphs.php?type=live . Earlier today the MUF for 3000km contacts was just above 22MHz.

The USA in 2018 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment President Trump is openly rubbishing a new book just out. In the meantime the US government has to agree its priorities for the year ahead.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42589860 .

UPDATE 1422z:  President Trump has tweeted, allegedly, that he is "a very stable genius".

Spider's Web - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this morning it was misty and frosty, although nothing like the very cold snap in the east of the USA.

My wife took this photo of a spider's web from one of the trees in our front garden. It was covered in frozen dew and quite beautiful.

Each season brings something of beauty and winter is no exception.

6m MSK144

Daytime today I am on 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz.  Any signals received will be by random MS, aircraft reflection or tropo. So far, just GM3NKG (474km) spotted strongly. Remember this sort of path can be bridged at any time in the solar cycle on 6m.

UPDATE 1216z:  No further spots, as yet, on 6m MSK144 RX today.

UPDATE 1322z: Further spots - from Belgium and NE England - on 6m MSK144 today. These were both very strong.

UPDATE 1352z: M1BXF (14km) spotted. He is very local and very strong, HI.

UPDATE 1552z: 6 uniques in 4 countries so far spotted on 6m MSK144 today.

UPDATE 2144z: Overall today 7 uniques in 5 countries spotted on 50.280MHz MSK144. I noticed an SM which did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps.

Last night on 630m WSPR

A better night. 9 unique stations spotted and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 9 unique stations.

Sunspots - Saturday January 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1.

630m WSPR

At 1846z I QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) after the daylight on 10m FT8 RX. This is a bit of a test as recently activity levels in the UK and Europe on 630m seem to have been dropping.

New Blue Plaque - NOT amateur radio

It appears a famous woman microbiologist was born and raised in our village. A new plaque in her honour has appeared. Unless I missed it before, I think this was put up over the holidays. I have to confess I had not heard of her before. The link seems wrong.

Improved miniwhip active RX antenna

Quite a few people use the PA0RDT miniwhip as their RX antenna. Although tiny, these work remarkably well on the 136kHz and 472kHz bands. They also work at higher frequencies. Now a better circuit has been shared by PA3FWM.

See http://www.pa3fwm.nl/projects/miniwhip/ .

First year in the White House book - NOT amateur radio

There is a new book out, which President Trump has called "a pack of lies" allegedly. I hope the book does well.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42574419 .

See also https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Poetry-Donald-Trump/dp/1786892278/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515149198&sr=1-1&keywords=trump

Spaceweather - NOT amateur radio

If you want to know about what's happening in the skies above our heads look at this website. It regularly has news and photos of interest.

See http://spaceweather.com/ .

630m WSPR

This continues to disappoint. Overnight my own 10mW ERP was spotted by 6 unique stations and I spotted 5 uniques. This is a little better than the day before, but I get the feeling people are leaving the band.

Sunspots - Friday January 5th 2018

Solar flux is 69, but the sunspot number is 13. A=4 and K=2. On average, solar conditions are on a slow decline.

10m FT8 RX

Since just before breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just DH2PA (653km) spotted. This could have been aircraft reflection I guess.

UPDATE 1302z: EA4GXG (1332km) and G4HZW (208km) spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1540z: 5 unique stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8.