Heathkit Twoer and similar rigs

Back in the 1960s I always wanted a Heathkit Twoer 2m AM transceiver. I even bought the manual, although I never did get a rig.

The RX was a super-regen, which was just about OK in the early 1960s on 2m as activity was low. These days, there is very little AM on the band, sadly, and the poor selectivity would almost certainly be a real limitation.

There was just something about the "style" that appealed. Even now, I still like the "lunchbox" look. From a historical viewpoint, these are interesting. They also did versions for 11m,10m and 6m

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

Sunspots - Wednesday April 4th 2018

Solar flux is 67 (low) and the sunspot number zero (it can't get any lower!). A=4 and K=0.

472kHz

Later this evening, I'll probably try 472kHz WSPR RX again.

Before next season I really ought to improve my antenna and RX sensitivity. My antennas are basically poor at MF and I know I can do so much better.

My major problem is I need physical help these days as I am not as fit as I once was. But, as they say in Yorkshire, " mustn't grumble".  😊

Jazz pianist at work - NOT amateur radio

Our son is a professional jazz pianist. He stayed last night as his family is in France with the French parents/grandparents. Here he is preparing for a jazz workshop next week in Oxford.

Ideas website - NOT amateur radio

This website was found by accident. It has some interesting videos. It is worth checking out.

See https://www.bbc.com/ideas/

2m UKAC activity contest tonight

Every month, the RSGB organises a 2m (144MHz) activity contest running for 2.5 hours starting at 8pm UK clock time (1900z). The 2m leg is always on the first Tuesday of each month. Normally I am on for about 30-60 minutes because of my poor voice. I run 5W to my big-wheel omnidirectional antenna. My best DX is usually about 200km. These are fun contests with good SSB activity levels.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2018&contest=2muka

For the first time, I stayed on less than 30 minutes, not because of my voice, but because I was working the same stations and I wanted to get back to FT8 on 2m. Some might say this is sad.

In the end I just worked 3 SSB 2m stations, although I could have worked many more had I stayed around. Best DX was G4CLA (105km).

Concert reminder - NOT amateur radio

A reminder that my wife's concert is in Cambridge this Saturday. The acoustics in this venue are very good too. Tickets are available on the door.

Indian Time Signals

Southgate News reports that India in to use LW to broadcast time signals across the nation.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/april/india-to-employ-long-wave-radio-technology.htm#.WsNDyUxFzIU

2m FT8 RX

At the moment 9 unique stations spotted today in 4 countries with best DX PD3HIM (452km).

UPDATE 1020z: Now 14 uniques in 5 countries on 2m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1328z: Now 24 uniques in 5 countries today on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1426z: Now 27 uniques in 6 countries. This really is an amazing mode. Best DX is currently DL6YBF (471km).

The photo shows the 2m FT8 spots today up to 1514z. Don't forget, this is just with an omnidirectional antenna in FLAT conditions.

UPDATE 1615z:  Now 35 uniques in 6 countries.

UPDATE 2050z: After about 30 minutes on the 2m UKAC, I returned to 2m FT8 RX. Best DX recently was G4WAC (149km) in Birmingham. Today, in all, 50 uniques in 6 countries on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX was DL0HOL (619km).

Sunspots - Tuesday April 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=5 and K=2.

2m FT8

After going on the East Cambs 2m FM net, I went on 2m FT8. After a very brief TX period (2.5W to my omni antenna) with best DX G4RRA (334km) in Devon, I went on 2m FT8 RX only. So far 18 unique stations in 4 countries in the last 2 hours with best DX PD3HIM (452km).

UPDATE 2050z: Now 20 uniques in 5 countries in the last few hours.

ICOM IC7300

Probably the best commercial radio available to radio amateurs currently is the IC7300. However, its price is still set by market forces: it could still be profitable at a much lower selling price.

Whether prices drop depends on many factors, but there is no doubt that the price is what it is largely because people are still prepared to buy at this price. If the dealers can still make a killing why would they reduce prices? Also, currently there is no real competition.

See https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-7300/Amateur_Radio_Ham_Base_Stations

Pound jump v. Euro: why? - NOT amateur radio

Mid afternoon the value of the UK Pound suddenly jumped against the Euro. Anyone know why? In the UK this is a public holiday, so it was probably something in the EU.

CQ-DATV 58 mag online

I've mentioned before that lots of magazines are available on the internet. If you prefer you may download copies. Among these is the latest copy of CQ-DATV although back issues are also available at the same site.

See https://issuu.com/cq-datv/docs/cq-datv58

Local weather forecasts - NOT amateur radio

The UK weather Met Office forecasts feature a lot in my "grumpy old man" posts.

Having been on a 20 week U3A course on "Weather and Climate" I know it is hard. But honestly!!

Just an HOUR ago the Met Office reckoned it was dry here all afternoon and evening with a 10% chance of precipitation. Now they are saying light showers all afternoon. Well, actually they probably now say snow or thunder as I've not looked for 10 minutes.😖

Now open - NOT amateur radio

Our local museum and windmill reopened yesterday until the end of October. It is very good place to visit and one of the best local museums in the UK, and we live next door! This was the view from our lounge earlier today.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

10m FT8

It appears I am being hopeful!

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8, mostly RX. A couple of TX periods calling CQ (2.5W) brought no reports. At the moment, I have not spotted a single station on the band.

UPDATE 1020z: Still nothing.

UPDATE 1120z: F1VEO (594km) in Brittany spotted on 10m FT8 RX at -8dB S/N. So there is some life!

UPDATE 1405z: Now a couple of Gs spotted making 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1421z: Real DX!  D41CV (4518km) in the Cape Verde Islands now spotted.

UPDATE 1552z: 6 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 4 Gs, 1 F and 1 D41.

Returning migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

It may be snowing in some parts of the UK, but the birds are flying back from Africa. Don't tell them or they might go back!

Every day now it seems, swallows, house martins and sand martins are reported in Devon. Even at Wicken Fen, just a few miles from here, we had a swallow reported last Saturday!

The earliest I have seen an swallow in East Anglia is April 7th. Usually the majority arrive mid April. At least they are being seen again. My heart always lifts seeing the first swallow of the year up here.

One of the memories of my dad is him telling me when he spotted the first returning house martin. He died in 1987.

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

Sunspots - Monday April 2nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=2.

Solar data for March now available

The solar data now includes March. It has just been released.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Hacker? - NOT amateur radio

Odd how some of my blogs suddenly have "amazing" posts and simultaneously I get lots of new comments and they are all just the same with the same links!

The last lot were clearly trying to drum up traffic for a blog. All these comments have now been deleted.

If you see any I missed tell me. I will not have spam comments!! Some people (or bots) really do try.

March 2018 solar data awaited

A few days into the month, I usually get the solar data for the last month. It is only the first of the month, so this data is not yet available. In February, there was a very slight improvement although the average is that we are still on the way down to the next solar minimum.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

QSY to 2m FT8

Well, my brief time on 70cm FT8 proved unsuccessful with nothing at all spotted, so I have QSYed to 2m FT8 and met with immediate success. My very brief CQ was copied by 4 stations with F1OIL (185km) as the best DX. In addition, a couple of stations were spotted on RX. I am now RX only on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1626z: So far this afternoon on 2m FT8 RX, 28 unique stations spotted in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1722z: Now 36 uniques in 6 countries with best RX DX DL0HOL (619km).

UPDATE 1930z: Now 54 uniques in 6 countres, so far on 2n FT8 RX today.

Lyrids meteor shower

April 22nd sees the Lyrids meteor shower. I shall probably monitor this on either 6m or 2m, although I am unsure which mode to use. Traditionally, MSK144 has been good, but maybe now I should try FT8?

Advice sought!

Lack of faith - NOT amateur radio

Our local church is now very "happy clappy". My wife got me to go today as it is Easter Sunday.

Although I used to be a regular attender at our church, these days I hardly ever go. In some ways I feel more spiritual, but I now feel no religion "cuts it".

This last 12 months has seen the death of two young sons of friends in very sad circumstances. Life seems cruel.

In many ways I envy the simple faith of many, but I am finding it harder and harder to feel that I fit in. To me, all religions fail to provide me the answers I need.

As I have said many times before, I feel all religions hint at a deeper truth and are, maybe, attempts to come to terms with our finality.

Sunspots - Sunday April 1st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 12. A=7 and K=1.

70cm FT8

This is no April 1st joke.

As an experiment today. I am monitoring 432.174MHz FT8 using my VERTICAL V2000 omni stick antenna. If you want to try TXing on this UHF band, then I am looking! If there is any aircraft scatter and activity, then there is a chance.

Go on, try it.

UPDATE 1310z: No spots so far.

630m WSPR RX

As there was clearly no "real" DX on 10m FT8, I have now moved to MF WSPR RX. So far this evening, 3 uniques: 1 Spanish and 2 Norwegians.

UPDATE 2101z: Now 8 uniques spotted.

70cm FT8?

Does anyone know if there is any FT8 activity on 70cm in the EU? On the face of it, it should be similar to 2m, but I don't know if anyone is active.

See https://www.essexham.co.uk/ft8-basics-explained

6m DX in the Es season - which mode?

We are in the run-up to the Es season in the Northern Hemisphere. The best months are May-July although Es can occur at other times too.

Last Es season I kept a watching brief using JT65 and spotted some amazing 6m DX including a whole string of Japanese stations early one morning on 6m. Of course, this was before FT8 appeared on the scene.

This season I am not sure of the mode to try. Probably FT8 as the take-up on this mode has been so great.

Considering I just use a vertical V2000 omni antenna, I was very excited with the results last year.

Our local church - NOT amateur radio

This church dates back over 1000 years to Saxon times although most of the "modern" church dates from the mid 1400s. Whatever you believe, or not, this is a fine building.

It never fails to amaze me how so many fine churches were built long ago when the population was a small fraction of what it is now. These people must have had strong beliefs then or lived in constant fear of evil.

What did they expect? - NOT amateur radio

Everyone is entitled to justice, but these people deserve what? If you live by the sword do you die by the sword? They, allegedly, committed some heinous acts. Now they are asking, allegedly, for UK citizenship.

I thought UK citizenship was for people who agreed with, and lived in accordance with, UK values.

Why should the UK tax payer keep certain criminals in gaol at our expense if they, clearly, don't want to be party to the way we live?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43601925

GB3PI logic update

As mentioned before, my antenna was used in the early days of GB3PI in the 1970s. GB3PI was the very first UK repeater. In the early days I was a regular user. I don't think I have used a repeater in the last year!

According to Southgate News the logic of this repeater is being updated early in April. Sorry, but repeaters don't "float my boat". To some, especially with internet linking, they are an important part of our hobby.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/march/new-revolutionary-logic-for-gb3pi.htm#.Wr9nDExFzIU

Return to 10m FT8 RX

This morning I returned to 10m FT8. So far, just a couple of Gs spotted. May, June, July and August should be much better with Es.

UPDATE 1134z: No further 10m FT8 spots here so far.

UPDATE 1353z: DK9WI (505km) spotted.

Sunspots - Saturday March 31st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=2.

HF predictions

There is an online HF prediction program that allows you to input details of the TX gear/location and the RX gear/location and gives you a likelihood the path will be open or not. I have not used this before.

See www.voacap.com

Better amateur radio prices?

Every month I get a newsletter from a French company XBS Telecom. As far as I can see, they sell amateur gear, with guarantees and VAT at far below the UK prices. Certainly worth a look. With Yaesu cashback offers, these are very attractive prices.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/12-ham-radio

Spectrum pollution

There is little doubt that the noise floor is increasing at LF, MF, HF and VHF. This is especially acute in towns, but even in my village you can see it is getting progressively worse. With the likelihood that electric cars will become more commonplace, things could get even worse with wireless charging.

Southgate News has a link to Don Beattie's paper all about this.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/march/the-threats-to-radiocommunication.htm#.Wr5g0ExFzIU

QSY to 472kHz WSPR RX

About 10 minutes ago I went QRT on 28MHz and QSYed to 472kHz WSPR RX. As yet, nothing spotted.

UPDATE 2050z: 6 uniques on this band so far this evening. I shall stay on until bedtime. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna".

Eating out - NOT amateur radio

For the second time this month we ate out at a local Italian restaurant which has excellent service and a good fixed price menu. Honestly, I could not fault anything. Both my wife and I had the 3 course set menu and the photo shows her dessert (panna cotta).