Tallinn, Estonia - NOT amateur radio

We last visited here in 2001. Apart from more tourists, it has little changed. This morning, we walked around the old town.

See https://baltichol18.blogspot.com/

Network radios abroad

I guess a network radio would be useful on holiday as long as you have a roaming SIM or wifi access.

Sunspots - Friday June 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot count 54. A=3 and K=1. Quite remarkable figures this low in the cycle.

6m Pirate

It is a sad fact that pirates get their kicks by pretending to be someone else. A recent example was ZL2IFB who was not on 6m at the time stated, but was widely spotted on 6m FT8. All I can say is see if the time and local spots support it. Caveat emptor. Until the DX station confirms the spot or QSO you can never be sure sadly.

Last year I spotted several Japanese stations on 6m JT65 in June. There were so many, and with local spots in Japan, that I am pretty sure these were genuine.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

Although outwardly I look well (so people tell me) on the inside it is very different. The best way is to say I live in a giddy, exhausted, confused fog most of my waking time. My voice is poor but otherwise I cope. People talk about hidden disabilities - I really know!

Never, ever, judge a book by its cover, as they say. By the way, who are "they"? 😏

Stork nest - NOT amateur radio

On our way from Riga (Latvia) to Tallinn (Estonia) we saw several white storks including this one on its nest with young.

4m transverter

Some years ago I designed a QRP 70MHz transverter as I had no gear for that band. This was featured in GQRP SPRAT.

Using just a wire dipole in the loft I managed a few QSOs in a contest.

These days, there are commercial rigs covering the 4m band including the ICOM IC7300.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/4m_tvtr

Sunspots - Thursday June 21st 2018

Solar flux is 82 and sunspot number an incredible 54.  A=5 and K=1. For where we are in the cycle these are very good numbers, although it suggests things will get much worse before we start the climb to the next peak. The minimum is expected in 2019 or 2020. It seems very, very, unlikely we have yet reached the minimum. In the last minimum we had days and days of spotless days.

Total Dick? - NOT amateur radio

It sounds like a few Republicans have stood up for common decency. Young children have no business being the innocent victims in this.

Why am I reminded of Jews in Europe in the 1930s and 40s?

Mr President was elected to "make America great again". Really? At the moment the USA is fast becoming the laughing stock of the rest of the world. His aims may be fine, but to many he comes across as naïve.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44552852

Warm Baltic - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to believe how lucky we've been with the weather. So far, I have worn a short-sleeved shirt in warm sunshine every day! This was me at Jurmala, near Riga on the coast of the Gulf of Riga. Riga is a fine city and nearby Jurmala quite classy.

6m Super DX?

ZL2IFB has again been spotted in North America and Europe on 6m FT8.  It remains to be seen if this is genuine. I have my doubts, but hope I am proved wrong.

Just mad? - NOT amateur radio

The current USA administration puzzles me. Do they really want total isolation from the rest of the world? It would appear so.

Oh, of course, the world was created in 7 days when God breathed. The UN and climate change are not real.

Palestine - is that near Bolivia?

See https://www.bbc.com/news/44537372 .

Hanseatic League - NOT amateur radio

At the moment we are in Riga, Latvia. Although under communist rule after WW2, it is fine city. It still has some communist buildings as well as modern ones.  We like it.

Many years before, it was a Hanseatic League port. There are some fine old buildings in the old town.

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

Sunspots - Wednesday June 20th 2018

Solar flux is 77 and the sunspot number a remarkable 41. This is very high for this part of the cycle and reminds us that we tend to forget that on good days the conditions can be much better. A=6 and K=1.

Earth-electrode "antenna" at MF and LF

Several people have asked me about my somewhat unconventional "antenna" at LF and MF. Let me say from the outset, if you can erect a "proper" antenna and ground at LF and MF you will do better, but at 2 QTHs the earth-electrode "antenna" worked for me. No-one knows it is there yet it regularly gets my 5mW ERP WSPR copied over 1000km!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/earth-electrode-antennas

Baltic Holiday Blog - NOT amateur radio

As some of you know, we are spending 10 days exploring Baltic capitals. Some we have been to some before, whereas others are for the first time. Mainly to jog our memories in years to come, I have created a blog.

See https://baltichol18.blogspot.com/

Sunspots - Tuesday June 19th 2018

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13.  A=5 and K=2.

NZ spotted on 6m in the UK?

One UK station (at least) has reported spotting a ZL station on 6m FT8. My first reaction was this must be a pirate, but he has been copied in both the USA and Europe. We wait to see if this was genuine.

Old age?

Southgate News reports that attendance at Friedrichshafen was down on last year. Could this be because the amateur population is now mainly old men who find travel harder? If numbers are down next year too, it would not surprise me.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/june/attendance-dips-at-friedrichshafen-ham-radio-2018.htm#.WyfU2fZFxMs

Unfortunate name! - NOT amateur radio

I was amused to spot this in Sweden!

Sunspots - Monday June 18th 2018

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number 13. A=5 and K=2.

FT8 and the Reverse Beacon Network

Quite a few use the RBN to see where their signals get even if they get no response on SSB and CW CQs. I have used it myself with QRP CW. Southgate News reports there are moves afoot to also spot FT8.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/june/the-reverse-beacon-network-and-ft8.htm#.WyaAVPZFxMs

White storks - NOT amateur radio

In Spain, white storks often build nests on pylons. Within 30 minutes of arriving in Lithuania we have seen 3!! These were all on the ground. I have yet to spot a nest.

Rarely, we see these migrating passing through the UK. The last UK one I saw was probably in the 1980s whilst I was getting dressed at the end of April. Over here, in Lithuania, they seem very common.

See https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/b/wildlife/archive/2012/04/26/something-to-stork-about.aspx .

D-STAR zzzz

D-STAR is ICOM's proprietary digital modulation system. Sadly, it leaves me cold. OK, each to their own, but I just can't get exited over it or Yaesu's equivalent. I suspect this will play out like the VHS and Betamax video war in the 1980s. In the end one system will win and be adopted. Until then, thank you, I'll just watch.

Sunspots - Sunday June 17th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 13. A=3 and K=1.

Network radios

Both PW and RadCom have articles in recent editions on network radios.

These look like conventional mobiles or portables with a PTT and an antenna (in the case of portables) but they connect to the internet, usually as the units are Android devices. They link to apps like Zello and Echolink, so can link to repeaters and amateurs elsewhere on the planet e.g. a mobile in Australia.

In reality they feel like conventional radios on 2m or 70cms. They can use 3G or 4G cellular networks or wifi. Apparently data only SIMs are very low cost. Not having used one I cannot comment.

With worsening HF conditions, these may appeal to many. Using the internet means that QSB and local noise are not problems and big antennas are not needed. Purist will ask, "is this real amateur radio?".

Stockholm, Sweden - NOT amateur radio

Stockholm in Sweden is a beautiful city built on several islands. It is one of my favourites. This morning we did a city tour and we revisited the Vasa Museum this afternoon. We ate at a Chinese buffet this evening. Wide choice and all you could eat for 451 krona (total cost for 2) including a couple of glasses of wine. Excellent value for 2 of us.

Sunspots - Saturday June 16th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 16. A=4 and K=1.

5T2AI on 6m FT8

As well as D41CV in the Cape Verde Islands, I see that 5T2AI in Mauritania is being spotted on 6m FT8 this morning.

Bigger 6m in CEPT countries?

Apparently CEPT is discussing 6m as part of the agenda of its meeting this month in Tallinn. I cannot imagine this will be a high priority, but it would be good if CEPT had a common (and favourable) view on the 6m amateur band before WRC-19 next year.

It would also be good if all CEPT nations allocated the 4m band. The number of countries on 4m has increased in recent years.

OFCOM filing consultation

Now, don 't get too exited as it is not good for your heart, but guess what?

OFCOM is consulting about charging for its work on satellite filing!  Now, that is so exciting. Please sit down.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/satellite-filings-cost-recovery

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

A very similar photo was posted here recently. I go back there (on my own) in July to stay with my brother. This photo was taken last month.

Sunspots - Thursday June 14th 2018

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number still 12. A=4 and K=1.

A reminder that I get my solar data from http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html

10m WSPR TX

Yesterday, FY5KE (7110km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 26 times. Today, there is plenty of Es around again. Apart from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is. these were all Euopeans.

Sunspots - Wednesday 13th June 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 12. A=4 and K=2.

6m FT8 RX

Apart from 4X4DK (3580km) all 6m spots today have been either Gs, EI and Europeans by Es. No "exotic" DX so far here! Sorry, 7X2TT in North Africa.

Short Waves

As a child, we had low noise levels (apart from LORAN on the top part of topband) and lots of shortwave broadcasters, many in English. These days many (most?) are plagued with very high manmade noise and there are few English language broadcasters. I enjoyed QSLing many stations. Some sent me gifts too as recently as the 1970s.  Much was communist propaganda. Most of this was ignored. What was more important was that QSL card.

As I have said before, you can take a nostalgic trip into the past. The shortwave bands are not the same!

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

UK Pound against Euro - NOT amateur radio

Not quite sure why, but the UK Pound has suddenly jumped against the Euro as if something happened. No doubt I'll find out later. I expect it will fall again tomorrow.

That summit - NOT amateur radio

As readers may have noticed, I am not great fan of US President Trump. However, I think what has happened, so far, in Singapore between him and Kim of North Korea is a step on the road to peace.

North Korea is a strange place, but sworn enemies have to look to the future. The USA and North Korea are very different places and are likely to remain so for quite a while. They need to respect their differences and think of the future.

The meeting could so easily have ended with President Trump storming out. It didn't. I am sure both men want mutual respect and peace.

Stroke after effect? - NOT amateur radio

As I am 70 later this year, I am not sure if this is just old age or yet another after-effect of my 2013 stroke. The worst time of the day for me is after breakfast. Even though I usually sleep well I am always, without fail, very exhausted. After a rest of about 30 minutes, when I usually blog, I am OK.

Another thing I have noticed: I seem weaker. Yesterday we cleaned our carpets and this totally exhausted me. I wasn't so tired last year. Lifting the carpet cleaner felt about twice as hard. Now, this may just be old age, but I think it is something linked to my 2013 stroke.