2m FT8 again

Yet again I am on 2m FT8. An earlier CQ call (2.5W) this morning was spotted by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. He seems to spot me every time!

Already this morning I have spotted a couple of stations in Brittany. Yesterday was typical with DX previously unheard of on my simple system within reach.

The map shows what I spotted in the last day on 2m FT8. Antenna is just the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1647z: A quieter day so far with 10 stations in 3 countries spotted here on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX is F6DBI (501km).

UPDATE 1956z: Yet again, 2m FT8 RX has surprised me today. Time now to go QRT. The map below shows the stations spotted here in the last day. Remember I just use a  big-wheel omni, no big beams!

Chaos - NOT amateur radio

Our son is a good cook, but he does leave a disaster area in his wake! The photo shows him in our kitchen last week. 15 minutes cooking and 30 minutes clearing up after him.

Hamsphere - float your boat?

Every once in a while I get Hamsphere newsletters.

Hamsphere is a "virtual" form of amateur radio. The ionosphere is simulated - it is not real. Some of these simulations are very good and they may be of interest to you. I have to admit that they do not "float my boat" much. Especially when HF is poor, I can understand the attraction, but to me this not real.

Network radios to me are a better alternative, as these allow contacts via distant repeaters that are real. Best of all is real amateur radio, actually advancing radio science by pushing the boundaries. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do this.

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

New HF SSB/CW rig coming from QRP-labs?

There are rumours on the streets about a new, single band, SSB/CW QRP transceiver from Hans Summers. Time will tell.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/

Late start on 10m WSPR TX (500mW)

At 1028z I started up my 10m WSPR TX beacon. This is much later than usual. Normally it takes about 15-20 minutes for the crystal to stabilise, assuming there are any Es spots. So, the earliest I can reasonably expect to get any spots is 1045z. Any spots before then (unlikely) are likely to show quite a bit of drift.

UPDATE 1625z: Plenty of Es this afternoon on 10m WSPR. 6 unique stations spotting me this afternoon, either in Italy or Germany.

UPDATE 1727z: 47 spots today on 10m WSPR. The latest Es spot was over an hour ago.

2m FT8

For a change today I am on 2m FT8. An early 2-way QSO was hadt  with PA9CC (394km) in JO32 square. This was with 2.5W to the big-wheel horizontal omni. My call was copied by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. 2m FT8 continues to amaze me: unheard of DX is within reach even with my low ERP.

UPDATE 1030z:  5 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX on RX so far is DM1CG (459km).

UPDATE 1230z: I gave a brief CQ again just before lunch (2.5W to the big-wheel omni) and was again spotted by G7RAU in south Cornwall on the Lizard peninsula. So far today, 8 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1630z: So far today, I have spotted 17 different stations spotted in 6 countries. The impression is that some are by aircraft reflection and some are by tropo.

UPDATE 2145z: Time to go QRT on 2m FT8. Today 29 stations in 6 countries spotted and a QSO with a PA early this morning with just 2.5W and a big-wheel omni. And these are flat conditions on 2m. FT8 really is amazing.

Sunspots - Wednesday 15th August 2018

Sunspots at last!

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 12. Yes 12, not zero!! A=4 and K=1

70cm actvity contest

As usual, I entered the RSGB's 70cm activity contest this evening using 5W and my 2m halo. Only 2 QSOs were made! If I want to make a serious entry, I need more power and a "real" 70cm antenna.

"Successful" HAARP WSPR test?

Well, not in my book.

Southgate News carries news of this test using WSPR around the end of July and start of August. The report mentions the hundreds of WSPR reports from all over the USA and Canada. Using 1GW ERP this is distinctly average.

OK, apparently D-layer absorption was high on 80m, but I would have expected reports from elsewhere too.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/successful-haarp-wspr-research-campaign.htm#.W3LXXPZFzIU

6m FT8 RX

Although I guess these could be aircraft reflections, they are probably mostly Es, certainly the more distant spots.

I have been on 6m FT8 RX since before breakfast and spotted 15 stations in 8 countries so far. Again, a promising start to the day at 0952z. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is DM5BB (903km).

As yet, I have not tried 6m FT8 TX today.

UPDATE 1317z: Es from all over Europe. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is IT9BCC (1889km).

UPDATE 1900z: Now going QRT, but  still plenty of Es on 6m FT8 RX today as the map shows.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Before breakfast, I turned in the 10m WSPR beacon. Very early on I was spotted by DK6UG (633km), but nothing since.

As I said yesterday, I think there are far more people on 10m FT8 than 10m WSPR. I use 10m WSPR as this is "stand alone" and does not tie up a PC or rig. If I want to go on 10m FT8 I need the FT817ND and PC.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 14th 2018

Firstly, an apology for a "senior moment" yesterday. I had the wrong date until this was pointed out to me by an old work colleague, Andrew. As soon as it was pointed out, it was corrected. I just wonder how many have crept through in the past unnoticed. Anyway, I hope the date today is right!

Solar flux is 66 (very low) today and the sunspot number 0. Not exactly startling!  A=5 and K=2.

Back on 10m WSPR TX and 6m FT8 RX

After calling on the 2m East Cambs FM net (144.575MHz, 1900z, Mondays) and getting no takers, I returned to 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 RX. Still plenty of Es about on both bands. My brief 6m FT8 CQ was widely copied in southern Europe despite running 2.5W to an omni vertical.

UPDATE 2026z: QRT on all bands.

Temporary QRT

We had storms quite close (2 miles), so I went QRT on all bands.

As the storms seem to have moved on, everything is now reconnected (6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX). On 6m I am getting Es from Italy although it usually takes 20 minutes for things to settle on my 10m WSPR beacon.

We need the rain, so I am not complaining.

Car insurance fiasco - NOT amateur radio

Well, I  have been with my current car insurer for ages. Most years I have to ring up to tell them it is too much and get a better quote. This morning I did this again and they dropped a very little. So I told them to let their policy lapse and I'd look around. I have got the same cover for very much less, even allowing for introductory offers.

Now, wouldn't you think they would want to keep a loyal customer who has never made a claim? No, they have lost me now, probably for ever. Crass stupidity!! Their loss - not being able to see this.

In my view, the insurance industry is mad. Surely, they should give loyal, good customers a good deal to prevent them going elsewhere. Instead I get an idiot in a call-centre who couldn't care a jot. As I said, their loss, not mine. They deserve to lose all my business in future years, and they probably will now.

Storm threat?

The Met Office has put out a yellow warning of thunderstorms in East Anglia after 11am today. Looking at the storm maps, it looks like the risk is decreasing. Nonetheless, I shall keep looking (and listening!) ready to disconnect gear if the risk is too high.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=2;s=200;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings#?date=2018-08-13&lat=52.27453&lon=0.32891

2m FT8

When the Es season is finally over (today there are still Es spots on 10m and 6m), I shall probably return to 2m FT8, which seems to be the mode of the moment. Unheard of DX (for me) seems to be spotted here almost every day, even with my simple omni antenna! Many of these signals come in via aircraft reflections. The 15 second periods help. FT8 works with signals much weaker than SSB or CW.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8

Norwegien amateur radio rules

There are rule changes in Norway according to Southgate News. It looks like they can use 1000W on their primary allocations.

See https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=no&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-11-05-1340&xid=17259,15700023,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700186,15700190,15700201&usg=ALkJrhhYzEJKBi_urMj2QBqeNoGzZxIShA

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Yet again my only spot today so far has come from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands. As yet, no signs of Es spots from Europe.

UPDATE 2000z: Just 4 spots in 3 countries all day. I get the impression there is far more 10m FT8 activity than 10m WSPR.

Sunspots - Monday August 13th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN still firmly zero. A=5 and K=2.

6m FT8

Well, no Es on 6m here today yet. So far, just 1 GW and 1MM spotted. sadly my own 2.5w CQ call was not copied by anyone.

UPDATE 0837z: I spoke too soon! EA1SI (1071km) spotted.

UPDATE 1645z: Plenty of Es on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2017z: The Es on 6m FT8 RX today made it appear like 20m! Now QRT.

QRT

The big plug has been pulled and everything disconnected until the morning. Yet again I am "blown away " by what can be spotted on 2m by FT8.

Local museum and windmill - NOT amateur radio

About once a month, my wife and I volunteer across the road at our local museum. We live directly opposite.

It is open Easter-October on Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-5pm. It really is splendid. It is open at other times for special visits  e.g. school trips and visiting groups.

We normally help in the tearoom or kiosk. In the kiosk a wide variety of gifts such as these books are stocked.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

A few moments ago, I switched on my 10m WSPR beacon. Even on a good day, it usually takes 20 minutes  before spots appear.

UPDATE  1247z: IZ3LCH (1149km) has spotted me 18 times so far over lunch.

UPDATE 1332z: Another Italian is also spotting me in N.Italy.

2m FT8 ....and a puzzle

When I switched to 2m FT8 last night I had a horrendous noise band in the middle of the passband. It was also there on 6m. I feared this was something external (maybe a new TV in the neighbourhood), so some investigation was needed.

Although it was still there in the morning I was still receiving signals. To cut a long story short, it totally went when I turned off NAR on my FT817ND. It was not there anywhere on 2m USB (which of course uses the wide setting). It is now set with NAR turned off, as it was originally. Not quite sure how this got turned on, but WSJT-X clearly did not like it!

Best DX spotted on 2m FT8 RX is S57LM (1239km) at a cracking +5dB S/N. Not bad with my big-wheel horizontal omni antenna. Signal reports suggest a mixture of tropo and aircraft reflections.

UPDATE 0939z: 8 stations in 5 countries spotted since last night. on 2m FT8 RX.  Even my brief CQ call on 2m FT8 got a spot from 194km, despite just 2.5W to the horizontal omni antenna.

UPDATE 1305z: 17 stations in 7 countries, so far, on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Sunday August 12th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number zero. A=10 and K=4.

144MHz FT8 tomorrow?

Most 2m FT8 activity is on 144.174MHz. As the Es season is drawing to a close now, I may move back to 2m FT8 using the big-wheel omni antenna.

Richard G3TFX suggested I compare the big-wheel horizontal omni with my V2000 omni vertical. There was little difference suggesting the most common propagation on 2m FT8 was by reflections off planes.

Of course some reception may be tropo, so I'll stick with the big-wheel. Mind you, if you only have a vertical stick on 2m then try it, as you may be very surprised. I was surprised that DX that I could rarely hear was commonplace on 2m FT8.

I may swap to 2m FT8 later so I catch the Perseids meteor shower peak during the night.

Heathkit lunchboxes

Really I have no idea why these rigs appealed to me so much. They had poor receivers with little selectivity. Although I coveted the 2m version for years, apart from the manual, I never owned one.

These days, they would struggle on VHF. Most activity is FM, not AM, and the selectivity would be a real handicap anyway.

What I think I liked was the form factor. There was something about that that appealed.

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

The FT8 debate

There is a debate currently about the merits (or otherwise) of new digital modes like FT8. The amateur radio population is aging alarmingly: in a few years' time most amateurs will be very old and, unless we attract younger people, our hobby will just die out.

In just the same way high streets are changing, there will be fewer new rigs, fewer radio magazines and fewer rallies. And that is just for starters. 20 years from now what will our hobby look like?

It appears that FT8 is overtaking SSB as the main mode on HF. Unless you have specialised software, you will not "chance on" casual amateurs as we "old timers" did. This is how I first found amateur radio. These days I am unsure how young people find us.

Personally, I love WSPR and FT8, but I can see that these and similar modes could adversely impact newcomers entering our hobby. I wish I had the magic bullet. Clearly what attracts people today is very different from what attracted me all those years ago.

Hidden disabilities - NOT amateur radio

This has been mentioned here before, but I make no apologies.

Like several people, outwardly I look well (with a healthy tan) yet hidden from view is that I feel giddy on my feet and exhausted much of the time. My life is a near continuous fog. Many things that were once easy are not any more.  Even after a good sleep, I awake exhausted.

Many have hidden disabilities, which are not at all obvious. My only plea is don't judge a book by its cover. If someone feels bad inside, they probably are. A very few may fake things, but most will be genuine.

Speaking personally, I have been like this for almost 5 years now. I am not after sympathy: we have to make the best we can of what we have. All I am after, on behalf of everyone with a hidden disability, is a little understanding.

6m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been monitoring 6m FT8 RX. There appears to be quite a bit of Es in evidence with quite a few southern EU stations being spotted

UPDATE 1352z: 18 countries spotted on 6m FT8 so far today. All EU. Too many stations to count!

UPDATE 1545z: A pretty decent Es day on 6m FT8. These are the spots on 6m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

In the end I decided to TX on 10m WSPR today. So far, the only spot is by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands, This could be Es.

UPDATE 1549z: No further 10m WSPR spots all day today. Unless 10m is well open I struggle on 10m WSPR. FT8 is usually far more productive. Tomorrow I am tempted to go back on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1712z: A couple of 10m WSPR spots from OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Islands.

Sunspots - Saturday August 11th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN zero. A=4 and K=2.

QRT

At around 2000z I decided to go QRT and disconnect antenna, PC and PSU. Although there were no signs of storms, I had spotted very little since teatime.  Overnight storms are unlikely, but I shall stay "disconnected" until the morning. At this moment I am unsure whether I go on 10m or 6m.

Broadcasting on shortwave

Like many in my generation, I came to amateur radio via shortwave broadcasters. As a young teenager I enjoyed getting QSL cards from broadcast stations around the world. In those days there were a great many broadcasters and many of these were in English. Not so today! Many broadcasters have left shortwave and opted instead for internet streaming as this is clearer and easier. It is probably cheaper too as big transmitters and antennas don't need to be maintained. 

Many of the shortwave stations transmitted propaganda, not that most of us cared. Certainly all many of us wanted was that QSL card. If they were proud of their tractor factory output, we could not have cared less!

I hear today via Southgate News that All India Radio may close its external shortwave service. Years ago this was one of the stations I heard direct from India on a crystal set here in the UK. Times are changing.

If you want to take a nostalgic listen to those interval signals, you can. I know this has appeared on this blog before, but it is fun!

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

Storms

At the moment I still have my 10m antenna (looking on 10m FT8 RX) connected as the storms seem to be avoiding us. I always keep an eye out and check the storm maps often.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=2;s=200;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;z=9;y=52.1402;x=0.2554;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Lounge window view - NOT amateur radio

This view has been on many times before. Today (again) we had dark clouds and rain after our recent very hot, dry, period. No thunderstorms as yet. This was taken through our lounge window earlier. If you zoom in you may be able to see the rain.

Another UK rally

12 AUGUST 2018 : FLIGHT REFUELLING ARS HAMFEST

Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, nr Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3DA. Talk in will be on S22. Doors open at 10am and admission is £4, which includes parking. There will be trade stands, a car boot sale. There will be a lecture stream during the day. Tony Baker, G3PFM, 07743 475 018, tbaker@tiscali.co.uk www.frars.org.uk.

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

10m FT8 RX

About 15 minutes ago, I went on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just one spot from Italy. This was probably Es.

UPDATE 1038z: 7 southern EU spots, which I guess are Es.

UPDATE 1652z: 14 stations in 10 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX.  It is getting harder now on 10m Es.

Perseid meteor shower and storm risks

This weekend I hope to keep a watch on 6m FT8 RX for possible Perseid meteor shower action. Although there is a risk of thunder showers later, I do not yet know what it will be like Saturday overnight into Sunday.

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