Sunspots - Tuesday September 4th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN still zero. A=5 and K=1.

Simple Regen RXs and Transceivers

You may be wondering just how simple you can make an effective HF receiver. You may like to try this.  It works remarkably well.

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

If you want an ultra-simple transceiver, try this:

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

Record UK Summer - NOT amateur radio

It looks like England has just had its hottest summer since records began. The UK as a whole saw temperatures matching those seen in previous hot summers.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45399134

Google Analytics - NOT amateur radio

For some weeks the map showing me where the audience for the blog comes from during the day has not been working. This particular map is only available to the blog owner.

In the past sudden increases in visitor numbers always tied up with increased interest from eastern Europe and Russia. These "blips" seemed to happen about once a month. I assumed these were probing bots rather than visits from people with a genuine interest. With the map not working I cannot tell where visits are coming from.

Already today my blog visits are way up. Already I have well exceeded the number of visits on a normal day. Now, these visits could be genuine, but they look exceedingly suspicious to me.

Norwich Collage - NOT amateur radio

My wife created this collage of our visit to Norwich on Saturday. It includes 3 of the cathedral, Elm Hill, the market, Edith Cavell's statue and the river Wensum.

Autumn? - NOT amateur radio

We have had a long hot summer here in the UK.  The Met Office classes Sept 1st as the first day of autumn.

Already, there are some signs of autumn. Nights are a bit chillier and there is early morning dew on the grass. Soon we'll see migrant birds arriving here from Scandinavia.

These lanterns were spotted on a walk yesterday in the village.

PF8

Over the years, several people have asked me about this radio. Back in the 1970s I was involved in the design team.

It was made famous in a TV series called "The Professionals".

The PF8 manual is also available as a downloadable file at the bottom of my page on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/pf8

10m FT8

As yesterday, I decided to give 10m FT8 another go. So far today, 6 stations spotted in 3 countries with best DX on FT8 RX CS7AOM (1422km).

UPDATE 1254z:  Now 7 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1752z: VP8LP (12773km) was spotted as the best DX.

UPDATE 1840z: ZD7JC (7606km) on St Helena spotted. Sunspot minimum? 10m? No problems!

UPDATE 1953z: I had to move to 2m FM for the East Cambs net. On my return to 10m FT8  CA3JBD (11760km) in Chile was spotted. Great mode this FT8! What did I miss, I wonder?

Ferrite loaded antennas

15m antenna

Giorgio I2GSI has been experimenting with ferrite loaded and compressed antennas for 20 years and has some good success with 20W CW or less. He sent me a few photos and has written some articles. The true spirit of amateur radio!

6m antenna

20m antenna

Sunspots - Monday September 3rd 2018

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

Another UK rally too late

Not sure who is to blame but I am getting rally reminders far too late! Yet again, this is included for completeness as it is totally useless. Let's hope future reminders come much sooner.

2 SEPTEMBER 2018 : TELFORD HAMFEST

Enginuity Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF8 7DQ. Numerous trader and exhibitor stands booked for visitors to enjoy and also a variety of presentations from guest speakers in the adjacent historic Darby Boardroom. New improved car parking facilities. Admission £4.50 (accompanied under 16s free) from 10am. RSGB Bookstand. On-site catering. Martyn, G3UKV, 01952 255416 (hamfest@ukv.me.uk). www.telfordhamfest.org.uk.

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

FT8call

This is a variant of FT8 that allows longer messages. Usual frequencies are a few kHz up from the usual FT8 window. I have not tried this yet.

WSPR or FT8?

As you know, I usually go on 10m WSPR TX, but today I am on 10m FT8 instead. OK, on 10m WSPR I usually TX with my WSPR beacon at 500mW. On FT8, I am mostly RX, but CQs go out at 2.5W. In both cases I use the same antenna, which could be several dBs better.

My impression is there is far more activity on 10m FT8 than 10m WSPR, although I have not really done a fair test. In theory WSPR should be better than FT8, but I am sure the 15 second TX periods in FT8 help to "smoke out" some brief openings. In WSPR the TX periods are 2 minutes.

If today is anything to go by, 10m FT8 is keeping 10m going for longer than many expected with good Es still into September.

Egyptian Goose - NOT amateur radio

This goose was spotted in Norwich yesterday. I think it is an Egyptian goose, which is an introduced bird. They are now spreading and quite common in Norfolk.

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

More Norwich - NOT amateur radio

This is another picture of Norwich taken yesterday. It shows the market reflected in sunglasses.

On many levels, Norwich is a great city. By road it is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. By train from Ely it takes about 1 hour.

Solar cycle 25 predictions

This quote is from http://www.solen.info/solar/polarfields/polar.html

"As of July 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24."

In a few years we will have a better idea. I hope they are right!

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_25 . At the moment this doesn't say a lot, but I expect it will soon say a lot more.

Solar data for August available.

If you are interested in the solar data for last month and much more check out http://www.solen.info/solar/

10m FT8

For a change today, I think I am going to try 10m FT8. Activity on FT8 seems greater than WSPR, but the main Es season has ended, so I am unsure of the level of activity. I am about to turn things on (0815z). Although mostly RX I'll call CQ occasionally (2.5W).

UPDATE 0829z: Now active. Called CQ on 10m FT8, but no spots. So far, no-one else spotted. I live in hope!

UPDATE 0938z: Still no spots.

UPDATE 1124z: My CQ calls were not spotted. On RX 5 stations in 5 countries spotted with best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. I suspect this is Es. There seems more FT8 activity than WSPR. I think the 15 seconds (rather than 2 minutes for WSPR) TX period helps.

UPDATE 1451z: Now 14 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Most look like Es. Best DX spotted is YO2CI (1681km).

UPDATE 1817z: Now 15 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 10m FT8. There is still Es about!

UPDATE 1937z: Quite late this evening 3 Brazilians were spotted on 10m FT8. Best DX was PP5BK (10114km). Considering conditions as we approach sunspot minimum are the pits, this was a total surprise on 10m FT8 RX. I shall probably try 10m FT8 again tomorrow.

Sunspots - Sunday September 2nd 2018

The slow plod to the sunspot minimum continues.

Solar flux is still 67 and the SSN still 0. A=5 and K=1.

Rally and Buildathon - too late?

The following has only just been seen. It was rather late coming to me, and is included for completeness today being Sept 1st!

1 SEPTEMBER 2018 : G-QRP CLUB AND TELFORD & DISTRICT ARS BUILDATHON
Telford at the Park Inn Hotel, Telford, TF3 4NA. Steve Hartley G0FUW is leading the Bath style 'Buildathon' which this year features a design by Heather. M0HMO described as an 'HF Swiss Army Knife', a small digital, very portable device that will measure VSWR, RF power, DC voltage, resistance, continuity, HF frequency, GPS (Lat/long, Maidenhead and OS Grid ref) and more, for around £20. The Buildathon venue opens from 7pm and Heather recommends pre-booking for the project by calling her on 0780 254 8938 or email heather@myorangedragon.com . Bookings for a concessionary overnight stay at the Buildathon venue can be made directly to the Park Inn Hotel on 01952 429988, ASAP, making mention of the GQRP Radio event. Further information at www.telfordhamfest.org.uk.

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

Syncing atomic clocks

There is a chance that WWVB on 60kHz will disappear next year as the genius decrees. Amateur Radio Weekly has a link to an article about using GPS to derive accurate timing.

See https://www.anishathalye.com/2016/12/26/micro-wwvb/?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Gone? - NOT amateur radio

It is some days now since I saw a swift. They are one of the first summer migrant birds to leave. I expect there are a few stragglers, but most have now gone.

I read last week that 51 cattle egrets were seen together in South Devon. Some of these must now be breeding in the UK. I expect in 20 years they will be a common UK sight.

Norwich, Norfolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

Today, we went by train to Norwich. It has a fine Norman cathedral built almost 1000 years ago with stone brought all the way from Caen in France. This beggars belief. No power tools, no power boats, just hard labour.

We love Norwich. It is one of the few cities I could live in.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

My little 10m WSPR beacon is active, but no spots of my signal so far. Will this be another blank day?

UPDATE 1945z: No spots again all day today on 10m WSPR. Now QRT. I only use 10m WSPR as the antenna is available and the beacon does not use the PC. When on 2m or 6m, I might as well try 10m WSPR, although I guess to be spotted by anyone now is a thrill!

2m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far, just a couple of Fs with best DX on FT8 RX F5CBU (454km) in Brittany.

UPDATE 1551z:  Best DX on 2m FT8 RX today is DJ1AN (627km) in Lower Saxony, Germany. 12 stations in 5 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1642z: Now 33 stations spotted in 7 countries today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1946z: Now QRT. Plenty of choice DX spotted, although this seems available every day. With FT8, I copy DX I only dreamt about in the past.

Sunspots - Saturday September 1st 2018

It seems hard to believe it is already September!

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number zero again. A=5 and K=1.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

We are quite lucky living just outside Cambridge. This is a famous university town with some fine old buildings. We went shopping in Cambridge earlier.

In recent years it has become a hi-tech centre. I think I am correct in saying it has the highest number of Nobel prize winners in the world.

10m WSPR (TX)

All day, my 10m WSPR TX beacon (500mW) has been on. As yet, not a single spot! Dire. It will stay on for a few more hours, but the main Es season has definitely passed now.

UPDATE 2000z:  No spots all day. Soon be time to go QRT.

Amateur Television

Amateur TV has never been of interest to me. Actually this is not true: I am interested, but there are too few hours in the day! There are only so many things one can do.

If, like me, you are a fireside fusilier (I am gunner do this and I am gunner do that - joke!) you may like to read CQ-DATV63, which can be downloaded free. I saw this on Southgate News.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/free-magazine-download.htm#.W4lJtPZFzIU

2m FT8

Yet again, I am on 2m FT8. So far, this is just RX, although I shall probably call CQ (2.5W) later. So far, in the last half day, 25 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni. Best DX is DD7DAC (518km) in JO31 square.

UPDATE 2015z: A brief CQ at around 1600z was spotted by G7RAU (461km) in IN79 on the Lizard in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX today 51 stations in 9 countries spotted. QRT soon.

UPDATE 2038z: Just before going QRT I called CQ (2.5W).  I also worked G4RRA (298km) in Devon by FT8 when I was using 2.5W to my big-wheel omni. With FT8 anything seems possible!   In all, 5 stations spotted my callsign including G7RAU again. This must be normal everyday tropo and not aircraft reflection. It seems that well over 400km is possible with 2.5W and my big-wheel omni at any time via FT8. Amazing. At one time I would be telling my XYL about these contacts, but they are now so commonplace that I don't bother.

Sunspots - Friday August 31st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN remains zero. A=4 and K=1

Club 72 (QRP)

The latest edition of Vestnik, the Club 72 newsletter, is available for download.

See http://club72.su/

2m FT8 RX

As 6m FT8 was distinctly poor today, I have QSYed to 2m FT8. Within about 40 minutes 12 stations in 5 countries spotted with best DX DF9QT (506km).

UPDATE 2030z: Now 19 stations spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DK1MG (544km).

UPDATE 2144z: Now 22 stations in 6 countries. Amazing.

IC7300 question about fan

Can anybody tell me if the IC7300 fan can be programmed OFF when running QRP? I had an IC706 and the fan annoyed me as it was far noisier than I expected. The IC703 (10W) had no fan.

Also, if not running full power, can you use a lower rated PSU? If I ever bought an IC7300, it is doubtful high power would ever be used. I think my linear PSU is rated at 20A.

My main website

My main website, which has pages and pages of projects is at www.g3xbm.co.uk . Now it appears that Google want this to move to the new Google Sites. They offer a preview. I tried this. Yet again, it seems a step backwards.

I have, for now, dismissed it. Certainly it would require a lot of edits before switching. Why, oh why, do corporations make things worse? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

Sorry Google, but why? Who gains?

Amateur paging

Years ago, I was involved in wide area paging development professionally. With the advent of small mobile phones, paging went out of fashion. I used to enjoy getting news updates and other services on my tiny pager. We made pagers for the UK market as well as for the USA and other countries. We manufactured the USA ones in California and Mexico.

According to Southgate News the first amateur POCSAG paging gateway has been authorised in Bognor Regis.  It will be interesting to see how popular amateur paging becomes. One issue will be pagers. I don't know how common these will be on the surplus market. No-one wants them, but is there a source?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/mb7pbr-dapnet-pocsag-pager-gateway-licensed.htm#.W4evK_ZFzIU

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX. Not surprisingly, no spots received. If I get any spots today, this will be a bonus.

UPDATE 1652z:  Still no spots all day today.

6m FT8

For the last few hours I have been on 6m FT8. My CQ call (2.5W) was spotted by no-one and, so far, I have only spotted G0PQO (50km). It is still quite early, but it looks like people are now deserting 6m.

UPDATE 1050z: 4 stations in 3 countries spotted so far on 6m FT8 today. Best DX is LB6D (1030km). Disappointing.

UPDATE 1237z: Nothing further.

UPDATE  1810z: 9 stations in 4 countries spotted. Non of these, I think, were Es.

More grumpy old man - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago I had to ring up my car insurance firm to ask for a premium reduction. Reluctantly, they reduced the premium by just a little, despite being with them for years and never making a claim.

What infuriated me was the "could not care less" attitude by the person (English) in the UK call centre. Surely I am just the sort of customer they should want to keep? No, they make bigger profits by creeping up the premiums each year and assuming many just renew automatically. Personally, I find this totally immoral. Sadly, this seems to be the model all insurance companies work with. Needless to say I told them to get stuffed. This is business they lost and good riddance. No doubt as a new customer next year they will offer me a great deal to hook me in.

Recently, before a holiday, we tried to buy a couple of PO bonds. They promised to call us when everything was in place and money transferred from other PO accounts. Yesterday we checked on-line as we had not heard. The money was still in the original accounts! So, all money is being withdrawn and bonds set up with someone else. Their loss. Yet again, no-one seems to care, which is sad. In my working life this would have resulted in the sack. You don't treat customers like dirt, never ever. Golden rule: the customer is always right. What is needed is accountability and responsibility.  Sadly this seems lacking almost everywhere. People are just numbers and those who deal with them (if not just a computer) headless morons.

What happened to the personal touch?

Sunspots - Thursday August 30th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number has returned to zero. A=6 and K=2.