Solar flux

On average, solar flux has been improving since last July. OK, we are still very much in the doldrums and the sunspot count is still poor, but does this point to the start of the next solar cycle? I am far from an expert. As I have said before, we may have to wait until the end of the year to discern any trends.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Palagruza - NOT amateur radio

Photo credit: Kyknos own work

Small, remote, islands have always fascinated me. I was puzzled why Croatia seemed to go way out in the Adriatic, so I investigated further.

It turns out there is a very remote archipelago right out in the sea. There is a lighthouse, but otherwise it is uninhabited. Until today, I had no idea of its existence.

Now, here is a question. Where is the Alboran Sea? Until a few minutes ago I had no idea! It is not off Croatia.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palagruža
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboran_Island

10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (2.5W), I am now on 10m FT8 RX.  Local G4WSZ (12km) spotted my CQ and the only station spotted on 10m FT8 RX, so far, is PD1DL (328km).

UPDATE 1508z: Now G6XX (180km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1655z: No further 10m FT8 spots here today. Dire.

Bill G4PJ

An old editor of Practical Wireless contacted me yesterday about Bill G4PJ.  Bill, a SK for many years, lived in Salcombe, Devon and was my "elmer". He taught me a lot back in the 1960s. I even heard him 4 miles away on 160m AM on a crystal set!

He had a shack overlooking the water and his earth rod went straight into the sea! As a G8, my very first QSOs were from his shack under supervision. Back in the 1960s we could only use 70cms and higher if a G8.

I have very happy memories of those early days.

Topband overnight

In all, 10 North Americans spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX. So, perhaps 160m conditions are still good and the other night, when so few North Americans were copied, was a blip? In all, 302 stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

160m FT8 RX spots here overnight

Sunspots - Monday March 18th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=12 and K=3. Still feels like sunspot minimum to me.

160m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes now, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As on previous evenings, there are lots of Europeans. Many are calling a 3B8, although I have not spotted this station. Best DX spotted here is RM4W (3365km).

The first photo shows the stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the first 30 minutes. The second photo shows the spots at bedtime (2240z). As the second photo shows, again plenty of Europeans spotted again. The question is will there be North Americans during the night?

Crossing The Bar - NOT amateur radio

This may be morbid, but I very much hope this poem is read at my funeral. As many know, I came from Salcombe, Devon. You may have to click the photo to read the poem.

10m FT8

Since early morning, I have been on 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W), but no spots resulted. Most of the time I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 4 stations spotted in 2 countries with best DX spotted being EB5EEV (1480km) in eastern Spain.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

The 200 year old windmill right next door feels like ours, although it is owned by the village museum. We overlook the windmill whilst having breakfast and sitting in the lounge. The photo was taken earlier from the lounge window.

See  http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

472kHz WSPR overnight

Although I 'd describe last night as "average", I did manage to get my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR copied up in Norway. LA3EQ (769km) spotted me just once and this was only just at -31dB S/N. In all, I was copied in 4 countries.

Stations that received my 10mW 

ERP 472kHz WSPR last night.

On 472kHz WSPR RX, a total of just 7 stations were spotted. There seem to be fewer active TX stations in range, although with just the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I may be 10dB down on the better equipped stations.

Stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR overnight.

Sunspots - Sunday March 17th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN=0. A=12 and K=4.

472kHz WSPR

At about 1945z, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR using 10mW ERP (20% TX, 80% RX) from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, a couple of spots of my signal and the best DX on RX being DL4DCL (561km). At the moment it looks like there are only 2 Gs active on this band on TX.

UPDATE 2251z: GW3UCJ (286km) is the best report, so far, of my 10mW ERP this evening. I shall remain on overnight, but doubt many more stations will spot me.

Shower bacterium - NOT amateur radio

For years we were puzzled by a red deposit near our shower. At first we thought it was from the bricks behind the tiles. A chance internet discovery points to this being a bacterium. Apparently this bacterium likes damp moist conditions. My wife is trying the recommended treatment.

New Zealand - NOT amateur radio

My wife and I were lucky enough to go there in 2009, shortly after we retired. Without any doubt, it is the most beautiful place we have ever been to. The shootings yesterday must have been a real shock. In the past it always seemed immune from terrorism and safe.

Even today it is probably still one of the safest places on the planet, but NZ seems somehow to have been violated. The actions of a madman could happen anywhere. I hope the good people of NZ brush this off as a sad day and are able to move onwards.

If you get a chance to visit New Zealand, do so.  I would be amazed if you are not blown away. Someone once said that around every corner of NZ it just gets better and better. With a population just a fifteenth of that of the UK, this is perhaps no surprise. Imagine Scotland, Wales, England and France with few people all in one beautiful place. Throw in a few tree ferns too. No, NZ takes some beating.

Another place we went to was Iceland. I was expecting it to be barren and desolate, but it was beautiful with green hills and lots of lupins growing wild. Another surprise was South Africa, which truly had everywhere in one country. Some parts were like Scotland, others the Mediterranean, others scrub.  It was very different from how we imagined it.  But, of all the places we have been fortunate to visit, NZ was the best.

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

Above 95GHz in the USA

To most of us, the mm wave spectrum above 95GHz (to 3THz) is definitely too hard, but Southgate News reports that the FCC is introducing new experimental licences that may lead to this part of the spectrum being exploited in future. Although there might be some amateur interest, I suspect most take-up will come from commercial interests.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/fcc-moves-to-open-95-ghz-to-3-thz.htm#.XIzE_fZ2u00

Narcissus - NOT amateur radio

My wife loves these flowers as they smell wonderfully, evoke childhood memories and signal better times ahead.

To me, they are spring.

10m FT8

At about 0918z, I put out a brief CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8 which was copied just by local G4WSZ. Now I am RX only again.

Yesterday was better than it has been here on 10m with 8 stations spotted in 4 countries, albeit all Europeans.

UPDATE 1124z: No spots so far today on 10m FT8 RX here. As this is the weekend, I would have expected more activity than in the week.

UPDATE 1306z: M0NPT (125km) and 2E0XXO (121km) spotted.

UPDATE 1617z: 4 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. All are Gs.

160m conditions changing

Overnight, I was again on 160m FT8 RX. Just one North American spotted which is very poor. I am more convinced than ever that conditions are getting worse on 160m.

In all, even though I was late getting on the band last evening, just 183 stations spotted. This is far worse than I have seen earlier in the winter. As I said, I am not a 160m expert, but with fewer North Americans each night, there looks like a trend.

Spots here overnight on 160m FT8 RX

ARE we at the solar minimum?

Opinions vary.

In the last few weeks we have seen a few sunspots (now gone out of view again), but as they say, "one swallow does not make a summer". Indeed, it could be the year-end before we know if this was just a blip or the start of an upward trend. Last month was dire.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Saturday March 16th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Wine tasting - NOT amateur radio

This evening my wife gave a talk at our local wine group on New Zealand wines. We are a small group, but we all enjoy it.

160m FT8 RX

Having just switched to 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 38 stations spotted so far with best DX spotted UA0SE (6370km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 2315z: Now 68 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Average!

In all, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 5 stations with the best being a spot by DL/PA0EHG (493km). On RX only 7 stations spotted with best DX again LA2XPA (1310km).

472kHz WSPR overnight

10m FT8 today

Since early morning I been on 10m FT8. A brief CQ call earlier was spotted by local G4WSZ (12km).  On 10m FT8 RX I have spotted 5 stations with best DX LA7DFA (1311km).

Spelling - NOT amateur radio

This must be another after-effect of my 2013 stroke. These days I find spelling harder. It is as if my brain does not do the "auto-correct" it used to do. It is almost a sort of word blindness and that obvious errors are not spotted. In the last few days alone I made 3 mistakes. This could just be old age, but it feels like something else. I just need to check things more carefully in future.

Whatever our situation, we have to make the best of it. We are what we are now.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

Sunspots - Friday March 15th 2019

Solar flux today is 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=7 and K=3.

Kuhne 2.4GHz upconverter for Oscar 100

I am told that Kuhne is doing a factory mod to their transverter free of charge to stop it FMing. They are also adding an external reference input, allegedly. There have been reports of poor audio on SSB TX with some of these units and drift. Sounds like newer builds will be much better. I guess they were surprised by how popular these were and had to rush production.

I believe there are other upconverters available too.

472kHz WSPR

In a few moments I shall be returning to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX, 80% RX) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Unlike 432MHz, this always gets results.

UPDATE 1510z: Within seconds of turning on the transverter G1GKN (99km) was spotted strongly on 472kHz WSPR RX.

OFCOM cost recovery

OFCOM is to recover costs of satellite filing from industry.

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

Rallies this weekend

Saturday 16 MARCH : LAUGHARNE RALLY

Laugharne Millennium Memorial Hall, Clifton Street, Laugharne, Wales SA33 4QG. Doors open from 10am to 1pm. More details from Matthew on 07398825024.


Sunday 17 MARCH : 34th WYTHALL RADIO CLUB HAMFEST

Club HQ, Wythall House, Silver Street,Wythall B47 6LZ. Doors open at 9.45am (9.30am for disabled visitors). Free on-site parking. Admission £4. Four halls of traders including Bring & Buy and a club stand. A selection of refreshments available all day and bar facilities within Wythall House from midday. Contact Ian Reeve, M0IDR, 01386 839655, wrc4hallsradio@outlook.com (www.wythallradioclub.co.uk).


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

70cm FT8

As a further experiment, I am calling CQ on 70cm FT8 on 432.174MHz vertical (2.5W). I am not too hopeful, but you never know.

UPDATE 1308z: After being RX only, as we were out, I have returned to 70cm FT8 calling CQ (2.5W vertical on 432.174 USB dial). No spots on TX or RX as yet.

UPDATE 1420z: Now RX only vertical on 70cm FT8. No spots, despite over an hour calling CQ.

UPDATE 1457z: I am going to give up on 70cm FT8. I have been on most of the day and called CQ twice for long periods, yet I received no spots and have received no others either. All in all, a complete waste of effort.

Kings - NOT amateur radio

This photo of Kings College Chapel, Cambridge was taken a year ago. Now is probably a good time to visit the city as there are fewer visitors.

Storms

At the moment it is windy and rainy here. At one point, I thought (wrongly) I had seen lightning. I was thinking about disconnecting my rigs and antennas, then checked the lightning map. It looks like the nearest storm is in the Mediterranean, so I think things can remain connected.

UPDATE  0953z: Now blue skies and sunshine!

160m FT8 RX last night

I definitely think conditions on 160m are changing.

Last night 3 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station spotted on 160m. In total 304 stations spotted here with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX was KV4FZ (6764km) in the US Virgin Is.

Stations spotted here in the last day on 160m FT8 RX

10m FT8

A local was looking for someone to TX on 10m FT8 so he could test his RX. From about 0853z I have been calling CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8. He may well have got others active before me. No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 0912z: Now RX only on 10m FT8. I see G4WSZ (12km) copied my 10m FT8 CQ call.

UPDATE 0952z: No RX spots on 10m FT8 RX so far today here. A bit like BREXIT, no results yet.

UPDATE 1100z: Just G0OYQ (177km) spotted. I have now QSYed to 432.174MHz vertical calling CQ on 70cms FT8 (2.5W) vertical with the V2000 omni antenna.

15m QRP CW Transceiver

Many years ago, I designed and built this little 800mW CW transceiver for 15m. It worked really well, although sadly it was pulled apart years later so the box could be re-used. Now I wish the rig was still complete.

Maybe I should try a rebuild sometime? The first challenge would be finding the box, as I haven't seen it for years. It may be in a box in the loft. I haven't been in the loft since my 2013 stroke. Climbing the loft ladder makes me so giddy these days.

It worked some very impressive DX despite just having a low dipole. Details are on my main website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit .

Sunspots - Thursday March 14th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

QSY to 160m FT8 RX

About an hour ago I went QRT on 10m FT8 and moved to 160m FT8 RX. Already lots of Europeans spotted (84 stations already) with best DX currently RO9O (5145km) in Asiatic Russia.

It will be interesting to see how many stations from "across the pond" tonight.

UPDATE 2039z: So far this evening, 109 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2248z: Now 178 stations spotted this evening.

Cambridge Posters - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to say nothing happens in Cambridge judging by the number of posters my wife saw this morning.