Sunspots - Monday December 9th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and and the SSN still 0.  A=3 and K=1.

Sunspots often return for a few days as the more active side of the sun faces us. As we have had a considerable period with no sunspots, I wonder if we are really at the very bottom of the cycle? If so, we can wait for the climb to soon start.  It may a while, but as they say, "the only way is up".  It certainly cannot get any worse!

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

As a child until university days, I lived in South Devon in an area called "The South Hams".  Arguably this is one of the best parts of England.  Even now, I still feel drawn. The photo shows Soar Mill Cove, which is a few miles from where I lived.

UK General Election, December 12th - NOT amateur radio

On December 12th 2019, the UK has a General Election.

The ruling government is campaigning mostly on BREXIT. The outcome is anyone's guess. The opinion polls show the ruling Conservatives consistently in front, but whether they get a clear majority is far from certain. A hung parliament might get us a softer EU exit eventually,  but many in the UK are now sick and tired of delay, with many wanting this over and done with. The trouble is all major parties promise a lot, but rarely deliver. The UK Prime Minister is not trusted by many.

With just a few days to go, I have no idea who to vote for and I am sure very many others are also confused.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49798197

IC-705

Many people are following the European and USA release of this new radio from ICOM with great interest. At the moment the price and availability are not known. The release date in Japan was April 2020 I believe.  I try to update my website as I get new data. Personally, I think they would be stupid to release this without at least the option of an internal auto-ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705

Austalian super-DX on 70cm

EI7GL reports that the 70cm record has been extended (2806km) in Australia. The contact was using FT8.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/12/australian-70cms-digital-record.html

2m FT8

In the last few hours 7 stations spotted in 3 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being EI3KD (583km). Antenna is the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1219z:  21 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1415z:  29 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1455z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 2 ires.countries (no QSOs) with the best DX being G8WXV (277km).

UPDATE 1642z: Now 34 stations in 6 countries spotted.

UPDATE  1820z: A recent 10W 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries including Eire and Germany. Again, the antenna was the big-wheel omni.  No QSOs resulted though. On 2m FT8 RX 40 stations in 9 countries so far spotted today.

UPDATE 1950z: A recent CQ was spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries.

UPDATE 2038z: The map shows the stations spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX today.

SAQ - Dec 24th transmission

The heritage VLF alternator transmitter on 17.2kHz CW in Sweden has a special transmission on December 24th. See their website for more details. Somewhere I have a QSL card for a transmission some years ago. You amy want to consider this PC receiver. It works very well.

See https://grimeton.org/event/?lang=en

Sunspots - Sunday December 8th 2019

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

2m FT8

Stations that spotted me this afternoon on 2m FT8 RX

Just now I called CQ on 2m FT8 with about 10W to the big-wheel omni. In all, 31 stations spotted me with the best DX report being by S51AT (1251km). Judging by the strong report (0dB S/N) from a couple of Slovenians, I think this was aircraft scatter.

On RX 40 stations spotted on 2m FT8 with best DX being YT5DEY (1752km). Again signal report suggests aircraft scatter.

UPDATE 2339z: At bedtime 66 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX. As you will see below from Jan, he thinks my DX may be MS or winter Es.

Burwell, Cambs, UK - NOT amateur radio

Since 1975, we have lived in this East Cambridgeshire village. It is about 10 miles from Cambridge, 4 miles from Newmarket, 17 miles from Bury-St-Edmunds and 12 miles from Ely. In recent years the population has soared to about 6500. When we came it was about 4000. Luckily, it still feels like a friendly village.

The village has a fine church (see photo) and fully restored 200 year old windmill, the latter being part of one of the best local museums in the whole UK.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burwell,_Cambridgeshire

Lesser Chirpy (10m)

At the moment, at the depths of sunspot minimum, 10m is not exactly busy! In the late spring and summer 10m can be very good for Es communications up to around 1500km. Often, much further can be reached with 10m Es. Es can be effective at any part of the solar cycle.

Years ago, when 10m was good, I designed the Lesser Chirpy ultra-simple 10m transceiver. Like all simple transceivers, it is a compromise, but it is fun.

In the Es season it is capable of decent QSOs e.g. from the UK into Europe. In decent F2 conditions (may be a few years off yet) it should be possible to cross the Atlantic with it. The main limitation is the RX. Only TX if you know the frequency is clear.

Oscar 100

From time to time I look at the webSDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall monitoring the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. This is a very unscientific look at activity levels, which must vary a lot depending on the day and time of day. Nonetheless, it provides a snapshot of activity levels.

As far as I can tell, it is beginning to get a bit busier, approaching levels I might have expected. The last time I looked (albeit a weekend morning) there were 10 stations on SSB. This is more than I have observed in the past, suggesting more people are becoming active. By now, I was expecting the narrowband section to be full. Even now, there is plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

SDRs and amateur radio

Southgate News has a piece about the impact of SDR on our hobby, mentioning that it will soon be possible to buy a 3.5GHz transceiver for about £50. As the piece says, we live in exciting times.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/foundations-of-amateur-radio-07-12.htm#.Xetv3eiTLnE

Sunspots - Saturday December 7th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0. Sunspots seem pretty rare!

Trinity Street, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

On my way to my relativity course in Cambridge, I walked down this street, Trinity Street. This is one of the most famous streets in Cambridge. About 200m behind me is Kings College Chapel.

Day off

As I have my U3A course on relativity in Cambridge on Fridays, I am not active currently.

Websites - NOT amateur radio

Being fairly sedentary these days, I tend to do things that I can do from home. I created and maintain several websites and blogs not all amateur radio related. One of these is for my wife's choir www.cambschoral.org.uk . Others are mainly amateur radio related.

Sunspots - Friday December 6th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

Choose your sweets - NOT amateur radio

To be honest, I am not a great sweet addict. If I never had another sweet in my life it would not be a disaster.

My wife noticed this machine in a Cambridge supermarket. It allows you to fill a tin with the sweets you like. I did not even notice the machine!

2m SSB in the 1970s

When I first started in VHF amateur radio it was in the early 1970s, when most rigs were AM. Gradually people started using FM gear and this mode really took off with the coming of repeaters.

My first 2m SSB rig was a Liner-2. It was a revelation, with distances I could only dream about being workable even with very simple antennas. Nowadays many prefer the "rubber stamp" FT8 QSOs. Back in those early days 2m DXing was real fun and ranges of several hundred kilometres were possible most nights on SSB.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/liner2

Delta-T - NOT amateur radio

Delta-T is a company in our village focusing on plant measurement gear and environmental science. They work from offices that were originally built in the 1500s. At one time they were a worker's co-operative although I am not sure of their business model today.

See https://www.delta-t.co.uk/

2m FT8

All day, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far (1304z) 39 stations spotted in 8 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1839z: 64 stations spotted today so far in 8 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2216z: 86 stations copied today on 2m FT8 RX. Soon be time to go QRT.

Sunspots - Friday December 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

ICOM SDR radios at RSGB National Radio Centre

Southgate News reports that ICOM has provided IC-7300 and IC-9700 SDR rigs to the RSGB's National Radio Centre.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/latest-icom-sdr-amateur-radios-supplied-to-rsgb-national-radio-centre.htm#.XeehfeiTLnE

ABC Classic Sydney, 92.7MHz FM, Australia - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago we bought a Brennan BB1 receiver.  This plays thousands of stored music tracks, Youtube videos and 40000 internet radio stations from around the world. Quality is great and the device small. I am mightily impressed.

At the moment, whilst typing this, I am listening in the background to ABC Classic from Sydney, Australia. Quality is first class, as if I was a local in Sydney!

2m FT8

Just now, I tried to go on 10m FT8, but on 2 rigs it was showing hi-SWR, so something is wrong with the antenna or its connecting coax. I shall have to investigate.

In the meantime I am on 2m FT8 calling CQ initially with 10W to the omni antenna. Now I am 2m FT8 RX only. 16 spots of me including GD3YEO (384km) and 6 on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being F6APE (551km).

UPDATE 1252z:  Now 32 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1815z: 87 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX SM6VFZ (1030km).

UPDATE 1855z: 95 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted so far
today on 2m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2208: 118 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Narcissi - NOT amateur radio

Recently, my wife bought a pot of narcissi for the kitchen table. It will be great to see them come into flower over the weeks ahead whilst having breakfast. They are a real December and Christmas  plant.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 4th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=2.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

Starting at 2000z tonight is the December leg of the 2m activity contest. Normally activity levels on SSB are high. Although I just use QRP and stop on for less than an hour, I frequently manage more than 200km.

UPDATE 2126z: In the end with my 10W SSB 7 QSOs with best DX 243km in the Dales. After about 50 minutes I had to stop because of my poor voice. There were plenty more stations to work.

Stations worked with QRP on 2m SSB

this evening in the activity contest

OFCOM updates

As is usual, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly for December. It does this every month. See the OFCOM website.

UK Pound up again - NOT amateur radio

The UK Pound is, yet again, up against major currencies such as the Euro, Yen and US Dollar. With a UK General Election next week, I am puzzled. With the outcome so uncertain I would have expected a fall, or at very least, things to be static. It is nearly back to the value last year.

I guess the markets are banking on a Conservative government with a working majority and a BREXIT deal being approved soon.  If there is a hung parliament or a Labour victory, we can expect big falls.

10m FT8

It is now 0910z. For just over 1 hour I have been on 10m FT8, calling CQ initially. Not surprisingly, no spots this early.

UPDATE 1010z: 4 EU stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with best DX being RU2FJ (1396km). My own 2.5W CQ calls were spotted by no-one.

UPDATE 1157z: Now 7 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 1830z:  Now 14 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 2130z: I went QRT on 10m at about 2000z.

Sensitive Crystal Set

This has appeared before, but may interest some readers. Some years ago a crystal set design using a zero voltage threshold MOSFET appeared in QST. Thankfully that article is reproduced on the ARRL website and accessible to non-ARRL members.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

Billy Bunter - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK, you may remember Billy Bunter on black and white TV in the 1950s. At the time we thought it was wonderful.  It looks a bit dated now!

Watching some extracts recently, there are some very young looking actors who became famous TV stars years later.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuVQJdA-z8

UK beginners licence?

This has been touted by the RSGB as a way to get newcomers into the hobby. I have mixed feelings. Yes, we do need more young people and if this could be linked to things like scout badges that could be a good thing, but I am a bit concerned that "dumbing down" is really the answer though.

As I understand it, this would be restricted to 5W commercial gear only on 2m and 70cm.  At this stage I think it is just an idea being tossed around rather than a firm proposal.

See https://www.kb6nu.com/rsgb-vhf-manager-proposes-beginner-license

Sunspots - Tuesday December 3rd 2019

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

Sunrise - NOT amateur radio

Today has been a lovely, cold, early winter day with a brilliant sunrise as the photo shows.

Quieter on 10m FT8

An earlier CQ on 10m FT8 with 2.5W was spotted by no-one. So far today (it is currently 1145z) 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with best DX RA2FL (1343km). It is surprising how often some stations are spotted suggesting it is low activity rather than poor conditions that is the main problem on 10m.

UPDATE 1345z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1523z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX. At this part of the solar cycle 10m seems very variable with some quite good days and others bad. At least with FT8 those who are still active get spotted. Usually there is a small peak in Es at the tail end of the year and in January in the Northern Hemisphere.  I don't know why this is. So, with some luck, Es might liven this up on 10m shortly.

Stations spotted today
on 10m FT8 RX to 1912z

UPDATE 1940z:  At the moment 38 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including PP5VA (9957km). Not too bad in the end.

UPDATE 2142z:  Although I have been QRT for a couple of hours now the final total was 40 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Solar data

My favourite site on solar data has been updated. It still shows we have passed the solar minimum. Although the sunspot count is very low, there have been fewer days with extremely low solar flux.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

Election crappery - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have a General Election on December 12th.

It would appear that all major parties are telling lies or are involved in dirty tricks. Facebook has banned a Conservative advert and today we got a LibDem leaflet than looked like a free local paper. Last week we had a Conservative video that had been doctored to show an opposition MP looking stupid.

We lack politicians with backbone and integrity. Most seem to want the best for them rather than the common good.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50624086