New HF antenna

In my quest for a new higher HF antenna, my attention has been drawn to the Solarcon Imax 2000, which was designed as a CB 5/8ths wave vertical, but works well on many of the higher HF bands even without an auto-ATU. It seems to be well made, if tall. Some have painted the fibre glass to better hide it when erected.

As mentioned before, whatever antenna I eventually choose, I shall need help with erection. Although someone some way away has already kindly offered, it would be great to get help from someone more local. A few years ago this would have been trivial for me, but sadly not now. I feel embarrassed to ask for help!

See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=1376

Christmas cheer

Some people like to decorate the outside of their homes at Christmas.  By comparison, we must seem very dull!

The photo shows one house in the village ready for Christmas.

Encouraging older people?

It is very clear that the average age of radio amateurs is going up as existing amateurs in the hobby get older. It is also vital that we encourage younger people into the hobby and keep them.

Todd already commented in an earlier post that working DX, which was so exciting for many of us, is less important for many younger people today: the magic to many of us of talking around the world is no longer such a turn-on for many younger people used to talking across the world on video free by Skype and similar.

What the Southgate News piece points out is there are lots of lonely older people who could find companionship through amateur radio. These people should also be encouraged too.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/encouraging-seniors-to-join-ham-radio.htm#.XgSG6-iTLnE

Fifth force? - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News reports that a possible fifth force in nature may have been discovered.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/possible-fifth-force-of-nature-found.htm#.XgSDduiTLnE

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Another pretty good session on 472kHz WSPR TX with 22 stations spotting my 10mW ERP. Nothing from Norway but reports from Poland.

Iris - NOT amateur radio

When one of our sons came up on Tuesday he brought my wife some lovely iris flowers as shown in the photo.

Sunspots - Thursday December 26th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 23. A=4 and K=1.

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

After a day on 2m (144MHz) I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). So far, 6 stations spotted me with best DX G4MEM (230km).

UPDATE  2044z: Now 12 unique spots so far with best DX PA3FNY (330km).

Gmail issues - NOT amateur radio

For years I have used Gmail. It has been very good.  A couple of times recently emails or whole folders have disappeared, only to re-appear later. I cannot believe I am alone. Have others had this occur?

Recently a very kind person in Stamford offered to help me with antenna erection. His email was there and I was about to reply. When I looked I could not find it! Recently, a whole folder just disappeared only to be there later. One of my PCs uses Chrome OS, so this is not a Windows issue.

Mystery.

How fast they grow up! - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson (see photo) is 11 in February. This photo was taken when he was just 2. You blink and they grow up. I guess in a few years we'll look back and think how young they looked now in 2019!

Christmas Day walk - NOT amateur radio

Although we have had a busy few days, much of today and the next few days are quiet. Then, from Monday, the grandchildren descend and it is busy again! This morning as it was a cold, crisp morning we did a brief village walk. About now, the first snowdrops start to appear. We saw a few about to come out (see photo) but none actually out.

Sunspots still going down?

I just looked at the latest solar numbers predicted for the next few years. These make depressing readings.

They show sunspot numbers still falling until 2022 at least.  I very much hope they are wrong, although looking at the similarities with certain previous cycles on the Solan site they could be correct and we may well have a way down still to go despite the encouraging numbers earlier today.

See https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/predicted-sunspot-number-and-radio-flux

Overall, not encouraging. Elsewhere, I read we may have already passed the solar minimum.

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

QSYed to 2m FT8

About an hour ago I QSYed to 2m FT8.  Initially I called CQ (2.5W) although nobody spotted me.  On RX 14 stations spotted in 6 countries with the best DX being GM0EWX (716km). Signal strength suggests aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1841: At the moment, 29 stations in 6 countries spotted. A recent 2m FT8 CQ (2.5W to the big-whee omni) was spotted by 4 stations in 2 countries.

Christmas presents - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our son opening his Christmas present this morning. He is a professional jazz pianist and is playing in Oxford today. We had Christmas dinner last night and are having bubble and squeak later.

UPDATE 1436z: The bubble and squeak was great. I actually prefer this to Christmas dinner. Although I enjoy meat, I could quite happily live without meat.

Another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Overnight was another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). 28 stations have spotted me in the last day on the band with quite a few spots from Norway and Poland.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP
472kHz WSPR TX in the last day

Christmas good wishes - NOT amateur radio

This time of year can be stressful for many: it is the season of goodwill and we are supposed to be happy although for many it can be hard. Emotions seem to be more intense: often good things seem better and sad things sadder. For those preparing Christmas dinners and getting presents for children it can be hard.

Whatever your situation - on your own, totally alone or surrounded by those you love have a good day. I recall one couple from work days who went camping in a tent in Scotland on Christmas Day!

Whatever, all the very best.

Sunspots (at last!) - Wednesday December 25th 2019

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 24.  A=2 and K=0.

It just gets better and better on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Last night was even better than the night before on 472kHz WSPR TX! As I write (0708z) Jan in Norway is still copying me!

Sunspots - Tuesday December 24th 2019

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Sirio 827 antenna?

Before the Es season next year I am looking for a well made antenna for 10m that will cover other higher HF bands via a tuner. I am told this antenna is well built, unobtrusive and works well.  I do not want beams and it must be unobtrusive.

Does anyone have any experience of this antenna?

These days I mostly use FT8 and WSPR because of my poor voice. My main HF interest is 10m (it always has been) but it could be useful to cover 20, 17, 15 and 12m too.

One of my problems is erection as I cannot do ladder work these days. Installation just outside the shack may involve some ladderwork (not high), fitting of coax and plugs, and a ground stake.

See https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/product/sirio-827/

SAQ VLF CW (17.2kHz)

On December 24th (Christmas Eve) there is usually a special transmission from this historic alternator transmitter in Sweden. I am pretty sure they are not doing QSL cards this time.

See https://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/saq-transmissions/?lang=en

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

Well, it is not ours, although our elder granddaughter thinks the land around it is part of our garden. When we say, "play in our front garden" she makes a beeline to the windmill! Not many can overlook a lovely windmill whilst eating breakfast!

This is the windmill this morning in bright, winter, sunshine. Next year it is 200 years old. The hedge at the bottom of the photo is in our garden.

Best night this season on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Spotted in Norway 33 times and Poland twice! Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and my homebrew transverter.

Stations spotting me on 472kHz
WSPR (10mW ERP) in the last day

Sunspots - Monday December 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR TX

At about 1950z I went QRT on 2m FT8 and a now on 472kHz WSPR TX with my usual 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Already 3 stations spotting me.

Irish 60MHz (5m) beacon on-air

Apparently the new Irish 60MHz beacon is now active:

"Back in early 2018, the 60 MHz (5-metre) band was allocated to radio amateurs in Ireland (EI) on a secondary non-interference basis. Now we have news that the very first beacon on 60 MHz is operational! The new beacon is operational since the 16th of December 2019 and has the call EI1KNH. It is on 60.013 MHz and runs 25 watts into a vertical folded dipole. This is currently the only 5-metre beacon operational in the world."

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/12/new-irish-beacon-on-60-mhz-now-on-air.html

The site is near Dublin.  An 8m (40MHz) beacon should be on the same site in Q1/2020.

eHam

Whenever I think of buying something (OK, not often!) I check the reviews on this site.

It is a good idea to ignore the very bad and very good reviews and look to see what most people think. Often very bad reviews are written by someone with a very bad experience. Likewise very good reviews are sometimes written for the wrong reasons. If there are pages of reviews and most of these are good, it is a fairly safe bet that most users are happy.

In the end it comes down to personal tastes though.

See https://www.eham.net/

At home - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had a party for some of our neighbours. We did this last year too and it was a great success. Here is our next door neighbour showing some of her needlework. She is very good.

2m FT8

OK, it is sheer laziness!

This morning I am again on 2m FT8. As usual, my 2.5W CQ was copied widely with the best being Eire. On 2m FT RX (at 1214z) 27 stations in 7 countries spotted. These sort of ranges are always possible on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1412z: Now 42 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna. Best DX spotted so far is OK2WO (1165km). RX nis still the FT817ND.

UPDATE 1755z:  Now 65 stations in 19 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna.

Sunspots - Sunday December 22nd 2019

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

Prolonged quiet period on the Sun

We have already exceeded the previous record for the number of days without sunspots and the period continues. The sun has been spotless for what seems like ages. If I recall correctly, the sunspot number briefly touched 11 early last month. Since then nothing!

Rainbow - NOT amateur radio

There was a great rainbow over our close yesterday.  It was very bright. The photo hardly does it justice.

Christmas bikes - NOT amateur radio

Our local bike club decided to meet in our close earlier, all dressed for Christmas. Santa came later - in a car. I am not quite sure about this! The day felt really Christmassy.

2m FT8 again

Most of the daylight hours, I have been on 2m FT8.

On 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna so far,  43 stations in 7 countries spotted. With 2.5W 2m FT8 my CQ was spotted by 6 stations in 2 countries with best DX EI2FG (565km).

UPDATE 1752z: So far today, 51 stations spotted with best DX spotted DL1FDH (634km).

UPDATE 2035z: 68 stations in 8 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last day with the big-wheel omni antenna. QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday December 21st 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=0.

UK opposition leadership - NOT amateur radio

It is now a week since the UK General Election in which the opposition Labour party was heavily defeated.

Although I am not a great political animal, I can see that the Labour party has a difficult time ahead. In my view the party has moved too far to the left, and many people are fearful of this.

They are currently electing a new leader. If they vote in a real left winger, I suspect they will not be in government for years and years.

In my view, a new centralist party is needed. If Labour elects a real left winger, I can see this happening in the next 5 years.

With a big majority the UK Conservative government will push through its BREXIT withdrawal bill. Getting a fair trade deal will be much harder.

QSYed to 2m FT8 (2.5W to big-wheel)

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed to 2m FT8. So far, a couple of spots of me and a couple of spots of others.

UPDATE 1751z:  11 stations in 5 countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1904z: A recent 2.5W CQ on 2m FT8 was spotted by 5 stations in 4 countries with best DX being EI2FG (565km). On 2m FT8 RX 20 stations spotted in 5 countries so far.

UPDATE 2205z:  So far 26 stations in 6 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2230z:  QRT.

OFCOM and broadband

OFCOM has some new data about broadband and mobile phone coverage in the UK. See their website.

Another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Last evening and overnight I was again on 472kHz WSPR TX with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I was spotted in Norway 23 times.

Spots of me on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

Double yolker - NOT amateur radio

At breakfast, as usual, I made myself a cooked breakfast.

For only the second time in a great many years I found the egg (supermarket free range) was a double yolker as the photo shows.