160m FT8 RX

A few moments ago I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX from 2m. Once again I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  At the moment 26 stations spotted. So far, the best DX spotted is OX3LX (3317km).

Daft video - NOT amateur radio

It is amazing how tech savvy our 8 year old grandchild is compared with us. This is a video of me that she made yesterday.

Trump and another 4 years - NOT amateur radio

Looking at the USA from a European perspective President Trump seems a disaster. He comes across as inept, stupid, and a poor choice. However, he was elected and the US economy looks quite good. The most likely candidate to stand against him is 78 years old I believe and had a heart attack last year I think.

It seems to me as if President Trump could get another 4 years in office. Personally I cannot understand how he could have been chosen. Maybe the voters who voted for him wanted to be listened to and these people were fed up with their leaders in the past.

Waters and Stanton on YouTube

Waters and Stanton, who seem to have teamed up with Nevada these days, have a YouTube channel with some interesting videos including this one.

Family - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows my wife with one of our sons and two of our grandchildren.

Quiet again - NOT amateur radio

We love seeing all our little grandchildren.  As they have all gone home, our house is quiet again.

The photo shows one of our grandchildren making a film yesterday. She is 8 and far more PC savvy than her grandparents!

2m FT8 yesterday and today

It is sad when 2m FT8 DX goes unreported. A brief 10W FT8 CQ yesterday was widely spotted. Later today I shall probably try 2m FT8 again.

UPDATE 1212z:  A brief 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 16 stations with 1 2-way  G QSO. As usual running 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Best DX was a spot by DF0MU (475km).

UPDATE 1522z: So far today, 28 stations in 4 countries have spotted my 10W FT8 signal on 2m. 4 QSOs have resulted.

UPDATE 1800z: 34 stations in 7 countries have spotted me today so far.

Stations spotting me 

today on 2m FT8 TX 

80m WSPR with the ferrite rod antenna

In all, 46 stations were spotted on 80m WSPR using the ferrite rod antenna. Just one station spotted my 2.5W. There was far more 80m WSPR activity than I expected.  See table below:

80m WSPR spots with
the ferrite rod antenna

Sunspots - Sunday February 23rd 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=9 and K=0.

Back on 80m WSPR with the ferrite rod antenna

Yet again I am on 80m WSPR using the ferrite rod antenna. As of now I have still to get a single spot on TX! I suspect the signal is just too weak to be copied above the radio smog at many urban locations in Europe.

UPDATE 1842z:  Lots of WSPR stations spotted but still no spots of my signal on TX.

UPDATE 2025z:  At last! 3 spots of me by DK6UG (633km)!  At - 30dB S/N is marginal but with such a tiny antenna this is not bad.

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

This was our granddaughter earlier. She is 8 and keen on reading... oh and the iPad!

Grandson yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Our elder grandson climbing a tree at Hare Park yesterday.

No success on 80m WSPR TX with the ferrite rod antenna

Even though I remained on 80m WSPR overnight, not a single spot of my 2.5W transmit bursts received. It works well on RX but must just be too weak to be copied. I shall try for longer but fear it will be unsuccessful.

The table shows the unique stations spotted. Note that many were spotted multiple times.

Stations spotted on
80m WSPR RX overnight
with the ferrite rod antenna 

Sunspots - Sunday February 22nd 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.

80m ferrite rod TX antenna

After removing the tape, I was able to resonate W5OLF's ferrite on the 80m FT8 frequency. On RX it is copying lots of stations (45 so far) with best a Russian at 3300km.

No spots yet on TX (1W) but I shall keep trying. Both the ferrite and fixed capacitor are cold suggesting the ferrite is well below saturation. The ferrite is just sitting on the shack bench oriented for best NVIS pickup. See photo.

UPDATE 1902z: 211 stations spotted on 80m FT8 RX with the ferrite rod on the shack bench. No TX spots. Power increased to 2.5W. Still NVIS orientation.

UPDATE 1912z:  Changed orientation of antenna to vertical. Still no TX spots. Remember that FT8 is about 10dB less sensitive than WSPR.  Surprised that not a single spot yet received.

UPDATE 2012z:  264 stations spotted on 80m FT8 RX, but no spots on TX (2.5W) so far.

UPDATE 2023z: Switched to 80m WSPR at the same power although I am unsure how much WSPR there is these days on 80m. SWR is excellent.

UPDATE 2100: I am puzzled. I reset the WSJT-X program and copied a DL station on 80m WSPR RX, but this failed to upload to the WSPR database. I am pretty sure that my internet is working. On another site all seemed well. No TX spots on WSPR. HB9AFZ (900km) was a strong -14dB S/N on WSPR just now. Also copied were a couple of German stations. None of these stations appeared, so I am wondering if the fault is at the WSPRnet end?

UPDATE 2124z: Fault found!  I had my callsign with a space behind the last character. When this was removed the RX spots appeared. Still no TX spots, but I am pleasantly surprised by the number of WSPR stations active on 80m.

UPDATE 2230z: Just gone back to horizontal orientation on the shelf above the rig. No TX spots. I shall leave things running overnight. Rechecked the match is best. As I have received not a single TX spot all evening with the antenna vertical and horizontal, I am wondering if my signal is just too weak to be copied in the noise smog that many stations suffer from? If there are any automatic RX stations spotting through the night when noise tends to be lower, I might get the odd spot.

Eating lunch at the local farm shop - NOT amateur radio

After visiting Hare Park, Chippenham near us in Cambridgeshire, we visited our local farm shop for lunch. It was very busy. The photo shows our elder grandson tucking in.

Simple 10GHz wideband FM transceivers

With the availability of very low cost HB100 10GHz Doppler radar modules on eBay, many are trying their hands at very simple WBFM transceivers on 10GHz.

It should be possible to make a complete 10GHz WBFM transceiver with no 10GHz engineering at all.

In Italy, some have put these at the focal point of parabolic dishes and achieved some incredible ranges on ATV.  If I was a bit fitter this would be something I would have a go at (WBFM). A pair of HB100 10GHz modules could be bought for less than £5! The cheapest I have recently seen is just over £5.

See https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/teardown-tuesday-hb100-doppler-radar-module/

2m FT8

As of about 1300z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 calling CQ initially, now RX only.

UPDATE 1350z: 10 stations spotted my CQ call with best DX a spot by GI6ATZ (479km). So far, nothing reported to PSKreporter on RX, although the internet has been off.

UPDATE 1520z: A solid 2-way QSO with GI6ATZ just now on 2m FT8. Aircraft reflection or flat band tropo? Whatever, this is amazing range possible at almost any time on 2m. On 2m FT8 RX it shows no spots on 2m today on 2m FT8. This is rubbish as I have copied Germany and several Gs already. Perhaps my upload is not working? Time for a reset!

UPDATE 1550z: Reset done. RX spots being reported now to PSKreporter. 5 spots in the last 15 minutes.

OFCOM and 5G

OFCOM has published details of its spectrum measurements which now include 5G frequencies. See the OFCOM website.

Roundhead and cavaliers - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Oliver Cromwell's house in Ely. In one of the rooms our grandchildren enjoyed a sword fight.

160m FT8 RX overnight

An average night. JT1CO in Mongolia seems genuine judging by where he was spotted, but fewer from the Americas. Are things getting worse or is this just conditions? Again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted on 160m
FT8 RX overnight 

Sunspots - Friday February 21st 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=3.

Rallies this weekend

Again, my apologies for the white background on these. I simply reproduce these as I get them.

Sunday 23 FEBRUARY : RAINHAM RADIO RALLY

The Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB. Doors open 10am to 4pm, admission £3, children free. Local and national traders, BRATS Kitchen, BRATS Interactive Zone for Kids, BRATS Junk, talk in station on 145.550MHz using GB4RRR. Contact 0782 583 8877 or rally-coordinator@brats-qth.org.


Sunday 23 FEBRUARY : RED ROSE WINTER RALLY

St Joseph's Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh WN7 2PQ. Doors open 11am. Trade, individual and Club stands as well as a Bring & Buy. Details on www.wmrc.co.uk.


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

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

When they come to stay with us our grandchildren have a great, happy, time. The photo shows our "London" granddaughter enjoying things today.

Granddaughter today

160m FT8 RX

At about 2130z I went on 160m FT8 RX for the overnight period. As of now (2135zz) 26 stations, all in Europe, have been spotted.

UPDATE 2205z: Now 60 stations so far spotted, all European.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX
so far this evening so far

2m FT8 RX

For most of the day I have been on 2m FT8 RX. Then it hailed so I unplugged everything.

2m FT8 RX today 

Kids will be kids - NOT amateur radio

Today we went with some of our grandchildren to Ely. We ate in the Almonry that has been serving food since the 1200s (very old!), went to the cathedral and ended up at Oliver Cromwell's house. Then it hailed and rained heavily!

Rolling down the slope

Sunspots - Thursday February 20th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.

Hare Park, Chippenham - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we went of a walk at Hare Park, Chippenham near here.  As the photo showed yesterday as well, there are plenty of snowdrops!

Grabber issues

For most of the day, I have been struggling to automatically save screen shots to my webpage. As of now I have not found a way. In the end I shall succeed.

2m FT8

For most of the day I have been on 2m FT8 RX.  It is now 1950z. So far 38 stations in 7 countries spotted. Earlier in the day I was briefly on 2m FT8 TX.

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 so far in the last day

Sydney, Australia lightning - NOT amateur radio

Coming in to land on a plane in the middle of the worst lightning storm must have been pretty hairy as this BBC video shows. Many years ago I landed at London, Stansted in a thunderstorm: I was glad to be on the ground!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-51555851/sydney-storm-thunder-and-lightning-thrash-australian-city

160m FT8 overnight

Last night I was again on 160m FT8 RX. With 367 stations spotted, it was a reasonable night.

160m FT8 RX overnight 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 19th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=5.

160m FT8

Not long ago I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. So far over 100 stations spotted, although none from North America yet.

160m FT8 RX spots to 2240z 

2m FT8

Now on 2m FT8 for the day. My initial CQ (10W to the big-wheel omni) was spotted by 10 stations in 4 countries, but no QSOs. Best DX was a spot by GI6ATZ (479km). Fewer stations spotted on RX thus far. At  the moment I am RX on 2m FT8 RX only.

Still looking at how to put online what I see on WSJT-X.

Southgate News

As regular visitors know, I often include links to stuff on Southgate News. Quite frequently they include things of interest and where this happens I try to point visitors to take a look. They seem to collect news items from several sources, so not everything is relevant.

I am not a great fan of Tony's 10m news.

See http://southgatearc.org/

Making WSJT-X screengrabs public

As mentioned yesterday, David G0LRD has a very useful feature on his QRZ.com page. If you go to the link provided you can see what 2m FT8 looks like at his QTH. I have already used this to see if my signal is OK. At the moment, I am not sure how he does this, but it looks a good feature.

Now, in the past I used Spectrum Lab to create a VLF grabber. I need to find out the best way for me, as I am definitely not a software expert!

If I can save the WSJT-X page image to Dropbox and make this public I think I can do it. I'll investigate. If not, I shall have to ask David! It would be good to be able to do this for any mode and any band that I am on.

HELP!!! Can someone please tell me how to automatically save screenshots or active windows panels to Dropbox?  I know how to do this with "prt sc" but want to do this automatically. Basically I need to do this regularly, without manual intervention, whenever WSJT-X is on.

160m FT8 overnight

Even though I was late getting on the band last night it wasn't a bad night with plenty of North Americans spotted. Nothing from the Caribbean or South America though.

160m FT8 RX stations spotted overnight 

Sunspots - Tuesday February 18th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A =7 and K=3.