6m FT8

As of about 0800z, the FT8 gear was switched on. So far (0829z) 31 spots of my 10W to the omni vertical on TX and 25 stations spotted on RX. So far, all EU.

UPDATE 1138z:  So far today, 123 stations have spotted me, but no QSOs yet. I am auto sequencing and answering whoever calls me first, which is my normal operating style. I monitor things very regularly on another PC and can be in the shack in just a few seconds.  110 stations spotted here so far. Most stations are in Europe with a handful of near Asians.

UPDATE 1445z:  QRT as thunderstorm risk.  About minutes later everything was reconnected.

UPDATE 2125z:  In all, 145 spots of my 10W to the vertical omni. This is quite poor for recent days.

More rally news

The following rallies have been cancelled or postponed.  The precis is the Rochdale and District ARS rally is cancelled, but it may be rescheduled to November. The Spaldng DARS is cancelled. The Lough Erne rally has been postponed.

Again, if the background makes this hard to read, I apologise. This is how I receive this.


Saturday 6 JUNE : CANCELLED but hopefully rescheduled to November

ROCHDALE & DISTRICT ARS SUMMER RALLY. St Vincent de Paul's, Caldershaw Road, off Edenfield Road, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open to the public at 10.15am, with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes earlier. Admission is £2.50, under 12s free. Pitches are £5 if you have your own table or £10 with a table provided. Refreshments are available including bacon and sausage butties. Details from Robert, M0NVQ, on 0777 811 3333 or m0nvq@outlook.com.


Sunday 7 JUNE : CANCELLED

SPALDING DARS ANNUAL RALLY. It is with regret, and following extensive talks, taking advice, that we announce that this years Spalding Rally in June is unfortunately cancelled...We look forward to seeing traders and visitors again in 2021... Holbeach Community Sports Academy, Pennyhill Lane, Holbeach PE12 7PR Doors open at 9.30am and admittance is £3. The venue offers easy access from the A17, large area for boot traders and modern hall for indoor traders. There will be a Car Boot Sale, RSGB Book Stall, Special Interest Groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site and there will be a prize draw/raffle. Contact Graham Boor, G8NWC, 07754 619 701, rallysecretary@sdars.org.uk.


Sunday 7 JUNE : POSTPONED

LOUGH ERNE RALLY. SHARE Centre, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ Doors are open at 11.30am and there is free parking. Entry is £5.00 or €5.00 on the door. Free tables for trade and special interest groups. There will be a bar and café with cooked lunch available. The RSGB will be in attendance. The raffle is included in the door entry price. Bring & Buy is free. For updates visit website www.learc.eu.


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

Sunspots - Friday June 5th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 12. A=4 and K=1.

RF interference levels

At the moment, I am quite rare in having a quiet RF noise level. Others are not so lucky and HF operating is all but impossible. Southgate News reports on an IARU submission to CISPR on this.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/june/rising-rf-noise-levels-iaru-submits-paper-to-cispr.htm#.XtkLr4jYrrc

70cm yagi

Unless I am mistaken the photo shows the homebrew 4 el yagi I made about 7 years ago for use in portable activity contests.

I still have this antenna in the back of the garage. It has not been used in recent years. The mast is just a PVC tube trapped in the car door.

Zoom jazz gig - NOT amateur radio

As reported a few days ago, my son is a professional jazz pianist. He plays at all the very best venues in London and around the UK and has appeared on the BBC and other radio stations and has done tours overseas.

Currently, with venues closed, he is unable to play live gigs. Last night he did a Zoom performance with people buying tickets. It was a great success.

Not so modern technology

This photo appeared as a memory earlier. Looks good stuff, although I doubt it will ever catch on, HI.

10m WSPR TX

After a very disappointing day yesterday ( no spots) I have just turned on my 500mW WSPR TX beacon using the tiny indoor loop antenna.

UPDATE 1055z:  Just G4KPX (14km) spotting me currently.

6m FT8

At about 0600z my 10W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical was turned on. So far today just 2 G spots.

UPDATE 0845z:  54 spots of me so far, mostly EUs via Es.

UPDATE 1456z: 137 spots of me and a few QSOs so far. On RX 100 stations spotted so far. Best DX is an OD5. on both TX and RX.

Sunspots - Thursday June 4th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 12.  A=4 and K=1.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Once again I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop. No spots of me yet today.

UPDATE 1111z:  Still no spots so far today.

6m FT8

Usually I go on 6m FT8 to have QSOs. Sometimes I just want to TX to find out on PSKreporter where my 10W is being copied. Calling CQ works, but confuses people who call me. Is there a way to TX and appear on PSKreporter that makes it clear to others that I am sometimes not after QSOs?

UPDATE 1113z:  A few Es spots so far today on TX. On RX, very few Es spots so far today.

UPDATE 1355z: On occasions, I want to just look on PSKreporter to see where I have been spotted, but without calling CQ, which can cause confusion. So far, I have not found a way unless I put in a fictitious callsign. Evertyhing I have tried so far does not appear on PSKreporter. Any suggestions?

OFCOM updates

OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly for June. This has the statistics for June. See their website for more information.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Short range devices (SRDs)

I am very ignorant of the rules in the UK and EU around SRDs. OFCOM has announced making bands at 800 and 900MHz license free. I am not sure what other bands are available for SRDs or whether type approvals are needed or the ERP limits. Can these bands be available to radio amateurs for modes like WSPR or FT8? We might have a legal way to access other parts of the spectrum.

6m FT8

About an hour ago, I turned on 6m FT8 with my usual 10W and the V2000 vertical.  It is now 0800z. So far, 223 stations have copied me. On 6m FT8 RX 114 stations spotted.

Yesterday I was spotted in the mainland USA on 6m FT8 by K4MVL (4360 miles).

Spots of my 10W
to 1730z today

UPDATE 1737z: So far today 548 stations have spotted me on 6m FT8 TX. Most were EU stations by Es with a small number of Africans and near Asia.

10m WSPR TX

As yesterday, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW and the indoor loop. Quite a few spots already. It is now 0859z.

ICOM response on lack of 4m on IC-705

I wrote to ICOM UK about 4m not being included and asked if it would be in a letter firmware update. I got a reply that looks like it was generated by a computer. BTW, I did not ask about previous models!

"Thank you for taking time to write to us regarding the 4mtr band on the new IC-705 as well as your comments on previous Icom models.

We apologise for the news released recently regarding the band not being included in our new radio. As passionate Radio Hams and keen users of the band, we share your disappointment.

We are passing all messages back to the sales, production and design teams at our HQ in Japan

We remain at your service and any news regarding this subject or other information will be transmitted via our web and social media channels

Kind Regards

ICOM UK LIMITED.
HAM RADIO DEPT."

Sunspots - Tuesday June 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 11. A =6 and K=2.  Clearly sunspots are back and the active side of the sun is coming in to view.

Solar data page updated

My favourite page for solar data has been updated and this now includes the data for May as well as the latest thoughts on the date of solar minimum which is showing December 2019 as a possible date.

It still shows a pickup in sunspots this year. Hope this is correct!

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

See also https://www.solen.info/solar/

Online jazz gig - NOT amateur radio

My son is a professional jazz pianist. He has been on the BBC and other radio stations and usually plays at the very best jazz venues in London and around the country. He has had gigs abroad several times. He is very good.

As these venues are closed, he gets no income. Instead he is trying to sell tickets for an online gig this Wednesday. Even if you cannot listen, please consider buying a ticket.

To buy tickets go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/307363236932197

To see the gig go to:

See https://www.tickettailor.com/events/greensandjazz/378245/o/c5ddfb5

10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)

An encouraging start today.  After just a few minutes, 7 unique stations spotting me with most Europeans via Es.

UPDATE 1213z: So far today 15 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1627z: 39 10m WSPR spots of me today.

6m FT8

Although I have still to get to the bottom of my internet time sync issue I think I have reset the PC clock and synchronised it to internet time resyncing every 500 seconds. It looks like it is better at first, then off later. If anyone has my timing now (i.e. early Monday - it is now 0754z) I'd be grateful.

So far, 96 stations have spotted me. There is plenty of Es from Europe and some in Western Europe are working Japan again. So far, nothing from Japan or the Far East here on 6m FT8 RX or TX.

UPDATE 1800z: So far today 1081 stations have spotted me. This includes 1 station in mainland USA. Not bad for 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.

SOTA spots

Some people choose their amateur radio the hard way. Some like to combine hiking to high spots to do "activations". These activations are part of summits on the air (SOTA).  I believe there are awards for summits worked.

If this is your "thing" you may like https://www.on6zq.be/p/swf/index.html#/spotfilter which shows activations. At least you can work these stations from the warm and dry!

DX is relative

As an old timer of advancing years now, some may well disagree with my "grumpy old man" statements. Tough, I shall say it anyway!

Today, I want to say that DX is relative. Some must run the full legal power (or more), have a big tower and a big beam and rotator to work that last DXCC entity that half the world is shouting at. He or she probably thinks little of spending many thousands on the "hobby". To me, this is plain ego stroking.

For me, DX is what comes my way. Usually I run QRP and with this I obtained DXCC mostly on 10m SSB long ago. If I get QSOs with distant stations, fine.  To me, working these stations means as much (or more) than those who choose to spend big on the "hobby".

I often tell newcomers that you can have much fun spending very little as the "grown-ups" who want to splash the cash. Rigs like the uBITX can be quite inexpensive, but are capable of working the world with modest, low, wire antennas.  Of course, if you build your own rigs you can get on the air for even less. One USA company is selling very low cost DSB FT8 transceiver kits that cost less than a single meal out (remember those?).

See https://qrpguys.com/

CQ-Serenade

Apparently you can listen to Southgate News on CQ-Serenade on the radio. Frequencies and times are shown on the Southgate News pages. What I did not know was that a record was made between 1965 and 1970 called CQ-Serenade. I had never heard it before. You can hear it at: https://www.on6zq.be/w/index.php/Audio/CqSerenadeEn

Sunspots - Monday June 1st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Internet time and Windows 10?

For years I have used an internet time server to synchronise to internet time so I know my PC clock is accurate for modes like WSPR and FT8. I have used the one at https://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/ successfully. I changed the  frequency of syncs so it does it quite often. I have never had a problem before.

In the last few days 2 different people have told me my timing is way off. Luckily, I still seem to get loads of QSOs and spots on FT8 and WSPR.

Anyone else had this problem recently?

It is almost like it no longer syncs to internet time or now does it very infrequently. Any comments most welcome.

Muntjacs - NOT amateur radio

On one of our village walks we regularly see Muntjac Deer, as the photo shows. We have seen them on 3 occasions in the last 5 walks on this route.

I think these were introduced into the UK in the 1900s. They are very common now. At night you can hear them barking. It sounds like a dog and goes on and on with the same note.

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

Seen on our walk - NOT amateur radio

These flowers were seen on a recent walk.

10m WSPR

My 10m 500mW TX WSPR beacon is already working at 0530z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1105z:  12 unique stations have spotted me so far today on 10m WSPR TX. Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1230z: Now spotted by EI7GL (594km) making the 13th unique station to spot me today.

UPDATE 1810z: Amazingly 65 unique stations have spotted me on 10m WSPR in the last few days. See table. I was clearly totally wrong thinking most people had stopped using 10m WSPR!  Not forgetting all these spots were on the tiny indoor loop in the shack!

Early start on 6m FT8 (real DX later)

6m spots of my
10W at 0611z

As I was awake early, I am already on 6m FT8. It is now 0550z. Some in Eastern Europe are working Japanese stations on 6m. Already there is plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1108z: Plenty of European and Asian spots of my 10W 6m FT8, but nothing from the Far East.

UPDATE 1307z: Just had 4 QSOs in quick succession with German stations. Lots are calling and working North Americans, so I guess the band must be open "across the pond". No sign of the Americas here yet.

UPDATE 1349z: 788 spots of my 10W so far and 509 stations spotted here so far today.

UPDATE 1930z:  In the last day, my 10W on 6m FT8 to the V2000 omni vertical has been spotted by 1128 stations with the best being UN3M (3553km) in Kazakhstan. Nothing transatlantic here sadly.

New version of WSJT-X

At the moment there is a release candidate for a new version. I think the full release of this version is very close, so I'll wait for this.

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/

Lockdown restrictions - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, we have had lockdown requirements for some months now. Basically, people can go out of the home for essential shopping and exercise.  On Monday, the English government is planning to ease some of the restrictions so that at least some primary children can get back to school, whilst observing social distancing measures.

Quite a few UK scientists who brief the government are unhappy and think we should wait a bit longer so infection rates are lower and a proper "track and trace" system is in place. It is a delicate balance and no-one really knows. I think the main message is "go very carefully".

In the end this is a political decision. Personally, I think another few weeks would be better.

UPDATE 1330z: In my view we are taking a great risk by unlocking some lockdown rules tomorrow. I hope the government has the guts to really "follow the science" and not just listen and ignore.

Sunspots - Sunday May 31st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0.  A=14 and K=1.

QRT

On all bands I am now QRT (it is now 2055z).

10m WSPR TX has surprised me with 63 spots in recent days with 500mW and the indoor loop antenna.

On 6m FT8, plenty of Es, although today my 10W and V2000 vertical only got me QSOs and spots from Europe, near Asia and Africa today.

Back on 6m FT8 (10W and V2000 vertical)

After a few fruitless hours on 2m FT8 (no Es spotted here, although lots of stations were copying me, as usual, but not by Es) I have now returned to 6m FT8.

Lots of European Es from Iberia, Scandinavia and Sicily. Already being spotted by 44 stations within  15 minutes!

UPDATE 1500z:  Yesterday, I was spotted in Kuwait, Gabon and the Caribbean on 6m FT8 with 10W and the omni vertical. Will today be as good?

No 4m on European IC-705

Last night ICOM announced that the European IC-705 will not have 4m. See their website.

Maybe later with a firmware upgrade? Perhaps they ran out of time and wanted to capture market share before the competition? I cannot see other players not wanting this market. Without 4m this could dent European sales, especially at the price. It would be good if they could say it will be available later as a firmware upgrade.

2m Es?

Just after 1000z I turned on 2m FT8. I am hoping to catch some 2m Es.

UPDATE 1404z: Plenty of stations have spotted me, but no Es noted.

6m FT8 DX

Several Gs and others in western Europe are working Japanese stations on 6m. This is regular at this time of year. Sadly I am not copying these. I guess my simple system is not good enough. This is where a few more dBs would make all the difference. Imagine what difference 10dB could make.

Lots of Es to Europe and the Gulf states.