Sunspots - Saturday July 25th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=11 and K=2

Eating out - NOT amateur radio

We ate out tonight for the first time since March. Everything seemed totally normal. Food was excellent as was the service. In all, 4 tables were occupied.

OFCOM and WiFi

Today, OFCOM announced it is allocating more spectrum for wi-fi. See the OFCOM website for more details.

What a difference! - NOT amateur radio

A year ago our local museum had its fete (see photo). Until August 6th this year it has remained closed. They are reopening Thursdays only for a few hours with donations only. Normally they open Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays. It is staffed largely by volunteers.

10m WSPR TX (500mW to indoor loop)

As the WSPR beacon by W5OLF is totally independent of the PC, I can TX on 10m WSPR at any time. I keep forgetting!

For about 10 minutes the WSPR beacon has been on. It is now 0755z. No spots.

6m FT8

It is now 0745z. A few moments ago, the 6m FT8 gear was turned on (10W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna). 3 G spots received on TX, but no RX spots yet. No QSOs.

UPDATE 0830z:  3 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX with best DX SV6GIM (2101km). Some Es evident.

UPDATE 0937z: 7 stations have now spotted me and 19 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX this morning.

8m allocations

John, EI7GL, seems to have the best information on 8m allocations. I have asked John if he is aware of other countries/stations that have been granted access to this interesting band. You may be aware that Eire has granted access and a few other stations in other countries have asked for special permission to carry out tests.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html

Sunspots - Friday July 24th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=1. Still waiting for that upturn!

OFCOM and emerging techologies

OFCOM is asking for inputs on the impact of emerging technologies. See their website.

6m FT8 today

It is now 0658z. A few moments ago I turned on my 6m FT8 gear on with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni. So far just a couple of UK stations have spotted me and nothing on RX.  I guess it's a bit early for Es.

UPDATE 1611z: So far today, my 10W on 6m FT8 has been spotted by 27 stations and I have spotted 118 stations.  Just 1 QSO. The impression I am getting is there is still Es around, but less of it.

UPDATE  2110z:  Going QRT shortly. Today, 37 stations spotted my 10W. On RX 140 stations spotted on 6m FT8.

Yesterday on 6m FT8

Yesterday I was late getting on 6m FT8 as we had one of our sons and his children.

In all, 6 stations spotted my 10W FT8 and 30 stations were spotted here. Es is still here.

2m UKAC Activity contest

The latest results have been published and in the low power section I still seem be about a third way down the table. Seeing I am active for about 40% of the time and just use an omni antenna, I am well pleased.

Ultra low power consumption

Recently I bought a new door bell. Unlike my old one, the bell is powered by just pressing the button - no batteries!! I guess you only need power for a few milliseconds. In the past I have seen CW transmitters powered by just pressing the Morse key. Some years ago Michael Rainey in the USA made a CW TX that was powered by shouting in to a loudspeaker.

Do you know of others?

Yesterday at Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve - NOT amateur radio

The collage shows our son and his children at Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve yesterday. It not far from us.

Our younger grandson is very observant. A walk that should have been 1 hour took far longer!

Beetle - NOT amateur radio

This fellow was seen last night. It was about 3cm long.

Oscar 100 update

Regularly, I give an update on activity through the narrowband transponder of Oscar 100, the geosychronous satellite made available to radio amateurs in early 2019. I check the Goonhilly web SDR periodically.

My last very unscientific look suggests that activity levels remain very low. The level of activity continues to surprise me. By now, I would have expected it to be very crowded.

I guess these days it is too hard for most "black box" operators. After all, you have to assemble things and aim dishes! 😀

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Learning CW

With modes like FT8, many people may question why we still need CW. My answer is with CW it is possible to build very simple rigs that can work a very long way.

As an example my recent article in RadCom shows 2 simple circuits and my 15m CW Pipit transceiver (on my main website) was used for a first contact with the USA many years ago despite only having an output of just 800mW. This was with just a simple, low, wire dipole.

Sunspots Thursday July 23rd 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=1.

OFCOM annual report and accounts 2020

You will be thrilled to know that OFCOM has published its latest report and accounts. See the OFCOM website for more details. Don't all rush.

6m FT8

Since about 1355z I have been on 6m FT8 with the 10W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 1405z.  So far, I have been spotted by  just a couple of UK stations and no QSOs.

UPDATE 2030z:  QRT. On TX 15 stations spotted me (no QSOs) and on RX 30 stations spotted.

With the Kent grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows us with the Kent grandchildren yesterday.

Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went for a walk around Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve. They have introduced water buffalo which are natives of Africa.

VLF tests in Devon

A couple of stations in South Devon, G3WCB and G4IUG are doing some tests with sub-10kHz transmissions with earth-electrodes. They can use high power and GPS lock. So far they have covered 1km with Hellschreiber. They can cover far further. It would not surprise me if they were spotted by Paul Nicholson in Yorkshire as long as they can send a long stable signal that can be integrated. This may need days of integration.

See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/news20 for more information.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 22nd 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=1. Sunspots return!

Younger son with his daughter - NOT amateur radio

Our younger son with his daughter yesterday. I am in the background.

More grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

We have more grandchildren staying with us. The house is chaos! We love seeing them but how can they make such a mess? :-)

6m FT8

At about 0700z my 6m FT8 gear was turned on. As usual I was running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0824z. On TX I have been spotted by 20 stations so far.

Visit to the bakers

Early every Tuesday I make a trip to the local bakers. Usually I am there just as they open. It is well stocked, but very quiet at that time. Later this week face coverings become mandated in all English shops. The photo shows the last shop before the new rules come into effect.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 21st 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Tokyo Ham Fair cancelled

Southgate News reports that the Tokyo Ham Fair that starts at the end of October has been cancelled. You may recall that the IC-705 was first announced there last year. Many manufacturers must miss this showcase. Maybe they will make announcements online instead?

Coronavirus good news - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that the Oxford vaccine to fight Covid-19 is showing promise. Early days but promising. There is also some good news about a drug treatment. We deserve a break.

6m FT8

A few moments ago I turned on the 6m FT8 kit. As usual running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0955z and 10 stations have spotted me today so far.

UPDATE 1100z: So far today 33 spots of me.

UPDATE 1816z: 60 spots of me so far today.

8m band

It was reported that the Eire 40MHz beacon has been copied in Austria. I have no idea if a crossband QSO followed. Some stations have been granted special permission to operate on 8m.

Garden tea again - NOT amateur radio

For the second time we managed tea in the garden. Weather was fine on the whole as the photo shows. This is some of our family.

Sunspots - Monday July 20th 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Bird count - NOT amateur radio

Every month my brother does part of the bird count on the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon. This photo shows Blanksmill Creek earlier. Looks a bit overcast.

6m FT8 today

Since about 1025z I have been on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.

UPDATE 1045z:  Spotted by 20 stations so far today.

Stations spotted
so far today

UPDATE 1707z: The map shows the stations spotted by me so far today - 77. All within Europe apart from the Canary Islands.

UPDATE 2005z:  QRT. I expect the main Es season will be ending soon, although with FT8 I am sure we will see some Es until much later. I recall on SSB QRP 6m working SMs way into September, so with FT8 we can expect this at least. If people stick with 6m FT8, it would not surprise me if we see some Es every day at some point. OK, I suspect the days with widespread openings will end, but some brief openings are still likely.

Breakfast chat - NOT amateur radio

The was one of our grandchildren chatting to my wife at the breakfast table earlier.

Yesterday's party - NOT amateur radio

The collage shows more views of our party on the green near us yesterday.

6m FT8 yesterday

On TX 142 stations in Europe spotted me and 303 stations spotted here.