Front garden in autumn - NOT amateur radio

It seems the long summer days and warmth are over as we move into autumn. In the front garden, one of our rowan trees has lost lots of leaves and in the back garden the trees will soon be bare again.

Things seem to have suddenly changed.

2m FT8 Sunday (2.5W and the big-wheel omni)

Stations spotting my 2.5W 2m FT8 in first 20 minutes

Since about 0850z, I have been on 2m FT8.   Already spotted by a 5 stations of which one gave me an incredible +4dB S/N. This was G8TIC (170km). I suspect this was aircraft reflection. Best DX spot was by DF0MU (475km). The photo shows the stations spotting me in the first 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1218z:  16 spots of my 2m QRP FT8 so far today. It never fails.

Stations spotting my 2.5W to the big-wheel
on 2m FT8 today so far to 1440z

UPDATE 1440z:   23 stations in 4 countries have spotted me so far today and I have spotted 19 stations and I have had 1 QSO. Who needs high power, towers and big beams? Certainly not me! Just an FT817ND and a simple big-wheel seem enough.

UPDATE 1945z:   2 QSOs, 39 stations spotted on RX and 30 stations in 5 countries have spotted me today on 2m FT8.

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today

Senhaix portables

RSGB RadCom had an article on Senhaix dual band portables recently. I think these are Chinese. If the article said this I missed it. 

At the price stated, these look quite good value. They are not the cheapest, but I hope the quality control is better. My main worry with Chinese manufactured amateur products is still quality control and guarantees. 

As long as the products work, fine. What happens if they fail? My experience with Chinese manufacturers is mixed. Some seem able to answer questions, whereas others cannot understand! 

I am sure that the Chinese products will get better and that the Japanese manufacturers will get a real fright. This could happen within the next couple of years. 

It would not surprise me if some Japanese companies survive by designing in Japan, but making in China or some other low cost country. It is possible that China goes like Japan did years ago and labour costs make it no longer a low cost country.

The manuals often give you a clue: Chinese English can be pathetic! Ask yourself, if the manual is that poor how do you think they will fix your radio? Would they be interested? Some would say they are so cheap just buy a few and throw away any that fail. I much prefer not to do this.

Sunspots - Sunday October 18th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 15. A=5 and K=1. 

Last evening on 2m FT8

Last evening I decided to go on 2m FT8. Apart from the first few minutes in which my 2.5W was spotted by 5 stations, I was on RX only spotting 13 stations in 2 countries. 

Grandson success - NOT amateur radio

He claims he doesn't really like running, but he still wins a medal for winning his cross-country run. He must take after his granddad - not!  It is many years since I have been able to run!

Last of the dahlias? - NOT amateur radio

On our visit to nearby Anglesey Abbey this week we saw these dahlias. I expect they will soon die. 

They have been in bloom for several months.

Tenner 10m QRP Transceiver

Before the last sunspot maximum I designed and made the Tenner 500mW 10m CW QRP transceiver. Especially in Es openings this is capable of plenty of contacts. It has crossed the Atlantic Ocean several times.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_tenner

New Zealand elections - NOT amateur radio

New Zealand has led the way in fighting Covid-19. Essentially it has been largely free of the pandemic that has crippled much if the world. 

They have just had a general election and Jacinda Ardern's (the NZ PM) Labour Party is in line for a massive majority. We may differ over political policies, but we have to agree she did a good job in the fight against Covid-19.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54519628

20m FT8 (2.5W and the indoor loop)

A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 QRP using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. It is 0840z. 

Yet again, I had a problem with decoding signals and the waterfall being smeary. After turning WSJT-X and the SignaLink interface off and on, it is now decoding. I am running Windows 10.

No spots of me yet and 4 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1258z:  So far today, 3 stations have spotted my QRP 20m FT8 signal. On RX 84 stations have been spotted in 3 continents.

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations have spotted me so far and I have spotted 108 stations in 4 continents.

UPDATE 1710z:  5 stations have spotted me today on 20m FT8 QRP and I have spotted 157.

RSGB Convention online

Southgate News reports that the RSGB Convention talks are available online.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/october/rsgb-convention-videos-on-youtube.htm#.X4qS7LfTVkw

Rear garden 2015 - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows our rear garden in 2015,

Fungi - NOT amateur radio

It must be all the rain we have had, but we saw several patches of fungi on our walk yesterday at Anglesey Abbey. 

OFCOM and spectrum trading

OFCOM is talking about spectrum trading at 2.6GHz. See the OFCOM website for more information. 

Sunspots - Saturday October 17th 2020

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 14. A=4 and K=1.

20m FT8

For about 30 minutes I have been on 20m FT8 running 2.5W to the indoor loop antenna. 

WSJT-X oddity

Sometimes when I use WSJT-X even on RX the signals on the waterfall appear smeared and I get no decodes. I have selected the default audio device. Most times this is fine and I see many decodes. When I select USB Codec all is fine. The photo shows the effect. 

I use a SignaLink USB interface with the FT817ND as I have done for many years. I am using the latest fully released version on FT8. I was not aware of issues with earlier versions. 

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Autumn is here and the colours are changing. 

October snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw these snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey this morning. This is October isn't it? 

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

If you turn on the news on the UK TV or radio, you will almost certainly hear something about Covid-19. It is almost like BREXIT is not happening. 

Behind the scenes, both sides actually want a deal, despite this actually not looking like this. Those in the EU are holding out for the best deal. 

In the very end we can expect some face-saving deal that will be appear good for both sides. A no deal outcome would not be good for either the UK or EU nations.

2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna)

Since about 0820z I have been on 2m FT8. So far (it is now 0830z) 8 stations have already spotted me with the furthermost being G4RRA (333km).  2 stations spotted on RX. No QSOs.

UPDATE 1927z:  After a period on 20m FT8, I have returned to 2m FT8 with QRP.  So far, 5 stations have spotted me - all Gs. Nothing spotted yet this evening on 2m FT8. 18 stations in 4 countries have spotted me so far today. The furthermost was GD3YEO (384km).

Sunspots - Friday October 16th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=1. 

2m FT8 (2.5W to the big-wheel omni)

At about 1840z, I tried a few CQ calls on 2m FT8. Not a single station was spotted in the first 15 minutes, which is very unusual. My own QRP signal was spotted by 4 stations with the furthermost being G8TIC (170km). At the moment I am RX only.

UPDATE 1900z:  Going back on TX.

UPDATE 1910z: 5 spots of me and 2 spots on RX. No QSOs. G0LRD is copying a few more stations than me, possibly as his antenna is further above ground than mine. He is 26km from me on the other side of Cambridge.   See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

Angry sky - NOT amateur radio

This was the sky behind our windmill a few minutes ago. Angry. 

QRP VLF earth-mode

8 years ago I was experimenting at VLF with earth-mode signals through the ground getting 6km with 5W as the photo shows. 

Another cancelled rally

I have just heard about another cancelled rally. Let us hope next year is better! This time next year we should have a vaccine and things should feel more normal. This year has been odd for most. 

The Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally was due to be held Oct 18th in Driffield, but this is now cancelled.

2m AM QSO - 100 miles - 10mW - halfwave whip

My  XYL was looking in our loft for some pictures and came across my mobile logbook that I had not seen for over 7 years. I have never managed to get in our loft since my 2013 stroke. 

In the logbook is my Fredbox QSO across the Channel with 10mW and a halfwave whip on 2m AM in 1976. This was one of my all-time best ever QSOs. See logbook page photo below.

Years later the Fredbox was revived and used for some local QSOs again.

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

6m FT8 (2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni)

In a few minutes I hope to turn on 6m FT8.  It is now 0647z.  If I spot anyone or anyone spots me, I shall be pleased and amazed. 

However, they do call it the "magic band" as from time to time strange things happen. 

The most probable outcome is white noise, followed by the odd G spot (from dedicated people who like punishment) and possibly the odd European by aircraft or Es.

UPDATE 0723z:  6m FT8 now turned on. No spots given or received.

UPDATE 1025z: Just a spot from G0PQO (50km). No spots on RX and no QSOs.

UPDATE 1806z:  Now QRT. With no spots at all on RX and just 1 spot of me on TX, today has been a poor day.

Interesting kits

Steve G1KQH has brought these interesting kits to my attention. 

See https://044640f.netsolhost.com/

Sunspots - Thursday October 15th 2020

Solar flux is 75 (higher than for some time) and the SSN 12. A=2 and K=0. There is definitely evidence building that we are on the up-slope of cycle 25.

2m FT8 (2.5W and the big-wheel omni)

At the moment I am again on 2m FT8 QRP. It is now 0907z. 6 stations have spotted me with G4RRA (333km) in Devon the furthermost,and I have spotted 2 stations so far.

UPDATE 1423z: 11 stations have already copied me (no QSOs yet) with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). Also copied multiple times in Northern Ireland. 17 stations in 5 countries spotted here.

UPDATE 1530z: After a period on RX only, I am back on 2m FT8 TX. 4 stations have spotted me in the last 10 minutes including G4RRA (333km) in Devon again. On RX 22 stations spotted today.

70cm activity contest

As usual, I entered this competition organised by the RSGB last night entering the low power section with 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for about 45 minutes making 4 QSOs as shown on the map.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 13th 2020

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN back to 0. A=3 and K=0.

QRP on YouTube

A recent visit to YouTube suggested there were lots of videos about QRP operating. As you know, a lot of fun can be had with low power.

See https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=qrp

Free video editing software for Windows PCs?

At one time Windows came with a free package (Moviemaker?) that allowed quite a lot of video editing. I do not think this is available free any more. What do people recommend? 

Like many, I want to send videos and video clips by email, so the main requirement is to make the videos smaller, possibly also adding titles and shortening.

The package needs to be free and easy to use on Windows 10.

Sunspots rising?

 A year from now we will look back on 2020 as a bad year. We have all been put out of sorts by the Covid-19 pandemic and solar activity has been poor. 

At last there are hints of better days ahead. This time next year the Covid-19 situation should be better and sunspot numbers should be climbing. We are in for a rough period, but thing will be better. Hang on in there and stay positive as the "sunlit slopes" await us! 

USA presidential elections - NOT amateur radio

These are getting very close now. 

President Trump has been out on the campaign trail just 2 weeks after being hospitalised with Covid-19. I have no idea what the election out come will be. The people of the USA will elect the president they want to lead them.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54516324

2m FT8

It is now 0756z.  For about 10 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 4 Gs (best in Devon) have spotted me and I have spotted 1 F.

UPDATE 0850z:  Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1000z:

Spots of me at 1000z

10 spots of me so far with G7RAU (461km) as best DX spot so far.

UPDATE 1435z: My QRP 2m FT8 has yet again been spotted in N.Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. I remain open minded on the mode: aircraft, some other sort of scatter or tropo, but I consistently get spotted at great range on 2m FT8 every single day.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 13th 2020

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 15. A=4 and K=1.

East Cambs net

At 8pm UK time on Mondays we hold the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM. This usually lasts about 30 minutes although some stay on to chat longer. At least one person cannot make Monday nights, so a change of nights is being considered. 

One possibility is to combine this with the Wednesday night net held by the Cambridge club (CDARC). All in the area are most welcome.