No 472kHz TX this season

For the first time in many years, I have not been on 472kHz WSPR TX this year. 

Although the real reason is laziness, I blame it on not replacing the wire used on my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

Although my transverter puts out about 12W into 50 ohms, my measured ERP is about 5-10mW only. Despite this, I was copied up in Norway most nights last season on WSPR.

Others who have built the transverter have had transatlantic WSPR spots on 472kHz (630m). This is one of the most simple ways of getting on 472kHz TX. My "antenna" might not be the greatest, but it does work and the neighbours, and XYL,  don't even know it is there! 

I have also used the earth-electrode "antenna" on 160m, 80m and 60m with success. It should also work on 2200m TX although I have not tried this.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 1016z. A few moments ago I went on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni. At the moment I am about +14dB S/N on G0LRD's grabber. 

So far, 7 stations have spotted me with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) on the Lizard. No QSOs yet. Nothing yet copied on RX. There are far more people monitoring than on TX. You are far more likely to be spotted than have a QSO. My technique is to call CQ and if anyone answers reply. I rarely hunt.

UPDATE 1055z:  6 stations (all G and GW) spotted on RX and 11 spots of my QRP TX. I am still puzzled by the propagation mechanism on these long paths: although this could be aircraft reflection (and some will indeed be), it seems to happen randomly, making this unlikely.

UPDATE 1348z:  18 spots of me on 2m FT8 QRP so far today.  I have to pinch myself to remind me that this is 2m VHF QRP with an ultra simple station. Every single day this is possible, not just in lifts.

UPDATE 1900z: 70 stations in 7 countries spotted. On TX 28 stations in 6 countries have spotted me. 1 QSO.

UPDATE 2235z: 167 stations spotted on 2m FT8 today. There was a contest on as were loads of stations! I counted 19 stations on at the same time in just 2kHz of band. As it was so crowded, I decided to stay RX only from 2000z. I have never seen the 2m FT8 slot so busy.

G0LRD 2m FT8 grabber

When monitoring my 2m FT8 signal on the grabber at G0LRD yesterday I noticed several times that the S/N was poor although mostly it was very strong. It turns out that David gets occasional local noise bursts that degrade the S/N.  This grabber is 26km away and very useful.

2m FT8 QRP last evening

The stations that spotted my 2.5W 2m FT8 to the big-wheel last evening are shown on the map. 

Village View - NOT amateur radio

This is a view across Spring Close meadows, Burwell, taken a few years ago. 

Online distance learning

Southgate News has details of an online training course leading to the full UK licence organised by the Bath club.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/online-distance-learning-course-for-full-exam.htm#.YBmj_fGTLrc

Sunspots - Wednesday February 3rd 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12.  A=16 and K=3.

2m activity contest

Contacts this evening
on 2m QRP SSB

This contest called UKAC and organised by the RSGB starts at 2000z.  Unlike many contests, this is a very friendly one. Usually I run 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna and manage about an hour before my voice gives in! Activity levels are high. 

If nothing else, this is a chance to work a few new squares for 2021.

Tonight, activity levels were lower than I ever remember. After 3 QSOs, I gave up.

QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

 As, for me, 10m has been very quiet now for some hours, I propose to QSY to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. As the RSGB cumulative 2m contest is at 2000z, I shall have to use SSB for a while instead. 

UPDATE 1904z:  I QSYed to 2m FT8 at 1855z. So far this evening, 5 stations in 2 countries have spotted my QRP.

OFCOM updates

Every month, OFCOM updates its statistics in its "Communications Monthly". See the OFCOM website for details.

2012 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment it is very mild here unlike in 2012 when it was cold and frosty. 

The photo was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey on this day in 2012. 

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

About 30 minutes ago I turned on my 10m QRP using 2.5W from the FT817ND to the tiny indoor loop. In all honesty, I was not too hopeful. Already my QRP has been spotted by MM0ZBH (482km) and I have spotted 9 stations mostly in eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1303z: So far today, 11 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and just the single spot of my 2.5W QRP FT8 TX.

Just looking - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our son with his son looking at one of the oldest houses in the village. 

WSJT-X v2.3.0

Today the released version of WSJT-X V2.3.0 was made available. Previously just release candidates were available.

With Windows 10 I had all sorts of issues as it tried to block the download in case it harmed the PC. I said "keep" and "install anyway".  Only then could I go ahead.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 2nd 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=4.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1827z. A few moments ago I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 8 spots of my QRP TX and 2 stations spotted here on RX after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1910z:  15 stations have spotted me on TX and 8 stations spotted on RX.

Breaking ice - NOT amateur radio

Have you noticed how very young children love puddles? 

Even my 13 year old grandson still seems to like them, especially if icy. 

This was him yesterday on our walk. It was very muddy with the puddles icy.

17m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1420z. A few minutes ago I QSYed to 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far today, 43 stations spotted on RX, but no spots of my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1448z:  72 stations spotted so far on RX, but nobody has yet spotted my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1535z:  106 stations spotted so far on 17m FT8 RX and just one spot of my 2.5W on TX. I think one of the issues is being clobbered by co-channel stations running far more ERP. Although a channel appears clear here, it may not be.

Stations spotted on
17m FT8 RX today

UPDATE 1802z:  189 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX.  QSYing to 2m FT8 QRP shortly.

The EU and vaccines for Covid-19 - NOT amateur radio

There seems little doubt that the EU was very slow ordering vaccines. For example, they ordered AstraZeneca vaccines 3 months after the UK and have only now approved its use!  It seems the EU bureaucracy really slowed down the roll-out in Europe. 

This is one reason why so many voted to leave the EU in the UK. In my view, this was a "shot in the foot". The UK government is far from perfect, but on vaccines they got it right.

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1116z. For about 30 minutes I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet today.

UPDATE 1405z:  Just one station (a local) spotted on RX.  No spots on TX. QSYing to 17m FT8.

Operating from South Georgia and British areas in Antarctica

Until 2020, the Falkland Islands issued licences for these areas, but this stopped last year. This would affect DXpeditions to these South Atlantic areas.  There may be some clarity now. For some time you just had to self-declare competence and a VP8 call was yours!

See https://www.openfalklands.com/ofcom-update-on-vp8-amateur-radio-licences-in-british-antarctic-territory-south-georgia-and-south-sandwich-islands/

Ferrite rod TX antenna experiments in Italy

Riccardo IU1OPK has been doing some very successful tests with ferrite rod TX antennas. on 40m.  For many this may be an answer to compact antennas. We fully accept that a bigger antenna would be better, but these results are good. Below is an extract from the email he sent me. The photos show his arrangement.

"Today I tested the ferrite antenna with WSPR on 40m and it worked well, with power from 2 to 5 watt.
I changed a little bit the design and I found that with a “short circuit” of the upper coil the signals are much stronger... below my scheme and the wspr spots (up to 2600 km).
I attempted some FT8 QSOs with no results but I have been received looking on pskreport website, so even with FT8 some qso should be possible. 

My tests were done both indoor and on my balcony so no strange coupling is noticeable, the antenna was placed vertically, I think that it works like a loop antenna oriented horizontally (not a vertical loaded one since my upper end is grounded).

The “strange” good results around midday and early evening when the critical frequency was around 7 MHz seem confirming a sort of NVIS transmission (quite strong signals and local receivers).

Riccardo's 40m
spots on WSPR

Excellent work Riccardo. Well done.  At the frontier where radio amateurs should be.

Often it is best to ignore experts and just experiment to see what works. Often the so called experts do not know and are just spouting myths they were (wrongly) told years before.

 

Solar data

At the start of each month my favourite site for solar data is updated. We are now a year after the solar minimum and we are looking for indications for the solar cycle 25. In particular, we are looking for forecasts of how big (or small!) it might be. As the cycle progresses, we have a better idea.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

UPDATE 1550z: I see it has been updated already. See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

Talent - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson is very talented. He is 11 years old. He is good at sports, art and now crocheting! He is also very good with people. He is not shy.

The photo shows some examples of his work.

Sunspots - Monday February 1st 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=1 and K=2.

Online resource

Some years ago I was pointed to this resource by Steve G1KQH.

See http://www.n5dux.com/ham/files/pdf/

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At about 1744z I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Alredady spotted by 3 stations including EI2FG 565km). No spots yet on RX.

UPDATE 1904z:  11 stations have spotted me this evening on 2m FT8 QRP TX.  8 stations spotted on RX. No QSOs.

UPDATE 2005z: 14 stations have spotted my QRP on 2m FT8 including GI and EI again. 10 stations spotted on RX.

EMF calculator

Southgate News has a piece about a new EMF calculator produced by OFCOM and the RSGB. At some point we may have to show OFCOM that our ERP is within certain limits, for example if a neighbour made a complaint.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/updated-rsgb-ofcom-emf-calculator.htm#.YBbCt_GTLrc

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a "socially distanced" walk with one of our sons and his children. This is a photo of them earlier.

Our village - NOT amateur radio

This was a view of our village earlier.  The foreground is Spring Close meadows which is an 11 acre wild meadow bought for the village some years ago. It has Roman remains and castle remains dating back to King Stephen. In the distance is Burwell church.

Quiet corner - NOT amateur radio

Although our village has grown a lot, it still feels like a village and it has some lovely quiet corners. This is Mandeville, near where the British Foreign Secretary used to live. There are lots of snowdrops in flower near here.

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Since 0825z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots so far at 1030z. The photo shows the loop antenna on the windowsill on the right.

UPDATE 1240z: No spots on RX. 1 spot of my QRP TX by EA8BFK (2881km).

UPDATE 1435z: Still no further spots. I did copy an OD5 (Lebanon) on RX, but this was not uploaded to PSKreporter for some reason.

UPDATE 1740z:  No further spots all day, so will QSY to 2m FT8 shortly.

RSPB big garden birdwatch - NOT amateur radio

Just finished the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.  

You have to record the maximum number of each different species seen in any hour. 

In all, 10 different species seen. Those missing, but often seen, include goldfinch, great tit and thrush.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Sunspots - Sunday January 31st 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0. 

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

 Shortly, I shall be QSYing to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1700z:  QSYed at 1651z. 6 stations in 2 countries have spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1740z:  11 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today, so far, on 2m FT8. The furthermost is EI2FG (565km).

Cheer-up time! - NOT amateur radio

 In these odd times, you might enjoy this video.

17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

It is miserable outside - sleet and cold!!

At the moment I am on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. 66 stations spotted on RX and  6 stations have spotted me on TX already.

UPDATE 1640z:  19 stations have spotted my 17m FT8 QRP today using just 2.5W and my tiny indoor loop. The map shows where I was spotted today.

Sunspots - Saturday January 30th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At 1835z I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 7 G spots so far of my 2.5W QRP on TX. 4 spots in 3 countries so far on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost being DL6YBF (410km).

UPDATE 2220z:  12 stations have spotted me on 2m FT8  TX. Now QRT.

481THz optical beacon

 

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 481THz optical beacon. This was made in 2012 I think. 

I still have it and hope to use it again. It uses a K1EL keyer to produce either CW or QRSS. My first test is likely to be some sort of reflection test, possibly off trees.

It seems I like to experiment at the extreme ends of the spectrum, HI.  Either VLF (sub 9kHz) or optical comms (481THz)!