Nice colours - NOT amateur radio

The herbaceous borders at nearby Anglesey Abbey are particularly good at the moment. I love the mix of these colours. 

Sporadic E (Es) and wet string

 At this time of year we get Es in the northern hemisphere. What amazes me is how strong signal can be. This is not always the case, but it is not uncommon to get S9+ signals with low power, even on FM. Es can be particularly effective on 10m and 6m. Often the season goes on into September. Very simple antennas can be effective. Yesterday I was happily decoding FT8 signals with my antenna wire on the ground on 10m. A dipole made of wire is perfectly adequate.

10m FT8 yesterday

Spots of me
on TX 

Now I have an outside antenna for 10m, results are better. 887 stations spotted on RX and 47 spots of my 2.5W and several QSOs. 

Stations spotted on
RX yesterday 

The second map shows the stations spotted here yesterday. 

Sunspots - Sunday July 4th 2021

 Solar flux is 94 and the SSN 81. A=4 and K=1. 

SAQ reminder

 If you want to have a go at receiving SAQ on 17.2kHz CW, a reminder that there are special transmissions of this historic alternator VLF TX today. 

VHF NFD

The RSGB used to hold VHF NFD in September, but it is now this weekend in July. I came on briefly this evening to give a few points away with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I might try briefly tomorrow. 

Discount food shop - NOT amateur radio

Recently a new discount food store opened in nearby Newmarket. It is actually a nice shop. 

They will give the other supermarkets a run for their money. The photo shows our purchases there yesterday. 

Northern Iceland - NOT amateur radio

Some years ago we had a great holiday in Iceland. The weather was very good and we were surprised by how green it was. There were lots of wild lupins.

The photo shows northern Iceland. It was one of the nicest places I have ever been to. 

10m FT8 with the external antenna

At 0515z I turned on my 10m FT8 gear with 2.5W and the external antenna. So far today 31 stations have spotted me. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 3rd 2021

 Solar flux is 95 and the SSN 72. A=5 and K=2.

External 10m antenna

Late this afternoon, with the help of G3TFX, I re-erected my Par EF-10/20/40 antenna. It matches fine on 10m and 40m but the match is off on 20m. Since erecting this I have been spotted by 48 stations on 10m FT8 with the furthermost CU6AD (2679km). 

On RX it seems to work from 40m-10m. I have not tried other bands yet.

On 10m FT8 RX 80 stations have been spotted with the furthermost PT2VHF (8874km).

UPDATE 2106z: Copied in the USA (New England) by a couple of stations with the furthermost W1BZJ (5317km).

Switzerland - NOT amateur radio

Switzerland is a beautiful mountainous country as this image that was on 365project earlier shows. 

I have been there a few times for work and holidays. Slovakia, which is very similar, is about half as expensive.

2m FT8 yesterday

Most of the time yesterday evening I was on 2m FT8 RX using the big-wheel omni antenna. At the start I was on TX and was spotted by 5 stations when I was using 2.5W. Most of the time I was on RX. I spotted 23 stations on 2m FT8 RX as the map shows. 

Sunspots - Friday July 2nd 2021

 Solar flux is 94 and the SSN 56. A=7 and K=1. 

Norfolk churches - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on religion, we have more churches with round towers in this area than anywhere in the world. The church in the photo is in Norfolk. 

2m FT8

 At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big wheel antenna. I have been spotted by 5 stations and I have spotted 2 with the furthermost on RX PE1EZU (315km).

UPDATE 2002z: 12 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost DK1FG (815km).

Rally postponed and new venue

The Dartmoor Radio Rally with a new date (was July 4th) is now at a new venue at the Yelverton War Memorial Hall on August 15th. The postcode is PL20 6AL for those with GPS. 

Admission is £2.50 and Roger on 07854 088882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com has more details.

Butterfly - NOT amateur radio

 

This very kind butterfly kept very still so I could take a photo. 

Usually they fly away just as I am about to shoot! 

The Shetland Isles - NOT amateur radio

Although a distant part of Scotland nowadays, the Shetland Isles once belonged to Norway. There are still strong links with Norway.

There are few trees on Shetland and often gales and poor weather. Summer days are long as are winter nights. 

Occasionally the weather is good as in this photo posted on 365project by a friend today.

Solar data

As far as I know, we do not yet have accurate forecasts for the size of the next solar peak. Forecasts are getting better as we understand more of the mechanisms of the sun.  Many were expecting it to be much the same as the last peak.  Actually, the forecasts vary from almost no peak at all (wrong) to a big peak! 

My money (based on a wet finger!) is much the same as the last peak.

One of the sites I regularly look at is https://www.solen.info/solar/. The last time I looked the data had not yet been updated, although it usually is early in the month. It is probably worth checking over the next few days.

Orchids - NOT amateur radio

I have mentioned before that my wife seems to have a way with orchids. We have had some for many years. 

The trick seems to be not to over-water them. A thimble of water a week seems to be correct.

10m FT8 RX

At 0715z, my 10m FT8 RX gear with the tiny indoor loop was turned on. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1218z:  36 stations spotted on RX this morning. 

UPDATE 1552z: 46 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1738z: 51 stations spotted. Certainly not as good as yesterday.

Sunspots - Thursday July 1st 2021

Solar flux is 94 and the SSN 53. A=14 and K=3.

Cosy - NOT amateur radio

Every year we make a poster to help us remember the year past. We put this in our kitchen so we can enjoy it every day.  Our kitchen is cosy rather than "posh".

10m (my favourite band)

My favourite band is 10m (28MHz). This is getting good again after a few poorer years. Recent licencees may not realise just how good it can be. 

Modes like FT8 may come into their own in solar cycle 25, although just a simple antenna and a few watts of SSB is all that may be needed to work the world. 

On WSPR I have been spotted in every continent (including Antarctica) with 500mW and a low wire antenna on 10m in the last solar cycle.

Don't forget that 10m Es (to about 1500km) is often good from April-September at any point in the solar cycle. 10m can also be useful for local natters.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .

10m FT8 RX

Since before breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0828z and, so far today, 55 stations have been spotted. 

UPDATE 0940z:  105 stations spotted on RX so far.  As well as Es, I think there is some F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1305z: 255 stations spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1530z: 348 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today (see map).

UPDATE 1810z: 593 spots so far.

UPDATE 1947z:  677 stations spotted.

V2000 vertical omni issues

For several weeks I have had issues with my V2000 omni which I use on 6m, 2m and 70cm. 

G3TFX has been investigating and it looks like the main issue is the coax. The antenna had some moisture in, but this has been removed. I need fresh coax.

In the interim I was hoping to use my VX2 handheld out portable for the Cambridge club net on 145.55MHz FM (2m) this evening. However I cannot find the charger! 

Morning walk 2014 - NOT amateur radio

After my long stay in hospital following my stroke I used to do a short walk most mornings. 

This photo from 2014 shows me just back. I look far thinner and the hedge that is now big and thick, looks tiny. 

Sunspots - Wednesday June 30th 2021

Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 56.  A=5 and K=2.

England v. Germany (football) - NOT amateur radio

England played Germany in the knockout stages of the delayed Euros at Wembley. For the first time since 1966, England managed to win. 

Although I am not a great football (soccer) fan, I watched the game, as did many in England. 

After the last year or so, we deserve a bit of good news.

5T5PA Mauritania

This station in West Africa is always a consistent 10m signal, even with my indoor loop.  I have no idea what power and antenna they use.

Odd clouds - NOT amateur radio

These odd clouds appeared as a FaceBook memory from 2019. I was wondering if they were fribratus clouds? Let me know what you think. I cannot remember what the day was like.

This was "our" windmill seen out the window.

See https://whatsthiscloud.com/cloud-species/fibratus/ .

Next SAQ (17.2kHz CW) test transmission

Next Sunday, this historic alternator TX is transmitting for Alexanderson Day on July 4th. I have a QSL card somewhere from them for a transmission many years ago. This is a good chance to test your VLF system.

See https://alexander.n.se/category/news/?lang=en .

See https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/ .

10m FT8 in the last day with the loop

Compared with a half decent outside 10m antenna I know my loop (50cm across, indoors) is at least 1 S point down. This means stations others copy, I miss. 

Nonetheless, 197 spots in the last day is not bad. These were in Europe, Africa and South America. In the next few weeks with help, I hope to get a decent outside antenna up for 10m.

10m FT8 RX

 

Stations spotted
to 0950z

At 0653z, my 10m FT8 RX was turned on with the tiny indoor loop. So far (at 0700z) no spots.

UPDATE 0710z:   Just M0BPQ (74km) spotted.

UPDATE 1020z:   140 stations spotted on RX. Mostly Es. The map shows the stations spotted on RX at 0950z.

UPDATE 1336z:   247 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2120z: 336 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. QRT shortly.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 29th 2021

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 50. A=4 and K=0.

Replacing the slats - NOT amateur radio

The 200 year old windmill next door is being repainted. Today, they've started to put the slats back on the sails. 

Backscatter compendium

The microwave bands are an area of amateur radio that I have never got seriously interested in, although we can only do so much I guess. Quite a few people are doing ATV at 5.6GHz using low cost modules.

Years ago I bought the "Backscatter compendium". This is now available free to download. 

See https://www.microwavers.org/backscatter.htm .

30THz tests

 Working on optical frequencies at 481THz seems easier!

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to see quite a lot of some of the grandchildren. 

Here two of them are with their granny.