472kHz RX last evening

 Last evening I was on 472kHz WSPR RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In all, 7 unique stations were spotted. I shall repeat this this evening with the active antenna. 

Sunspots - Saturday September 11th 2021

 Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 99. A=8 and K=1.

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

Since about 1930z, I have been on 472kHz RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, 3 unique stations spotted with the furthermost EI0CF (602km). I am just using the earth-electrode straight into the FT817ND with no attempt at matching.

UPDATE 2020z:  6 unique stations spotted with the furthermost SM6NOC (1056km).

OFCOM Communications Monthly updated

Every month, OFCOM updates its "Communications Monthly" with the latest numbers it holds. 

See the OFCOM website for the latest details.

10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

As usual, I am on 10m FT8. After a few minutes with 2.5W TX (no spots), I am RX only. It is now 0856z and so far, just 2 spots.

UPDATE 0942z:  3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2003z:  28 stations spotted with 4 in South America.

Rally news

As far as I know these rallies are ON this Sunday. As usual, please check with the organisers before setting out.

• Caister Lifeboat Rally
• Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally

Salcombe sunrise - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I was brought up as a child, at sunrise yesterday. 

Sunspots - Friday September 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 100 and the SSN an incredible 124.  A=6 and K=1.

472kHz (630m) WSPR TX activity levels lower?

 Maybe people are using different modes or it is still too early in the season, but the impression I have is there are plenty of monitors on WSPR RX, but fewer people on TX. Usually I am on QRP WSPR TX, but am not yet.

Amazon algorithms - NOT amateur radio

It is obvious that when Amazon recommends purchases, it looks at your past buying history. Having just bought something, why would you buy it again?  When I get an email with recommendations it is usually binned with other rubbish.

10m FT8 QRP

 It is now 0740z. I have been on 10m FT8 (QRP) for about 10m. I briefly was on TX with 2.5W. So far, no spots received or given.

UPDATE 0836z: 3 spots received from other stations. 2 look like Es. This re-enforces, to me, that there is still Es about, but there is far less and it is more sporadic. In these situations FT8 (and probably FT4) can be useful. Signals have certainly been strong so the shorter duration of FT4 might catch more, even shorter, openings? I have never tried FT4.

UPDATE 1722z:  20 stations spotted.  IS0AWZ was spotted at an incredible +18dB S/N.

UPDATE 1816z: 21 stations spotted with the furthermost  PY2XB (9599km) in Brazil.

UPDATE 2015z: Loads of South American stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX this evening. In all, 57 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. You get the feeling 10m is becoming a serious DX band again after a few relatively quiet years.

Preserved railways - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have a number of preserved railways run by volunteers. The photo shows the North Norfolk Railway between Holt and Sheringham 10 years ago. 

Schottky diodes

Spooky! 

The other day I mentioned Schottky diodes in a post. Today I notice the adverts on Amazon are for Schottky diodes from one of the suppliers I visited! Obviously targeted ads. 

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX last evening

Just 2 unique stations spotted on RX last evening, both in Germany. Disappointing. 

UPDATE 0730z: Doh!! It helps if you connect the correct antenna! The above were with the 10m antenna connected by mistake! I shall try again this evening to see how I get on - this time with the correct antenna!

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

This was my older granddaughter playing the ukulele. 

She was playing ABBA songs. 

Sunspots - Thursday September 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 87.  A=14 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR RX

This evening I am on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is now 0755z and I have been on for about 15 minutes, but nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 21020z: So far, just DC0DX (467km) spotted several times At the moment he was the same strength (roughly) as on the active loop. Does this mean they are similar in gain?

Choir closing - NOT amateur radio

After 60 years, my wife's choir has closed. Last night they had a fairwell evening that had been postponed. It brought together choirs from various village colleges to sing a major choral work in a famous venue with world class soloists. It will leave a gap. 

137kHz transverter

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my transverter for 137kHz. It was 10 years ago and was copied in Holland. 

10m FT8 (Wednesday)

As usual, I am on 10m FT8. After a brief period on TX with spots only from G0FWX (160km) I am RX only. At 1045z 19 stations spotted. 

UPDATE 1703z:  33 stations spotted with the furthermost FR4NT (9726km) on Reunion Is..

Network radios

One of my Facebook memories today was about network radios. These look like VHF handhelds or mobiles with PTT and antennas. 

They use the Internet as a backbone and are basically Android phones. These are available from several dealers. I suspect dealers see the future with fewer radios sold, many of us getting older and frailer, more of us in care homes and unable to access conventional radio. 

They are ideal for Echolink and similar. I have one, but find it oddly unsatisfying. In 20 years? 

See MLS for typical examples.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 8th 2021

Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 85. A=8 and K=4.

Visit - NOT amateur radio

We had a visit for lunch from my wife's cousin and his wife. We had to take a photo with the windmill in the background! She had not seen them for several years. 

They are doing a tour around the country visiting friends and and family.

10m WISPY TX WSPR beacon TX

Many years ago I designed and made this TX beacon for 10m WSPR. You might like to try it as a winter project. 

If you want more power, just add more 2N3904s in the PA. This is far cheaper than a dedicated PA device. Even with QRPP you can expect plenty of spots when 10m is good. It is getting better again now the sunspots and solar flux are climbing.

The photo shows the first breadboard. 

It is a DSB design using low cost 14.060MHz crystals. I was surprised by the vast amount of 10m WSPR this summer.

As I recall, I used matched germanium diodes in the balanced mixer, but I am sure Schottky diodes would be fine. Do not be afraid to experiment! As with all my circuits, use these designs as a starting point. If you can make them better, great.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-wispy for more details and a clearer schematic.

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

Many time before, I have mentioned that we live next door to a windmill (see photo). Since this photo was taken all the sails and slats have been repainted and replaced and the whole mill re-tarred. 

Sadly, starlings stop on the sails before flying off to their roost. They do make a mess! 😒

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

It is now 0755z. I have been on 10m FT8 for about 1 hour. 

So far, despite 2 TX sessions with 2.5W for a few minutes (2.5W), and RX all the rest of the time, no spots at all on PSKreporter. Being suspicisious of an internet blackout and loss of accurate timing, I re-synced the PC clock again - still no spots! I am beginning to wonder if the issue is at the PSKreporter end?

On 10m FT8 RX for now .

UPDATE 0821z: Just one spot of me by G0FWX (160km) near Birmingham. 2 spots on RX - OK1UU (1009km) and IK0FKE (1467km).

UPDATE 0903z: 7 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX . 

UPDATE 1526z: 15 stations spotted today, all within Europe.

Sunspots - Tuesday Sept 7th 2021

 Solar flux is 100 (the first time for many years I think) and the SSN 80.  A=6 and K=1. Things are getting respectable again - promising.

WSPR Snake

Jay, W5OLF has produced a new version of his WSPR beacon (see photo). It is simpler than his earlier version, the WSPR-AXE-CW.

He writes:

 "I have finished my WSPR-Snake stand-alone transmitter. The snake name is because it is programmed in the ‘Python’ language and, as with the WSPR-AXE-CW, the repeated random 2min intervals on the spectral display to me look like the trail of a snake.  Differences between it and your‘s are that it only puts out 375mW (on 10M) but runs off of USB 5V sources. One can plug it into the common wall cell phone charger or into the cell phone recharge batteries they sell. It uses the Adafruit Trinket micro board which has a 3.3V regulator on it for the VCO.  Like yours you turn the PA off when not actively checking propagation and you can even put in a switch to turn the VCO off (reducing standby current to 10mA). That allows transport (say backpacking) without loosing the precise time you set back at the shack. Speaking of the precise clock, this version uses the clock circuit for both WSPR symbol timing (exactly) as well as 2min interval timing; expected drift when set - and the crystal aged - is about 0.5sec per month. Otherwise, I use the same single 2N7000 for the final in a class-E, high efficiency, design. "

Crab Apples - NOT amateur radio

We have one small crabapple tree. Every other year it gives a decent crop. 

Last year we had 15 crabapples. This year we probably have over 500, so some nice crabapple jelly!

Over a century ago - NOT amateur radio

In my teenage years I lived in Kingsbridge, Devon. This photo was taken well over 100 years ago. There are no cars visible! 

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Before breakfast, I was briefly on 10m FT8 TX with 2.5W, but was spotted by nobody. It is now 0722z and I am RX only. Unsurprisingly, no spots yet!

UPDATE 0750z:   Just 2 Gs spotted so far in the Birmingham area at 160km.

UPDATE 1300z:  Just before lunch I had a very brief period on TX with 2.5W. No QSOs  resulted, but I was spotted by G0FWX (160km).  On 10m FT8 RX 28 stations have been spotted with the furthermost  ZS6NJ (9115km).

UPDATE 1916z:  34 stations spotted on RX today.  A brief TX period (2.5W) resulted in 3 Es spots of me from Southern Europe, but no QSOs.

UPDATE 2023z:  43 stations spotted today with the furthermost PY2VCS (9593km).

Me in 1967 - NOT amateur radio

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of me in 1967 when I had hair and most of my life was ahead of me. 

I lost most of my hair a few years later! 

Sunspots - Monday September 6th 2021

Solar flux is 94 and the SSN 66.  A=6 and K=1. 

630m (472kHz) WSPR RX using the indoor active loop

 At the moment, I am on 630m WSPR RX with the Wellgood active loop. So far no spots.

UPDATE 2136z:  Still no spots this evening. I have to turn things off soon too and go QRT.

160m FT8 RX with the indoor active loop

At about 1435z, I turned on 160m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood active RX loop. It is still very clearly daylight here for several hours, so I am not expecting much until darkness falls. 

Last night, it was quite late in the evening before much European DX appeared.

UPDATE 1735z:  2 Gs spotted so far. Furthermost is G3VAO (229km).

UPDATE 1952z:  It is dark now, so plenty being spotted! 28 stations spotted with the furthermost R5DT (2541km).

The Wayback Machine - NOT amateur radio

This is an incredible resource that archives billions of old pages that no longer exist. They even have a website of mine from the 1990s! Needless to say, things have changed a bit. I think my very first website was on Compuserve in the early 1990s - not found this yet!

See https://web.archive.org/web/19981111190213/http://www.lapr.demon.co.uk/ .

Abbey Gardens - NOT amateur radio

These gardens in nearby Bury St Edmunds are often a riot of colour, as they were recently. We often go there whilst shopping in Bury St Edmunds that is a charming East Anglian town.

Optical 481THz line of sight

It is some years since I seriously worked on optical communications. My main "thing" was over the horizon, so called non-line-of-sight (NLOS) beaconing. I was surprised that with very simple, homemade gear I could get well over the horizon, with no clouds to help. If my poor health had not got in the way, I am sure far greater ranges would have been possible. The record (in Australia I think) is an incredible distance.

I only had one speech contact over 11km line of sight and that was with G4HJW. All my gear was made in the back of the garage and it was very simple. The optics used low cost PVC drain pipes and the lenses were made from magnifying glasses obtained from a local Poundland store. The electrical gear was very simple and low cost. It was not worth making PCBs. Test gear is very simple. Optical experiments are low cost and fun.

My main G3XBM website has much more on my gear and experiments including NLOS tests.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/line-of-sight .

Lincoln meal - NOT amateur radio

Last week, we had a few days in Lincoln, UK. 

On the second evening we ate at Wildwood. I had the burger as shown in the photo and a red wine.

On the first night we ate at the famous pie shop. We ate here some years ago.

10m WSPR TX with 500mW (Sunday)

At 0806z, I turned on my tiny 10m WSPR beacon designed by W5OLF.  Although 100% TX, this changes frequency randomly every slot to prevent being clobbered by a mega-station. 

So far just spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1030z:   A single spot by OH6BG (1718km).

UPDATE 1140z:  Now spots by 3 unique stations (see photo).  G4KPX has spotted me 101 times!

UPDATE 1748z:  Still just 3 stations spotting me.  This is not a good day.You get the impression there is very little Es and just occasionally it appears for a few seconds and then is gone again. Unless things radically change in the next few hours, I shall put this down as a day best forgotten!