4m operation

This is a band I have had little to do with. 

Back in the 1960s at university I worked ZB2VHF on 4m AM with 4W and a ground plane. At this time there were very few countries on the band. In 1971, I went /P in a 4m contest. 

Several years ago I made a QRP transverter for 4m that appeared in SPRAT (shown in photo).  I have no antennas for the band, but a local has made a personal beacon, that I shall try to copy. It produces 10mW. He has a vertical colinear for the band.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

Sunspots - Tuesday February 1st 2022

 Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 100.  A=10 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX

At 1945z my 2m FT8 system was turned on.  So far, 8 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 2148z:   14 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2235z:   QRT.

8m NoV application - STILL no news!

It is now 3 weeks and a day since I asked OFCOM for an update on my NoV application submitted in October.  Still no news! 

I am only really after 50Hz of spectrum during the 2022 Es season at low power.

In the last few years  OFCOM has released 2000000Hz of precious VHF spectrum for DATV experiments.

Come on!!!!

Oscar 100 activity update

Every few weeks I take a peek at the activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite by looking at the Goonhilly webSDR. This was at 1400z on a Monday. There were 6 SSB QSOs going on, which is better than the last time I looked. There is still plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Solar data update soon

Usually on the first or second day of the month the solar data on my favourite solar data site is updated. Expect an update Tuesday or Wednesday.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Village cottage - NOT amateur radio

 

In our village is a mix of old and new houses. This one is quite new!! 1800s I think. 

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

After a very brief period on TX at 2.5W (spotted by 2E0VDS), I am RX only.  So far, 75 stations spotted including several in Australia.

UPDATE 1352z: 483 stations spotted on RX.  There is little doubt 10m is getting back into its stride as a great DX band with most of the world spotted.

UPDATE 1559z:   620 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1915z:  682 stations spotted on RX. QRT soon.

Parasite? - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a tree at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds yesterday.  

Sunspots - Monday January 31st 2022

Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 70.  A=10 and K=3.

10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far, 4 unique stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1555z: 4 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2130z:  6 unique stations spotted me with the furthermost W4WLO/B11 (7271km). Now QRT.

2m FT8 RX

Most of the morning I've been on 2m FT8 RX using the omni big-wheel antenna. So far, 24 stations spotted. 

UPDATE 1559z:   64 stations in 7 countries spotted.

UPDATE 2030z:   91 stations spotted with the furthermost F1GTU (788km).  I suspect some of these will be tropo, but I think some are scatter.

UPDATE 2130z:  93 stations spotted on RX.  A brief 2.5W TX was spotted by 6 stations with the furthermost G4LOH (455km) in Cornwall.

Ickworth - NOT amateur radio

In the winter sun we went for a walk around the grounds at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds. This is owned by the National Trust. 

160m FT8 overnight

214 stations spotted on RX overnight with the non resonant 10m antenna and just one in the USA. 

Sunspots - Sunday January 30th 2022

Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 74.  A=17 and K=3. 

On 160m FT8 RX again

This evening I again on 160m FT8 RX using the non-resonant 10m antenna. This clashes with a contest, so there is competition from CW stations. Despite this, lots of Europeans spotted so far. 

UPDATE 2200z: 149 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

Tent - NOT amateur radio

 

My son has bought a tent. It is currently in his garden.

FT8 versus WSPR

Both these modes are part of the WSJT-X suite from Joe Taylor. 

WSPR needs about 6Hz of spectrum (not much) and 2 minutes for the most common form of WSPR.  WSPR is really a beaconing mode.  

FT8 is a communications mode and needs about 50Hz with 15 second TX slots. WSPR works with signals much weaker than FT8. FT8 works with signals much weaker than SSB or CW.

Both offer the minimum exchange of data and neither are "chatting" modes. As they work with very weak signals and need so little bandwidth they have been transformative in amateur radio. They are not instead of speech modes, but as well as.

There are other modes also available in the free WSJT-X suite.

Personally, I enjoy both modes, especially as my voice is poor since my 2013 stroke.

War - NOT amateur radio

In my view, wars solve little. One wonders how many wars in history would not have happened had women been in charge. 

During WW2, my dad was a Pathfinder. These were the bravest of airmen, the elite.  He survived the war, but rarely wanted to speak about those times. He was lucky to have survived as many did not. One of my greatest regrets was not talking with him before he died in 1987 about those dark days . 

He must have been so brave as were people who have fought in wars from the dawn of history.

Life and quantum physics - NOT amateur radio

One of the "takeaway" things from my university course on quantum mechanics (that seems a very long time away now!) was that things could also be described as waves. These waves exist in all space and all time, but are much more probable here and now. To all intents and purposes they are "things" here and now.

The intriguing thought is that in some sense we have always existed everywhere.

Now my understanding may well be flawed, but it goes to show that what we experience as reality may not be how things are. Reality for us is based on our experiences of life.  It pays to be humble: we only know a very little. Be open minded.

Google "quantum entanglement".

One thing I am sure about: one hundred years from now we will look back at these times with amazement: did they really believe that and did they really drive around in vehicles that needed fossil fuels?

Hope - NOT amateur radio

We usually have a good show of daffodils under the trees in our close. Snowdrops are appearing everywhere now and these daffs are now pushing through. In a few weeks time, they will look great. Winter is still here, but there are signs of hope and new life.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR QRP TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far, 3 unique stations spotted.

Whenever I go on 10m WSPR QRP TX, I seem to get spotted by much the same stations. Local G4KPX always gets me if he is about as do a couple of stations in the Canary Is. Occasionally I get spotted in S.America. Rarely, others spot me. 

In the last solar peak I was copied across the planet. However, more people seem to have swapped to FT8 for weak signal communications. There is more 10m WSPR than I was expecting though. If the 10m antenna is available, I go on 10m WSPR TX.

8m NoV - zzzzz

A week ago I got an email from OFCOM saying someone was chasing my 8m NoV application submitted last October. 3 weeks after chasing them I have had no progress update - zzzzzz. 

If I was offering them £2M for a mobile phone licence I would have probably heard by return in October.

How can you be impressed by such shabby customer service? In my working life I was told customers are our most important asset. Such service from OFCOM would (rightly) get someone the sack. 

Optical beacon

This photo shows my optical beacon built 10 years ago. I still have it. 

160m FT8 RX in the last 12 hours

Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the non-resonant 10m antenna. In all 499 stations were spotted, but fewer USA stations than I expected. 

Sunspots - Saturday January 29th 2022

Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 77.  A=8 and K=4.

160m FT8 RX

This evening, I am on 160m FT8 RX using the 10m antenna. So far (at 2117z) 355 stations spotted with the furthermost HS0ZNR (9696km).

UPDATE 2220z:  428 stations spotted including 1 in the USA.

Ely market - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the market square in Ely not too far from here. Sadly, there are too many 1960s buildings around, which would not be allowed today.  I suspect if they had been developing the square today they would have chosen designs much more in keeping.

The famous Ely cathedral is very close to this spot.

Soon be spring - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in Cambridge earlier today. Spring is not far away. 

Me?

This could be me in the early 1960s. 

Home? - NOT amateur radio

Although I left this part of Devon in 1970, it still feels like home. The photo shows earlier today. 

15m FT8 RX (Friday)

Since about 0930z I have been on 15m FT8 RX using the 10m antenna. At 0948z, 50 stations spotted.

137kHz tests in 2013

This was in 2013 when my QRP signal was spotted 101km away. 

King's, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows King's, Cambridge.  King's College Chapel is world famous as the home of the famous "Nine Lessons and Carols" each Christmas.

Sunspots - Friday January 28th 2022

Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 85. A=7 and K=2.

70cm FT8

 A few moments ago I turned on 70cm FT8. After an initial QRP TX session (no spots of my 2.5W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna) I am now RX only.

UPDATE 2104z:   No spots.

Rally news

As far as I know the Lincoln Shortwave Club rally is on this Sunday January 30th, but I suggest you check before travelling any distance.

The Canvey Rally in February has been cancelled I understand.

As always in these uncertain times, it is always worth checking if rallies are cancelled or postponed.

UPDATE 2315z: The Lincoln rally has been cancelled (see Keith's comment below). 

FT8 RX with non-resonant antennas

In the last day, I have been amazed at the results with non-resonant antennas on FT8 RX. May be I shouldn't be. 

On 160m FT8 RX one often has to add attenuation and, as long as the S/N is fine, it will still get results. 

On 15m FT8 RX, I guess my 10m antenna is a few dBs down, but as long as the S/N is sufficient I will still get decodes.

Fungus - NOT amateur radio

 

This was seen growing on a tree some years ago. I cannot remember the month.

15m FT8 RX

At the moment, I am monitoring 15m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna. I have been on for about 10 minutes. At 1010z, 43 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1502z:  684 stations spotted today on 15m FT8  RX.