Sunspots - Wednesday February 23rd 2022

Solar flux is 95 and the SSN 38  A=16 and K=0.

Independent shops - NOT amateur radio

Sadly, walking down many UK high streets and you see shops that could be anywhere. 

Independent shops seem rarer. This one in Cambridge is there and I hope it stays. It is not far from St John's College. 

OFCOM - thank you

It is not often I say nice things about OFCOM. 

However, since submitting my application form for an Innovation and Research licence, I have nothing but praise. The person at the other end of my emails responds quickly and he seems to be genuinely as helpful as possible. Thank you. 

70cm activity contest results

The RSGB has just published the latest update to the results of the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). Even though I only made a small handful of contacts, my position is up!

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2022 .

Quantum mechanics - NOT amateur radio

My 6 week course on an aspect of quantum mechanics as part of my University of The Third Age in Cambridge (U3AC) has ended. It was very hard!  It was given by a very well qualified Cambridge University physicist. He is a good presenter.

The takeaway comment at the end of the course was "spooky actions at a distance", Einstein's comment, really do occur. This means that at far ends of the universe things can influence each other instantly. This action occurs instantly and does not depend on the speed of light. This has been proved conclusively by experiments.  Einstiein did not want to believe this and did all sorts of things to try and disprove this. He failed.

This suggests what we think of as reality is not. This is totally counter intuitive.  All we can say really is there is very much we do not know.

10m WSPR 500mW TX (Tuesday)

As the 10m antenna is not being used, I am again on 10m QRP WSPR with 500mW from the stand alone W5OLF beacon. So far, at 0940z, just 2 local spots of me from G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1000z:  12 spots of me by G4KPX. No DX spots of me.

UPDATE 1400z: 3 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR (see chart).

6m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

 At the moment (0935z) I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, my QRP has been spotted by a couple of Gs on TX and one G has been spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1625z:  Just 5 Gs spotted all day. No DX.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 22nd 2022

 Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 48.  A=12 and K=4.

70cm Moxon antenna

Several years ago I had a problem: my rig covered 70cm SSB, but I had no antenna. I found a quick and easy solution in my wife's wardrobe. I think the whole antenna took about 30 minutes to make.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/70cm-moxon .

6m FT8 QRP (Monday)

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 (initially with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni).  I am currently RX only. No spots. 

UPDATE 1600z:  Just a single spot on RX GM4CXM (507km) which could have been a brief MS ping, Es or aircraft scatter.  -18dB S/N was not too strong.

UPDATE 1647z:  One QSO with M0MIZ (124km).

UPDATE 1958z:  QRT.

Solving the climate crisis? - NOT amateur radio

There is no doubt that in the coming years we will all be searching for answers to the climate emergency. Put simply, if we just carry on as we are, then all human life will go extinct.

But don't panic. 

On all things like fossil fuels, plastics and food supply, we may already have solutions. For fossil fuels we may be able to generate biofuels from algae. They may also provide alternatives to some of the materials used in plastics. We may also be able to add to cow's feed to dramatically reduce methane. We may well be able to synthesise proteins for food additives from algae. I quite expect there will be breakthroughs in battery technology in the next few years, so we can avoid lithium mining. I can also see solutions to renewable energy storage.

Basically we need to invest in solutions.

Cavendish, Suffolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

If things had gone to plan, my grandson was due to ring the bells here on Friday night. The rehearsal was cancelled due to the strong winds. 

He rang at nearby Clare yesterday and has rung bells in 4 towers this week. The photo is of Cavendish church.  

Pargeting (decorated plasterwork) is an East Anglian speciality. There are good examples in Cavendish and Clare.

Clare is a fine town with lots of old buildings.

See https://www.visit-clare.co.uk/. 

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pargeting .

10m QRP WSPR TX 500mW (Monday)

As the 10m antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX again with the W5OLF beacon. Local spots by G4KPX (14km), but nobody else yet. Perhaps Richard was away at the weekend?

UPDATE 1144z:  Still no DX spots of me.

UPDATE 1407z:  Just 93 spots of me by G4KPX (14km). No DX.

UPDATE 1725z:    W4WLO/B11 (7271km) just copied me.

UPDATE 1755z:   Now IW2NKE (1350km) spotting me.

UPDATE 2000z:   QRT.

70cm FT8 QRP (Monday)

After a brief period on 70cm FT8 TX with 2.5W to the 2m big-wheel omni, I am on RX. No spots, unsurprisingly. Still it was worth a try. I may try transmitting on 70cm FT8 again later today.

UPDATE 1324z:  Just before 1200z, I went on TX again. Still no spots on TX or RX. 

UPDATE 1345z:  Trying TX and RX with the vertical omni V2000.  Very strongly copied by G8CRB (14km). Thanks Steve!

Iris - NOT amateur radio

Winter can be very dark and long, so potted plants can brighten things up. 

Last week, my wife bought a couple of pots from a local shop. On had miniature daffodils and one iris. All the iris plants are now out and they look good on the kitchen windowsill.

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. As far as I can tell, activity levels are broadly similar to a few weeks ago i.e. fairly quiet with plenty of space. My snapshot is not at all scientific! It is more of an impression.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Monday February 21st 2022

Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 49. A=13 and K=1.

70cm FT8 QRP (Sunday)

One QSO with a local when using 2.5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 

Best spotted on RX was DF2VJ (570km). 70cm in truly awful weather!! Amazing. Is this scatter? No beams here.

This is a revelation: I went on 70cm FT8 expecting to find nobody, but instead had a QSO on FT8 and spotted a German station further away than Luxembourg and all with a 2m omni antenna!

10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)

It is now 1504z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW with the W5OLF beacon for about 10 minutes. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1615z:  It helps to connect the PSU! Still no spots of me yet.  

UPDATE 1705z: Still no spots.As it is dark here shortly after 1700z, this may be a day with no spots of me.

UPDATED 1850z:  QRT. No spots all afternoon.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

After a few minutes on 2.5W TX to the big-wheel omni antenna (5 UK spots of me), I am RX only. So far, at 1500z, just 4 UK stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1644z:  14 stations so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 7 stations spotted my QRP earlier. As far as I am aware, conditions are flat with strong wind and rain.

A united Ireland? - NOT amateur radio

Politics in Ireland has been complex for a very long time. 

Every person I have ever met from Northern Ireland or Eire has been delightful. I had no idea whether they were Protestant or Catholic! To me, it does not matter.

What may change shortly, following May elections, is the First Minister in Northern Ireland may be in favour of rejoining Eire. The unionists, who identify as British, would hate this. Whatever happens in the future is complicated. BREXIT made matter worse.

I do not have answers.

There is some logic in becoming part of Eire, but I can understand the fears of the Unionists. Hopefully a solution can eventually be found that keeps everyone happy.

Will this happen in my lifetime? I doubt it.

Gmail - NOT amateur radio

For almost 20 years now, I have had a free Gmail email address. Overall, it  does a good job. 

All emails I want to keep I can store in folders and the SPAM folder does a pretty good job of filtering out stuff that is obviously junk.  Very, very, rarely it puts stuff in SPAM that isn't, so I always do a quick check before deleting. I usually empty my bin and SPAM folders most days. 

Even after all this time, I still have plenty of space. You get 15GB free, which is quite enough for most. Additional space can be bought for a very modest monthly fee.

If need be, one can block certain types of emails by applying filters. Overall, pretty good, especially as one's emails can be checked on any PC or tablet anywhere in the world.

8m licence

Electronically, I have submitted my 8m permit application to OFCOM.  They will be sent a paper copy in the post tomorrow.

15m FT8 RX

At about 1300z, I turned on 15m FT8 RX. So far, at 1320z, 70 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1402z:   141 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1627z:  Have been QRT for a while now on 15m FT8 RX.

Lavenham - NOT amateur radio

Lavenham in Suffolk, UK is a lovely village with lots of timber framed houses. It became rich centuries ago on the back of the wool trade. The photo shows the village church. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 20th 2022

 Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 51. A=9 and K=3.

472kHz (630m)

This winter I have been on 472kHz less often and only RX. 

With my homebrew transverter (measured ERP 10mW) it was regularly copied in Norway on WSPR. It has been copied in Finland several times. 

In every case the antenna was the earth-electrode in the ground. The transverter was in QST some years ago and produces about 10W into 50 ohms. It was designed by me. Several people have made copies.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/630m-472khz-transverter .

Frustration

Since my 2013 stroke, I have not really been able to do field work. I used to enjoy tests at VLF and 481THz "in the field".  Instead, I concentrate on what I can do. Our hobby has many faces and there is so much to enjoy. My main interests are WSPR and FT8, which don't tax my voice.

I still enjoy 2m and 70cm activity contests and go on our club net most weeks on 2m FM.

Building things was one of my pleasures, but sadly my eyesight and fine motor skills make this very hard. I won't say impossible, but it is now far from easy.

15m FT8 RX (Saturday)

At the moment I am monitoring 15m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna.  After about 5 minutes, at 1147z, 38 stations already spotted. 15m is a great band!

UPDATE 1208z:  87 stations spotted including 2 in South America.

UPDATE 2205z:   882 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX. Now QRT.

Innovations and Trials Licence 8m application

Thanks to the generosity of total strangers (thank you all) I now have covered the costs of my application to OFCOM. 

My fund raiser is now closed. 

Every penny over the licence costs (a few pounds) is going to charity (any suggestions?) and I do not profit at all from this. To do so would have been totally wrong and was never my intention. If OFCOM had just granted me a simple NoV, none of this would have been necessary.

The application is going in today.

UPDATE 1445z:  Apparently an Innovation and Trial licence is £50 per month, which is stupid!! I shall apply for an Innovation and Research Licence that is £50 annually. 

UPDATE 2140z:  A couple of really nasty comments have been received which I have marked as SPAM and I shall not publish. For the record, (1) nobody had to contribute, (2) not a single penny goes to me, (3) my only reason for doing this is to further radio propagation research, (4) in the future I hope all radio amateurs can gain access to this most interesting part of the spectrum.

Storm Eunice - NOT amateur radio

We had some very strong winds in the UK yesterday. A wall not far from us was blown over. I think the wind gust caught the lattice fence that put force on the brick wall.

Sunspots - Saturday February 19th 2022

 Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 92.  A=6 and K=3. 

That wind - NOT amateur radio

We have wind gusting to 80 miles per hour here with Storm Eunice. It is even stronger in the west of the UK. The daffodils under the tree in our close are struggling. 

10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

After a very brief TX period at 2.5W, I am RX only.  At 0915z, 14 stations have been spotted. On TX just a single local spot.

UPDATE 1130z:  75 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1842z: 482 stations spotted on  FT8 RX. 

Thank you

Thanks to the kindness of people I don't even know, I shall apply for that 8m permit this weekend. Obviously, I know the permit, if granted, will be at least £50. If it is more, I shall not go ahead. 

"Windbag" need not bother sending me nasty anonymous comments as these will be rejected as SPAM unless he offers his name. He might want to reflect on the fact he is traceable and IP addresses used are known.

Once again, thank you.

2m operation

 "Guilty as charged me lud".

When I first went on 2m back in the 1970s, most people were on AM. Then came FM and repeaters and 2m SSB.

These days, 2m seems very quiet. However, appearances can be deceptive as many are now using FT8 . This can give the impression of a dead band, although actually it is possible to work stations at great range irrespective of conditions with very modest antennas and power. Very little spectrum is needed.

Activity sessions can be quite busy, but people have found other ways simply to chat using the Internet.

Apart from local nets, the band can appear quiet. I am as guilty as anyone rarely coming on SSB or FM unless there is an activity session or local net. I often use FT8 instead these days.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/2m-operation.

Sunspots - Friday February 18th 2022

Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 103. A=5 and K=1. 

Eddystone EC10 RX

We have moved on a lot.   Back in the 1960s, the Eddystone EC10 RX costing £48 was my dream machine. Many years later I managed to get a pre-production unit from someone at work whose dad worked for Eddystone. I remember the day he put it on my bench!

Mechanically, it was superb with its flywheel drive. On the lower bands it was just adequate. On the higher HF bands like 10m, it was terrible with its low IF and almost zero image rejection.

You used to be able to pick these up on Internet auction sites at inflated prices.  I have not looked recently.  They used germanium transistors (OC171s) that probably were leaky and wanted replacing. As an historic RX, you are welcome to bid, but as a serious 21st century RX? Forget it!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/eddystone-ec10.

UPDATE 2215z:  eBay still has people listing them.

Crocuses - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge mainly to see the snowdrops. These crocuses are out now too. 

Rally

The following rally is on this Sunday (February 20th) as far as I know. Check with the organisers before travelling.

Radioactive Fair, Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG.