8m experiment (Saturday)

Yesterday, I carried out some 8m WSPR TX tests. All were unsuccessful with no sign whatsoever of anyone copying me. I was hoping that somebody would detect something. Alas....

At about 0900z, I went again on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX. Just local spots again. On RX in the last few weeks I have spotted 4 stations. 

With my results, with QRP and a low dipole, I think I shall concentrate on 8m FT8 RX until the Es season really gets going. I think with Es I should have some success on TX.

UPDATE 1533z: I tried some WSPR TX tests this afternoon on 8m. Again, no success.

UPDATE 1625z:  Another test on 40.680 MHz WSPR at 1600z was also unsuccessful.

Precious moments - NOT amateur radio

Last evening we had a BBQ with our sons and all the grandchildren. A famous philosopher once said (and here I paraphrase as I cannot remember the words) something like enjoy the simple things as you don't know they will be precious moments until later.  Last evening felt like that: our sons, all the grandchildren, blossom and a lovely sunset. 

Sunspots - Saturday April 16th 2022

Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 35.  A=21 and K=2.

8m WSPR test - 1500z Friday

 At 1500z I shall be doing a WSPR test transmission on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This is NOT the usual 8m WSPR frequency.

UPDATE 1535z :  Sadly nobody spotted the WSPR TX test. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1042z:  So far today, 2 unique stations have spotted me with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km). 

8m testing (Friday)

After a brief TX period on FT8 (one local FT8 spot) and then Q65, I am now on FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1044z:  Nobody spotted on 8m FT8 RX. 

View from the shack window

Spring is a great time of year with lots of fresh growth and blossom. The photo shows the view looking down the garden from the shack. 

Sunspots - Friday April 15th 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 37.  A=38 and K=4.

Simple 10m FT8 RX

In the Northern Hemisphere we are entering the Es season with DX up to about 1500km on most days. The season usually lasts most of the summer.  Also the sunspot count is climbing, so next autumn should be good on 10m too.

If you want an FT8 10m RX, you may want to take a look at my 10FT8R receiver.  This is very effective and does not miss much.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

Boris - NOT amateur radio

Boris Johnson is the UK Prime Minister. He has recently been fined for parties during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is under a lot of pressure to resign as he set the rules.  The Ukraine war has helped delay the inevitable. 

Minehead - NOT amateur radio

Ten years ago were on holiday in North Devon and went to Minehead in Somerset where we saw lots of steam trains. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far just G4KPX (14km) spotting me (44 spots by 0940z).

Stations spotting me today

UPDATE 2020z: QRT.

8m tests (Thursday)

My 8m station was turned on at about 0800z. Initially, I tried sending some Q65 for a test with a station in Bath without success. I am was on 8m FT8 with just a local spot.

UPDATE 0924z:  Currently monitoring 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8.

UPDATE 2025z:  QRT. Only local spots of me.  On RX the furthermost was EI9KP (649km).

2019 breakfast - NOT amateur radio

On his visit to us in 2019, our son cooked breakfast. 

Sunspots - Thursday April 14th 2022

Solar flux is 99 and the SSN 37. A=9 and K=3.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Last evening I took part in the 70cm activity contest with 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni. I did not stop on long as my voice was poor. 

In all, I made 3 contacts with the best G4CLA (105km). These UKAC sessions are good fun.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsukac .

Philosophy - NOT amateur radio

Every now and again, I get thinking about the deeper things in life. Human consciousness really confuses me. 

We think of time flowing ever forwards. We are a mere dot in history. We are a on a small planet in the universe. Some estimates are that there are 1 trillion planets! At the moment there are almost 8 billion people alive on our planet. I do not know how many humans have ever existed.

And yet we are self aware.

Religiously, I am agnostic not knowing what I believe. We may have our whole view of the universe turned on its head in the next 100 years. 

And, of course, this is just what I experience. For you, it might be completely different!

Life, consciousness, the universe and us are real puzzles!

See https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/planets-universe/.

Bellringing - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons is mad on bellringing. The very short video shows him ringing at Fulbourn, near Cambridge, recently. 

Rotten - NOT amateur radio

We saw this chair at Anglesey Abbey yesterday. Looks like it has been out too long! 

10m WSPR QRP TX (Wednesday)

Again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF TX WSPR beacon.  Yesterday I was spotted by 7 stations including 2 in the USA.

UPDATE 1342z:  5 stations have spotted me today on 10m WSPR.

The table shows the stations spotting me on 10m WSPR on Tuesday.

8m tests (Wednesday)

 After a period on TX (2 local spots) , I am now on 8m FT8 RX only on 40.680 MHz USB dial.

UPDATE 1345z: A brief FT8 TX period just now resulted in 2 local spots. Now RX only on 40,680 MHz USB dial FT8. No spots.

Decision made!

After thinking hard, I have decided to make a G3XBM PDF projects scrapbook that will be free to download from my website. 

As I make changes to the book these can simply be made. As I make no money I cannot imagine any copyright issues, which could be a problem with a printed version that is charged for. Some of my designs have appeared in magazines across the world in many languages. 

My aim has always been to collect my ideas for other people and never for commercial gain. 

The scrapbook will be linked from my main website.

I hope to complete the book by the end of May.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book

Sunspots - Wednesday April 13th 2022

Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 23. A=12 and K=3.

PI4 versus FT8?

Until today, I did not realise that PSKreporter supported PI4, which is a mode used by some beacons. What I do not know is the sensitivity of PI4 versus FT8. If anyone knows, please tell me.

That projects book

Several people have suggested that I do a book of all my projects. I started it, but have not got too far! It is a lot of hard work, but might be a good idea. What do you think? 

Looking back, I have done several projects and it might be a "good thing" to have them all together. These cover VLF to light (1 kHz to 481 THz) plus some antennas.

Someone in the comments suggested a PDF version, which is not a bad idea. Maybe I should consider this? 

I am not really after money for this, so maybe I should do it and add it as a free download from my website? If anyone wants to give a charity donation, they would be free to do so. If they just want the PDF book, that is their choice.

Hopefully, Practical Wireless, RadCom and QST (maybe others too?) could give the link.

Tenbox

Many years ago, before my stroke, I intended to build a simple 10m phone transceiver aimed at local contacts only. What I had in mind was a 10m version of my 6m Sixbox and 2m Fredbox. 

It used a super-regen RX with isolating pre-amp to avoid radiation, so would not be suitable for DX work. Having said that, it had no problems receiving USA AM stations in the car with just a base loaded whip. 

My idea was to build a rig that could be used when 10m is dead, such as at night or in poor solar years. 10m is a great band and very little used when not "open". 

It is ideal for local contacts as antennas are small especially when compared with 160m. CB antennas work well. 

In my mind was something like the old Heathkit Benton Harbour Lunchboxes (remember those?), but far smaller and on a single simple PCB.

Sadly my stroke got in the way and the project was not completed.  It would be great if someone else completed this project. There may well be better solutions these days.

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

10m WSPR QRP TX (Tuesday)

At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far today, just local spots. 

UPDATE 1052z:  Still just local spots. 

Clunch - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a house in our village that is having its plaster removed to reveal the clunch beneath. Clunch is a kind of chalk commonly used as a building material locally. 

8m tests (Tuesday)

This morning I am doing MSK144 tests with Paul G9PUV nearby Brighton. I am copying him, but he is not copying me. 

UPDATE 0801z:  Sadly he did not copy me. At times he was very strong, presumably by random MS bursts. I guess with his much higher power they were long enough for me to decode Paul. Being much weaker, it would need a very long burst for me to be decoded at his end. We tried. I am sure with a proper MS shower or Es backscatter, we have a chance. Currently FT8 RX on 8m on 40.680 MHz USB dial.

UPDATE 1314z:  No FT8 spots.  I see both S50B and ZS6WAB are monitoring. I think I have a very modest station, so my "experiment" is really to see how 8m does with a QRP station and small wire antenna.

UPDATE 1345z: Now on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX again. 2 local spots so far. I have still to have a 2-way exchange of reports on 8m.

UPDATE 1530z:   For about the last hour, I have been on 8m 40.680 MHz FT8 RX. No spots. I must see if I can see the Irish beacon EI1KNH near Dublin on 40.013 MHz sending FT8 for part of its cycle. I may just be possible to copy this beacon by tropo, but I expect it will be strong on MS pings just as the old Rosemarkie beacon GB3RMK was on 6m. Even with my poor 6m antenna it peaked on random MS pings every few minutes.

UPDATE 1652z:  The EI1KNH 8m beacon is not copyable by tropo.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 12th 2022

Solar flux is 99 and the SSN 24.  A=13 and K=1.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Once again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. 5 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1955z:  12 unique stations spotted me today. Quite a good day really.

8m tests (Monday)

 After a brief period on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX (1 local spot), I am RX only on 8m FT8.  So far, nobody spotted today.

UPDATE 1022z:  Someone has just raised a very interesting question. In the ISM bands 40.66-40.70 MHz his calculations suggest 50uW can legally be used into 50 ohms. I think he calculated that anyone in the UK could legally go on 40 MHz TX without a licence as long as they are in the ISM band. On WSPR, it would not surprise me if 50uW could be detected in central Europe in a decent Es opening. Now, I am no legal expert and have not looked in to this, but if correct it means anyone could legally TX on the ISM band without a licence as long as the ERP was less than 50uW. This is worth checking out. I think you can make up your own callsigns to ID yourself in any reports. As I said, I am not a legal expert and you need to check carefully if this is correct.

This from the OFCOM document about ISM:

“industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications (of radio frequency energy): Operation of equipment or appliances designed to generate and use locally radio frequency energy for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic or similar purposes, excluding applications in the field of telecommunications.” 

Maybe the excluding applications in the field of telecommunications is the killer? Mind you, I cannot imagine OFCOM ever policing this!

UPDATE 1341z:  For 8m I just have a low wire dipole which is strung between the support for my 2m big-wheel and the end of my 10m end fed antenna. You may just be able to see it in the photo.

UPDATE 1436z:  About to go on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.

UPDATE 2039z:  QRT now. S50B and G9PUV both copied earlier on 8m.  Doing a test on Tuesday from 0600z on 40.680 MHz MSK144 with G9PUV.

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went on a walk around the village. The collage shows some of the things we saw 

Duxford - NOT amateur radio

In WW2 my dad was a Pathfinder on Lancasters. I had no idea how brave and scared he must have been. Back in 2019 my son and grandson went to the museum at Duxford and went on a Lancaster.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity levels

My most recent peek at activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite at a weekend afternoon in Europe found activity levels on the narrowband transponder still low. I am sure people lose interest. 

I can imagine the scenario: those keen enough assemble the dish, feeds, TX and RX and carefully align the dish. They work some DX, tell them all about the gear.....then lose interest. 

Imagine the difference if a "black box" was available from a Japanese manufacturer. Of course, they are looking for volumes and a return on their investment - neither of which is likely. They are also worried that Oscar 100 might suddenly stop working.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Monday April 11th 2022

 Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 13.  A=34 and K=4.

Village Cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage is in our village. We have a real mix of old and new houses. 

Steam trains - NOT amateur radio

Back in the late 1950s these were a common sight in my trainspotting days in Devon. 

This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Sunday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. So far just local spots. 

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations spotted. Furthermost is TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 2200z:  QRT. 

8m tests continue

At the moment I am on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, just 1 local spot of me. Later I shall be just on RX. 

UPDATE 0836z:  RX only now on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Nobody spotted. I hope more stations in Europe manage to get 8m permits this Es season.

UPDATE 0941z:  Nobody spotted.

UPDATE 1135z: G9PUV (158km), near Brighton, spotted on 8m FT8 this morning.  At the strength I got him (off the side of the dipole) I don't think he would spot me. Maybe on WSPR?

UPDATE 1507z:  Still on 40.680 MHz (8m) FT8 RX. Just 1 station spotted today so far.

UPDATE 1947z:  QRT soon. One possible first (to be confirmed) is the reception on 8m of an EI station by VP8ADR/40 in the Falkland Islands. It would be good if VP8s could TX on 8m, but I am not sure what the law there says.