As an experiment, I may try FT8 RX on a different band with my 10m end fed antenna. I think it has a low SWR on some other bands, but I cannot remember which.
UPDATE 0836z: The antenna would appear to be a good match on 17m, 15m. 12m and 10m. Today, I am trying 15m FT8. My very first signal resulted in a QSO with an LZ station. 8 stations have spotted me on QRP TX! I am RX only now. So far, on 15m FT8 RX, 16 stations spotted.
According to the beacon keeper, the 8m beacon at GB3MCB on 40.050 MHz should be operational next weekend subject to the rigger and weather. They also have permission for a 5m beacon.
As yet, I have not checked on modes. I hope to copy it by MS, scatter, and maybe tropo.
The probable modes are CW and PI4.
In my view, ALL beacons should include an FT8 sequence as this mode is (I think) as good as PI4 and is included free with WSJT-X and other software packages making 24/7 monitoring easy.
After a successful RX session on 10m FT8, I am now on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW from my W5OLF beacon) as the antenna is available.
UPDATE 1815z: Just F2 spots from 2 stations in the Canary Islands. No DX from the USA today. I think most people now use FT8.
All afternoon and early evening (UK time) I shall be on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX hoping to spot some DX from North America via F2.
OFCOM is consulting about new licences for satellite opearation by Mangata. See the OFCOM website for details.
As mentioned yesterday, I am on 10m FT8 RX again this morning, but may QSY to 8m FT8 RX this afternoon if F2 propagation looks promising. Judging by initial 10m results, F2 to the USA is looking a possibility on 8m later.
Initially, I shall be RX only on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz. I shall try TX if things look possible.
UPDATE 0915z: 71 stations already spotted on 10m FT8 RX.
This very simple software RX by SM6LKM was found about 10 years ago. I think it has been developed further by others.
F2 conditions are getting better, so I may try 8m FT8 tomorrow PM. I shall probably go on 10m FT8 in the morning.
At some point this autumn I hope to copy USA 8m stations on 40.680 MHz FT8. To get any reports of my 8m FT8 signals or even a QSO across the Atlantic would be incredible.
Next year, all being well, I hope to try some /P 23cm operation in some of the RSGB organised activity contests (UKAC). I am wondering if there is a popular antenna used in these contests?
Clearly very high gain antennas will give good signals, but will miss stations that are out of the very sharp beamwidth, whereas smaller antennas will have broader beams, but less gain. Perhaps, stations use one antenna for hunting, then a sharp, high gain one when on beam.
It is a very long time since I was on 23cm and then only RX.
Is there a favourite antenna?
We watched on TV.
This morning, I am on 10m FT8 RX. Lots of F2 propagation at 0752z.
UPDATE 1035z: Worldwide (almost) reception on 10m FT8 RX this morning.
As I totally failed in my quest to copy the EI1KNH beacon, I have QSYed to 10m FT8 RX. I was going to go QRT, but decided to leave things on for a few minutes. The FT8 segment was full of stations from South America. I went QRT then.
Within 25km of me are probably several stations that I could work on 23cm with a very modest indoor antenna. When my transverter arrives I shall have to arrange a few skeds!
Starting tomorrow, I expect to be mainly on 10m QRP FT8. If F2 looks promising I shall QSY to 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz hoping for the USA. This might be possible in late October or November.
My order and payment for the 23cm transverter has been received. When it comes, I shall try for some local 23cm QSOs, although my main aim is some UKAC sessions /P next year.
Do the British like queues?
Our son has just been around for lunch and made a very sensible suggestion about the queue to see the Queen's coffin lying in state.
Instead of the stupidly long queue why not allocate people timed slots which could have been obtained at ticket offices or online? Some people queued for many cold hours overnight!
Looking back, the queues were totally unnecessary. Instead, they could have been told. "your slot is Friday at 2145" or similar. They could have then gone away and come back at their appointed time.
In this modern age this was so stupid.
When on 8m FT8 or other modes, the FT817ND and PC are tied up, so I go on 10m WSPR with the W5OLF 500mW beacon.
So far this morning, just spots from the Canary Is by what seems like F2 propagation. No signs of any Es today.
UPDATE 1345z: Some reports have been +6dB S/N which is very strong.
It is hard to appreciate just how much the media influences us all.
In Russia, folks are told that the war in Ukraine is a "special operation" to liberate oppressed people. In the west we are told the Ukrainians are without fault. In the 1970s we were always told the USA was perfect in Vietnam and the Vietcong was evil.
We rarely hear a truly balanced view. All sides want to slant things their way.
The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. The west is not perfect, Russia is not perfect, Ukraine is not perfect, and the Vietcong was not the evil it was portrayed.
In all wars and in peacetime, the media influences us all. My plea is to get your data from multiple sources and make up your own mind. Don't always believe what you are fed.
I have been monitoring this Irish beacon for several days and with various modes. So far, I have had no luck.
After today, I shall stop and try again with MSK144 in an MS shower.
UPDATE 1815z: Still nothing. Disappointing as G0RQQ, Keith, is able to get it in Lincoln. I am getting the distinct impression this is not going to work.
UPDATE 1943z: Nothing. I shall go QRT soon on 8m FT8 RX on the beacon frequency. Failure!
Yaesu, you have had your chances, but never took them in the run up to solar peak 24 and now 25. Instead, Yaesu messes around with a 100W SDR radio that looks like the one they only recently introduced!!
Yaesu, have you really lost the plot?
Like all things from China my feeling is the quality control and support are still not proven. They will get there soon and this may be it.
Lower cost amateur radio products are coming and the big Japanese manufacturers are in for a large shock. The writing is on the wall. I give it a few years only. Certainly when we are in cycle 26 things will look very different indeed. Some of the companies we have known for decades will be gone and there will be new names.
Although Es can occur at any time, the late spring and early summer are the best times. Often bands up 4m can bring DX to up to 1500km, sometimes more. Rarely, Es occurs at 2m.
Today, for example I saw no evidence of Es propagation on 10m WSPR. The only stations spotting me were probably via F2 propagation or local. The nature of Es is it is sporadic, so the bands can suddenly come alive, which is why FT8 especially can be so useful.
When DX is not around, bands like 10m and 6m can be seriously under-used. This is a pity as they make good bands for club nets and local chats. Antennas are small and local noise is often much better than 160m or 80m, where antennas can be big.
In the spring and summer, we get bird migrants from Africa.
In recent years there have been far fewer swallows, although here, surprisingly, swift numbers are not too bad. Swifts mostly go in August to central Africa, whereas many swallows end up in South Africa.
Most swallows go about now, although a very few may try to over-winter. As our climate gets milder, some may succeed. It will be next spring before the swifts and swallows, hopefully, return. They have being doing this journey for thousands of years.
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| Bee-eaters |
Over the winter we see birds from the far north, who think our climate is mild! Don't tell them otherwise! In this part of the UK we get swans from Iceland and Siberia over the winter.
Amateur Radio Weekly reports that the Japanese hope to put a UHF beacon on the moon.
See https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html .
If successfully deployed, this could be a good test for receivers. I am not sure what it will send or when the launch is planned.
This was ordered this weekend. Hopefully it will arrive early November. Not sure what import duty or VAT is payable. I am sure someone will tell me!
The only spots of me today look like F2 and local, with no Es. EA8BFK (2880km) and G4KPX (14km) have spotted my 500mW.
Although Keith in Lincoln has been successful, I have still not decoded the beacon. We are at similar distances from the beacon, I think. It would seem my low horizontal dipole is not as effective as Keith's long wire. I note that the beacon has a vertical dipole whereas mine is horizontal. With scatter and MS this probably does not matter, but with WSPR and tropo it could make all the difference. I shall keep trying!!
I must check the screen during a WSPR slot to see if it is there at all. It sends WSPR every 20 minutes. If I can detect it at all, I might briefly try my other antennas just in case these are better in that direction and with vertical polarisation.
Otherwise, it is MSK144 in a meteor shower.
UPDATE 0936z: In the last WSPR slots absolutely nothing on the screen with the 8m dipole or 10m end fed antennas.
UPDATE 1410z: In view of Paul's (G9PUV) comments that he has never spotted WSPR from this beacon, I have switched back to 8m FT8 RX. You never know! It will be monitored all weekend.
Puzzled.
MLS has just announced the price of the new 100W SDR transceiver, that seems to have a very similar spec to the FTDX-10. It seems the price is lower than the FTDX-10 and the rig a little smaller. What I cannot understand is why Yaesu has done this.
Was the FTDX-10 not quite right? Where is a proper FT817 replacement? It still seems to me that Yaesu is in a muddle and trying to find its way.
Tim, the beacon keeper, has recommended I try 8m WSPR RX.
The WSPR sessions are several times an hour and WSPR works with very weak signals. I am on 8m WSPR now, but a bit uncertain about the 2 minute cycles. This may only work with tropo and certainly not work with MS or aircraft. I may try from now and over the weekend.
The beacon is only active from 0600-2400, but I am not sure if this is local time or GMT. With tropo, I would have suspected my best chance would be early in the morning?
If this fails (I have low expectations) I may try MSK144 in an MS shower.
After a period on 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP TX, I have switched to 40.013 MHz MSK144 RX hoping to spot the Irish beacon EI1KNH/B. My best chance (I think) is early morning.
All being well, I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz at about 0900z. If the other Irish 8m beacon has FT8, I may try for that overnight.
UPDATE 1020z: 8m FT8 TX gear turned on at 0907z. No spots.
As the 10m antenna should be available, I hope to be on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon at 0900z.
UPDATE 0918z: Gear was on overnight. Just 1 spot from local G3KPX (14km) this morning.
We go for walks in nearby Anglesey Abbey most months. This is a photo of the main house. The property is owned by the National Trust.
