Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 121. A=31 and K=3.
31 Dec 2022
30 Dec 2022
No SDR testing today?
Most of the day, I have been busy and I have not got around to testing the SDR. Unless I get it tested tonight, it will have to wait until the weekend.
Sunspot maximum late next year?
The site I most use for data is still predicting that solar cycle 25 will peak in November 2023. This seems quite early. Certainly conditions have been good for some time now.
Even if this is correct, we can expect solar conditions to remain good for several years. I was quite surprised how FT8 proved solar conditions were respectable north-south even when there were no sunspots.
Often there is a second peak about a year after the first. Fingers crossed!
Plans for Friday
As I did not get around to trying my SDR yesterday, my main aim is to get this going. If time allows, I hope to be on 10m QRP WSPR TXand 8m QRP FT8.
8m permits in 2023?
It would be really great if many more people could come on 8m TX in 2023. What would be helpful would be if many asked for limited access i.e. for a fixed time with limits. The reason is radio science research around solar maximum.
Please ask your local body responsible for permits for limited 8m access. The following would be what I would suggest you ask for:
- 40.680-40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz within the ISM band limits)
- 100W ERP
- Narrow digital only e.g. CW, QRSS,FT8 or WSPR
- April 2023 to September 2023
- Strictly non-interference i.e. if any harmful interference the station can be told to immediately go QRT.
29 Dec 2022
Ultra simple 80m transceiver
If you get bored this holiday, you may get some ideas from the XBM80-2 transceiver on my website. It really works!! You would be hard pressed to find anything simpler.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
About 10 minutes ago, I switched to 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. So far today (it is now 1435z) no spots.
UPDATE 1643z: No spots. QRT soon on 8m. I suspect that with my low ERP, I miss a lot on 8m. Still that was what I wanted to find out: just what could be achieved with an ultra-simple QRP 8m set-up. I think I now know what my limits are and also the limitations of the 10mW ERP (the legal 8m ISM limit for ALL in the UK without a licence) locally. I shall probably renew my T&I permit for another year, although I doubt I shall learn much more. It would be really helpful if more tried to get 8m permits, if only for the Es season. Wouldn't it be great if many countries had 8m FT8 or WSPR access next year?
QDX - creeping up
As mentioned a few days ago, I have ordered a built QDX transceiver for 20-10m from QRP Labs. This is a 5W transceiver that will be mostly used on 10m FT8 and WSPR.
I can still use voice modes like SSB and FM, but it is much harder for me these days.
Looking at the priority list, my order is creeping up. I can see it being my main rig and well used when it comes. My antenna is a good match on most of the bands covered by the QDX.
Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio
We expected to see quite a few snowdrops out and maybe a daffodil. Instead, we saw no daffodils out (just a few that will be out in 2-3 weeks) and just one snowdrop out.
10m FT8 RX (Thursday)
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| Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX to 1322z |
UPDATE 1322z: 362 stations spotted today. 422 stations
UPDATE 1357z: 422 stations spotted.
8m FT8 QRP yesterday
Yesterday, I spotted no stations on 8m FT8, but my 2.5W FT8 was spotted again by EI9FP (649km) and G0HVQ (181km). Later today, I may try 8m FT8 again.
28 Dec 2022
17m FT8 RX
Just turned on 17m FT8 RX. 15 stations spotted so far.
UPDATE 2245: 59 stations spotted today. BTW, using the 10m end-fed antenna. QRT.
Amazon - NOT amateur radio
Amazon is like Marmite in that some are dead against Amazon and some are for the company.
They should always treat workers well. Yes, they should pay fair taxes. In fact, perhaps all online sales should be taxed so that we are encouraged to use high street shops more?
Personally, I quite like the convenience of Amazon. Things get ordered one day and the goods usually arrive the next day.
One day my wife went to our local chemists to buy some very ordinary nail scissors. They had none and no plans to stock any. She went on Amazon and they came next day. I cannot remember the price we paid. If you are housebound or unable to carry things a long way, the convenience of online delivery is great.
The demise of retail outlets on the high streets is sad, but our shopping habits have changed. I just wonder what our high streets will be like in 2030. We cannot be like Canute. Change always happens. Perhaps the nature of high streets will change with more independent shops and bigger retailers offering free home delivery of goods bought in store. Also, I expect there will be more places to meet and more flats.
UPDATE 1513z: Toilet seat broken. Ordered from Amazon after lunch yesterday. Arrived and fitted just after lunchtime today. Free return not needed.
UPDATE 1515z: Amazon has been used here for years. In all this time, I have never had things delivered to the wrong place. I have had to return things very, very infrequently. Whether from Amazon or other suppliers, my experience of shopping online has been good.
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
At the moment (1000z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with 2.5W to the low wire dipole. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1022z: Still no spots. One thing is clear from my experiments: running QRP ERP I do lose out on a lot both on TX and RX. Compared with a station with a modest beam at several metres, I am probably 6-10dB down, possibly more. Running just 2.5W on TX is probably 10dB down on many stations, if not more. This means I could be at least 16dB weaker than many stations. Despite this I have still been copied in 16 countries and 3 continents on TX. Moral? I have learnt something!
UPDATE 1228z: No spots today.
UPDATE 1755z: 2 stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 to a low wire dipole. Nobody spotted on RX.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
When on 8m I forget that I can still go on 10m WSPR 500mW TX with my beacon. On now.
UPDATE 1010z: So far, spots from SV9 (F2 or Es?).
UPDATE 1052z: 3 unique stations have spotted me today so far. I think this is mid-winter Es.
UPDATE 1230z: 4 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR so far today.
UPDATE 1735z: 8 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon today.
Break? - NOT amateur radio
We love seeing our grandchildren, but at our age we get more tired, sooner. We have a break of about 7 days before they come again for a few days. It is a chance to "recharge batteries".
Maybe it is a chance to try some new amateur radio stuff? Maybe that SDR or 23cms?
At one time our elder grandson contacted us most nights. He has now got more friends his age who share his interests, so we are less of a crutch. All part of growing up, and totally natural.
Plans for today
Today I have 2 aims.
Firstly I want to concentrate on 8m QRP FT8. It is the winter Es season and the F2 MUF is increasing. Yesterday the USA was spotted in Australia on 8m. There are more countries monitoring 8m.
Secondly I want to test my SDR for the first time.
UPDATE 1807z: My SDR tests will have to wait until tomorrow.
Wisdom - NOT amateur radio
Many years ago I was taught that wisdom is quite different from being clever. Often the most profound things come from someone with wisdom, as these words that are supposed to have come from a woman of 92.
2m FT8 RX near Cambridge
When I go on 2m FT8, a very useful resource is the monitor a G0LRD. It is situated not far from Cambridge and my signal is usually about +5dB S/N. With it, I can look at 2m FT8 activity received locally, and check my own 2.5W is clean.
An example of David's page is attached. I think David also uses a Wimo big-wheel omni antenna. It is a great local (to me) resource.
27 Dec 2022
When will my assembled QDX transceiver arrive?
My built QDX transceiver covering 10m has been ordered. According to Hans the waiting time is currently about 1 month, so it might be ready at the end of January. As FT8 and WSPR are the main modes used because of my poor voice, I can see this transceiver being well used. It covers 20m,17m,15m,12m and 10m. My antenna is a good match on all bands except 20m. Even there it could be used on RX.
See http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini/assembled.html .
See http://qrp-labs.com/ .
Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio
Dalham Church - NOT amateur radio
Dalham church is almost outside the village, so parishioners would have had a long uphill walk every Sunday. It is conveniently next to the old Lord of the Manor's house!
Rally on Thursday
The following rally has been notified to me. I guess they are assuming most attendees are still on holiday.
Thursday December 29th - Yeovil ARC Rally, West Camel, Yeavil,Somerset BA22 7QX. No contact details given, but always worth checking before travelling.
10m FT8 RX
Much of the morning, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. There is no doubt that HF conditions are again good. The average sunspot number must be around 100 and 10m FT8 DX from around the world is widely spotted most days.
UPDATE 1157z: 179 stations spotted.
 |
| Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today at 1902z |
UPDATE 1958z: 806 stations spotted. Now QRT.
26 Dec 2022
QDX 10m
This is a 5W transceiver covering 20m-10m. Used with a software package like WSJT-X, it should work the world on modes like FT8.
10m FT8 RX (Monday)
Most of the day I have been on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2139z: 713 stations spotted today.
25 Dec 2022
10m FT8
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| Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX at 1240z |
My problem with my 10m antenna was the coax plug, which I have re-done. At the moment (whilst getting ready for Christmas lunch!!) I am on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1240z: So far today, 148 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1803z: 670 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. QRT.
White Gold - NOT amateur radio
About half of these came from coastal Devon, so it is highly likely that some of my fishermen ancestors were captured. At that time fishermen travelled thousands of miles to the rich cod banks off Newfoundland and were captured as they left port on their arduous journeys. It must have been a very frightening time.
A very good book was "White Gold" by Giles Milton. Until I read this I knew nothing about this.
Merry Christmas! - NOT amateur radio
This winter festival at the darkest time of the year pre-dates Christianity by many thousands of years. Whatever your faith (or none), I hope you have a good time.
Whatever your circumstances, you are loved. We all benefit from being kind and loving to each other. This time of year is especially magical for young children, so please make it an especially happy for them.
Merry Christmas!
👍
USA digital geostationary satellite?
Excuse my ignorance, but I am confused by the difference between a geosynchronous and geostationary satellite.
Apparently there are moves afoot to get a high orbit satellite with a footprint over the USA. Oscar 100 does not cover the USA. This one should be digital. If so, I expect it will get even less attention that Oscar 100, which is seriously under-used.
In my view, these satellites are interesting to access at first, but interest soon wanes later: people know they can access them and then they get bored. It is just like talking on a terrestrial repeater.
24 Dec 2022
Cold Devon day - NOT amateur radio
This was the beach in Devon near Thurlestone Rock. It is near here that I come from.
2m activity contest results
The results have just been published for the 2m UKAC contest. These results are for December and the overall scores for the year. Despite just one QSO in December, I managed to end up in 67th place in the low power section (I run 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna) out of 175 stations. As my voice is poor these days, I find SSB contests hard work, so I usually stop on for 30-60 minutes only.
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