Sunspots - Monday January 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 199 and the SSN 166. A=9 and K=1.

23cm - partial success

Although I got no FT8 decodes, my 23cm QRP signal did make it to the QTH of G4HJW, despite double glazed windows, bushes, a shed and 2 hills! I am sure on a less obstructed path I would succeed. Tomorrow I have a USB sked with G6UW in Cambridge.

The second photo shows the 2 element antenna firing through the shack window.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

It is now 1220z. About 30 minutes ago, I turned on my W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon. So far, 3 unique stations spotting me today.

UPDATE 1438z:  17 stations have spotted me so far today.

UPDATE 1635z: 18 unique stations have spotted my QRP with the furthermost FY5KE (7110km).

UPDATE 2045z: 19 stations spotted me today on QRP 10m WSPR. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Sunday January 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 209 and the SSN 194.  A=17 and K=2.

Plans for today

 At the moment these are my plans:-

• 8m FT8 QRP on 40.680 MHz.
• 10m 500mW WSPR TX.
• 23cm QRP FT8 local tests at 1630z.

Norwich UK (Saturday)

This photo was taken on Saturday. It shows the market, with St Peter Mancroft church in the background. 

Norwich was largely overlooked by the industrial revolution. It is a lovely city with a fine cathedral.

Monism - NOT amateur radio

For a long time people have been searching for a "theory of everything" bringing together the macro and the micro worlds. On the one hand people are searching for ever smaller particles. On the other hand people are talking about multiverses. Our own universe looks to be at least 40 billion light years across.

As far as I know there has not been a proper bringing together of the quantum world and our "everyday" world.  According to quantum entanglement particles on opposite sides of the universe instantly know about each other.   Clearly, there is so little we know.

Monism may be on the right track, if not the whole way.  It views that reality is one organic whole with no independent parts.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monism .

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 As I was out until late afternoon, my 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP was not turned on until late. I was quite surprised to be spotted by 3 stations including Phil EI9KP (649km) and S50B (1220km).

Local 23cm FT8 test Sunday

 Subject to the main person in the test Bernie Wright G4HJW agreeing, these are my plans:

• 23cm FT8 TX (2W), Sunday afternoon Jan 22nd, 1630-1700z.
• Horizontal polarisation.
• 1296.065 MHz USB dial (audio offeset about 1950 Hz).

10m QRP TX WSPR (Saturday)

 

My beacon has been on from about 1600z. So far 10 unique stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Saturday January 21st 2023

 Solar flux is 218 and the SSN 197. A=6 and K=4.

UK inflation - NOT amateur radio

In many countries inflation is a problem. This is especially true in the UK that has depended on cheap foreign workers for many years at the cost of not increasing efficiency as fast as some countries.

If inflation stays high, people demand higher wages to keep up with rising prices. This itself is inflationary and high inflation and rising prices continue for years. 

This is the curse of many governments. There are no easy answers as this is an understandable position for workers who feel their buying power diminishing. They feel, indeed are, poorer.

The only solution is for governments to come up with a fair deal for workers, whilst not stoking inflation. At the same time workers have to accept they will be poorer.

In all this fairness is important. If some (bosses) get excessive pay rises and dividends, working people will feel aggrieved.

Quiet Cambridge? - NOT amateur radio

 

This is across Bridge Street from Magdelene College in Cambridge.

OFCOM Spectrum Sandbox Workshop

OFCOM is to hold a workshop on its Spectrum Roadmap on February 17th. See the OFCOM website for details.

OFCOM Communications Weekly

Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds about licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for the latest. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

The 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 1555z. My 500mW was immediately spotted in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1658z:  4 unique stations have spotted me in the last hour.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 At about 1555z, I turned on my QRP 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz (TX first). At 1605z, no spots.

UPDATE 1635z: Phil EI9KP (649km) has spotted me again. The propagation puzzles me as it is too close for Es and I would have expected the Doppler on aircraft scatter to be too great to decode. He spots me regularly and I am always grateful. Nothing on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1922z: S50B (1220km) has also spotted me. This is probably winter Es.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned a few days ago, we have 3 of these on the go. This one is in flower. 

They are magnificent house plants and great fun. 

This one will be past its best next week, but the second one is coming out!

23cm FT8 test

Only one local can TX on 23cms apparently. My best hope of a 2-way SSB QSO looks like G4BAO, but I get the impression John is away. Several locals can listen, but not TX.

So, my plan currently is to TX FT8, probably at an agreed time on Sunday and monitor PSKreporter. I am not expecting QSOs! Even to get a spot would be pleasing, HI.

Sunspots - Friday January 20th 2023

Solar flux is 219 and the SSN 166.  A=7 and K=0. The sunspot count and solar flux have been very good this month and the F2 MUF above 40 MHz on several times towards the USA.

70cm activity contest results

The results of the first 70cm activity contest of the year have just been released. I came near the bottom of the lower power section, so things can only improve, I hope!

Anglesey Abbey Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

This is quite close to us by car. At the moment, it is dry, cold and sunny. 

WSJT-X or JTDX?

Up to now, I have always used WSJT-X for FT8. There have been some reports that JTDX decodes more stations. 

Do you have view please? I try to use the latest released version.

Ukraine war - NOT amateur radio

 At the height of the cold war I had many SSB contacts with stations all over the world including stations in the USSR. Sadly these days I go on SSB infrequently because of my poor voice. Amateur radio was a way of breaking down barriers.

A report in The Atlantic says there was a Ukrainian drone strike in early December on a Russian airbase some 500 miles south of Moscow. This airbase is supposed to house nuclear weapons. As far as I know, we heard little about this.

Sadly, we live in dangerous times.

In my view, most, if not all, conflicts are based on insecurity. It is much better to talk to avoid conflict than have wars. One of the dangers of wars is that all parties tend to hide the truth.

I very much hope the stupid conflict in Ukraine can be brought to an end quickly. Jaw, jaw, not war war ..... please.

Reminder - ATV net on Oscar 100 live stream

 A reminder that BATC live streams the ATV net on Thursdays at 2000z on Oscar 100. I must remember this and watch!

See https://batc.org.uk/live/oscar100net

UPDATE 2130z:  It worked well, although I was disappointed that there were only G, GW and GI stations on the net, but considering the path was 44000 miles, the quality of the pictures was excellent. There are some very clever people around - far cleverer than me! To get a good TV picture through the satellite requires RF skills, TV knowledge and software skills.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 For about 4 hours, I have been on 10m QRP WSPR with my W5OLF 500mW beacon.

UPDATE 1415z:  So far today, I have been spotted by 19 stations with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).

8m FT8 (Thursday)

Been on 8m FT8 for a couple of hours. G4APB (88km) was spotted although nobody has spotted me.

UPDATE 1440z:  No further 8m FT8 spots.

Sunspots - Thursday January 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 164. A=15 and K=0.

Doh!! - 8m

 As I was out most of the day I did not go on 10m or 8m. From what I gather, SSB 8m signals were being copied "across the pond". When I try tomorrow it will be dead! 

23cm local skeds needed

Last night, in the 23cm activity contest, I heard and worked nothing! I am hoping for some local skeds to prove all is well. 

At the moment I only have the 2el test antenna pointing out of the shack window. My shack is on a "hill" (which is a relative term in East Anglia!) and 2W.

Anglesey Abbey water mill

 

This was yesterday in the cold sunshine.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 18th 2023

 Solar flux is 219 and the SSN 185. A=6 and K=3.

23cm activity contest this evening

My first test on 23cms TX will be tonight. I have only got the 2 element test antenna and 2W PEP, so I hope I can copy (and work?) any locals that may be on, otherwise I shall have to set up some skeds. 

All is set up. In the past my only (ever) outing on 23cms was on RX only with a borrowed converter and homemade 4 el yagi. Like then (1970s?), everything is indoors firing through the shack window.

These tests are all in the shack. Later this year I hope to try some /P on 23cms.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2023&contest=uhfukac .

Surprise visitor - NOT amateur radio

We often get Muntjac deer in our garden, but rarely see them. Imagine my surprise when pulling back the curtains! 

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We have 3 on the go at the moment. This is the first one in flower. 

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My QRP 8m FT8 was switched on at 1025z. I am on 40.680 MHz with an audio offset of about 1950 Hz. I am TXing first. No spots.

UPDATE 1820z:  No spots all day. Disappointing.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at 1025z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE  1255z: 7 unique stations have spotted me today. Furthermost is FR5ZX (9740km).

UPDATE 1822z:  19 unique stations spotting my QRP.

Plans for the day (Tuesday)

 Today, I plan the following:

• 8m QRP FT8
• 10m QRP WSPR TX
• 23cm local tests ( I think tonight is the 23cm activity contest).

Inside my head! - NOT amateur radio

This photo dates from 2011 when I took part in some brain research at Cambridge University. 

Sunspots - Tuesday January 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 228 and the SSN 186. A=14 and K=1.