It is fun to listen to DX sound bites from long ago. Try these from 2004:
24 Jun 2023
ICOM future plans
On Amateur Radio Weekly there was a bit about the future plans of ICOM.
Amateur Radio Weekly comes to me each Saturday as a free email newsletter.
Es season
This is a site I find quite useful. It gives an instant view of the Es situation in Europe. Often Es drifts, so paths that are not open open up and vice versa. What I find quite useful is seeing how active 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m are. It is not foolproof, but it is useful. If a band is "open" in a certain direction, then it is worth not missing the fun.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
UPDATE 1500z: Es today looks poor.
8m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
My QRP (2.5W) FT8 has been on since about 0900z. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1736z: No spots still. So far, today has been really poor on 8m FT8 for me.
UPDATE 1103z: Spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
UPDATE 1313z: Still just HC02 spotting me on 8m FT8 today. Nobody spotted on RX.
OFCOM publications
Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website.
10m 500mW WSPR TX
My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0900z. So far today, local G4KPX (14km) and OE3XOE (1233km) and IV3DXW (1200km) have spotted me.
Herbaceous Border - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 yesterday
UPDATE 1249z: Interestingly, I think every time I have ventured on to 8m FT8 this Es season somebody has spotted me. Maybe not at first, but over the day.
23 Jun 2023
Garden Room - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows the view looking from a chair in the garden room.
OFCOM consulting on the future of amateur radio - IMPORTANT!!
OFCOM is consulting on the future of amateur radio and is seeking views. If you have views it is important you read the proposals and give your feedback.
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/263181/consultation-amateur-radio-review.pdf .
Amateur radio cartoon
This was sent to me by Steve G1KQH. I have no idea where it originated. Made me laugh!
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)
My QRP W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0820z. Already spotted by stations in Hungary and Sweden.
UPDATE 1020z: Already spotted by 15 unique stations.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on about 0820z. Already my 2.5W has been spotted strongly by EA3ERE (1153km).
22 Jun 2023
Rally on Sunday
The following rally has been notified to me. Please check details first.
Sun June 25th - Newbury Radio Rally. RG18 9QZ. Contact details not given.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
Turned on the 8m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast as Hugh in Portugal tells me England starting to come through.
UPDATE 1010z: No spots.
UPDATE 1613z: Spots of my QRP have been received from Spain and Slovenia today.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at breakfast time.
UPDATE 0738z: Already 4 unique stations have spotted me today.
Thurlestone Devon yesterday - NOT amateur radio
My brother took the picture yesterday. We lived near here.
21 Jun 2023
PYO strawberries - NOT amateur radio
East Anglian skies - NOT amateur radio
This part of England (East Anglia) is famous for being flat. As a compensation, we get some amazing skies. This was when we had a storm recently.
10m WSPR TX 500mW (Wednesday)
Just after 1100z, my 10m, 500mW, WSPR TX beacon was turned on. At 1115z, 5 unique stations have spotted me.
8m FT8 (Wednesday)
Just after 1100z, my 2.5W FT8 was turned on. It is now 1107z and, so far, no spots. It looks like there are more monitors active.
UPDATE 1352z: No spots.
UPDATE 1617z: My QRP has been spotted by stations in Spain and Poland. It looks like HC02 in Portugal also got me, but this was not reported on PSKreporter.
Plans for today (Wednesday)
As long as there are no storms nearby, my plan is to go on 8m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon that does not need the PC.
Actually, I have gone off 4m: there is almost no activity that I could find outside the Es season and what is possible when there is Es is now known. I was actually expecting the band to be quite good inter-G at all times, but activity is even lower than 2m. If you are considering 4m, prepare for disappointment.
"Our" windmill this morning - NOT amateur radio
No adverts?
After the news of some UK dealers merging, I checked RadCom and PW for dealer adverts. MLS have many pages whereas Nevada had none in RadCom. Also, Waters and Stanton had none in RadCom.
They all had ads in PW. Moonraker was advertising in RadCom. I presume the costs are lower in PW?
Which dealers will be around in 2030?
Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware!
20 Jun 2023
Fight to the death?
One consequence will be fewer dealers advertising in magazines. Expect fierce battles to win trade. Either Nevada runs pages of adverts or it will be curtains for Practical Wireless (PW).
The next few years are critical for the Amateur Radio Service. How many amateur radio magazines will there be in future? I am not sure of the situation in other countries, but here in the UK, there is just one independent amateur radio monthly magazine. I think this is struggling.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
For about 30 minutes I have been on 8m FT8. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1829z: No spots. It look like the Es fairies are on strike.
UPDATE 2100z: Two late spots from Poland of my QRP on 8m FT8. I was not expecting this. Not a single day has passed this summer without my 8m QRP FT8 being spotted somewhere in Europe by Es.
FT8
Many people prefer to chat with people and FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode! There is a variation called JS8CALL that allows keyboard chats.
Neither of these can compete with actual SSB, FM or AM conversations. FT8 seems to be like a certain yeast spread in that people either love it or hate it. In my case (with a poor voice) FT8 has been my saviour. I appreciate this is not the case for many.
What FT8 is really good for is working DXCC stations and sniffing out brief openings. The actual space taken up by an FT8 signal is narrow at about 50 Hz. It also works with signals weaker than CW. It occupies just a few kilohertz of spectrum and it is well monitored. Software is free. Transmissions last just 15 seconds, so very brief openings are unlikely to be missed. This is especially useful on bands like 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m and 2m especially at times of low sunspot activity. Especially on N-S paths it is my view that the higher HF bands are open far more frequently than we think. The main issue is a lack of activity.
In summary, FT8 has its uses. It is no substitute for voice modes, but definitely has its place.
Es in Europe
Things are getting better, but the Es is mostly in Eastern Europe.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
4m FT8 (Tuesday)
Today, I have decided to concentrate on 4m FT8 with about 10W to my 8m wire dipole matched via the auto ATU in my FT-710. It is now 0814z and, so far, just 1 G near Brighton has been spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me.
UPDATE 0823z: Unchanged. Es does not look good so far.
UPDATE 0837z: Spotted by G0TSM (186km).
UPDATE 1050z: I have been spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost 9A3TN (1481km) and I have spotted 6 stations. There is Es about.
UPDATE 1524z: After 11 spots (some Es) I am QRT on 4m and back on 8m FT8.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Spots so far from a local and Italy.
UPDATE 0922z: 10 stations have spotted me, mostly Es.
UPDATE 1044z: 19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR.
More Google Crappery? - NOT amateur radio
This came today. Whatever is "a property"? They mention this elsewhere.
" You can now link your new Google Analytics 4 properties to AdSense to get a holistic view of your monetisation...."
Haven't clue what they are talking about (again) but so pleased I can now get a holistic view!! 😉
19 Jun 2023
4m FT8
Starting tomorrow, I intend to concentrate on 4m FT8. Even with my compromised antenna, matched using the auto ATU in the FT-710, much of Europe should be in range by Es. It could be fun. I shall probably run 10W, maybe less.
Exile? - NOT amateur radio
Since 1970 I have lived happily in Cambridgeshire. I like where I live. We have a nice house and good friends.
Yet a part of me still yearns for where I come from in South Devon. If I ever moved back I know it would not be the same. People have moved on or died and my memories of the place could not be replaced.
It is extremely unlikely that I would move back. Instead I go back for a boost most years. Perhaps this is for the best: happy memories.
10m Lesser Chirpy
These days, many people prefer FT8 or WSPR for QRP. However, it is fun to see where an ultra-simple rig can reach. This has been on before, but with Es so good, it will certainly get all over Europe. As with all simple circuits, it is a compromise.
Although I find it hard to believe, this circuit dates back to 2012! It is an ultra-simple CW transceiver for 10m. It is capable of improvement, I am sure. Mine was made "dead bug" style. You can always use the reverse beacon network to see where you are reaching.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-lesser-chirpy
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
