Amateur Radio Weekly newsletter

This comes as a free email newsletter. It is a good source of amateur radio data.

See https://hamweekly.com/ . 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

Since just after breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. At 1058z, 16 stations had spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Switched on the 6m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast. Looks like there is Es, but no JAs spotted here although I see them being worked from Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1130z:  64 stations have spotted my 2.5W 6m FT8 today.

Poldu, Cornwall

A few weeks ago some friends called at the Poldu radio museum. They mentioned that I used to work for Philips and the person there said he knew me. It was Terry who must have retired to Cornwall. Small world. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 22nd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 121. A=13 and K=2. 

Bee patient - NOT amateur radio

This morning, I tried to take a photo of a bee on a thistle. I waited and waited, but the bee refused to make itself visible. In the end I gave up! The bee is the black blob in the right hand thistle. Well, I tried.

Spelling - NOT amateur radio

These days, I am finding spelling far harder. 

Years ago I would look at a word and know if it was wrong. It is as if my built-in spell check no longer works. Errors no longer stand out as wrong. Now, this may just be old age or yet another after effect of my 2013 stroke. 

Please, be patient. If I realise a word is wrong, I shall try to correct it.

Carpe diem (sieze the day) - NOT amateur radio

 The dictionary definition is:

"to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future"

I guess as we age, we have to make the most of the time we have.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

Having been on since 0750z, most of my 500mW 10m WSPR spots are from local G4KPX (14km). OH6BG (1718km) could be F2.

UPDATE 1205z:  There would appear to be Es on 10m with 10 spots of my 500mW WSPR even though the charts do not look to great. See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.

Stations spotting me today
on 10m QRP WSPR

UPDATE 2124z:  9 stations have spotted me today.

JA spotted on 6m FT8 (again)

At this time of year Japan is regularly worked from Europe on 6m. This year was no exception. Even with my V2000 vertical, JA7QVI (9273km) was spotted here. I suspect my V2000 and 2.5W is not enough! So far, all my six 6m spots are of G stations working JAs. 

These openings are linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .

UPDATE 0951z:   8 spots of me so far, all Gs.

Stations spotted today
on 6m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2117z:   QRT soon.  25 stations spotted here.

Sunspots - Friday July 21st 2023

Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 131. A=10 and K=3.

Yaesu FT-710

This is a very good transceiver, scoring very highly on the Sherwood tests. However, I missed 2m and 70cm and found 4m a disappointment. In the end, I went back to the ICOM IC-705 that better matched my needs. 

It is my view that Yaesu has lost its way in the amateur radio market. They are capable of making some excellent products, but need to get a grip before it is too late. In my professional life, I saw signs. Yaesu has them all. Let's hope I am very very wrong. I like Yaesu.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/yaesu-ft-710 .

European Es (Thursday)

As I write, it is 1508z. So far today, European Es has been almost non-existent. I caught a very brief 10m Es opening to the south of France just after lunch, but nothing else. Perhaps things will magically improve?

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

UPDATE 2120z:  QRT and no more Es.

Profound moment - NOT amateur radio

Some days ago I posted that my cousin had died of jaw cancer after his only child died in the last year. She died childless, so the widow is all alone.  

My faith was weak before, but this has had a profound effect on me. What faith I had has been shattered. I guess I am hoping for some sort of "eureka" moment, but right now it is hard to see anything good in this situation. 

One could be forgiven for thinking life can be cruel and random. I would like to see some good in this, but I cannot.

Rally on Sunday

Sunday July 23rd - Finningley ARC Car Boot Style rally. Sandtoft, Doncaster DN8 5SX. See http://www.g0ghk.com

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna) was turned on at about 1324z. So far just spotted by 7 G stations with no Es.

Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1923z:  What a pathetic day!  In the end I was just spotted by 8 G stations with no Es.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 1324z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1925z:  Just 3 spots by F1JSC (1010km) alone. Today has been very poor for Es in Europe.

Cambridge by bus - NOT amateur radio

One of the benefits of being old is you get a free bus pass. It is now quicker to get into Cambridge by bus than driving and taking the "park and ride" bus. 

Also, one of the John Lewis rewards this month is 2 free hot drinks. 

So later were are off to Cambridge by bus (free) and 2 cups of coffee (free) . And the weather looks good.

Sunspots - Thursday July 20th 2023

 Solar flux is 189 and the SSN 141. A=5 and K=1.

Fordham Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we visited the Japanese garden at nearby Fordham Abbey with our village history society. It was very good. They make Saki there which is a Japanese rice wine.

See https://fordhamabbey.co.uk/. 

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

I keep forgetting that I can use my 10m W5OLF 500mW TX WSPR beacon if the 10m antenna is not in use. At the moment just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. At least I know I am getting out!

UPDATE 2002z:   8 unique stations have spotted me today.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

As my 8m system is currently out of action, I am again on 6m FT8. So far today  14 stations have spotted using my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna with the furthermost US2YW (1864km) in Ukraine. On 6m FT8 RX 4 stations spotted. There would appear to be far more people monitoring 6m than actually TXing.

UPDATE 2007z:   25 stations spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8 today.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 219 and the SSN 142. A=16 and K=1. 

Medieval stained glass - NOT amateur radio

Ely Cathedral is very very old yet most of the stained glass is from the 19th century. The window shown here is medieval and was bought from Rouen cathedral in France after the French Revolution. 

Low cost 10m FT8 RX

If you just want to monitor 10m FT8, may I recommend my 10FT8R receiver? This is easy to build, even "dead bug" style, yet works really well. It uses a low cost crystal, that is pulled. With this RX you will not miss much.

Mine was built ugly style, but worked well. It would make a great club project for a winter evening on a PCB. It would surprise me if it cost you more than a few cups of coffee out.

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

Lunch companion - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went to Ely Cathedral and had lunch in the Almonry that dates back to the 13th century. Imagine eating here then!

We had a companion for lunch: a robin that came to our table and, at times, was just a few inches away. I am sure it would have eaten out of my hand given more time. As it was, it had some of my wife's cheese scone when she was not looking!

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) was turned on at 0741z. So far (at 0757z) just spots by 5 Gs and no Es. On 6m FT8 RX 3 Gs near Birmingham spotted.

UPDATE 0816z:  Spotted a station in Ukraine on RX. He has also spotted me on QRP TX.  Must be some Es about ,even though it did not look too great.  See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.

UPDATE 1126z: 24 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 and 21 stations have been spotted here on RX. Plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1230z: Spotted by 56 stations today on 6m QRP FT8. Plenty of Es.

Stations spotting
me at 1306z

UPDATE 1306z:   A very good Es day on 6m QRP FT8 with 66 stations spotting me. I proves that with Es, not much ERP is needed.

UK strikes - NOT amateur radio

As in many countries, the high rate of inflation, higher fuel costs and higher interest rates are fuelling a round of strikes by people who are finding the cost of living too high. I am not sure of the answer, but remember the painful days of high inflation in the last  century. 

Plans for Tuesday

I expect to be on 6m FT8 QRP later hoping for some Es. 

Sunspots - Tuesday July 18th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 149. A=24 and K=4.

Shield bug - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2017. It shows an iridescent shield bug. 

Oil and gas prices - NOT amateur radio

In recent months, these have fallen in the UK. There is a suspicion that prices rise like a rocket and fall like a feather here in the UK. 

At its peak diesel was £199.9 a litre. It has since fallen about 50p. In some places it is even cheaper. I get the distinct impression all the reductions in wholesale prices are not being passed on. I am not sure who is trying to claw back profits lost during the pandemic, but somebody is!

For the hard pressed motorist or someone depending on gas or oil to heat their home, a full and quick reduction is needed, by law if necessary.

Most swifts still here - NOT amateur radio

Most swifts (birds) are still here. They usual start migrating south in late July or early August. Suddenly one realises the screaming of feeding parties high above has stopped. 

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My system (2.5W and a vertical omni V2000) has been on since 0726z.  So far spotted by 2 stations in East Anglia on TX and I have spotted 1 station in Devon on RX. No Es.

UPDATE 1008z:  8 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (including Portugal and Italy) and 2 stations have been spotted on RX (one by Es).

UPDATE 1212z:  23 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.

Stations spotting
me at 1253z

UPDATE 1304z: 25 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 with the furthermost EA8BFK (2881km) and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. The Es seems pretty widespread today.

UPDATE 1722z:  29 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP  FT8.

Plans for Monday

Later, I expect to go on 6m QRP FT8 again. On recent days, there has been some good Es on 6m . I have yet to see how European Es is shaping up.

UPDATE 0712z:  It is quite early, but early indications are that European Es is not as great as yesterday. Things may well change.

VLF earth mode experiments in 2011

Some years before my stroke, I was out doing earth mode experiments at VLF. This was 2011.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek to judge the activity level. My last look was mid afternoon in Europe on a Sunday, when activity is likely to be good. Yet again, there were few stations and plenty of space. 

Judging by the activity levels, I cannot see another geosynchronous satellite happening soon. This underlines to me that the Amateur Radio Service is no longer about self training and research. Instead, most would appear to be "black box" operators. Getting on Oscar 100 is just too hard for most. Instead, many spend thousands on a rig, linear, tower and beam.

I can see the hobby dying out as many people age and no longer buy Japanese "black boxes".  Maybe before 2040?

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ 

Sunspots - Monday July 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 99. A=10 and K=3.

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

The assumption is that the Labour party will win the next General Election and that the ruling Conservative party will be ousted. At the moment Labour enjoys a commanding lead.

In my view (often wrong!!) is it will be much closer in the end. Labour could even lose. It would not surprise me if the outcome is a hung parliament. Some years ago we all assumed the Labour party of Neil Kinnock would win. It did not.

12 months is a very long time in politics. The political landscape could rapidly change.

The leader of the Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer, seems an honest man, but lacking in charisma. Maybe the UK public is looking for a man with integrity? What is really needed is an honest leader, with integrity and charisma. These are qualities that seem in short supply, not only in the UK.

QDX reviews

The place to look for reviews of amateur gear is eham.net. I was quite surprised to see that the QRP labs QDX, which is a tiny 5W digital transceiver was only 4.2 out of 5. In my estimation, it is a 5 out of 5. It is truly tiny and if FT8 or WSPR are your "thing", you really need nothing else. I must write a review.

Some people have had trouble with PAs blowing. In my case I have 5 3A diodes to drop the voltage and always use it with an antenna with a low SWR.  I can see a problem with auto-ATUs which may present a bad match during tuning.

A 6m, 8m and 10m version would be good.

See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=15155 .

UPDATE 0615z Monday:  Review written.