Sunspots - Sunday July 30th 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 147. A=12 and K=2.

Swifts gone? - NOT amateur radio

 In the last few days we were up near Liverpool staying with a friend on the Wirral. Swifts were visible most days, but they were absent on the last day. I have not spotted any here in East Anglia since we got back yesterday. It is possible they have started their migration to Africa. Most soon leave. There are a few stragglers until September.

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

UPDATE 1655z: I did not realise that some swifts do not migrate from Africa.

UPDATE 0950z Sunday:  Lots seen last evening so they have not gone yet! 

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since mid-morning, I have been om 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni. At 1425z 21 stations have spotted me.

Stations spotting
me at 1700z

UPDATE 1702z:   53 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

Since mid-morning I have been on 10m WSPR TX. At 1417z, I have been spotted by 9 stations across Europe. These were spotted by 8 stations. 

Saturday plans

Later, I shall be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 6m QRP FT8. I have not yet checked Es conditions in Europe. 

I might have a go at mending my 8m dipole and coax.

Sunspots - Saturday July 29th 2023

 Solar flux is 168 and the SSN 148. A=6 and K=3.

European Es - on the way down?

 Although today was quite a good Es day, I sense we are at the start of the decline. As we progress through August, we can expect fewer Es openings. Es will still occur, but we can expect fewer openings and less intense than in recent months.

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

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Since I got home about an hour ago, I have been on 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. 32 unique spots so far. These look like FT8 in the main.

UPDATE 2044z:  45 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 QRP. See photo. These look like Es.

Crowded train - NOT amateur radio

We came back home by train from Liverpool. EMR run a direct train via Ely. After Nottingham they take 2 coaches off so it is just 2 carriages! As we got on in Liverpool we had good seats all the way.

These are my moans:

• On a Friday, keep on extra coaches.
• Ensure everyone has a seat especially at the start of school holidays.
• The full journey takes over 5 hours yet there was a trolley service just once at the start of the journey.
• It was late as there were too many on the train. I shall claim a refund.
• Announcements were made. Yet again, they were inaudible.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

Since coming home about 30 minutes ago, I have been on 500mW 10m WSPR TX. 5 unique stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2107z:  14 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR TX.

Rallies this weekend

The following rallies are due to take place this weekend. Check first before travelling any distance.

Sunday July 30th - New Black Country Radio Rally, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 2DA. 

Sunday July 30th - Wiltshire Radio and Car Boot Sale, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. 

For neither do I have contact details. 

Enjoying ice-cream - NOT amateur radio

This was me yesterday at Parkgate near Liverpool. It overlooks the Dee Estuary which is now silted up so the sea is a long way away! Wales is in the distance. It's good for birds. 

Plans for today

As we are home later I hope to be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 6m QRP FT8 this afternoon. We have enjoyed our few days with our friend near Liverpool. 

RHS Bridgewater - NOT amateur radio

This is near Salford and we went there Wednesday with a friend. Although open only about 2 years, it looks well established. 

Sunspots - Friday July 28th 2023

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 154. A=6 and K=0.

European Es season - closing?

The feeling I get is the season is drawing to a close. Openings will still occur, but less often. 

Sunspots - Thursday July 27th 2023

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 147. A=21 and K=2.

RHS Bridgewater - NOT amateur radio

Today we went to RHS Bridgewater near Salford. It has been open for about 2 years and already the plants look well established. As you can see from the photo, they have a good shop, café and garden centre. 

MF transverter

This was about 12 years ago at the old QTH and shows my 472kHz transverter before being boxed. I must try the band again. 

Oscar 100 (lack of activity)

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down. Pathetic!! My last peek was at breakfast time in Europe on a weekday. It was unbelievably quiet. If you were about to spend money getting a system for Oscar 100 going, my advice is buy something else instead! 

Black cartoon - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I was sent this by Steve G1KQH. It's a reminder that we had nothing when we entered this world and leave with nothing. Things that seem important to us now probably are not. 

Sunspots - Wednesday July 26th 2023

Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 137. A=11 and K=3.

Peter Pan statue - NOT amateur radio

This statue of Peter Pan is near the Palm House in Sefton Park in Liverpool. 

European Es promising?

 Es in Europe looks promising with decent openings in northern Europe. 

Experimenting

Ideally, you can build something, but experimentation does not have to mean building. As I have found out (the hard way!) there is still lots we can do in our great amateur radio hobby just by observing. 

Propagation is a great way to observe, whether it is on any band. Another is to try a new mode, maybe ATV or FT8. Perhaps try QRP or satellites.

What is so great about our hobby is that it can be enjoyed in so many ways. Some enjoy chasing DX whereas others just enjoy a good ragchew. I can only speak for myself by saying that my greatest fun was when I found out something new and challenging.

One thing I have learnt time and time again is there are no experts! Those who claim to be experts are often proved wrong, peddling myths they heard 40 years ago. Observe!!  Over the years I have found out several things myself. One of the joys is finding out yourself and not accepting conventional wisdom.

Two things stand out for me. One is I am convinced there is some sort of chordal hop E layer propagation. I have not (yet) seen this accepted. The other is how effective earth-electrode "antennas" in the ground can be. Over the last few years, these are being increasingly used by amateurs at MF, LF, VLF and ULF.

What myth are you going to disprove?

The future of amateur radio

This is a subject we have touched on many times. 

However, an increasing proportion of people in our hobby (the vast majority?) are getting very old and frail. Most are old men. We seem to have become (in the main) appliance operators where the main challenge seems to be the knobs on the latest and greatest product from Japan. Real researchers seem to be very much in the minority.

It is my firm view that national authorities will increasingly see the Amateur Radio Service as an unwanted burden. I can see the day coming when the Amateur Radio Service ceases. One possibility is that all non-licenced services are combined in some administrations. I cannot see the Amateur Radio Service existing beyond 2040. 

Already in the UK 3 dealers seem to have merged. The writing is on the wall....

Personally, I am not bothered as long as we have free access to interesting spectrum for research.

Magnet fishing - NOT amateur radio

 

Last week, our younger grandson went fishing with a magnet. Among the finds was a very old key. Just imagine the story it could tell. Was it just lost? Did someone throw it i? We shall never know.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 25th 2023

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 141. A=7 and K=1. 

Near Hathersage, Derbyshire - NOT amateur radio

This was the view out of the train window earlier. 

Sunspots - Monday July 24th 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 117. A=6 and K=1.

Loop antenna testing

This was 10 years ago at our old house when I was testing a loop antenna in the garden. The loop works surprisingly well. 

Russia and Ukraine - NOT amateur radio

 After all this time, I am completely puzzled why Russia is doing the damage it is on Ukraine. For many years to come the Ukrainian people will hate Russia, as will much of the world. Surely this is not productive. All this wanton destruction seems so pointless. Why don't we concentrate on real threats rather than waste all this money on destroying things?

JAs again on 6m

 Many Japanese stations are being worked (again) on 6m FT8. This is a case where ERP really does matter. Although I am being spotted by Es around Europe, I think high power and big, high beams are getting the DX contacts! 

At the moment, I am RX only on 6m FT8. I shall let the "grown-ups" have the fun, HI.

UPDATE 1003z: 107 stations spotted on 6m FT8 with the furthermost HL4GAV (8944km) in South Korea. Looking at his/her spots this looks genuine.

UPDATE 1212z: 150 stations spotted on 6m VHF FT8 today. I wonder who is chasing 6m DXCC 😆? In another month there will be almost nobody on 6m! Sorry, but I reckon the Amateur Radio Service, as we know it, will be gone by 2040.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

My 500mW WSPR TX beacon has been on for a little while. Already 9 stations spotting me. Plenty of Es around.

UPDATE 0907z: 10 spots of me. Later in the Es season I detect a pattern. I seem to have more northerly spots. I am wondering if this is the traditional Es or something else? It happens every year on 10m. The co-incidence is odd.

UPDATE 1400z: 20 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR with the furthermost PU5ALE (10191km) in Brazil.

How simple can you go?

This has been on before, but I make no excuses for posting it again. One of the challenges in amateur radio is to see how simple a complete transceiver can be made that really works. This is just one possibility. There must be many others. My main issue was adjusting the RX to be precisely on the TX frequency. Maybe you have some ideas?

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

In the UK a General Election, after which the next ruling government will be formed, is expected late 2024. The ruling Conservative party is expected to lose power. 

Sadly, the leading opposition party is led by Sir Keir Starmer. He seems an honest man, but rather lacks charisma. 

In my view, the outcome could well be closer than expected.

Near Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 

This house was next to Ely Cathedral. I think it is either a cathedral office or linked to the King's School.

Sunday plans

Later this morning I expect to be on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX. Sadly the SWR on my loop makes 8m TX tests unlikely, although I might try 8m FT8 RX later.

Sunspots - Sunday July 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 103. A=8 and K=0.

Ely thistle - NOT amateur radio

This splendid thistle was in the Almonry Garden at Ely Cathedral last Tuesday.  You can just see Ely Cathedral behind.