Sunspots - Sunday August 20th 2023

Solar flux is 151 and the SSN 104. A=8 and K=3.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My QRP signal has been copied in Portugal this evening by Hugh HC02, although this has not appeared (yet) on PSKreporter. I went on 8m FT8 as Hugh was getting G9PUV well.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

 As I am on 8m QRP FT8, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW TX beacon. The beacon was turned o at about 1814z. Already spotted in the Canary Is.. I presume this is F2 propagation.

8m - am I wasting my time?

To be honest, I am disappointed in the interest shown in 8m. This is between 10m and 6m and especially around sunspot maximum (like now) there is a lot of useful research that radio amateurs could do. 

Instead, we have had fewer active TX stations on 8m this summer and the FCC is not renewing the few USA permits I understand. In Belgium higher class amateur licencees will be able to TX on 8m. One station in Greece has been granted special access for a limited time. EI, ZS, S51 and 9A I think have amateur bands and a few Caribbean stations (I think) have been given access to 8m.

In most countries everyone is able to run very low power beacons in the 40-66-4.70 MHz ISM bands without a licence, I think. We know from Australia that just 5mW WSPR can be copied 5000km away. As far as I know, few have tried 8m WSPR ISM beacons, instead preferring to talk about tomatoes with commercial rigs on 80m. Self training is interpreted as testing weedkiller. 

Amateur radio is meant to be about self training and research! I despair for the future. At this rate, the hobby will be gone by 2040.

Weather last night - NOT amateur radio

We had 11mm of rain overnight, but no thunder. It is now sunny. 

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My 2.5W 10m FT8 was turned on at about 0600z. 

UPDATE 0819z:  So far spotted by 26 stations with the furthermost V51MA (8460km) in Namibia. On RX, 62 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2100z:   149 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP 10m FT8 today.

Sunspots - Saturday August 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 151 and the SSN 112. A=11 and K=2. 

Storm tonight? - NOT amateur radio

In East Anglia there is thunder, lightning and heavy rain due overnight. Quite often we miss the worst. Just in case, I have disconnected antennas, PSUs and PCs. Some areas are due to get nearly 2 weeks of rain in just a few hours. Better check the rain gauge tomorrow!

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=5;y=49.6529;x=1.597;d=2;dl=2;dc=0; .e

ICOM IC-905 GHz transceiver review

The latest RadCom has a review of this ICOM microwave transceiver. 

At £3549.95 without the 10 GHz transverter I cannot see them selling many, let alone make a profit. It would not surprise me if this product quietly disappeared in 2024. There is a theory that this product is a free trial for a later commercial product. Watch this space.

It is an interesting product, but would you pay this much to cover essentially line of site and rain scatter QSOs? Perhaps "appliance operators" with deep pockets might buy as the latest toy.  This is not for me unless a fairy godmother waves her magic wand, HI.

HF, 8m and 6m

 Well, today was pathetic on 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR. 

The main Es season has now ended and the main F2 peak is a few months off. Most of my reports recently on 10m, 8m and 6m with QRP were via Es. 

These openings will occur, but not with the frequency we were used to in May, June and July. Probably 10m FT8 is worth a try as there is far more activity than WSPR. Also, the far shorter TX periods of just 15 seconds means that very short openings may be caught. FT8 is about 8dB worse than WSPR mind you.

OFCOM reminders

This is a weekly reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc. every week. They also have a new publication about 28 GHz satellite gateways. As always, look on the OFCOM website for details.

Anglesey Abbey roses - NOT amateur radio

The roses at nearby Anglesey Abbey are in their second flush and look stunning. The dahlia garden there also now open  ..... at last.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Been on with 2.5W and the dipole since about 0856z, but no spots. 

UPDATE 1627z:   No spots all day again.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

Been on 10m 500mW WSPR TX since about 0856z. No spots. 

UPDATE 1304z:  So far, 3 stations spotting me. These look like F2 and not Es.

UPDATE 1840z:  It looks like there was a very late E s opening. 13 unique stations have spotted me. Most of these were just before I went QRT.

Sunspots - Friday August 18th 2023

Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 135. A=8 and K=2. 

Poking over the fence - NOT amateur radio

This rose was poking its head over the fence.

Rallies this weekend

The following have been notified to me. It is advisable to check details are correct.

Sunday August  20th - Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally, Rugby, CV23 9PY. Contact rally@rugbyats.co.uk .

Sunday August 20th - Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally,  Marken Rasen, LN8 3HT. Contact m5zzz@outlook.com  .

Sunday August 20th - Red Rose Summer Rally, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. See http://www.wmrc.co.uk  .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Once again, I am on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Most days even my 2.5W to the dipole is spotted across Europe by about 3 stations.

UPDATE 1740z:   No spots.

European Es season

It looks like the main Es season in the northern hemisphere is just about over but, as I remind people, Es can occur at any time. OK, the days when 10m or 6m may be open for hours may be over for this year, but there will still be times.

This is why FT8 can be so useful, sniffing out very brief openings that in the past would have gone unnoticed. Frequently, the 27 MHz CB band is busy, yet 10m is quiet. This suggests decent propagation, but a lack of activity. These days, there is little excuse. Just 15 seconds of FT8 transmission is all that is needed to prove a path is "open".

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

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0850z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1034z:  Just spots by local G4KPX (14km). No Es.

UPDATE 1741z:  Spotted by 3 stations. Marginal conditions.

Sunspots - Thursday August 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 140.  A=8 and K=1.

ATS120 Receiver

This is a handheld radio available from AliExpress for less than £67. I have no idea how good it is. The Chinese will soon will be a real challenge to the Japanese in the years ahead. In my view the Chinese have more work to do on quality control, but they will get there.

Any ideas? - NOT amateur radio

Most definitely I am no flower expert! We saw this on our walk this morning. It had flowers about 5cm long. I expect some expert will say it is "common xxx" and they are widespread!! 

Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio

One of our favourite walks is to Wicken Fen where we get a coffee and something to eat. At least the sun was shining today! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0900z. At 1217z, 4 stations have spotted me

UPDATE 1555z: 38 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

Once again, I am on 8m QRP FT8. As the Es season is drawing to a close, it may be harder to get spots now.

UPDATE 1221z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1443z: Spotted by EA3ERE (1153km).

UPDATE 1619z: Spotted by 3 stations. (see map).

Sunspots - Wednesday August 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 107. A=4 and K=1.

Wild blackberries - NOT amateur radio

The ones in the photo were right next to our garden. Washed, they will be great with breakfast and in a crumble. 

Yet more? - NOT amateur radio

This is a vast housing development in our village. They have been "messing about" for years, but not a single house has been built! There are meant to be 350. Perhaps the single bricklayer has gone on a world cruise? 😁😉

8m this last few days

We are coming to the end of the main Es season here. In a few months, we should have F2 openings "across the pond".

Since returning to 8m. I average about 3 stations spotting me every day. The map shows the 8m stations spotting my 2.5W yesterday. 

 

Savoury Biscuits - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend one of our grandsons made some savoury biscuits. We call these dibbles. They're used with dips. He followed my recipe, but did everything himself. They were good. 

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 0830z.  No spots on RX or TX at 1152z.

UPDATE 1314z:  EI9KP (649km) has spotted me today.

UPDATE 1632z: 4 spots of me today with the furthermost HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0820z. So far, just spots from local G4KPX (14km). 

UPDATE 0918z:   Still just G4KPX spotting me.

UPDATE 1642z:   14 stations spotting me so far (see table).

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down in Cornwall. My last peek was on a Monday evening in Europe. I think the best expression I can use is "disappointing". 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 15th 2023

Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 85. A=5 and K=1.

Really the last swift? - NOT amateur radio

 In recent days I keep thinking that I have seen the last swift in the UK until next spring. Then I see another one!! 

N gauge model railway - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson has been here this weekend. He loves exploring our boarded loft. He discovered his Dad's old model railway, although I cannot remember what happened to the baseboard and track. 

8m backscatter?

In recent days, my QRP 8m FT8 has been received at odd distances. I have also received G8JNJ (247km). Now this could be tropo, aircraft reflection or MS. However, I am wondering if it is some kind of backscatter?  It is far too close for Es.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 0800z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1300z : EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me. He spots me quite often. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on about 0800z. So far just local spots by G4KPX (14km).