Back on 8m

As I am now back home, I am back on QRP FT8 on 8m.

UPDATE 1136z: Spotted by WESSEXSDR (266km). It looks like this is aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1558z: Also spotted by EI4GNB (445km). This is an odd distance, so most probably aircraft, although I cannot rule out random MS, or even tropo.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 19th 2023

Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 139. A=30 and K=6.

More countries on 8m?

It is rumoured that E51 (Cook Is) is trying to gain access to the 8m band. 

I very much hope that many more countries will try (and be granted) limited access to the band. We are approaching sunspot maximum and if more countries asked for, and were given, access even for a limited time, we could really contribute to radio science.

There will be times in the next few years when the MUF will just exceed 41 MHz. If you are asking your PTT for limited access, these are my suggestions:

• 40.680 - 40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz in the ISM band)
• 10W ERP
• Narrow digital modes (e.g. FT8, WSPR, CW) only 
• Secondary only
• By NoV or equivalent (i.e. you have to ask for access)
• Aim is mainly for propagation research.
• Access for 12 months (around sunspot maximum)
• Strictly no interference.
  

It is my view that by asking for modest things we are more likely to be successful. In the end I am sure that most users are almost exclusively interested in propagation research.

Sunspots - Monday September 18th 2023

Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 94. A=16 and K=4. 

National Park in Montenegro - NOT amateur radio

This morning we visited this pristine lake surrounded by a wealth of different trees. 

My 100mW 10m WSPR beacon in 2012

A very long time ago, I built a tiny QRP WSPR beacon for 10m. These were the results. I think it is still in a drawer somewhere. As I recall this was at this time of year on the climb to the peak of solar cycle 24.

Truth? - NOT amateur radio

 I am concerned that we are fed a line by the media that may not be the truth. This we know happens in Russia, but it also happens in the west too. Often we don't realise. 

The changing nature of amateur radio

 Have you noticed the change? Repeaters are often quiet for hours and there is less SSB and CW activity. FM simplex QSOs apart from nets and skeds are almost never heard. More people use FT8 to work DX. In the past people used amateur radio for chatting, but this can be done worldwide with video more easily with the Internet and smartphone or PC. Most now use amateur radio in a different way. I am not saying it wrong as I am as guilty as anyone! But the logical consequences are clear. 

Sunspots - Sunday September 17th 2023

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 88. S=7 and K=3.

4m disappointing

 Earlier this year I went on 4m FT8 both before the Es season and during the Es season using my FT-710 that I owned at the time.

Overall, I was disappointed. Yes, when there was Es DX could be had. However when there was no Es activity was poor.

Vesuvius 2017 - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a brooding Vesuvius in 2017. We visited Pompeii in 2017. What stuck me most was how similar life was back then. Yes, there were differences, but I did not expect to see takeaway shops for example, nearly 2000 years ago! 

In the mountains - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we moved from the coast of Montenegro inland to the mountains via long, deep, valleys . 

We also went on Lake Skadar and had lunch on an island. 

OFCOM reminder

Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences. There are several new publications too. See the OFCOM website for more information. 

Where I grew up as a child - NOT amateur radio

Salcombe, where I spent my childhood, is to the left of this photo. 

Sunspots - Saturday September 16th 2023

Solar flux is 139 and the SSN 96. A=7 and K=2.

F2 and 8m

 Last winter my 2.5W 8m FT8 was copied "across the pond" on several occasions. This season should be at least as good. We may even see some E-W F2 openings on 6m FT8. The F2 season should start in earnest in the next few weeks. 

Budva harbour, Montenegro - NOT amateur radio

There is something relaxing about watching boats bobbing up and down in the water. This was yesterday. 

AI (artificial intelligence) - NOT amateur radio

Until this year most would not know what AI meant. In the last 9 months this has changed and most are aware of what it means.

In the next 20 years it could have a profound impact on all of us. 

Sunspots - Friday September 15th 2023

Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 110. A=18 and K=2. 

Rally

 The following rally has been notified to me. Please check details are correct before travelling any distance.

Saturday September 16th - Angel of the North ARC Rally. Bensham Gateshead, NE8 4LH. Contact anarc.club@gmail.com. 

Budva, Montenegro, Statue - NOT amateur radio

 This was seen in Budva this morning. 

Experimentation

One of the aspects of our hobby that I have most enjoyed is experimentation. It doesn't cost much, is fun, and all can do it. 

But who would? - NOT amateur radio

This photo appeared as a FB memory from 2010.

Lunch yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where we had lunch yesterday in Montenegro. As I mentioned yesterday, we had a simple lunch with local ham and cheese. 

Sunspots - Thursday September 14th 2023

 Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 109.  A=17 and K=4.

HF conditions

 Now is an excellent time to try HF radio. Sunspots are expected to peak soon, although conditions could be good for several years. In the past I have had excellent results with simple CW QRP rigs although I can recommend the QDX which is a 5W digital only transceiver that is very small and very inexpensive. Expect worldwide results with simple antennas. Mine covers 20 - 10m.

More Montenegro - NOT amateur radio

After a good breakfast we went to Porto Montenegro (Tivat) and then up a torturous mountain road with 25 hairpin bends and some spectacular views. We had a simple lunch in the country with local ham and cheese.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 13th 2023

Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 141. A=25 and K=4.

Encouraging people

 One of the blog readers has made some very good points with regard to Oscar 100. His view is that I should be encouraging  people rather than making disparaging remarks. In many ways he is quite right and my comments are wrong. 

People are just people - NOT amateur radio

 It is very easy to judge people. Whether they are English, American, Russian or from New Guinea or anywhere, people are just people. We all share the same humanity. In the end most want just to live in peace. 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 12th 2023

Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 173. A=7 and K=1.

Budva Montenegro - NOT amateur radio

After a short rest, we went for a walk around the old town in Budva. 

Sunspots - Monday September 11th 2023

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 167. A=4 and K=1.

Oscar 100 disappointment

In my view Oscar 100 has been a failure with usage far below expectations. 

My theory is that many have become zombie "black box" appliance operators who struggle to tell the difference between a resistor and transistor. Getting active on Oscar 100 is just too hard for most.

Amateur radio is meant to be about self training and research.  Does the growing cycle of carrots count? 😁

It is not helped by the big markets of Japan and the USA being outside its coverage.

It is my view, stated many many times before (sorry for the broken record) that amateur radio as we know it will be gone in 20 years as most people grow very old and no longer buy gear. I know of one local who bought a new rig and cannot operate it as there are too many adjustments!

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Sunday September 10th 2023

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 119. A=8 and K=0.

Last night of the proms - NOT amateur radio

In the UK calendar the last night of the proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London is pretty important. It is an occasion when lots of very English music is performed and the audience (mainly young flag waving people) goes mad.

Knowing that we got wealthy on the back of the evil slave trade makes me uneasy. On the one hand I want to just enjoy the music. On the other hand, I am bothered.

It is with mixed feelings I enjoy it.

In the end we have to work for a fairer, more just, world. We cannot deny the past. It happened. What we can all do is make a better future.

Old church vessels - NOT amateur radio

Our local church had its open day today. On display were some of the vessels used today. One chalice dates back to 1512. Imagine what life was like back then!

Optical communication in daylight

Earlier, I noticed the the reflection of the sun from my watch face on a distant wall. This got me thinking of heliographs. These were used to send Morse code messages in sunny countries. I think ranges were remarkable.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliograph. I seem to recall ranges were up to 80km. The best DX (line of site) was 295km.  Basically, the sun's reflection was obstructed to send CW.

My mind turned to QRSS beaconing. For this to be possible it would be necessary to divert the beam when the QRSS was not on. One possibility would be to have a loudspeaker with a mirrored sheet (kitchen foil?) over it with a tone keyed.  It would also be necessary to have a receiver that was optimised for daylight.  I have no idea how good this would be. 

I guess the same idea could be used for speech. The mirror would be deformed as speech was said. I seem to recall there was a 19th century patent for this called the Photophone. For speech I guess one could simply speak against the metal foil mirror.

I would imagine an optimised system could be used for over-the-horizon (NLOS) tests. Sadly, my health these days means I can only dream about this. It may already have been tried.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

My QRP 10m WSPR beacon has been on most of the morning. So far at 1125z, 4 unique spots of me. Most look like F2.

UPDATE 2103z:  Now QRT.  Altogether, spotted by 9 stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W and the dipole have been on since shortly after breakfast. So far today, 2 Gs have spotted here. One is a local and the other I think was aircraft scatter.

UPDATE 1236z:  No further spots.

UPDATE 1825z:  A small Es opening (?) to Portugal.

UPDATE 2050z:  QRT. A better day on 8m than I was expecting.