Sunspots and 10m - Sun Feb 21st 2016

Solar flux is 98 today and sunspot number is 46 (K=1). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". All being well, I shall be back on 10m WSPR tomorrow now we are back home again.

Away for a long weekend - NOT amateur radio

As you probably guessed, I was away for a few days. My wife and I were down in Kent, just outside Canterbury, visiting our son and his family including 2 of our young grandchildren. So I have not done blogging for a few days. Sorry, but family comes first. The photo shows my wife and grandson. Canterbury Cathedral, where he was Christened, is in the background.

South Hams, Devon - NOT amateur radio

See www.southhamssociety.org .

If you like the natural beauty of the South Hams in South Devon, you may be interested in this link. In my view, parts of the South Hams are the best places on Earth. I come from there, so am slightly biased!

10m WSPR spots so far

G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted here on 10m WSPR (presumably involving aircraft reflection judging by the Doppler and I have been spotted by G0HWW (29km) a few times. No DX outside the UK as yet, although it is still quite early.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Feb 19th 2016

Solar flux has fallen a little to 96 and sunspot number is 35 (K=2). Predictions for 10m propagation remain "poor" today.

IC7300 yet?

As yet, I have not heard that the ICOM IC7300 is available in the UK or the rest of Europe. Dealers are still keen to take deposits and are still quoting a price "below £1000". With an SDR architecture I think the final price will be somewhat lower. At a lower price I might consider this, especially with 4m coverage. At current rates we may have to wait until next Christmas before we see this rig with stable software at a decent price.

See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-icom-base-station-radio/icom/icom-ic-7300-hf-50-70mhz-transceiver-deposit-pd-6016.php .

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

At lunchtime the FTSE 100 UK share index is down 0.38%. It was higher, but still negative on the day.

We should expect it to gradually slide in the months ahead as investors are still nervous about Greece, the EC, China and the world economy at large. It always bounces back, although this could take years.

My expectations this year? I think it will fall to around 5000 then bounce back to 6500. Of course I am only guessing and it could end up anywhere between 4000 and 7000.  I suspect there will be a bounce if we vote to stay in the EU in the summer. If we vote to leave, I suspect the pound and the FTSE 100 will lose value.

RSGB Band Plans

I have a love/hate relationship with my national society. In many ways they do a very good job. At the same time they seem to have a "thing" about AM.

Yet again, there is ZERO acknowledgement of 10m AM except a (begrudged?) comment that 29-29.1MHz is in the 6kHz wide all mode section. No explicit mention that this is where AM can be found. Indeed a year ago an RSGB official told me he had no idea about 10m AM!! AM has been just above 29MHz for as long as I can remember: got it RSGB?

The 2m AM centre of activity of 144.55MHz gets again a (begrudged?) footnote, whereas other modes get explicit mention.

No, the RSGB  hates AM. This is my conclusion. This is a stupid stance. There is plenty of space for AM on 10m and the VHF bands. AM gear is low cost too.

I love digital modes but AM has a place.

10m WSPR - just local so far

G0HWW (29km) is the only station spotting me on 10m WSPR today so far.  Although there may be some DX later, I am not too hopeful on 10m.

UPDATE 1535z:  Just been spotted in Brazil on 10m WSPR by KD0VWO (7412km). So far this is the only DX spot on 10m WSPR all day.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Feb 18th 2016

Solar flux is 97 today (lower than of late). Sunspot number is 60 (K=4). 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. I am not expecting great things of 10m again today as conditions look quite disturbed.

Kia - NOT amateur radio

Just (a few days ago) received this from EMG in Cambridge. I wonder if Kia also needs to quietly update its software? This is the first time I heard about this. Suspicious or a genuine product enhancement?

Dear Mr xxxxx

Service Action notice

We have been advised that a product enhancement is available for your car, xxyyyzzz.  It is important that these improvements are applied and we have been requested by Kia Motors to do so.

As your Kia dealer we like to take care of our customer’s cars.  We believe in Family-Like Care, and that extends from our service to you and to the care we give your car. 

While your car is in our care we will complete a comprehensive Vehicle Health Check to make sure that it is in the best condition possible and will advise you of any actions required. 

We can provide collection and delivery at your home or workplace and we can also arrange alternative transport if required.  You are also welcome to wait in our customer area; we’ll make sure we don’t keep you waiting any longer than we need to. Just let us know what suits you best.

Remember that if repairs are needed we will always use genuine parts from Kia, which are covered by a 2-year warranty and the correct specifications of the latest lubricants.  Our technicians are trained by the Kia Academy and use Kia specialist tools.  At the same time we will use the Kia Global Diagnostic System to make sure the latest updates from Kia are applied to your car.

Please get in touch with us on 01223 478478 to arrange a convenient appointment.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Yours sincerely

Grandchildren in Paris - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon both sets of grandchildren are in Paris. The "Kent" ones are just there for a few days holiday and the "London" ones are there visiting their grandparents. Both sets went by Eurostar train. The picture shows the "London" ones on the train with their mum. Centre of London to centre of Paris by direct train in about 2.5  hours. Wonderful.

10m DX on WSPR

EA8/DL9XJ (2981km) and KD0VWO (7412km) are the best DX so far on 10m WSPR today. No USA spots, although with fairly disturbed conditions I am not expecting much.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Feb 17th 2016

We have had no internet most of the day, so I have been unable to check things and update blogs until now.

Solar flux today is 102 and sunspot number 49 (K=4). The 10m forecast is "poor" today. I am not expecting much today.

10m GDX

G4CUI (172km) has been spotted several times this evening. I assume this is tropo and aircraft reflection. There were no USA 10m WSPR spots here today although I was spotted in Brazil several times.

House quiet - NOT amateur radio

After 4 nights, the "London" grandchildren have been collected and have returned home. We enjoyed having them , but by the end I was exhausted. The house is quiet again - but tidy! We love having them though and will miss them.

10m not as good?

Although I have been spotted in Brazil several times, at the moment there have been no USA spots on 10m today. There have been a few short-skip spots as well.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Feb 16th 2016

Solar flux is 107 and sunspot number is 48 (K=3). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor".

QRP Club

From Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
"72 Net" weekly report (February 8 to 13, 2016)
This  week  QRP  Rendez-Vous  visitors:  UA1CEG, RD6MZ, UR7VT, ON6KZ,
RV3GM,  OE5WLL, OH6NPV, RU3NJC, UR0ET, OM6TC, TF/RA1M, PA3DEU, RW3AA,
OH6TX,  SM2FIJ,  UA1CEX,  9A0QRP,  R1OA,  UR5EFD, DJ8WO, EW1CY, G3UD,
UA1ADF,  UA0SBQ,  UA1AQC,  RN3RD, OH5LP, R2FAE, DL4HG, I4DOR, GM0GCO,
UT8NR, S57RT
R2FAE entered in the Honor Frequenters list - congrats!
See "soapbox" here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Full Visitors and Frequenters lists here - www.club72.su
Welcome all QRP stations on the "72 Net" QRP Rendez-Vous round tables.
See schedule on the Club 72 web page.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72" "

Snow - NOT amateur radio

We had our first real snow of the winter briefly this morning. It was on the ground, but soon went. Our "London" grandchildren thought it was magical and enjoyed eating the snow, having a snowball fight and making a very small snowman. Like childhood itself, the snow was soon gone.

10m to the USA again

Yet again, spots were exchanged with the USA on 10m WSPR.  Some spots were very strong. It now looks like the USA will be spotted most days this winter and spring. As I have said before, next autumn could be more difficult, although on present trends we might see the USA for another autumn. It is entirely possible 10m will open to the USA this summer by multi-hop Es.

Very early 10m WSPR spots

As early as 0632z SI9AM (1503km) was spotted. There were lots of 10m short-skip spots early today on 10m WSPR. This could be promising.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Feb 15th 2016

Solar flux is 109 today. Sunspot number is 52 (K=3) and 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. How will 10m WSPR be today? This is anyone's guess!

Walk - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year we go for a walk at nearby Landwade to see the daffodils, snowdrops and aconites. This year, everything is early. It was a cold and dry day with a strong east wind. The temperature was 3 degrees C, though it felt much colder. We went with our "London" grandchildren.

10m WSPR today

I am using 2W on 10m WSPR and am looking for others 80% of the time.

UPDATE 1630z:  Plenty of USA WSPR spots (both given and received) this afternoon. Also spotted a 10m station in Greenland again. Certaoinly conditions on 10m are still good.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Feb 14th 2016

Solar flux is a respectable 111 and sunspot number is 46 (K=2). The 10m propagation is "poor" today.

Ely - NOT amateur radio

We have our "London" grandchildren here for a few days. After lunch we visited Ely and went to Ely cathedral. They had a great time.

Yet again, 10m has been good today

Yet again, 10m WSPR has been good again. Lots of spots of my 500mW beacon from the USA after lunch and Australia this morning. Lots of life in the band still.

Australia with 500mW this morning on 10m

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was spotted in Russia and Australia this morning. I have gone QRT on 6m WSPR (I was on overnight, but no spots given or received) but I still have my tiny 10m beacon running. This was recently re-synced although the Australian spotted me earlier - VK5MR (16144km) at 0934z.

Later, I may go back to the FT817 which allows me to run more power and listen on RX.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Feb 13th 2016

Solar flux is 111 today and sunspot number 74 (K=3). 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" today.

Late USA 10m WSPR spot

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was spotted in the USA by WA4ZZW (6873km) in Alabama at 1720z this evening. No other USA stations spotted me on 10m today.

Back on 6m WSPR

As well being on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon, I have now returned to 6m WSPR (20% TX 1W ERP, 80% RX) since about 1530z this afternoon. On 6m I am only hopeful of some Gs. Even these be a bonus. Anything else would be totally unexpected.

UPDATE 1035z:   No WSPR spots given or received on 6m WSPR today.  I was hoping for some GDX but found nothing at all on this band.

Gravitational waves detected - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35553549 .

It amazes me how some astronomical experiments are done. Some work require mS timing and  
staggering distances. Often, the co-operation of researchers scattered across the planet is needed. The hunt for gravitational waves is no exception.

600m DX QSO

Steve, G1KQH has brought my attention to a Southgate News item about a DX QSO on 600m CW across the Pacific.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/february/greater_distance_achieved_on_600m_band.htm.

Reverted to W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon

At 0950z I reverted to my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon by W5OLF. This is 100% 10m TX at 500mW but with randomised frequencies changed every 2 minutes. This does not need a PC and is entirely self-contained and tiny. With 6dB less power I wonder what difference it makes to spots? It will take about 20 minutes for things to settle.

Possibly, I may go on 6m WSPR later as I cannot go on another HF band as I need the antenna for the 10m beacon.

UPDATE 1344z:  Several spots of my 500mW 10m beacon by EA8/DL9XJ (2981km) today as well as spots by GM4WJA (624km). I wonder if my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon will be spotted in the USA later?

UPDATE 1440z:  Several spots received from Brazil this afternoon on 10m with the 500mW WSPR beacon. 6dB lower? - you'd never know! Perhaps I'd get more spots at 2W, but I'm getting plenty at 500mW from a tiny box not much bigger than a pack of cards. Fabulous fun for almost nothing.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri 12th Feb 2016

Solar flux is good at 120 and the sunspot number is good at 68 (K=2). Even the 10m propagation forecast is "fair" whereas it has been poor for a while. Already this morning I was being spotted in Brazil on 10m WSPR, which is promising.

Lots of USA stations on 10m WSPR

This afternoon, there were lots of USA stations spotting me, and being spotted, on 10m WSPR. The last was W1VR (6965km) at 1832z. All this despite a "poor" for 10m propagation today! On top of VKs again this morning, it has been yet another good 10m day.  I think we are going to see USA stations most days this spring. 

Next autumn? Who knows. With falling (average) solar conditions it depends whether the solar conditions hold up or not. This autumn will be interesting on 10m WSPR that is for certain.

Skyscape - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we enjoyed a walk at Ickworth, a lovely National Trust property near Bury St Edmunds. It is about 20 miles from home. The sky was mostly sunny, but it occasionally popped behind the clouds. It was about 7 deg C.  We saw some tree creepers (birds).

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Feb 11th 2016

Solar flux is 111 today and sunspot number is 82 (K=2) and 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" again.

UPDATE 1258z:   10m has certainly not been "poor" here.  I have been copied many times in Russia and by 4X1RF (3519km) and earlier by VK8RR (13784km) three times.

UPDATE 1315z:  It seems that I have been spotted in Australia most days of late on 10m. Who said 10m is dead? Rubbish!

USA again on 10m WSPR

Yet again, the USA was spotted, and spotting me, on 10m WSPR. Also spotting me was FR1GZ (9724km), who spotted me many times.

UPDATE 2150z: KD6RF (7585km) was the last USA station copied here on 10m WSPR at 1740z. Spots were exchanged both ways. Nothing on 10m WSPR since then. I am still on 10m WSPR and will be on 10m overnight, ever hopeful! Maybe I'll catch some GDX or early European/Russian DX before breakfast.

USA president - NOT amateur radio

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35538361

The people of the USA continue to trouble me.

If it was just the USA that mattered, then I could not care less, but the leader of the USA has his hands on the nuclear trigger and will be key to so much in the world. Is a rich billionaire really who many in the USA want as their leader?

I have no wish to get embroiled in a debate over the US presidential elections, but if a large number of Americans think their best interests are served by a rich billionaire then this says a lot about American society as a whole.

I am not advocating any candidate or any party, but this vote matters for the whole fragile planet we share. All I ask is that every single person in the USA thinks very carefully.

Reasonable start on 10m WSPR

My 2W 10m WSPR has been spotted by UA6038SWL (2907km) 4 times so far today. Although G3JVL has been spotted here several times on 10m WSPR for some reason these spots have not appeared on WSPRnet. I'll try restarting the software to see if my spots get uploaded. In the past I put this down to issues with the WSPRnet database but I wonder if it is a bug in WSJT v1.6?

UPDATE 1156z:  It helps to tick the "upload spots" button!! Just pressed it, so spots should now be sent to WSPRnet. Stupid fool me! Yes, that was the problem. 2 spots uploaded to WSPRnet already.

UPDATE 1204z:  Lots of nearer Europeans. I wonder if Bas is right and this is by backscatter?  No 10m WSPR DX outside Europe and near Asia so far, although I was late on 10m WSPR today.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Feb 10th 2016

The question is will today be a repeat of the good 10m conditions of yesterday? Possibly. Solar flux is 116 and sunspot number 79 (K=2). Yet again, the 10m propagation forecast is "poor". I rarely find this correct!

40m WSPR overnight

Several USA stations spotting me on 40m WSPR overnight. I am still on 40m WSPR but will QSY to 10m shortly. K9AN (6505km) was still spotting me at 0820z on 40m WSPR.

QSYed to 40m WSPR from 10m - already spotted in Australia

In the last few minutes I QSYed down to 40m WSPR for the evening and overnight. VK6XT (14718km) spotted my very first transmission. I have not heard outside Europe on the 40m band this evening, probably because of the high local noise level on 40m WSPR. It amazes me that 2W on 40m makes it to Australia with my very low, poor, antenna. Yet again this shows what a good mode WSPR is.

UPDATE 2210z:  W1UU (5292km) is the best  RX DX on 40m WSPR so far this evening.

10m - a really good day so far

10m WSPR spots so far today

It has been a very good day so far, as you can see. I expect the USA be received on 10m soon.

UPDATE 1435z:  KK1D (5409km) was spotted at 1358z, which is quite early. He was also spotted later.

UPDATE 1738z:  Several more USA spots plus a huge signal from PY4MAB (9403km) who says he is using 10mW. If correct, I am amazed.

Shares - NOT amateur radio

Share prices, certainly in London, are falling on the continuing uncertainties over China, Greece and the World. The FTSE 100 index has fallen from a peak of over 7100 last year to about 5630 as I write. Things do recover but this can take years.

At such times people look for a safe haven. Many have chosen my old company, Sepura. Sepura make radios for (mainly) public safety. They recently bought a Spanish rival and now do DMR as well as TETRA.

See http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareChart.asp?chart=intraday&sharechart=SEPU&share=sepura.

UPDATE 1436z:  FTSE 100 shares are still falling.

Amateur Radio Blog

This blog often has interesting posts, including the occasional ones from me and Steve G1KQH! Although an American blog, there is often content of interest to those in Europe.

See http://www.amateurradio.com .

EC and the UK - NOT amateur radio

When it comes to our UK national referendum on whether we should stay in or leave the EC, I am undecided. In many ways the EC is a good thing. On the other hand it is a creaking bureaucracy in great need of reform. I like that Europe has been (largely) at peace in my lifetime. I like free trade in Europe. However, we are a small island running out of room, with creaking services and the UK should have the final say over who lives and works here.  I am in favour of a common market. Why do we need more?

I really feel for the genuine migrants fleeing conflict. Having had a nasty tummy bug in the comfort of my own home, I cannot help thinking how much worse this would have been if I was also cold,wet and hungry and thousands of miles from home. Even worse if you are a child who does not understand. Personally I think we should take more real refugees but not economic migrants.

No, there is still a great deal that needs fixing. Mr Cameron has not basically changed anything during his recent negotiations. We are being asked to stay, when really very very little has changed.

So, in summary, I am undecided which way to vote. At the moment I am voting to leave, but I may well change my mind.

Good start on 10m WSPR today

This morning, 10m WSPR has been good, with spots from Australia, Israel and Rhodes already (see above). As yet, I have not spotted anyone else. I have the feeling today is going to be good. As I have cautioned, do NOT believe the forecasts!

UPDATE 1120z:  PE4NSP (374km) has been spotted here. This is probably tropo with aircraft reflections too, although he is using 50W. G0LUJ (278km) has also been spotted.

UPDATE 1155z:  EA8/DL9XJ  (2981km) and I have exchanged strong reports on 10m WSPR. Probably single hop F2, but it could be Es I guess. Very strong signals.

UPDATE 1300z:  So far today. I have been spotted 5 times in Australia on 10m WSPR.