Amateur Radio Balloons

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/ubseds14_flying_across_pacific.htm .

Quite a few radio amateurs are "into" balloons. These often contain tracking systems so they can sometimes be recovered. Tracking the flights and constructing the lightweight electronics is a challenge. Southgate News reports on one such flight. Some of the distances covered are remarkable.

Ads from the past

AmateurRadio.com has an interesting post with old ads from 73 magazine back in the 1960s. As the post says, we have come a long way.

See http://www.amateurradio.com/50-years-ago-ads-73-magazine/#more-44841 .

Summer bird migrants returning - NOT amateur radio

The wheatears have started arriving back in Devon and soon it will be martins and swallows. The long winter will soon be behind us.

See http://www.devonbirds.org/news/bird_news/devon_bird_sightings .

The image below is not on this site but at the link below. It will be removed if a problem.
http://www.devonbirds.org/images/library/dbn/public/stoke_point_male_wheatear_10617_0.jpg.

Wheatear in Devon

Our hobby in 30 years?

Although I cannot speak for other countries, here in the UK ours is a hobby mainly of older people and mainly men.  When I was fitter, I gave several talks to local radio clubs in East Anglia and without exception it was mainly OAPs who came along. OK there were a few youngsters and women, but the vast majority were older men.

Amateurs and SWLs are a dying breed, unless we can attract young people into the hobby. I am 67 and will be dead within 30 years, probably a lot sooner. An aging population will not buy so many rigs, will not support magazines etc. Numbers will fall, activity will fall, interest will drain away.

In 20-30 years we will be very much in uncharted territory. What will our hobby be like in years to come?

Sunspots and 10m -Tues March 16th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today. Sunspot number is 44 (K=2) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor", although I rarely find an absence of 10m DX even when the forecast is "poor".

A lot of 10m seeming dead is people taking a casual look, hearing no stations, and moving down the bands. If on SSB or CW call CQ.  Better still, go on WSPR - little power is needed and if DX is about you will find it!

10m WSPR again

After being on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight - no new stations - I have now returned to 10m WSPR for the day. No 10m WSPR spots as yet, although there was a strong (no Doppler) signal as I switched on: this was drifting a lot and did not decode.

UPDATE 1212z:  Still nothing here on 10m WSPR so far today.  It is disappointing.

UPDATE 1424z:  Still no 10m WSPR spots here all day.

UPDATE 1512z:  Just a couple of spots of G4CUI (172km) on 10m WSPR so far and no DX so far.

FTSE 100 roller coaster - NOT amateur radio

The roller coaster ride continues. Presently, the FTSE 100 UK share index is up 0.49%. This is budget day in the UK so a lot can change later. I am still expecting big falls once the punters wake up in the real world with all its problems. I would not be surprised to see the FTSE 100 at 5000 rather than around 6169. It will recover later, but we have uncertainty ahead.

Return to 630m WSPR

At about 2100z I switched from 10m WSPR to 630m WSPR (5mW ERP) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I see I've been spotted by G4FKK (106km) and I have spotted a couple of Norwegian stations so far.  Best DX on RX WSPR, so far, is LA1TN (1269km).  It is now 2125z.

472kHz WSPR spots to 2135z

Back on 10m WSPR

At about 0914z I returned to 10m WSPR.

I was on 630m (472kHz) last night but the PC closed the WSPR program around 0100z to do updates. I only recently did a scan and program restart.

As conditions look disturbed, I am not too hopeful about 10m WSPR today. If I get spotted at all, it is likely to be by G stations only. On 10m WSPR I am using 2W 20% TX and on RX for 80% of the time.

UPDATE 0924z:  No 10m WSPR spots as yet, although I am not surprised.  It is very early and conditions are not good.
UPDATE 1120z:  Still no 10m WSPR spots.

UPDATE 1145z:  4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me a few minutes ago, so there is life on 10m WSPR! I assume this was single hop F2.

UPDATE 1356z:  KD0VWO (7412km) monitoring in Brazil has spotted me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1515z:  Several spots from Israel and Brazil today on 10m WSPR, as well as an exchange of spots with my old local friend Ted G4NUA (12km). As I have said very many times, 10m has a habit of throwing surprises. Today I thought I'd be lucky to get even G spots but spots have come in from real DX locations!

Syria and Russia - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35809087 .

I am no expert on Middle East politics but this move by Russia surprised us all. They still keep their bases in the region, but I think no-one (except maybe the US military?) was expecting this. Does it make peace in the country more (or less) possible? I only hope that all players work towards a peaceful and fair outcome for all in this war-torn land. The people of Syria have suffered too much.

PCB supplier?

This came to me last evening via Steve G1KQH:

This link came from an article I read in PW recently, could be useful especially for a club:

http://www.3pcb.com/

73 Steve

http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/

Sunspots and 10m - Tues March 15th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today. Sunspot number is 57 (K=4) and 10m propagation is yet again expected to be "poor". 

At the moment my shack PC is doing a scan so I am not active on WSPR on any band.

Tree Surgeon - NOT amateur radio

Tree Surgeon at work

If you look carefully there is a man 40 feet up this tree, in a Cambridge park today, with a chain saw. Rather him than me!

Disappearing Patio - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35800866 .

Thank goodness no-one was sitting on this patio when it disappeared into a 300 foot mine shaft!

Still quiet on 10m WSPR

Apart from a single spot for G4CUI (172km) this morning, nothing spotted, or spotting me, on 10m WSPR today. I am sure it is a lack of activity rather than poor conditions.

QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report (March 7 to 13, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week: R2FAE, RV3GM, OH6NPV, UA1ASB, UR7VT, ON4ADR, UA1CEG,  RU3NJC,  OM6TC,  RD7K,  HA7REM,  DL6YAU, RA7RA, RW3AA, Z35M, IT9QAU, UY1IF, UA4NU, UA1CEX, ON6KZ, G0RGU
RA7RA became QRP Rendez-Vous Honor Frequenters!
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters  lists,  also  QRP  Rendez-Vous
schedule here - www.club72.su

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Sunspots and 10m - Mon March 14th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today. Sunspot number is 43 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today.

I have been active on 10m WSPR since about 0715z.

UPDATE 0912z: So far just G4CUI (172km) spotting me on 10m WSPR.

10mW WSPR by G3WKW

My old work colleague (of long ago) Bob G3WKW has been experimentally frequency hopping on WSPR and has achieved remarkable results with 10mW from his Raspberry Pi. He has been hopping 160m to 10m. Note the spot by K9AN on 15m! Not bad at all for 10mW and a stand-alone PC.

24hrs hopping with 10mW WSPR by G3WKW

Return to 630m (472kHz) WSPR

For about 30 minutes now I have returned to 630m after a day on 10m WSPR. The first and second stations spotted were in Norway and Germany. Both these were stations I have seen before.

472kHz WSPR spots so far this evening

UPDATE 2222z:  Best DX on 472kHz WSPR TX (5mW ERP from earth-electrodes) so far tonight is PA7EY (306km). Best DX on RX so far is LA1TN (1269km).

U3AC - NOT amateur radio

Mondays this term I have been attending a University of the Third Age course in Cambridge. I go into, and out of, Cambridge on the bus using my (free) bus pass.  I am doing a course called "Living with less". Although I often disagree with the lecturer, I find the course informative.

As I usually have some time after the course, I get a bite to eat in different places in the city. At the moment my favorite is Le Patissier, opposite St John's College. This is a small place, but prices are reasonable and I have found the service very good.

Spring at last

Rear lawn after first grass cut

The Met Office (our UK weather bureau) treats the start of spring as March 1st. Well, there was no doubt that here it is now spring. Today I cut the back lawn for the first time since the autumn.

It was a day of b's: bench, beer (on the garden bench after doing the lawn), buzzard (overhead), bees, butterflies, blooms and blossom. Today really felt like a spring day. We have had a mild, wet winter but it has seemed endless. Today, the garden was calling.

Oh to be in England now that spring is here.  Honestly, there were times when I thought I would not see it.

This is another view of the rear garden in which you can see the V2000 (6m, 2m and 70m vertical) and the big-wheel (2m horizontal omni) antennas. If you click on the image you may be able to make out the 2m halo and maybe my wire for 10m, 20m and 40m. Not visible is the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground which I use on 472kHz TX and RX.  With 5mW ERP using the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR I was received in Norway again last night.  Next autumn I must get a long wire for LF/MF strung up!

Another OFCOM cock-up? - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News reports on what some will see as another sign of OFCOM incompetence. Why did we chose the old standard?

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/millions_of_tv_sets_may_become_obsolete.htm .

OFCOM? Fruitcakes.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to see any improvements now 2.5 years after my cerebellum brain bleed. If improvements are occurring then they are so small they are not noticeable. I still feel giddy on my feet and I still feel sick most of the time. My liquid swallow is still poor as is my voice. I still get exhausted very quickly.

If any improvements now come, they are a bonus, but I guess I have to adapt to life as it is now, much though I would like my "old" self back. It means I am very restricted when using voice modes like SSB and FM on the air: every QSO is hard work. This is one reason why I am a fan of WSPR: I don't have to use my voice. Field experiments and building have had to take a back seat, although who knows in the future?  We are blessed with a great hobby and, despite my poor health, I am able to enjoy it still.

A very simple QRP transceiver for 80m CW - the XBM80-2

I received this yesterday from Martin G0PJO:

Hi Roger,

G0PJO's rig in the field

I thought you might like to know that the QRP rig works and I’ve just returned from the field (the only place I can put up my 80m dipole) having had a successful QSO with G3XVL just over 4.5 miles away in Ipswich. He gave me a report of 599. The only issue that I had was with the audio level on receive. I’m using a crystal earpiece and I really had to listen but we managed a 30 minute+ QSO!

Many thanks for publishing the design.

Martin

G0PJO

This very very simple transceiver for 80m CW is on my website. See the direct link at  https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/80m_xbm80.  There is also a video link. 

For all my projects go to http://www.g3xbm.co.uk . Because of my poor health I have not built anything original for some years.  I very much hope to get back to experiments soon.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun March 13th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number 56 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

UPDATE 1100z:  So far this morning on 10m WSPR I have just been exchanging spots with G4KPX (14km). No DX seen on 10m WSPR as yet. With moderately undisturbed conditions and quite respectable sunspot numbers and a solar flux of 95, we should expect some DX on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1435z:  Best DX so far today on 10m WSPR is G4CUI (172km). No real DX seen yet.

UPDATE 1708z:  Apart from a couple of spots of my 2W 10m WSPR by KD0VWO (7412km) monitoring in Brazil, there has been no DX on 10m WSPR here today.

Jews - NOT amateur radio

I have great respect for all people whether they are Jew, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or whatever. But, I must relate an incident yesterday.

We were in NE London and my wife was taking a very innocent photo of a squirrel up a tree. We happened to be outside a synagogue. A Jew driving a car stopped us and asked us to stop taking photos. My wife was very angry. Clearly the person was fearing we were taking photos with a view to attacking the synagogue. Nothing could have been further from our minds.

If any race in the UK wants to minimise risks they should blend into our culture and not try to be a race apart: NE London is full of Hassidic Jewish people in their unique dress. In 15 minutes of trying I managed to get 2 Jews to acknowledge my existence. They prefer to live separate lives. No, the Jewish community is its own worst enemy sadly.

One of my good friends is Jewish. In my illness she has been kindness itself.

By the way I managed to shake hands with the man. Shalom my friend.

10m WSPR so far today

Most 10m WSPR spots have been of G stations with the odd short-skip Scandinavian (Sweden and Finland), So far today, nothing outside Europe spotted or spotting me. I guess this is a combination of falling solar activity and disturbed conditions today.

A friend of mine G3TFX worked an Israeli early lunchtime on 28.495MHz SSB on an otherwise empty band.

The SLOW road to 136kHz and 472kHz operation in the USA

Some things are just unbelievable. Take for example the USA which still has no general access to the 136 and 472kHz bands, which many nations have had for years. This is supposed to be the greatest nation on earth.  Not if the FCC has anything to do with it.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/2200_and_630_metre_operation.htm .

As my own limited tests with very low ERP have proved time and time again, even a very low ERP limit would be useful on these bands. No, the FCC has blocked all general access to these bands. I have had an article for QST accepted awaiting the release of the 472kHz band in the USA. At the last count, they have held this for 3 years already! No, I am not impressed with the FCC. Like OFCOM over here, they seem to be a bunch of bureaucrats who are afraid of doing anything.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat March 12th 2016

Solar flux 94 today. Sunspot number 61 (K=4) and 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" again.

Early inter-G on 10m WSPR

I QSYed from 630m WSPR to 10m WSPR at breakfast time. Already G4CUI (172km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR 2 times. No DX stations as yet, but it is quite early.

Artist at work - NOT amateur radio

My "London" granddaughter, age 4, busy with her paints. She comes home from school and just entertains herself, just like her cousin. I think they both love art and can just turn off and concentrate.


The second photo shows me on their settee with both the London grandchildren.

New reporter on 630m WSPR

We are now home again after 2 nights in London.

G4GIR (53km) has already spotted me 4 times on 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP) even though I only went on the band since we arrived home. It is good to see a few new people on the band.

UPDATE 1840z:  G4GIR has now spotted me 6 times so far tonight on MF.

10m WSPR so far today

As you can tell, I am not currently on 10m WSPR but should be back on the band on Saturday again. I hope to go on 630m WSPR tonight after dark (5mW ERP). Often when HF is not so good, MF is better.

On 10m WSPR, KD0VWO monitoring in Brazil is copying EA5 and EA1 this morning, but not further north as far as I can tell.

UPDATE 1212z:  I see that GM4FVM (7592km) has been spotted by KD0VWO monitoring in  Brazil.

More FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

This morning, as I write, the UK FTSE 100 share index is up 1.64% on yesterday as mining stocks recover.

As Hugh warns in an earlier post, are we in for a shock soon? I am still left thinking we are living in cloud cuckoo land. At some point,we are going to see a massive crash.

Parakeets - NOT amateur radio

We are "grandchildren sitting" in Stoke Newington, London, but are back home today. One difference is hearing parakeets first thing in the morning. There are lots of these in nearby Springfield Park. I see these Australian birds have now reached Plymouth. They are becoming naturalised and spreading widely. At one time these escaped cage birds would have been rare indeed here in the UK.

It is hard to believe that collared doves first appeared in the UK in 1955. Little egrets were virtually unknown in the UK before the late 1980s and now they are all over the place.

There are different species of parakeets, but I think those spreading are from the same core stock, but this may not be the case: several escapees may have survived and bread in the wild in the UK.

 See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parakeet .

More from OFCOM

OFCOM has allocated new spectrum for programme makers and special events. I suppose we should be grateful that OFCOM has done something useful.

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/new-spectrum-audio-PMSE/statement

Sunspots and 10m - Fri March 11th 2016

Solar flux is 95 and sunspot number is 61 (K=3) and 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor". We will see how 10m WSPR turns out later. On the face of it, 10m looks like yesterday but with more disturbed conditions, so I am not that hopeful.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 10th 2016

Solar flux is 96 and sunspot number 61 (K=2). 10m propagation is forecast to remain "poor" again.

10m WSPR today

A bit disappointing on 10m WSPR today. Maybe tomorrow will bring better results? As the solar activity gradually declines, 10m DX will be harder to find. It is there, at least on some days, and this is where WSPR really will prove useful.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

The FTSE 100 ended the day up 0.34%. I am still expecting large falls but so far this has not happened. Sentiment is pushing it higher but reality should push it well down.

I can't help thinking we are living in a parallel universe where reality does not apply.

With all the debt and uncertainty in the world, I think those who invest in the companies listed in the FTSE 100 are living their lives with their eyes and ears closed. At some point, reality will set in and the brown stuff will hit the fan big time and all hell will let loose. At some point, the world faces a MASSIVE re-adjustment and no-one will be immune.

Growth cannot continue in a world with limited resources. Also, living on debt cannot go on for ever. When interest rates are very low it may make sense, but what happens when these rise? China is a real danger and so apparently is Japan. 

Sunspots and 10m - Wed March 9th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today. Sunspot number is 48 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

70cm UKAC activity contest last night

Last night was the 70cm UKAC activity contest which is a monthly event organised by the RSGB.  I started out (5W pep) using my 2m big-wheel but swapped to the 2m halo as the match was better on 70cm. This maybe because the coax feeding the halo is far more lossy than that to the big-wheel.  It meant my ERP was even lower because of the feeder loss.

In all I worked just 3 stations before going QRT after less than 1 hour because of my poor voice. There were very few portable stations heard. No great DX was heard or worked on this occasion.

Some of the locals who were doing "search and pounce" such as G2XV. The CDARC station was strong but they were moving so I did not work them. A few others were missed too. I expect there will be more out on hilltops when the weather gets better.

China meltdown? - NOT amateur radio

Is China's stock market a threat to the whole world? This video is frightening.

Broadband - NOT amateur radio

Just had a free upgrade on broadband from Virgin Media on their cheapest package. I am pleased. It was even faster when I tried it earlier - and this is over a wi-fi connection for the last bit. The TV internet connection is separate and not included, so this is the speed on a laptop in the lounge. It is more than enough for us.

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35751919 .

It seems a bit suspicious that the banks and big business want us to vote IN. At the moment I am in favour of IN, but I could well be persuaded otherwise if the facts are clearly presented without the spin.

ICOM IC7300 UK Price

I am certain the UK price will fall once the "early adopters" have had theirs.  Considering the architecture, this price is high.  Even with a less favorable exchange rate than of late, they have room to shave a few hundred pounds I am sure and still make good profits. It will depend how well it sells at the £1049 price. There is sure to be a price war against the Yaesu FT991. Both rigs have merit.

This came to me via Steve G1KQH. 

7300= £1049

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Enormous Jordanian refugee camp - NOT amateur radio

The size of this is truly staggering.

See https://www.facebook.com/bbcshorts/videos/1140808579272340/ .

2m VHF beacons

So far, I have not tried listening to the 2m Cornish, N.Ireland and Scottish beacons with the big-wheel horizontal omni antenna. I must give these a try. I expect I shall only hear them via MS or lifts and possibly aircraft reflections. On my 3el 2m beam the N.Ireland beacon was right on the edge. Normally I can copy the Kent beacon as well as beacons in Holland and Belgium.

GB3NGI (N.Ireland) 144.482MHz Ballymena
GB3MCB (Cornwall) 144.469MHz St Austell
GB3ANG (Scotland)  144.453MHz Angus

See http://www.microwavers.org/maps/2m.htm .

UPDATE 1517z: A casual listen on each frequency (probably not for long enough) and none was detected. I shall try again and listen for each for longer. I remember the GB3RMK Scottish beacon on 6m could always be copied by MS pings for a few seconds every 10-15 minutes. I was using a wire dipole at the time.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the UK share index, the FTSE 100, is down 0.83%, although it is trying to come back. Further falls are likely as there is so much uncertainty about. At the moment it is bouncing around  6130.83.

UPDATE 1610z:  At the moment it is sliding again and stands at down 1.17%.

How did I miss this?

This is a quote from Wikipedia:

In March 2012 Hytera acquired the German company Rohde & Schwarz Professional Mobile Radio GmbH from the German electronics group Rohde & Schwarz, which is now known as Hytera Mobilfunk.[3] In addition, there are Hytera subsidiaries in the USA and in the UK.

This was news to me. I am not sure how I missed this. In my business life we bought quite a bit of test gear from Rohde and Schwarz. I assume they only bought the mobile radio business.