Interesting blog

If you are like me, you are always keen to find interesting reading material on the net. Today, came across a blog I had not seen before. It is about interesting things, many of which I am sure readers will enjoy.

See http://tikalon.com/blog/blog.php .

6m FT8 RX

After a very brief CQ call before breakfast at 2.5W (yes, you guessed - a couple of Gs spotted me!) I have been of 6m FT8 RX since.

At the moment we seem to have Es to Iberia and North Africa. Best DX spot is 7X2TT (1766km).

UPDATE 1120z:  57 uniques in 7 countries so far on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1312z: Best 6m FT8 RX DX today is currently S01WS (3043km).

UPDATE 1920z: I doubt much more will be spotted on 6m FT8 today. The map shows the spots so far today.

Early success on 10m WSPR TX today

Just before breakfast I turned on the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon and this has already been spotted by 5 different stations today. Best TX DX is EA1FAQ (1249km).

UPDATE 1123z: So far today, 6 unique spots in 4 countries of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1317z: 147 spots today, so far, of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. I guess most of these were Es. One report from Germany by DF4UE (758km) was +6dB S/N - i.e. remarkably strong.

UPDATE 1352z: Best spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon is by EA8BFK (2880km).

Unique spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon so far today.

UPDATE 1719z: 282 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today, with 15 unique stations.

UPDATE 1924z: 283 spots today of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Still 15 uniques. Soon be time to go QRT.

Lupins - NOT amateur radio

We planted some lupins a few years ago. Last year they got nibbled by muntjac deer. They have just come out. I hope we have better luck this year!

Sunspots - Wednesday May 23rd 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 12. A=6 and K=2.

"This will take a while"

They are not kidding!

After updating the shack PC this morning (90 minutes) I got a message this evening saying the main PC (Windows 10) had an important update. Nearly 2 hours later the update was complete.

Windows 10 worked fine before and, as far as I can tell, these darn updates are all to do with features I am not interested in.

Call me a cynic but just why are such changes necessary? Perhaps it is just another opportunity for Microsoft to keep an eye our every move? Maybe I am being unduly harsh, but if Windows 10 is so great just why do I have to watch paint dry for almost 2 hours as yet another update is done. This is a pretty new machine, so updates could take much longer on a older PC.

It is clear to me why some call Windows "Windoze".

Begonias - NOT amateur radio

In the warm May sunshine, we planted begonias this afternoon. These last all summer and need very little attention. They give lots of colour.

There are a few more to do tomorrow.

Last year my wife bought busy lizzies by mistake. They also looked good.

Unicorn-2A PocketQube satellite

Southgate News has a piece of a future small satellite from Scotland. It is due for launch Q3 this year.

See https://amsat-uk.org/2018/05/01/unicorn-2a-pocketqube-satellite/

10m WSPR TX

As yesterday, I am on 10m WSPR TX only (500mW, 100%, frequency randomised). Already I have been spotted in Italy by IU7DZZ (973km) several times, whereas yesterday I got no spots at all! On 10m I am using my stand-alone W5OLF WSPR beacon. Apart from syncing the time, this does not need a PC at all. Even this could be done with a radio.

UPDATE 1025z: Now spotted by EA1FAQ (1249km).

UPDATE 1521z: So far today, 13 unique spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m.

UPDATE 1616z:  Now 20 different stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

6m FT8 RX

What a difference! Already lots of 6m Es with many southern Europeans (13 countries already spotted by 0830z) on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0922z: 60 different stations in 15 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1100z: Now 19 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 with best DX S01WS (3043km) in Western Sahara.

UPDATE 1230z: Well over 100 unique stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. So many that I have lost count! 22 countries and 2 continents so far today.

UPDATE 1630z:  Apart from N.W.Africa and Israel no great DX spotted on 6m FT8 yet this season.

UPDATE 1722z:  Best 6m FT8 RX DX now 4Z1RZ (3567km). Now 29 countries in 3 continents spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 12. A=3 and K=1.

Windoze - zzz - 10

Let me start by saying I have used Windows 10 for a long time with no issues.

Today, my shack PC said it needed more disk space to do an essential update, so I added an external drive when doing this. My shack PC has a 32GB SSD. It is really only used for syncing to internet time and to run OPERA and WSJT-X software.

Now, if Windows 10 is so brilliant why does it take 90 minutes to install updates?!

Thankfully, as far as I can tell, everything I use still works.

"London" grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend, we had our "London" grandchildren staying here for one night. Here they are with me.

Es (sporadic E)

Es tends to be very specific. Sometimes Es is there strongly in one place, but absent just a few miles away. Today may be such a day.

As yet, no spots of my 10m TX 500mW WSPR beacon and only G stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Elsewhere it might be very different. Maybe things will be better later or tomorrow? I shall be on both bands for several hours yet .

10m WSPR TX

I'd forgotten that whilst on 6m FT8 I can use a different antenna on 10m WSPR. On 10m WSPR I am 100% TX, but with randomised frequencies. I am using 500mW from my little WSPR beacon made by W5OLF.

UPDATE 1836z: No 10m WSPR spots of my beacon as yet. I have the feeling today is going to end with no spots of my little 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 2030z: Well, I am about to go QRT with not a single report on 10m WSPR today!

HF Loops

This has been on before, but it is worth repeating.

HF loops are ideal in some applications. They can work surprisingly well, but are narrow band if efficient. They are ideal with QRP as quite high voltages can otherwise be created. I have used these on several bands. They can easily be made too.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/magloop .

6m FT8 today

This is becoming a habit! Just before breakfast I call CQ on 6m FT8 (2.5W, omnidirectional vertical antenna). Almost without fail, I get spotted by a couple of Gs, often quite distant, even though on TX for at most 3 minutes. The rest of the time I am RX only on 6m FT8. So far today  (0912z) just 3 G spots, no Es.

UPDATE 1548z:  Just 13 Gs spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX. No Es evident here.

UPDATE 1612z: It pays to check. An EA1 was spotted but not shown on PSKreporter maps. More recently ON8DM (239km) has been spotted. Currently (only on PSKreporter maps) 15 different stations in 2 countries. With the EA1, that is 16 different stations in 3 countries so far today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1816z: Now 27 unique stations in 3 countries so far. Best DX is IT9RZR (2063km). Apart from the IT9 and the EA1 earlier, very little Es on 6m here today. QRT shortly.

May 2m UKAC activity contest results published

Although my voice prevents me being on too long, my score has risen in the AL section results. Using 5W and an omnidirectional antenna and never take contesting too seriously, I am quite pleased. although I shall probably miss June's session.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2018

Stroke? - NOT amateur radio

This has probably been mentioned here before, so I apologise if I am repeating myself.

One thing I am aware of is how fast things seem to be going on the roads. When I am going 50mph it feels at least 60mph. Indeed I feel like I am going 70mph. Then I see a huge queue behind me!  I am only too aware that I drive more slowly than I did. It feels embarrassing, but cannot safely drive faster.

OK I am growing older and becoming a grumpy old man. Maybe it is an age thing, but it as if my brain operates at a slower pace. I also find watching subtitles on TV hard work. Usually I give up!

It feels like the recovery from my stroke has stalled.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .

Sunspots - Monday May 21st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0.  A=3 and K=0.

More on 40MHz in EI

This came in from John EI7GL:

"Hi Roger

You might be interested in the new proposed 8m and 5m bandplans in EI. This was on the IRTS news today...

Spectrum News

Following a spectrum award by ComReg the entire 4m band (69.9 - 70.5 MHz) is now available to Irish licensees.

At the last IRTS Committee Meeting a sub-committee was convened to develop band plans and propagation beacons for additional spectrum included in the spectrum award.

IRTS is now consulting amateur licensees on two band plans covering 40 - 44 MHz and 54 - 69.9 MHz. More details including draft band plans can be downloaded from the IRTS website, www.irts.ie/downloads

Please send any comments as soon as possible to “newspectrum /at/ irts /dot/ ie” to arrive not later than 30th June 2018.

John, EI7GL"

It would be good to get a small secondary amateur band at 40MHz in the UK and more widely. As commercial gear does not cover this, it would be an ideal band for real Es propagation research. How about OFCOM allocating 50-100kHz at 40MHz to radio amateurs at, say, 10W on a strictly non-interference basis? Silly me, this requires thinking. Silly boy.

At our local museum - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter earlier today at our local museum playing with a hoola hoop. Years ago, these were all the rage.

Sunspots - Sunday May 20th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=2.

6m FT8 RX today

So far today, 19 different stations in 9 countries with best DX LZ2FP (1995km).

UPDATE 1609z: 35 uniques in 13 countries so far today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 2115z: Time to go QRT. 38 different stations in 13 countries today on 6m FT8.

Es and thunderstorms

Some say there is a correlation between thunderstorms and sporadic-E, possibly sprites going upwards from thunderclouds. A good source of data on spaceweather is http://spaceweather.com/

Dunstable Downs Boot Sale Sunday

This came in by a different route from my usual rally alerts.

http://www.dunstabledownsradioclub.org/

Summer migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

Here in East Anglia, UK, summer migrant bird numbers are definitely down. Although I have seen swallows and swifts up here, there appear to be fewer. In S.Devon there seemed to be quite a few.

Dayton disapointment

So it looks like, better late than never, Yaesu and Kenwood are joining the SDR club.

However, what I see looks like a couple of expensive transceivers aimed at those with deep pockets rather than those with more modest budgets to spend on the hobby.

Will we ever see the Japanese produce a low cost SDR (portable?) transceiver? The Chinese are coming up fast and will soon have truly competitive products in terms of performance and build quality at much lower prices. Unless they are very careful, the Japanese will be too late to the party.

6m FT8

Yet again, after a very brief TX period before breakfast (2.5W, 1 local spot), I have been RX only ever since. So far, 12 different stations in 3 countries spotted with best DX spotted F5NBQ (746km).

UPDATE 1000z: Now 17 different stations spotted in 3 countries.

UPDATE  1840z: Countless stations in 14 countries and 2 continents on 6m FT8 RX so far today.

Royal wedding - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not a great royalist and I hate the wall to wall coverage of this event, especially the hats people will be wearing and the food to be eaten at some remote street party. This is especially galling when "real" news is relegated to insignificance.

However, the last 12 months (and more) have been difficult and people are looking for light relief. The royal wedding is a good distraction and generally makes people feel better. This I do understand.

Sunspots - Saturday May 19th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today. The sunspot number remains zero. A=4 and K=2.

USA and Climate Change - NOT amateur radio

It appears that the US House Committee on Appropriations may have re-instated NASA funding for climate change research that the US president quietly withdrew.

See https://thinkprogress.org/nasa-vote-house-climate-science-97ad7bc62c01/

Scottish Rally (Glasgow)

20 MAY 2018 : SARCOM BRAEHEAD RADIO ELECTRONICS RALLY

Kings Inch Road, Glasgow G51 4BN. Doors open from10am to 5pm and entry is £4.50. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, flea market, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. There will be lectures on the day. Catering and a licensed bar are on site. There will be a raffle. More from Andrew Hood, GM7GDE, 07825 932 488, radiorally@scotlandmail.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

UK retail - NOT amateur radio

For some reason, my wife likes shopping at Waitrose, a  major UK food retailer, part of the John Lewis Partnership.

In recent years, like most high street retailers, they have found the going tough. John Lewis tends to have loyal customers, but I feel even these are going elsewhere for some of their shopping. Take our Newmarket Waitrose. I feel sure that when a local Aldi opens up they will suffer as some people will buy some of the same brands there at lower cost.

It was even reported in the newspapers that Amazon approached Waitrose last year, informally, as they want to buy a major UK food retailer.

No, the retail market is a very tough business. The companies that will survive will be those that have an attractive high street shop and an online business. Those that do not are likely to fail. Sadly, many of us now buy online. This is the reality of the 21st century. Adapt or die.

Dayton Hamvention - Ohio, USA

This weekend is the biggest event in the amateur community across the world. All the big amateur vendors are there as well as a huge flea market (I expect you could even buy fleas!).

As I have never been, I depend on press releases and individuals to provide me with news.

So far, I have heard that Yaesu will be joining the SDR club with a new HF/50MHz transceiver. From what I have seen they continue to follow rather than lead. This is not the mark of a successful company. These days they seem to have forgotten how to innovate. Yaesu, are you short of cash?

See http://hamvention.org/

6m FT8

After a very brief period calling CQ before breakfast (2 local spots with 2.5W TX), I have been RX only since. So far (0840z) 10 different stations spotted in 2 countries with best DX F6FUZ (791km).

UPDATE 1403z: So far today on 6m FT8 RX 73 different stations in 12 countries, all European. Best DX is SV9CVY (2675km) on Crete.

UPDATE 1705z: I have lost count of the number of stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX but 18 different countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 2137z: Time to go QRT. 21 countries spotted today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 2155z: Now QRT.

Cheese course - NOT amateur radio

We had B&B at the "Saracen's Head" in Southwell as we had to attend a funeral in Nottingham. Everyone in Southwell was great: friendly, warm and welcoming. We ate dinner at the "Saracen's Head" which was fine and served by a young local girl who really made us feel welcome and wanted. I went into a place a few months back and the service was appalling.

Sunspots - Friday May 18th 2018

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=2.

13th Century Book - NOT amateur radio

As this book is so old and so rare it is usually rarely on show. Yesterday we were fortunate to see it on display at Southwell Minster Chapter House.

Southwell Minster is a Norman building and very peaceful. Southwell is about 12 miles east of Nottingham and was a delightful place.

6m FT8 RX

Although I have only been on 6m FT8 RX since late afternoon, 7 Gs spotted so far. No Es in evidence.

Sunspots - Thurdsday May 17th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and 3.

Japanese amateur allocations

Southgate News has a piece today linking the Japanese amateur allocations in English. I could see no mention of the WRC 60m allocation in Japan, although I may have missed this.

Incidentally Southgate News is taking a 4 day break. I wonder if the complier is off to Dayton? 😊

See www.tele.soumu.go.jp/resource/e/search/share/2013/t1.pdf

6m FT8

Today, I don't have a great deal of time, but I went on 6m FT8 from before breakfast. After a very brief period on TX, with spots from a couple of Gs, I have been RX only with 7 unique stations in 2 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1025z: 8 stations in 2 countries spotted today, so far, on 6m FT8.

Dayton reminder

17-20 MAY 2018 : DAYTON HAMVENTION®

Greene County Fair & Exposition Center, Xenia, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Doors open at 8am. There will be trade stands and a huge flea market as well as special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. A lecture programme will take place each day. There are multiple catering outlets and family attractions on site. US exams are available and there is a raffle. Details by email to international@hamvention.org. www.hamvention.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Wednesday May 16th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=0.

Migrant bird numbers down - NOT amateur radio

Although we saw plenty of swallows, house martins and a few swifts in S. Devon last week, I feel numbers are lower. By now, up here in East Anglia, swifts should be everywhere and they are usually one of the most common birds seen in late spring and summer. I have only seen a handful of swallows and not one swift or house martin up here yet! I have heard quite a few chiffchaffs in Devon. I hope numbers of migrants recover.

UPDATE 2154z: As it was warm and pleasant, we enjoyed a cup of tea in the garden. In the time we were there we saw 3 swifts overhead.

6m FT8 RX again

As this is the Es season, I am sticking with 6m FT8 again today. The number of stations on FT8 is staggering.  Very early on I went on TX (2.5W) calling CQ. I was spotted by a couple of Gs. Since before breakfast I have been RX only.

Although Europe and North Africa on 6m Es are "easy", I am keeping a watchful eye for more distant E layer DX on 6m. With FT8 I am sure it is just a matter of time before the USA, Caribbean and South America are spotted on 6m FT8 even with my basic V2000 vertical antenna.

For Es, I find polarisation is unimportant. All my 6m JT65 "real" DX (well outside Europe) last spring/summer was using the V2000 omni antenna. With FT8 this year I expect results at least as good. With 15 second overs, even the briefest of openings should be copied.

So far, just 10 UK stations spotted on 6m FT8 with the best DX GS3PYE/P (576km) on Islay, Scotland.

UPDATE 0925z: More stations being spotted now. Currently 14 uniques in 3 countries with best DX CT1EKD (1644km).

UPDATE 1247z: Now 58 unique stations in 10 countries spotted on 6m FT8 today, so far. Best DX is currently IW8PQU (1940km).

Dayton Ohio Hamvention

This is the biggest amateur radio event on the planet and is often where new products are showcased. I have never been, but it is worth following to hear what new rigs are coming up. Often these are very early models.

Dandelions - NOT amateur radio

These are often considered weeds, but the yellow flowers and dandelion clocks (seeds) are actually quite beautiful.

Yaesu

Several times recently, I have expressed my doubts about Yaesu. Over the years I have owned many different Yaesu transceivers and they have all been good.

In the last few years Yaesu seems to have "dropped the baton" and become a follower rather than a leader. Yaesu also seems to be slow to develop new models and when it does it seriously disappoints like the rushed FT991A and the really disappointing FT818, that probably cost 2 cups of coffee to develop! Even I could have done a better job with my eyes closed! Market research? Rubbish.

Yaesu, do a lot better or fail. I, for one, want you to do well. Please, prove me wrong.