QSX rig and the G1KQH blog

There is more data and a video link on Steve G1KQH's blog about the QSX HF rig from Hans Summers.

See http://g1kqh.blogspot.com/

Dreams and giddiness - NOT amateur radio

Twice recently I dreamed that my giddiness had gone. For about 5 years since my stroke, I have felt giddy. Outwardly I look well with a healthy tan. Most people think I am fully recovered. How wrong they are! Inside I am always giddy on my feet, frequently exhausted, and living in a sort of confused fog. I feel a shadow of how I was. My voice is poor and some drinks are very hard.

Sadly, after these dreams I awake and realise these were just dreams and nothing has changed.

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

Sunspots - Tuesday August 28th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN 12. A=26 and K=3.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although I have been on 10m WSPR TX since well before breakfast, not a single spot so far. I know this is early. Tomorrow I might try 10m FT8. Yesterday was excellent.

UPDATE 0946z: Still no spots on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1249z: Just a couple of spots by IU1DZZ (973km) today so far.

What a difference - 6m FT8 today

As if to confirm that the days when 6m is open daily by Es are over, today has started off very quietly. Yesterday was excellent but, so far today, just a couple of G spots on 6m FT8. An earlier CQ call (2.5W) was seen by just G0OQK (99km).

UPDATE 1328z: So far today 20 different stations in 10 countries on 6m FT8 with best DX EA8BFK (2883km).

UPDATE 1512z: Now 25 stations in 10 countries so far.

East Cambridgeshire 2m FM Net

Surprisingly, considering it was a Bank Holiday, there was a good turn-out this evening for the East Cambridgeshire FM net on 144.575MHz. After the net closed G3TFX/A joined us. The net meets Mondays at 1900z.

Later still, I had a G QSO on 50MHz FT8.

Grandsons - NOT amateur radio

Our two grandsons playing outside our house this weekend.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Already I have received 20 unique spots on 10m WSPR TX. One report was an excellent +4dB S/N. Unless I am mistaken, this is the best day this year so far, proving that Es is far from over!

As far as I came tell Es varies (see comment below) from day to day. As we move further from the peak months (May, June, July in northern hemisphere) it will get more infrequent.

6m FT8

Today is already excellent with lots of 6m FT8 Es spots. At this stage it seems at least as good as any day earlier in the season. Earlier I had a very solid FT8 QSO with G1IDZ (182km) when running 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna.

Sunspots - Monday August 27th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 26. A=76 and K=2.

Ely - NOT amateur radio

Today it rained. The weather is so different from a few weeks ago when it was very hot.

This afternoon we went to Ely to Oliver Cromwell's house and to the Almonry Tea Rooms which has been serving refreshments since the 1200s! Thankfully the scones were not that old.

This is my wife and 2 of our grandchildren looking bright on a dull day. In the background is Ely Cathedral.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although I have been on 10m WSPR TX since mid-morning, not a single spot all day. I get the feeling the main Es season has ended. Although we can expect some Es still, it is likely to be less common now until next spring.

UPDATE 1915z: Still no spots today.

6m FT8 RX

At long last I am back on 6m FT8 RX. So far just UK spots and no real DX.

UPDATE 1645z: Just UK spots today including some North Sea /MM spots from "wet" squares.

UPDATE 1807z: DX at last! TF3ML (1785km) in Iceland.

Sunspots - Sunday August 26th 2018

Solar flux 70 and the SSN 31. A=11 and K=7.

NOT on 6m and 10m

As we have grandchildren staying I have not been on 6m and 10m.  I may get a chance later.

UPDATE 1852z: No chance!

WWWB shutdown?

Amateur Radio Weekly reports that President Trump has announced the possible shutdown of WWWB next year. Perhaps he doesn't realise that about 50 million devices in the USA use this to synchronise time.

Another decision by a genius?

See https://swling.com/blog/2018/08/synchronizing-atomic-clocks-final-tock-time-may-no-longer-be-synchronous/?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Picking blackberries - NOT amateur radio

We have all four grandchildren with us at the moment. Next door's blackberries didn't stand a chance!

More UK Rallies

27 AUGUST 2018 : HUNTINGDONSHIRE ARS ANNUAL RALLY

Ernulf Academy, Barford Rd, St Neots, PE19 2SH. Talk-in with GX0HSR on 145.550MHz, free parking, admission £3, doors open 9am (traders 7am), hot meals and drinks on site, ice cream van, RSGB Bookstall, Bring and Buy, fine weather booked! M0OLG, 01480 214 282, events@hunts-hams.co.uk.


26 AUGUST 2018 : TORBAY ARS ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS FAIR

The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF. Indoor event, free parking, disabled facilities, accessible by public transport. Bring-and-buy sale, catering, RSGB Book Stall, special interest groups, trade stands, prize draw/raffle. Contact Mike, G1TUU, 01803 557 941, rally@tars.org.uk.

26 AUGUST 2018 : MILTON KEYNES ARS 60th ANNIVERSARY RALLY

Irish Centre, Manor Field, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HZ. Doors open at 9.30am, admission £3. Hot & cold food available. Contact Francis Hennigan, 2E0FMK, rally@mkars.org.uk. www.mkars.org.uk/rally.


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

Sunspots - Saturday August 25th 2018

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 26. A=5 and K=1.

Eating out - NOT amateur radio

Last night , the last night with our friend on the Wirral, we treated our good old friend to a meal out. Here he is tucking into his main course. He still found space for a dessert.

Back home

As we are home again, tomorrow I hope to be back on 10m and 6m. My usual pattern is 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m FT8 (mainly RX). I occasionally call CQ on 6m FT8 but usually just for a few minutes.

Salcombe from the air - NOT amateur radio

When I was a child, I grew up in Salcombe, South Devon. These days it is an exclusive, and expensive, yachting centre for the well heeled. Most houses there are too expensive for most local people to afford.

In 1959 we moved 4 miles north to Kingsbridge. Although still a market town, this is also of morphing into a yuppy place.

Sunspots - Friday August 24th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN 15. A=5 and K=3.

Milton Keynes Rally

I have received some advanced warning of this rally on August 26th. This was not my usual source of data.

See https://www.mkars.org.uk/mkars/rally

Erddig House - NOT amateur radio

Our host for the week drove us to Erddig House near Wrexham. This is a fine National Trust place free to visit if you are members. As is often the case, I find stairs hard work these days, especially in old places.

Escalators are hard work these days too. Although manageable, they always need extra care.

Network radios away from home

When away from home is a classic case when network radios are useful, especially with a low cost data SIM. Not only does it allow access to things like Echolink, but also access to emails and the internet.

OFCOM

OFCOM today has published its grant scheme for programme makers and special events equipment owners  (PMSE) operating at 700MHz. This spectrum is to be freed up sooner than originally planned.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/support-pmse-equipment-owners

American puzzle - NOT amateur radio

It is not an exaggeration to say that every American I have met has been kind, generous and caring. Really. Yet America, as a nation, come across as brash, arrogant and possibly stupid. Why?

Please don't misunderstand me. I have great deal of time for Americans. As said before, every single American I have met or dealt with has been kind and generous. Also, I have found American drivers perhaps the most polite in the whole world. Watching TV movies with car chases I could hardly believe how good the driving was in the USA. First class!

Sunspots - Thursday August 19th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 11.  A=13 and K=3.

Terracotta Warriors - NOT amateur radio

There is a major exhibition on in Liverpool at the moment of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. These were immense statues created over 2000 years ago. We went to a similar exhibition in London in 2007. It was very good.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN 15. A=7 and K=3.

More VLF experiments

Stefan DK7FC is planning more VLF tests at 17.47kHz:

"Hi VLF,

For this week, i'm planning to start with new experiments on 17.47 kHz,
where i have a (renewed) special permission to transmit.

So far the best results were a prooved carrier detection as well as a 1
character EbNaut decode by Edgar from Tasmania (VK7).

The first goal will be to determine the best time (start time and
length) on the path for this season. We have a usable path for about 2
months centered on our autun/spring time (21st SEP).

The Signal will be exported by SpecLab to simple txt files containing
the FFT data. This allows stacking, which will be required to get some
S/N at all. A reasonable stable path is essential during the
transmission time. All this will be determined by running some carrier
transmissions, a few hours per day, starting about 16 UTC.

When knowing the time to try we will attempt to transfer a 2 character
message and then even longer messages. 5 characters would be realistic i
think, with some luck and good propagation and low QRN on the RX site...

More soon.

73, Stefan"

New Monster Antenna

Southgate News has a piece today about a new dual-band monster antenna from Innovantennas for 4m and 2m. I think if I tried to erect this I would incur the wrath of the neighbours. Perhaps you live on a remote hillside and the nearest neighbour lives 2 miles away!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/new-2m-4m-dual-band-yagis-from-innovantennas.htm#.W3w-ZfZFzIU

Llangollen Aqueduct - NOT amateur radio

This is an amazing piece of architecture designed by Thomas Telford centuries ago to take a canal high across a valley. Although there is a narrow path on one side the other side has a sheer drop! We were taken here today by our wedding "best man". That was 47 years ago! He lives on the Wirral near Liverpool. I was too giddy to walk across.

Catch 22 - NOT amateur radio

This book is always rated highly but I have yet to speak with anyone who has enjoyed it. I managed to get through it, but found it boring as hell. My wife has tried several times, but always given up! We gave away our copy (keep it PLEASE) and were only too glad to get rid of it. Maybe it means more if you are American and it was read years ago?

If you read it, I'd like to know how you got on.

I still find it hard to see why it is so highly rated.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 21st 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN 15. A= 14 and K=2.

Last month's 2m activity contest

Despite a logging error, I see my position in the AL section is unchanged. My error was stupid and cost me points, not that I take any contests seriously.  My main aim is fun, to work a few stations and exercise my voice.

Sunspots - Monday August 20th 2018

Solar flux is 66 today and the SSN 15. A=8 and K=2.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my beacon. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE  1110z: Several Es spots. Best DX is CS7AOL (1457km).

Yet more on 60m band

The 60m WRC 15kHz allocation is being widely allocated now, with Finland (OH) joining the growing list. Sadly, the Finns are losing some other slots at 60m.

6m FT8

For about 5 minutes I have been on 6m FT8 both RX and TX (2.5W). So far, just G1IDZ (182km) spotted.

UPDATE 1120z: Lots of Es spots. I am convinced FT8 is extending the Es "season". Best DX spot is of IT9QPF (1867km)

Margaret, are you greaving.... - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday there was a young blackbird in the garden when I was cutting the grass. At first I thought it was with its parents being fed. Hours later it was still there. This morning it was dead.

Now, I know this is the rhythm of life. I know it was probably very sick and bound to die. Nonetheless it saddened me. I hid the body in the bushes so my wife would not see it. She will think it just few off.  Perhaps it is just a reminder than what happened to this little bird happens to us all. Perhaps that is why I am saddened.

Margaret, are you greaving over Goldengrove unleaving?

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall

Sunspots - Sunday August 19th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 11. A=13 and K=3.

A statesman gone - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday the world lost one of its great statesmen: Kofi Annan who for several years was head of the UN. There are sadly very few great statesmen and women in this world.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45235800 .

Now QRT

At 2030z I went QRT on all bands. The last Es here was at 1950z on 10m WSPR. In all quite a decent Es day. I shall probably be on 6m FT8 mainly RX tomorrow.

Grass mowing - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have had a hot, dry summer. For just the second time since May, I have cut our grass.  Although parts are still brown, it is slowly recovering as we have had some rain.

Perhaps President Trump can be persuaded that global warming is a reality and not a Chinese plot.

FT8 and Es

This summer I have not used JT65 at all. Instead, I have been mostly on 6m FT8 RX with just the occasional TX period. Once in a while I tried 2m and 10m FT8. I have also been on 10m WSPR TX, although WSPR seems much less active than FT8.

FT8 is supposed to be not quite as good as JT65 on weak signals. However, the take-up of FT8 is phenomenal.

I am wondering if one of the reasons we are still seeing Es on 6m so much this late in the season is that users are in just one place and even very short openings get detected? Most FT8 is between 50.313 and 50.315MHz.  In the past, a CQ on SSB or CW might well have been missed. Also, FT8 works with signals that are more marginal than SSB or CW.

Let us hope a few remain on 6m so we can see if 6m Es is much commoner than we previously thought. In an average "out of season" day it would not surprise me to see brief openings. Remember, you only need 15 seconds to be spotted with FT8, probably even less.

6m FT8 RX spots today

ARRL numbers falling

There is a gradual downward trend in ARRL membership. This does not surprise me. However, it is worrying.

Around the world, generally, the amateur radio population is getting progressively older and it is getting harder to attract and keep younger people. We come over as an old man's hobby. I know this is not so, but we have to "connect".

As the demographic gets generally older, membership of national societies and radio clubs is likely to suffer. When I was fitter, I gave quite a few talks at radio clubs in East Anglia, UK.  By and large, the audiences were male and older men with very few women and young people. Unless we attract and keep younger people our hobby will die.

Monkey Dust - NOT amateur radio

In all my life I have never taken drugs. Even smoking cigarettes at school made me sick and after a few I stopped.

At university many were taking LSD. In later years you find people taking cocaine and marijuana.

Now there is a new menace called "magic dust". It looks like a real problem for police.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45186581 .

New FRS rules in the USA

This applies in the USA and NOT in Europe!

The ARRL reports on some rule changes by the FCC which come into effect next year.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/view/new-fcc-part-95-personal-radio-services-rules-published-in-the-federal-register?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter