Double yolker - NOT amateur radio

Most mornings I start the day with a no fat added cooked breakfast and fresh fruit. I appreciate this may not suit everyone!

We usually buy our low cost free range eggs from our local supermarket. Imagine my surprise to see a double yolker this morning. We have lived here for nearly 6 years and I have only seen 2 in all that time!

I should have taken the photo as soon as I cracked the egg. By the time this was taken the yolks had merged.

Sunspots - Monday June 24th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number zero. A=3 and K=2. Still pretty poor. It will be interesting to see the Solan forecast next month.

2m big wheel antenna

For several years now I have been using a big-wheel horizontal omni-directional antenna. This has a few dB of gain and does not need a rotator.

With 2.5W SSB it regularly gets me 200km in the Tuesday evening UKAC activity contests organised by the RSGB. On FT8 my QRP CQs are regularly copied in Cornwall under flat conditions. Most days, I spot stations in 7 countries by aircraft reflection on 2m FT8. What surprised me was it is quite effective on 70cm SSB. Most sessions my 70cm QRP is copied over 100km.

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

Classic car day - NOT amateur radio

Today, the museum across the road from us held its classic car day, when lots of classic cars visit. Mostly the weather was warm and sunny.

Nero fiddles and Rome burns - NOT amateur radio

Whilst there is the risk of war in the Middle East and the EU is in crisis over the loss of a major member, what does the UK do? We spend weeks deciding who will be the next leader of one major party who, by default, becomes the next Prime Minister and hence the most important person in the UK. There are 2 candidates left, neither of whom exactly fills me with excitement.

Personally, I think UK politics is in a mess. It is my view that we are, in the main, run by idiots in all parties who are more interested in their own careers than the greater good of the UK or world. There may be some exceptions, although I am struggling to think of them.

BBQ - NOT amateur radio

Most of the afternoon has been spent with old friends enjoying a BBQ. It started off sunny, but got cloudier. In the UK we need good weather to eat outside.

It was good to eat with old friends. Some have moved 100 miles away and we see them less frequently these days.

Oscar 100

It is now several months since this geostationary amateur satellite became operational. To get active most have to put together a 2.4GHz TX and a 10GHz RX as well as either 1 or 2 dishes pointing in the right direction. There are no "cheque book" amateur radio solutions. It is possible to repurpose some WiFi bits. Activity levels seem to be no higher than a few months ago.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Sea scout - NOT amateur radio

The photo here was taken almost 100 years ago and shows my dad in Salcombe, Devon, UK.

As someone pointed out, this could well be posted for the photographer! It does look posed.

My dad died in 1987.

War by accident? - NOT amateur radio

Probably Iran and the USA do not want outright war. However, the chance of one side miscalculating the actions of the other is quite high. President Trump is a "loose cannon" and sometimes acts irrationally. Iran is not exactly a peaceful and loving nation. I am sure behind the scenes both sides are actively engaged in cyber war.

Although Iran is far from perfect, I personally think Trump is like a little boy with a can of petrol and a box of matches.

6m FT8 RX

So far this morning (it is now 0920z) 56 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. All of these are Europeans and most of these are via Es.

UPDATE 1704z: So far today 167 stations, mostly Europeans, spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Nothing by way of "real DX" spotted.

Still the pits. Sunspots - Sunday June 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0 still. A=4 and K=1.

At the moment we are heading for a spotless month.

Longest spotless period

According to Southgate News we have had 33 spotless days now. This is now the longest spotless stretch this cycle and is consistent with the minimum in the next year.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/june/the-sun-is-so-spotless.htm#.XQ5UUvZFy00

Iran-USA conflict - NOT amateur radio

We live in dangerous times with the USA president "shooting from the hip" as if he is in the wild west. Actually the world could fall into a deep recession should he attack Iran. Iran is a dangerous unknown, but just as on climate change, the USA president seems to think he knows best.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48728465

Dead Ringers - NOT amateur radio

Some in the UK may recall "Spitting Image" on TV. Famous people were created in rubber puppets and they had the micky taken! It was a wonderful programme and unbelievably funny. It is a pity they don't bring it back.

Dead Ringers on BBC Radio 4 is very similar and perhaps the best programme on the radio. It is broadcast on Friday early evenings and Saturday lunchtime. I am pretty sure it will be on catch-up and BBC iPlayer.

External Links G3XBM main website

A very long time ago, I created a page for my main website with external links. Some of these links probably do not work, so I need to go though all these and check. If you spot any dead links before me, please let me know. Likewise on the rest of the site, please tell me if you spot mistakes or broken links.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ext_links
See also www.g3xbm.co.uk

Friends - NOT amateur radio

On the bridge over 

the River Lark

For the last couple of nights we had an old school friend of my wife and her husband staying. They were on their way to a holiday in Norfolk.

They are very good company and we really enjoyed them staying.

Yesterday, we took them to Bury St Edmunds, which is a delightful East Anglian place with an old (and new!) abbey.

6m FT8

With 85 stations spotted on 6m FT8 so far this morning this is a bit more promising than yesterday. Best DX spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX is EA8JK (3022km) in the Canaries. Nothing yet from Asia on 6m.

UPDATE 1032z: Now 141 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX this morning. Still nothing from Asia.

UPDATE 1245z: Now 230 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1317z:  Still 230 stations spotted, suggesting the Es opening has ended, for now.

UPDATE 1646z: Now 294 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2030z: 310 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last half day. Nothing here spotted from "across the pond" on 6m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Saturday June 22nd 2019

Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number zero. A=6 and K=2.

Sunspot minimum definitely. Well, it can hardly be worse! Pretty sure this month will be spotless.

Quieter day on 6m FT8?

OK it is only 0945z, but so far 6m is far quieter than yesterday. There is some European Es, but only 8 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1600z:  Now 82 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Some amazing transatlantic 2m DX

This has been a remarkable week on 2m with some amazing contacts across the Atlantic. See this blog:

https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/06/historic-trans-atlantic-contact-made-on.html

The question now is when transatlantic 2m QSOs will take place further north. Certainly modes like FT8 are improving chances.

Sunspots - Friday June 21st 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Still firmly at sunspot minimum. Basically crap!

"All in one" instrument

This afternoon I got the XBS Telecom newsletter and noticed this Rigol instrument. If I was still fit and doing a fair bit of design work, I could be seriously tempted. This is a very useful piece of kit.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/rigol/1068-rigol-mso-5072-oscilloscope-2x70mhz-8gss-16-voies.html?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=en_Newsletter_ham-radio_-_May_2019&utm_medium=email

See also https://www.telonic.co.uk/Rigol-s/1831.htm?_vsrefdom=p.17432&gclid=CjwKCAjw3azoBRAXEiwA-_64OnE25XJW9zSOI9bvFhv8fgxSfqrWBHNUtoI2DBF0kOuOEtyKEshGCRoCUCkQAvD_BwE

The future of UK politics - NOT amateur radio

OK, I have a crystal ball and this is my look at the next 6 months:

• Boris Johnson will be elected Conservative leader in the UK.
• He will also become UK Prime Minister
• He will try to get a better deal for BREXIT
• The EU will not play ball.
• There will be a no confidence vote in the UK parliament. 
• This will be lost by the Conservative government.
• There will be a General Election in the UK.
• A coalition government of Labour (now pro EU remaining) and Lib-Dems would become the governing party.
• A second national referendum on leaving the EU will be held.
• We vote to remain in the EU.
• The EU will reform or eventually fall apart. The ascendency of right wing parties forces reforms.

In June 2020 it will be interesting to see how right (or wrong!) I am.

Rallies

Saturday 22 JUNE : BANGOR & DISTRICT ARS RALLY

The Hub, Hamilton Road, Bangor. There's a nearby Council pay car park. Doors open 11am. Entrance fee is £3 inclusive of a raffle ticket. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and a Book stall. More from 02890422762 or by e-mail to samanumi11@gmail.com.


Sunday 23 JUNE : NEWBURY RADIO RALLY AND BOOT SALE

Newbury Showground, next to M4 J13. A talk-in station will be on S22 (V44). There is free car parking. Traders can gain access at 8am and visitors at 9am. Admissions will be £2.50. Car boot sale pitches are £12.50. The show will have a huge radio, electronics & computing boot sale, plus demonstration marquee with display of amateur radio on air, plus clubs and national society stands. Catering is available on site. Contact Phill, G6EES on 07771 504738 or by email to NewburyRally@nadars.org.uk www.nadars.org.uk.


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

Funerals - NOT amateur radio

Going into the butchers today in a suit and tie felt quite odd!  The only time I seem to wear a suit and tie is going to a funeral.

Today was the funeral of our old neighbour for 37 years. She and her husband, who died some years ago, were good "salt of the earth" sort of people. We liked them a lot. She was very talented and we still have one of her sculptures and her Christmas decorations come out every year.

For about 6 years she has been in a home suffering with Alzheimers disease. This is a cruel condition that can affect any of us. Gradually minds go and in the end people cannot remember even their loved ones. Over time I hope her daughter can remember her as she was most of her life.

We shall remember them as they were - good, simple, people with hearts of gold.

USA and Iran - NOT amateur radio

There is no love lost between the USA and Iran. Iran could well be the aggressor in the recent conflict in the Gulf. What bothers me is dirty tricks. It is just feasible that the whole thing is a CIA plot, unlikely I know.

In times of heightened tension and war it is extremely hard to get independent, verifiable proof. All I caution is caveat emptor. What you see may not be what it seems.

Nocilucent clouds and DX

According to Southgate News this has been a good year for noctilucent clouds (NLCs). The path from western Europe to Japan (a very long way!) seems to open up for a short-time in June each year on 6m. This is just the time NLCs form in the mesosphere. There seems to be a direct correlation. 2 years ago, despite using a V2000 omni vertical fed with lossy CB coax I copied 13 Japanese stations on 6m JT65. For the last 2 summers I have been monitoring 6m FT8. As yet, I have not copied Japan on 6m FT8, which is a bit less sensitive.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/june/mysterious-moisture-in-the-mesosphere.htm#.XQtBAvZFy00

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent

6m FT8 RX

So far today, 17 Europeans spotted on 6m FT8 RX, although no "real DX". Mind you, it is only 0815z.

UPDATE 0854z: So far, 76 stations spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being EK7DX (3590km).

UPDATE 0914z: Now 114 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1313z: Now 443 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today including 5 Caribbeans and 1 in the USA. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX so far is J69DS (6840km) on St Lucia.

UPDATE 1424z: With 14 USA and Canadian stations and 5 Caribbean stations out of a total of 498 stations already on 6m FT8 RX, today is almost certainly the best day this season so far on 6m. Best DX is currently N4WW (6988km). Interesting that WU1ITU (4831km) is in the log as the last time I logged this station was on 160m last winter.

6m FT8 RX spots 

here to 1630z today

UPDATE 1630z: Now 520 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Thursday June 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number still 0. This is definitely the longest spotless period this minimum. We must be at, or very close, to the sunspot minimum. A=4 and K=1.

Decreasing storm risk

At the moment the nearest storms are some way away in Holland. All being well I can be on the East Cambs net at 1830z and 6m FT8 RX afterwards.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en

East Cambs 2m net

A reminder that this local net meets on 144.575MHz (yes 144.575MHz) at 7.30pm FM on Wednesday nights. Normally we finish within 30 minutes. Although sometimes someone asks a technical question, these are normally not too challenging.

UPDATE 1920z: M0CNP (Burwell) joined us tonight.

6m FT8 RX today

So far this morning 132 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX including Israel and Kuwait. Sadly no Far East stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1237z: 244 stations spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX with a couple of Caribbeans. Best DX is KP4EIT (6834km) in Puerto Rico.

UPDATE 1347z: 285 stations now spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Both Puerto Rico stations spotted have been coming through now for several hours.

UPDATE 1433z: Now 5 Caribbean stations being spotted with best DX HI8PLE (7062km) in the Dominican Republic. Total stations spotted on 6m FT8 today is 316. At the moment thunderstorms are some way away, so I'll remain on 6m FT8 RX for now.

UPDATE 1748z: Now 402 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

Anglesey Abbey door - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey is a National Trust property about 5 miles away. We visit the extensive grounds most months. Although sometimes busy, especially at weekends, the grounds are so vast that it is easy to find spots with few people. The door in this photo is on the way to the watermill.

Friedrichshafen - June 21-23 in Germany

This is the biggest European amateur radio exhibition. It is just possible some new products may be announced, although I think this is unlikely. There were a very few new products announced at Dayton, Ohio.

6m FT8 RX yesterday

Es was pretty good yesterday until I had to go QRT to avoid the storm risks. In all, 493 stations were spotted on 6m FT8 RX. in the last day.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 19th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Rough night ahead?

Until now, we have been storm free here today, but in the last few hours it has been raining and there are thunderstorms to the east and approaching across the English Channel. At the moment it is hard to know what we face by the end of the night. As a precaution, all antennas and mains plugs in the shack have been unplugged.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=6

Mending the HF antenna

As long as I can get up the ladder to my flat garage roof, I intend to mend my Par 10/20/40m end-fed antenna next week. This is not the best antenna in the world, but I know how it works. It can handle QRP power levels (actually up to 35W). The wire fatigued at a joint (after nearly 6 years), so it should be easy to fix. We have guests this week, so it can wait. The biggest challenge will be getting on and off the ladder!

Storms?

We have thunderstorms forecast for later. At the moment the nearest storm is about 150 miles away. If they get close my normal routine is to disconnect everything including the mains plugs "just in case".

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=6

UPDATE 1315z: In the UK the thunderstorms seem to have fizzled out. They were supposed to be moving up from Iberia, but no signs even there. Maybe later?

6m FT8 RX

In the last 3 hours 57 stations have been spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Most of these are EU stations via Es.

UPDATE 0957z: 120 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last 3 hours with best DX 9K2NO (4639km) in Kuwait. Apparently 6m was 56zopen from the UK to India on SSB/CW/FT8 yesterday. Sadly I spotted no Indian stations here!

UPDATE 1156z: So far today 170 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX this morning. Most were Europeans by Es.

UPDATE 1600z: 405 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 RX today so far.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Surprisingly, not a bad night for mid-summer. I think stations are having far more trouble finding my QRPP signal at this time of year, but I am still copying loads of stations on the band as the table shows. In fact, there are almost as many stations as in the winter being spotted, although I suspect some will be gone until autumn.

Overnight here on 472kHz WSPR

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

We are fortunate to have 4 young grandchildren. When they get together they enjoy eachother's company.

This photo shows us (top left) with all the grandchildren. The eldest is 11 years old.

Even worse! - Sunspots Tuesday June 18th 2019

Just when you thought things were bad they get even worse!

Solar flux is 65 and the SSN still zero. A=3 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

Although I'm not sure why (masochistic?) I decided to try 472kHz WSPR overnight tonight. On previous summer nights results were pretty poor. I am running the usual 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Surprisingly DL7NN (873km) already spotted.

Calm before the storm? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the FT100 UK stock index is holding up OK. With the growing tensions between Iran and the USA why do I have the feeling this is the calm before the storm?

It would not surprise me if we are on the verge of a huge recession.  The world is still far too dependent on middle eastern oil. That and BREXIT and we have interesting times ahead.

Sadly, I do not trust the statesmanship of Trump. Kennedy in the 1962 Cuba crisis, yes.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-48661843

Historic transatlantic 2m QSO

Martin G8OFA reports a 2m QSO between the Caribbean and the Cape Verde Is yesterday. I am pretty sure this is the first transatlantic 2m QSO. If confirmed, this is an historic first.

South Hams, Devon - NOT amateur radio

For at least 500 years my family has lived in the South Hams of Devon. We have probably lived hereabouts for thousands of years. At Bolt Tail is an Iron Age fort. It is humbling to think one of my ancestors may well have manned this thousands of years ago.

Museum duty - NOT amateur radio

Several times a year my wife and I volunteer to help at our excellent local museum. Usually we help in the tearoom or entry kiosk. There is free Wi-Fi so no-one can be bored. In both the kiosk and the tearoom there are items for sale. The photo shows some of these.

See http://burwellmuseum.org.uk/

New VHF and up only licence?

According to Southgate News the IARU is considering a new VHF and up only licence in the hope of encouraging activity. I guess many these days head to HF as contacts tend to be over longer distances. In the past quite some fun could be had on 144MHz and 432MHz. Often tropo was better on 432MHz.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/june/could-a-new-licence-counter-threats-at-vhf-and-above.htm#.XQd_SPZFy00

6m FT8 RX again

With 173 stations (mostly European) spotted by 0907z this looks promising on 6m. Best DX is again A45XR (5794km) in Oman. No Far East again today here.

Still using the V2000 vertical omni antenna fed with cheap CB coax.

UPDATE 1150z: 409 stations spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX with best DX A41ZZ (5854km). 3 Gulf stations spotted this morning.

UPDATE 1313z: 473 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX including 4 stations from the Persian Gulf area. Nothing yet from the Americas or Caribbean areas.

Stations spotted on 6m 

FT8 RX here to 1548z

UPDATE 1746z: Now 553 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX, but nothing from "across the pond" today, well not yet at least.

UPDATE 1951z: Still nothing transatlantic on 6m here today.