After lunch, I may switch to 6m FT8. There is far less activity on 6m at this time of year and most spots are likely to be UK stations probably by tropo or aircraft. I can only use the V2000 vertical on 6m.
If I go on 6m FT8, I shall go on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) as the 10m antenna will be free.
UPDATE 1440z: Turned on after lunch. Just 3 Gs spotted on RX and spots of me on TX by 1 G. No Es obvious.
UPDATE 1652z: 5 Gs spotted on 6m FT8 RX this afternoon.
Whilst I fully appreciate that some cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, I think everyone else has a duty to themselves and to others to get vaccinated. It is only by vaccination that this pandemic will be ended.
As I understand it, in Singapore, those not vaccinated must pay for their own Covid-19 treatment.This seems draconian, but may make those wavering think again and make Singapore safer for all.
This is a global pandemic and we all have to do our bit. Side effects from the jabs are very very rare and getting Covid-19 can be so much worse. The jab itself is quick and painless and over in seconds. To be honest, I did not feel a thing!
My gear was turned on at 0752z. So far 24 stations spotted with the furthermost HS2KYA (9693km).
UPDATE 1006z : 122 stations spotted on RX with 4 in Australia.
UPDATE 1144z : 288 stations spotted on RX. 10m is becoming too easy again. With FT8 it is even easier. I seem to remember it became too easy in the last solar cycle. I must look for a new challenge that I can manage.
Already 7 stations in the USA have received experimental permits to operate at 8m. Come the next main Es season we could see even more approved and on the air.
I do hope they all operate FT8 and within a single RX window for them all. This will make monitoring so much easier.
In the last Es season the first USA station approved was copied in the UK. With 7 operational, things (and chances) can only get better. All that would be needed is a wire dipole and WSJT-X tuned so all the USA stations come in on FT8. Just leave the RX on and see what pops up. Of course, FT8 with a shared allocation would be good for all beacons, not just at 8m. This way, all beacons within the particular FT8 "window" could be monitored 24/7.
It is just possible that the F2 MUF limit could peak briefly such that distant stations on 8m could be copied. All this is new and exciting. We just do not know.
All the USA stations have been given permits in the ISM band. In the future, this could be a most interesting amateur allocation. Never mind transatlantic: they are going to have great fun in the next main Es season. There is a small Es peak around New Year. I wonder if there will be some Es within the USA at the turn of the year?
See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ . On John's blog there are more details about these USA stations.
UPDATE 0650z: I gather the first experimental licence has been issued in Canada to a VE7.
Using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and the mains earth, I am monitoring 472kHz WSPR this evening. So far, 5 unique stations already spotted with the furthermost DB8BG (498km).
UPDATE 2137z: 9 unique stations spotted this evening on 472Hz WSPR.
My system was turned on at 0901z. So far (at 0952z) 69 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. The furthermost is 4F3BZ (10632km) in the Philippines. 10m is definitely coming to life again.
They do not roost here, but seem to gather here then fly off to their roost.
They remind me of Hitchcock's film "The Birds".
As 10m FT8 seems to have closed for me, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR RX with the coax up to the 2m big-wheel and the mains earth. So far (after about 10 minutes) 3 stations have been spotted with the furthermost DF1VB (506km).
UPDATE 2159z: So far this evening, 13 unique stations spotted with the furthermost IN3EAR (1069km) .
Today, I am on 10m FT8 RX. My gear was turned on at 0844z. Very quiet so far.
UPDATE 0908z: Just 2 spots so far 1 G and 1 PA. Probably tropo or aircraft.
UPDATE 2137z: Just 62 spots all day. Nothing at all from the Americas. I was suspicious and wondered whether my PC had reset or the internet was off. I don't think this was the case. It could have been at their end.
Actually, I have never ever used a digital mode like Fusion, D-star or DMR. I used to have an FT-991A that supported Fusion. Currently I have an IC-705 that (I believe) supports D-star. As far as I am aware I can only access DMR via the internet, but I do not (yet) know how to do this. Actually, these digital modes are a knowledge gap that I should try to plug in the coming months.
As my 10m antenna is again not in use, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far, just local spots from G4KPX (14km) , proving all is working.
UPDATE 1510: 2 stations spotted so far with the furthermost (again) EA8BFK (2880km) who has spotted me multiple times (22 times so far today). This seems to be my "sweet spot" at the moment.
UPDATE 1935z: QRT now. Still just 2 unique stations have spotted me today.
At the moment I am on 20m FT8 RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel via the ferrite rod ATU on the bench. This is just a tapped coil on a ferrite rod with the tap with the lowest SWR chosen. Calling it an ATU is being kind, HI!!
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| Stations spotted at 1337z |
UPDATE 1337z: 243 spots on 20m FT8 RX today.
As the 10m antenna was free, I put my W5OLF stand-alone WSPR beacon on using 500mW. So far, just a local spot from G4KPX (14km).
Like yesterday, I am again on 15m FT8 RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna, ad hoc though it is! After about 15 minutes, 23 stations already spotted.
UPDATE 1204z: 176 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX today.
Do I look totally stupid?
Gmail does a very good job of filtering out SPAM. Just occasionally, something is put in SPAM that is not , so it is worth checking. My guess this is maybe 1 in 1000. Obvious SPAMs are when if you just verify your bank details we will deposit huge sums in your account. Others relate to Bitcoins or sexual prowess. Every day I must get 20-30 SPAM emails. All get binned right away.
If in doubt never click a link that you are unsure about. If possible, hover over the link to see if the link is the same as that which appears. Basically if in doubt do not!!
My understanding is that 7 experimental licences have been approved for the 8m band in the USA. One station has already been copied in the UK. With F2 propagation improving and summer Es, it is highly probable that others in the USA will be copied in Europe.
My own view is that the chances would be greatly enhanced if all experimental stations and beacons at 8m had an FT8 sequence that allowed all to be monitored with one dial setting. This implies that all are within a few kHz of each other.
In the future, 8m could be a really interesting amateur band. If OFCOM can find 2000000Hz of "precious" VHF spectrum for DATV experiments, I hope they can surely find the odd 50Hz of 8m spectrum for propagation research, especially at lower power.
The more temporary permits that are applied for, and obtained, around the world the more useful research can be done.
Small steps....
Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 35 (going up again). A=13 and K=2.
Judging by the results on FT8 RX today with my very improvised 15m antenna, I am tempted to convert my Par end fed antenna to 15m.
I suppose I could make it cover 10m and 15m by putting up 2 wires. Already today, I have spotted 350 stations on 15m FT8 RX. Don't forget that some of the time the PC had closed down with a flat battery too! With a "proper" antenna , I would expect even better results.
All that should be needed to cover 15m is a longer wire.
At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW from my stand-alone W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon. So far, (at 0930z) 3 spots only from local G4KPX (14km).
UPDATE 0955z: 15 spots so far of me with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1024z: 36 spots of me so far today. EA8BFK has been getting me as strong as -3dB S/N.
UPDATE 1926z: QRT. 3 unique spots today.
As a complete change I am on 15m FT8 RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna. The SWR looks quite low without any additional ATU. So far, 28 stations spotted.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
Looking back on my emails I see some correspondence from Michael Rainey AA1TJ about a sound powered CW TX he built. I think Michael's TX involved converting sound from his voice into CW RF. I have seen other circuits that convert the action of pressing the Morse key into RF. In theory, this would also work with speech. Of course, physics dictates that low milliwatts only can be achieved.
If you know of ideas, please let me know.
Through the post today I got my monthly copy of Practical Wireless. It seems a lot thinner. To my mind this says one thing: they are in trouble and are trying to save money.
Not looked inside yet. It may be fewer adverts or fewer articles or both. I have been a faithful subscriber for many years, but may stop.
In Rob Mannion's day I wrote articles for PW.
How much longer will it continue?
UPDATE 1700z: I am puzzled. Several issues have had a similar number of pages, yet it feels noticeably thinner to me. Is it thinner paper?
UPDATE 2156z: It has been this thin for several months, although this is the first time I have noticed.
A few minutes ago, I turned on my 10m FT8 system. So far (at 1137z) 2 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1340z: 19 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost ZS4JAN (9386km).
UPDATE 2147z: 64 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. QRT soon.
UPDATE 2158z: QRT.
Time puzzles me. It seems to flow from the past into the future, but this can be an illusion. It could be that all our memories of the past are not there at all, but fresh every day. We make wake up every day with all our memories there, but they are actually new. It may be that my universe is unique to me. It is impossible to know what others experience.
What is certain is just how little we know or can know. Think of Schrodinger's cat. I am pretty certain we will look back in amazement at what we believed, much as we do now about witches and fairies.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat .
