Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

11 Dec 2021

Indian Convention

Looks like there was/is a large amateur radio convention in India. I notice that there are few (if any) wearing masks. Some months ago India was overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases. With the new variant spreading fast, I am surprised.

See http://www.larc.in/larc4/ .

15m FT8 RX

At about 1430z I QSYed from 40m to 15m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop. It is now 1440z and, so far, 7 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1712z: 26 stations spotted, mostly in the USA.

Oscar 100 wideband

Often I give an update on the activity on narrowband transponder, but I am not aware of similar way to actually see the signals in the wideband section. The BATV webSDR shows the spectrum, not the actual signals. OK, I know you could look at the actual satellite, but I was wondering if these DATV signals could be viewed on the internet.

If you know how to look at actual DATV signals via Oscar 100, please let me know.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/wb/ .

10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)

As the 10m antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. It is now 1102z and so far 3 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1411z: 4 unique stations have spotted me (see table).

UPDATE 1715z: QRT soon as no further DX stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1740z: QRT.

40m FT8 RX overnight

Since last evening I have been on 40m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood active loop. 186 stations spotted including 3 in the USA.

I may remain on 40m FT8 RX this morning. At 1104z, 64 stations had been spotted this morning.

Devon view - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the coastal view near Hope Cove in Devon looking towards Dodman Point in Cornwall. The Lizard may be visible in exceptional optical conditions. I have never seen it.

Sunspots - Saturday December 11th 2021

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=3.

10 Dec 2021

40m FT8 RX

This evening (and hopefully overnight) I am on 40m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop. 104 stations spotted by 2300z.

OFCOM and satellites

OFCOM is changing the licence conditions for some low earth orbit satellites. See the OFCOM website for details.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Overnight with the indoor Wellgood loop, 308 stations spotted, but nothing from "across the pond".

17m FT8 RX (Friday)

Since about 0855z, I have been on 17m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop indoors. It is now 0913z and 40 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 0930z: 66 stations spotted with the furthermost RM8Y (5221km).

UPDATE 1748z: 440 stations spotted with the furthermost being VK2XZ (16962km). With just 4 more in the last hour, this suggests the band is closing or has closed.

UPDATE 1952z: 447 stations spotted. QRT soon.

10m WSPR TX (Friday)

Since about 0855z, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW to my W5OLF beacon. So far, just spots from G4KPX (14km).

Near disaster! For almost a day the little beacon had been fully on with no antenna. Remarkably, the PA device survived this abuse. I was lucky. It was so good to see it had survived.

UPDATE 1626z: Just G4KPX spotting me today.

Sunspots - Friday December 10th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 0 again. A=3 and K=1.

9 Dec 2021

160m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since teatime I have been on 160m FT8 RX with the active Wellgood loop on the shack window. So far (at 1939z) 86 stations spotted with the furthermost RN7T (3082km).

Desk Calendar - NOT amateur radio

This is for my room. The cover is of the windpump at nearby Wicken Fen.

UK Christmas Parties? - NOT amateur radio

With the new Omicron Covid-19 variant it would appear that this is more transmissible than earlier variants, but indications (early) are that it is less severe. For most people it presents a bit like a cold, not needing hospital treatment.

With luck, this will soon become the dominant variant and herd immunity will result in the virus subsiding. There is a risk still that hospitals could be overwhelmed, so the UK government has taken measures to slow the growth. It seems inevitable that this variant will soon be the dominant one.

Recently rumours have emerged about parties at the UK Prime Minister's premises in Downing Street last Christmas. These have always been denied, but they are being investigated.

What seems to be true is that the UK people largely follow the Covid rules despite the government rather than because of them.

Government credibility would be higher if they always led by example.

Clearly any gathering carries the risk of spreading the virus.

One of the best rigs ever?

Some years ago, I sold my IC-703 to a local friend. He used it mainly on 20m. Looking back, it was one of the best radios I have ever owned. It covered 160m to 6m with 10W, auto ATU, speech processing and DSP.

I managed to blow my PAs which were easily fixed. Otherwise it was faultless. These are hard to find these days, but for a multi-band, multi-mode QRP radio it is hard to beat.

These days it is replaced by the IC-705. This covers more bands and has a few extras, but does not have an auto-ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-703 .

10m FT8 (Thursday)

After a brief TX period (2 mins?) around 0900z, I am on 10m FT8 RX only. At 0922z no spots given or received.

UPDATE 1130z: Just 6 spots on 10m FT8 RX so far. Most of these look like tropo or aircraft reflection with no signs here of F2 or Es. Furthermost is DO8WA (499km), Sometimes in December and January there is a small mid-winter Es peak. Don't ask me why as I do not know!

160m FT8 RX overnight

317 stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood loop. Furthermost was UA9MA (4598km) in Omsk. No USA stations last night.

Will it catch on?

This was a Facebook memory from last December.

Sunspots - Thursday December 9th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

8 Dec 2021

160m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

A few moments ago I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. So far, 48 stations spotted with the indoor Wellgood active antenna.

15m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since about 0930z, I have been on 15m FT8 RX will the indoor active loop. So far today, 29 stations already spotted with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).

UPDATE 1130z: 149 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1900z: 415 stations spotted before I QSYed.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

Since about 0930z, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW using the W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1430z: 4 unique stations have spotted me so far today.

Crowded Devon beach 2012 - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows a Devon beach in 2012 on this December day. My brother and I went for a walk around the coast.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Apart from a short while on 2m (I gave up as there was an activity contest on) I was on 160m FT8 RX with the active loop antenna. In all 177 stations spotted. One USA station spotted - KA2HTV (4839km).

Sunspots - Wednesday December 8th 2021

Solar flux is 79 and the SSN 13. A=5 and K=1.

7 Dec 2021

Active RX loops

Some months ago I swapped my little used X80 multi-band vertical for a Wellgood RX active loop. This is essentially the same as the Wellbrook RX active loop.

I just use mine stuck to the shack window. It cannot even be turned! It has been used from 2200m to 15m. It may even work at 10m, but I have not tried it. The convenience of not having to swap or tune antennas is great. As far as I can tell it is every bit as good as my alternative antennas.

Christmas cards earlier? - NOT amateur radio

Perhaps as we all need cheering up, it seems Christmas cards are arriving earlier this year. I don't think this is my imagination.

15m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

At about 0950z, I turned on my 15m RX using the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. At 0954z, 27 stations already spotted with the furthermost ZS6AF (9156km).

UPDATE 1434z: 334 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX (see map).

UPDATE 1727z: 446 stations spotted.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

I keep forgetting that if I an RXing using the Wellgood active loop, my 10m antenna is free and I can go on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon! This puts out 500mW 100% of the time, but randomly moves the TX in the 200Hz WSPR window on every TX period to avoid being clobbered by a strong station. It was turned on about 0950z.

UPDATE 1816z: 3 unique stations have spotted me. I still have some doubts about the authenticity of FY5KE (7110km).

Start them young

This photo may have been on a few months ago. I post in several places and forget!

It shows one of our grandsons building a radio. He loved it and was good at soldering very quickly. I had forgotten the thrill of hearing stations on something you had built.

10m Tenbox

With 10m again becoming a good DX band, it does not seem right talking about a simple cross-town natterer for 10m! Mind you 10m is often a daylight DX band and there are plenty of times when it is dark when the band is totally unused.

Derivatives of this simple radio might make an ideal 10m cross-town natterer. Just above 29MHz would be an ideal spot with plenty of space and very low chances of causing anyone else problems. This receiver has heard USA AM stations with just a base loaded whip on the car, although I would not recommend it for serious DX work.

In my mind I see a rig a bit like a tiny Heathkit Twoer (remember these?) with a tunable RX and crystal controlled TX. On a suitable PCB it could make a nice club project. Improvements would include an AF amplifier to drive a loudspeaker and maybe a very simple linear to bring the power up to a few watts of RF.

I cannot imagine the rig costing much more than £10-20. Put it another way, how many cups of coffee or beers will that be?

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-am-tenbox .

40m FT8 overnight

Gradually yesterday I went to lower bands ending up on 40m FT8. In all cases I was using the Wellgood active antenna on the shack window.

In all, 389 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX with the furthermost YC9FZ (12452km) on Java.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 7th 2021

Solar flux is 80 and the SSN 14. A=7 and K=1.

6 Dec 2021

40m FT8 RX (Monday)

Since 1844z, I have been on 40m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop. At 1931z, 12 stations had been spotted.

UPDATE 2158z: 62 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX this evening.

Before our bungalow was built - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken well before our house was built. Our home (today) is in front of the windmill (see top right). When this photo was taken it was fields. It would be so good to take a peek at what our village was like at several points in the last few thousand years.