Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 62 A=3 and K=1.
11 May 2022
10 May 2022
Hebrides - NOT amateur radio
One of my fellow radio amateurs is doing a cycling/camping tour of the Outer Hebrides. This is one of his Facebook photos.
National Mills Weekend - NOT amateur radio
Our fully restored windmill is over 200 years old.
The joy of QRP
In our hobby we all have different interests, and that is only right: it would be a sad world if we were all the same. Some like ATV, others chasing DX, others just talking with old friends on 80m. I cannot say how you get fun. Neither would it be correct.
My own "thing" is QRP (low power). Now, I freely admit that at times more ERP helps. However, especially on bands like 10m in the better solar years, the world can be worked with low power and simple antennas. This is even more true with modern modes like FT8.
Perhaps my G3XBM website may give you some ideas. Whatever, the next few years could be the time to give QRP a go. You might be surprised.
10m WSPR QRP TX
Yet again (at 0850z) I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1115z: Still no spots of me today.
UPDATE 1845z: Just local G4WSZ and the 2 Canary Is stations today. These latter 2 look like F2. Again, no Es here today.
Colourful border - NOT amateur radio
8m experiment (Tuesday)
Yesterday was dire with no stations spotted on RX and nobody spotting me on FT8 TX on 8m. Even 10m had no Es here. Hopefully today will be better. Well it can't be worse!!
Currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.
UPDATE 0951z: No spots yet on 8m TX or RX.
UPDATE 1025z: Still no spots on 8m FT8 TX or RX today. Apart from the remote chance of contacting some of the USA experimenters by chordal hop Es this summer, I think I have exchanged reports (won't say QSO!!) with all the stations I am likely to. The ZS stations are unlikely to spot me with my low ERP, even though I have spotted ZS6WAB on 8m FT8. I suspect the latter was TEP and Es together, as we are a bit too far north for pure TEP.
UPDATE 1855z: No Es today, in fact no spots again on TX or RX.
9 May 2022
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
For me, the return of the swifts from Africa is important. Today I saw several overhead. All is well. Swifts have been doing this long before I was born and hopefully long after I have gone.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .
OFCOM consultations
OFCOM is consulting on Short-Range Devices and 26 GHz and 40 GHz uses. See the OFCOM website for details.
How times change!
I had the companion T28 RX, which was rubbish. I think the pair were really meant for mobile use, as most mobile in those days was on 160m AM. My T28 was a university prize for a VLF project on whistlers. It ended up as a 4-6 MHz IF for a VHF converter. I recall hearing USA stations on 2m via Oscar 6 and Oscar 7.
I also had an Eddystone EC10 receiver. Apart from the mechanical construction, this too was rubbish.
We have come a long way since those days. Today, you can buy a multi-mode transceiver with internal batteries covering 160m -70cm in a smaller size than the AT5! In fact, this has been available for more than 20 years!
Farm shop - NOT amateur radio
This is the view from a local farm shop. We eat at the café there occasionally.
8m experiment (Monday)
All quiet today so far, with no spots given or received.
UPDATE 2010: A quiet day. No spots given or received. Now QRT.
10m WSPR TX beacon (Monday)
All seems pretty quiet so far with just multiple spots of me by TA4/G8SCU (3010km). I think this is single hop F2 rather than Es.
UPDATE 2014z: 3 unique stations spotting me (2 in the Canaries and 1 in Turkey).
UPDATE 2030z: The Canary Is stations are still spotting me! I wonder what time this will end?
8 May 2022
Transatlantic 2m beacon stopped
EI2DKH, the Irish transatlantic 2m beacon is off air according to the EI7GL blog. This is partly due to the site and cost of electricity as well as no reports in 7 years. I have recommended the use of FT8 if the beacon is re-sited. This works with fleeting signals weaker than CW.
Simple SSB
Steve G1KQH just pointed me to this inspiring video. Thinking about simple, low cost SSB rigs for 10m, there must be some great ideas here!
6m good
Better equipped 6m stations are working some remarkable distances. There have been openings from Europe to South Africa and South America and reports of even further contacts. Although these could involve F2, the N-S QSOs are probably a combination of Es and TEP.
They don't call 6m (50MHz) the "magic band" without reason. With the right combination of propagation almost anything seems possible. Even with a very simple vertical antenna and 1W I have worked the USA on 6m QRP CW.
FT8 is an ideal mode as it is widely monitored on 50.313 MHz and works with fleeting signals much weaker than CW.
UPDATE 1948z: 6m opened to the USA this afternoon.
10m WSPR (Sunday)
My 500mW 10m TX WSPR beacon was turned on at 0830z. Nobody has spotted me yet.
UPDATE 1155z: Still no spots of me today. 13 unique spots on 10m WSPR of my QRP in the last day mostly by Es.
UPDATE 1452z: Plenty of spots from the Canary Is now.
UPDATE 1850z: 3 unique stations spotting me. It seems the Canary Is stations nearly always spot me if they are on.
Special stations? National Mills Weekend
8m experiment (Sunday)
The last couple of days have been quite good on 8m with new stations spotted and an exchange of reports with a station in Slovenia. Later this morning I will be on FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial.
UPDATE 0832z: FT8 TX (40.680 first) turned on at 0829z.
UPDATE 1125z: Just EI9KP (649km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX today. No spots of me.
South Devon - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows where I come from in South Devon. It is very beautiful.
7 May 2022
Shelley tea service - NOT amateur radio
My mother-in-law bought this bone China tea service before her wedding in 1937. There are more cups and saucers.
Free PDF book progress
Well, I think most of the text is now done. I have to reorder the pages and add photos and schematics. At the moment, it is still on target for the end of May, but I make no promises!
As I have said before, this will be a free PDF book, so anyone can have a copy. All I want to do is share my ideas and fun. If you want to print it out, that is your choice.
It will be linked from this blog and (I hope!) most major radio magazines. At least I shall send them the link. Whether or not it is used is outside of my control!
As I find mistakes or things to add, I shall create newer versions with probably the same link. This way, the link should always point to the latest version. There are bound to be mistakes or omissions. At least, this way I can readily change or add things.
DSB v. SSB
Now, I am very happy to be told I am wrong, but I think DSB rigs can be received on other DSB receivers, but it is much more tricky than receiving DSB on an SSB receiver. I have no experience of this, but a comment on a post yesterday has me thinking. The comment was made by Ken G4APB. Thanks Ken.
Clearly a simple SSB 10m transceiver (if very low cost, simple and easily copied) would be much preferable to a DSB transceiver, but I am unsure of the relative costs.
If you have experience, please let me know.
Clearly, if 2 DSB transceivers can not (easily) communicate, maybe a simple 10m DSB transceiver is not as ideal as a club project, even though most QSOs would be with SSB stations.
I wonder how inexpensive a 10m SSB transceiver can be made as a simple kit?
10m WSPR QRP TX
On 10m WSPR TX I am using my 500mW beacon. So far (at 1017z) I have been spotted by nobody!
UPDATE 1050z: One spot from Italy suggests there is Es about.
8m experiment (Saturday)
After my best day yet yesterday, I am again on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1012z: EI4GNB (445km) spotted strongly on FT8, but no spots of me.
UPDATE 1630z: 4 stations spotted here today on 8m FT8 RX with the furthermost ZS6WAB (8931km). Today has been surprisingly good. The ZS was probably a combination of TEP and Es. There are a couple of newly active 8m stations near Preston that I hope to copy.
UPDATE 2047z: Actually 5 unique stations were spotted today. GR9B near Preston was spotted on FT8 working ZS6WN, but for some reason this did not appear on PSKreporter. At -21dB S/N he was not strong so this might have been Es backscatter or tropo. Now QRT.
How the other half lives - NOT amateur radio
This photo shows a garden in Thurlestone, Devon, UK a few years ago.
"just popping down for a round of golf"
No, this is NOT mine!
6 May 2022
10m sideband
Before my stroke in 2013, I had an idea for a very simple DSB transceiver for 10m.
This was never competed, but with 10m looking good again, now is an ideal time. With just a few watts Europe should be easy and you will work DX. Don't forget antennas are small and simple and CB verticals work well.
What I envisioned was a very simple, easily copied, DSB transceiver on a single, small, PCB. These days a simple phasing SSB rig may be possible with a synthesised VFO. This would be better, but the design goals, were simple, low cost and easy.
This would make a neat club project next winter. Imagine if all builders had a simple sideband transceiver for 10m that they built! I should be more than happy for someone to design this and do a PCB. No design rights, simple...
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-simple-sideband .
Getting worse? - NOT amateur radio
Many things are better nowadays, but many things have got worse. My coats have fewer pockets, my underpants are thinner, National Trust bags are more inferior, Picasa has been "retired". You get the distinct impression that suppliers are designing to a fixed price.
Recently we bought some new cordless phones. As far as I can see these are the replacements of the ones we have. On the old ones we can assign ring tones to certain people e.g. family, friends etc... On the new ones I cannot see how to do it! This was a really useful feature as we could ignore SPAM. If it is a call from people we know, we answer. If it is someone else important, they will leave a message or ring again. If I cannot find out how to do this, they are of no use and will be returned.
What are your views?
8m experiment (Friday)
Shortly, I shall be back on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday was disappointing.
UPDATE 0917z: My FT8 TX was started at 0813z. EI9KP (649km) has spotted me and I have spotted him. This is so regular that I am suspecting aircraft reflection.
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| Stations spotting my QRP 8m FT8 |
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| Stations spotted here on 8m FT8 |
UPDATE 1502z: Reports exchanged with S50B (1220km) in Slovenia. 5 stations have been spotted on the band here today. Belgium 8m amateur operation is currently illegal, although the Belgians are considering a small amateur allocation. So far, I have been copied in 5 countries on 8m, despite my QRP system.
How many? - NOT amateur radio
This photo shows a family of ducks we saw on our walk yesterday. At first I could only see 6 ducklings, but then I spotted the 7th. Can you?
5 May 2022
Cow parsley - NOT amateur radio
We did a walk around the village earlier. We walked past this field, which has lots of cow parsley that will be at its best in a few days time.
Rally in Northern Ireland
The following rally is due to be held on Sunday May 8th. As always in these strange times, I advise checking with the organisers that it is taking place.
Sunday May 8th Lough Erne ARC Annual Rally. Contact alan.r.gault@btinternet.com .
IC-705 and FT8?
The ICOM IC-705 is a great 10W radio with many wonderful features. I love the waterfall and many of the things it has as standard.
It is regularly used on 2m and 70cm (FM and USB, but I have not used it on FT8. Instead, I have used my FT817ND on 8m and other bands for FT8. Why? With the USB lead (even choked) I get desensitisation. I believe the simple solution is to use the IC-705 with wi-fi (yes it has this too!), but I have been too lazy to set this up yet. I am sure there are YouTube videos showing how to set this up! One of my projects in the coming weeks must be to set this up.
If you can point me in the right direction this might save me time. What is the simplest and clearest please?
10m WSPR QRP TX
As the 10m antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far, spots from the Canary Is only at 0833z.
UPDATE 1355z: 3 unique stations spotting my 500mW with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km). I suspect these are all single hop F2 propagation.
8m experiment (Thursday)
At the moment (0830z), I am again on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. When we go for a walk later I shall be RX only. So far, no spots given or received.
UPDATE 1505z: After just over a month, I am already drawing some conclusions as follows:
(1) With my QRP and simple antenna I can work DX by Es, but I think TEP exchanges e.g. with South Africa are beyond me. I estimate my ERP could be 20dB down on some of the better stations.
(2) There are far fewer stations active than I was expecting. Is no-one really interested?
(3) I suspect many of those active lose interest once they know their capability. It looks like I shall have FT8 exchanges with Slovenian stations, then what?
UPDATE 1507z: Today I have spotted nobody and nobody has spotted me on 8m FT8. At this rate, especially as OFCOM wants £50 every year, I can see few being interested in the UK. What a great pity.
UPDATE 1518z: Looks like I shall go QRT on 8m TX after the Es season.
UPDATE 1607z: Now on 8m FT8 TX (first) on 40.680 USB dial.
Swallows (Barn) - NOT amateur radio
These summer migrant birds winter in South Africa. They used to arrive here in early April. They are around as my son has taken a photo, but I suspect there are fewer. It is already well into May and I have still to see one. Last year I only saw 2 the whole spring and summer! Swifts normally arrive about now.
UPDATE 1410z: We did a nice walk this morning around the village which included several stretches near water. Had there been swallows and swifts around, we would have seen them. We saw none. My impression is there are fewer even than last year, which is very sad.
Chocolate box village - NOT amateur radio
The village of Dalham is not far from us. It is a real "chocolate box" village with lots of thatched cottages.
10m operation
My favourite band of all is 10m (28 MHz). At 1.7 MHz wide, there is room for all modes. Apart from daytime in the better years of the sunspot cycle, it is unusual not to find clear frequency. Even with low power and small antennas worldwide DX is possible.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .
4 May 2022
Dayton (USA) Hamvention 2022
As far as I know this is on as a face-to-face convention later this month after a couple of dire Covid years rather getting in the way.
Often the big manufacturers announce new products here, sometimes well before release. I guess they are testing the market interest. It will be interesting to see what is announced. This is an ideal chance for Yaesu to announce a proper successor to the FT817/818 series. The recent offering (the FT818) was distinctly underwhelming! With sunspot numbers rising this is an ideal time. Or will Yaesu again "miss the boat"?
This is one of the largest amateur radio gatherings on the planet. I have never been.
See https://hamvention.org/ .
2m activity contest (UKAC)
Jay, W5OLF?
As regular readers will know, Jay', W5OLFs 10m WSPR beacon is a small stand-alone 500mW WSPR beacon that I have used for many years. It is still in use this very minute. With it, I have reached all parts of the planet.
Despite writing to Jay some days ago, I have not got a reply. Does anyone have any news please?
10m QRP WSPR TX
At the moment I am again on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far, spots from the Canary Is and Turkey.
UPDATE 1135z: Still the same stations spotting me.
Dual band antenna
This photo appeared as a Facebook memory today. It shows the 10m/6m antenna erected in 2012.
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