Echolink

As I have a new phone, the Echolink app was installed. The last time tried was about a year ago. The repeaters were very quiet and I gave up. If anything, they are even quieter!   

It is worth trying again later, but this tells me something.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 My 2.5W 40.680 MHz FT8 was turned on at about 0919z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1008z: Spotted by SR4BBX (1217km).

UPDATE 1129z: 4 spots of me on 8m FT8 by Europeans. Es?

UPDATE 1209z:  One 8m FT8 exchange with 9A.

UPDATE 1444z:  Now spotted by 5 European stations and I have spotted 3.

UPDATE 1524z: Now spotted by 6 stations with G4WSZ (12km) spotting me.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My WSPR beacon was turned on about 0919z. Already spotted in the Canary Is.. The table shows the spots of me at 0935z. These look like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1146z:  25 stations spotting me. Some Es about?

Sunspots - Tuesday November 7th 2023

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 67. A=40 and K=4.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Disappointed as spotted by only 7 stations. I am no expert but wondering if MF conditions are worse when there is an aurora?

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W FT8 TX to a dipole has been on for about 20 minutes. Already spotted by HI0SDR(7062km) and other stations.

I was puzzled why my SWR had gone up to over 3:1. I removed the SWR bridge completely and the SWR shown on the rig was very low. It was the SWR bridge!!

UPDATE 1649z:   My best day ever on 8m QRP FT8. Spotted by 7 stations and 2 QSOs, one of which was PJ4MM (483km) in Bonaire, Caribbean. Not bad for 2.5W and a dipole on 8m.

Quince jelly - NOT amateur radio

On a walk around the village last week we chanced upon these quinces which were free. I think some quince jelly is called for! I have never tried eating (or making) this.

See https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/quince-jelly.

UPDATE 0930z Tuesday:  2 jars made, but they are not set. Adding more sugar and boiling again.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

 Accidentally, I left my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on overnight. There were no spots through the night, but this morning I have been spotted by 15 stations.

UPDATE 1510z: Spotted by 50 stations today.

UPDATE 1620z:  55 stations have spotted me today.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 In all, 13 stations spotted me overnight.

Our village - NOT amateur radio

 This is our village. The population has almost doubled since we moved here in 1975, but it still has a village feel.

Sunspots - Monday November 6th 2023

Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 81. A =57 and K=4.

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

At 1615z, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on. This is earlier than normal. So far, 3 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1752z:  5 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1930z:   10 spots of me so far this evening.

UPDATE 1942z: The map shows the stations that have spotted me in the last 12 hours.

Justification for a small 8m amateur allocation

When conditions are good, DX may be possible even as high as 6m. When conditions are more marginal, the MUF may go as high as 41 MHz, but no higher. This is true of F2 and Es.

A tiny (narrow digital only) allocation at 8m would enable us to see how often the MUF reached 8m. This is especially valuable research around sunspot maximum. 

It seems odd to me that some administrations seem dead set against such a tiny allocation. Just 5 kHz of spectrum at low ERP would be all that is necessary.

If you can persuade your administration to consider this, this would be a step in the right direction.

QRSS software?

QRSS receive is not something I have tried. I am wondering what the best software I should use? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Solar cycles

One of the best places for solar data is https://www.solen.info/solar/. There are others too, but this is the site I usually go to. It is updated pretty often too.

Good HF conditions

My main HF band is 10m. I mostly go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. At the moment conditions on 10m seem to be good. I suspect all the higher HF bands are good too. We have (maybe) just passed the solar maximum. Conditions may not be this good again for a while, although I hope to be around for the peak of solar cycle 26!

2200m RX?

 It occurs to me that my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground should work well on 2200m RX. Apart from my CW/QRSS beacon, I have no means of TXing. Looking at the WSPRnet, it would appear there is very low WSPR activity on the band in Europe. 

This begs several questions. 

*  Should I try monitoring the band?
*  What time in the UK is best?
*  What mode?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0930z. Already a couple of F2 spots.

UPDATE 1000z:  Already spotted by 6 stations.

UPDATE 1222z: So far today, spotted by 18 stations .

UPDATE 1952z:  Spotted by 28 stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on about 0930z. No reports yet.  It looks, to me, as if there are more monitors on 8m in Europe.

UPDATE 1430z:  4X1BG (3532km) has been a big signal on 8m FT8 this afternoon.

Brain filters? - NOT amateur radio

Recently, I have had some thoughts about the brain. 

In recent years, possibly as a result of my 2013 stroke, I have become very fearful of driving. In the early years after my stroke this was not an issue. It is as if my brain has to work far, far, harder assessing potential risks.  Touch wood, I have never had an accident.

I wonder if normal brains have a filter to allow information to be processed without overload? Perhaps this does not work properly in people with dyslexia or certain brain injuries? Maybe this changes with age?

Certainly, most people are able to block out certain traumatic events. If we worried about everything, life would be incredibly hard.

Sunspots - Sunday November 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 95.  A=14 and K=2.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

12 stations spotted me overnight with the furthermost Norway.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

At about 1845z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Two stations spotting me so far. Both were G stations.

UPDATE 2224z:  7 stations have spotted me so far this evening (see table).

Evil - NOT amateur radio

One thing history teaches us - we never learn from history!  

Shortly after WW1 we were fighting in WW2. At the moment, there are 2 major conflicts in the world. All these conflicts have their roots in injustice. It pains me that humans seem incapable of living peacefully with others. Inevitably this hate boils over.

Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that human beings are evil. At one time, I thought we were all good at heart. Recent events make me doubt this.

Pampas Grass - NOT amateur radio

 

Some of our neighbours have some very successful clumps of pampas grass. At our old house I was very unsuccessful, although I have never tried growing it here. I guess the soil is different. Maybe I should give it a try next year?

Elecraft KH1 transceiver

This was designed with POTA operation in mind. At the time of writing, it does not have CE approval. At the moment, it is mainly aimed at the USA market. 

Certainly it is expensive, all though I expect it will sell well in the USA.

See https://qrper.com/2023/10/the-elecraft-kh1-has-arrived-a-few-photos/?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

 My beacon was turned on about 1005z. Just a single spot from OH8GKP (1994km). I think this is F2.

UPDATE 1211z: 16 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1930z:  53 stations have spotted me today (see table).    Now QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 1005z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1350z:  WW1L (4976km) has spotted me.

UPDATE 1538z:  3 transatlantic stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 today. I guess we must be at the peak of F2 conditions at the moment.

Cricket? - NOT amateur radio

This appeared as a FaceBook memory this week. I think it was a cricket. It was on the front window a few years ago.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 12 different stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight as the table shows.

Sunspots - Saturday November 4th 2023

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 106. A=4 and K=3.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon, we went for a walk around the village. There are definite signs of autumn now with leaves falling and a distinct chill in the air.

630m QRP WSPR

My 630m 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1825z.

UPDATE 2221z:   6 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

The downward slope?

In my view, HF conditions will remain good for several years yet. In the end, we will inevitably be on the downward slope to the next solar minimum. Although some way off still, this could be an interesting time. 

FT8 will prove really interesting on bands like 10m. It will be the first real test of FT8 on the declining slope of a sunspot cycle. On the last downward slope, FT8 was still new, whereas now it is commonplace. I hope more people will stick with 10m FT8 in the quieter years.

FT8 works with very weak signals and these do not have to be there very long. I suspect (especially on N-S paths) that the band will be "open" far more often than people thought.

An advantage of FT8 is that only a small chunk of band is needed and it is well monitored. FT8 rigs can be very low cost and not tie up the "big rig". It can remain on in the shack at all times. Even just QRP is needed. Remember also that Es can be good at any part of the solar cycle, usually best in the spring and summer.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My QRP TX has been on for about a couple of hours. Several stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1733z:  54 stations have spotted me.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W FT8 has been spotted in South Africa and the Caribbean . ZR1ADI called me, but we were unable to make it 2-way.

UPDATE 1354z:  3 stations have spotted my QRP 8m FT8 today. Good F2 conditions. Also now spotted in the USA.

UPDATE 1806z: 4 stations spotted my 2.5W today on 8m FT8. Soon to QSY to 630m QRP WSPR.

Friday plans

Shortly, I hope to turn on my 10m 500mW WSPR TX beacon and my 8m 2.5W FT8. Tonight, I shall probably try 630m QRP WSPR. 

“Our “ windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

Several times I have mentioned that we live next door to a 200 year old, fully restored, windmill.

In the photo, ours is the house on the right.

Sunspots - Friday November 3rd 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 113. A=7 and K=1.

Night off

 In recent weeks I have been on 630m QRP WSPR overnight . I have decided to have a night off.

Free lunchtime concerts - NOT amateur radio

In Cambridge, we are very lucky. Most Tuesdays we go to a free concert at the West Road Music School. 

The programme is quite varied and can be anything from a classical quintet to jazz.

8m 2.5W FT8 (Thursday)

 Since lunchtime, I have been on 8m FT8. So far, spotted by G4WSZ (12km).

UPDATE 1608z: There are lots of people monitoring.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

Since after breakfast, I have been on 10m QRP WSPR TX. 62 stations have spotted me so far (see table). 

Yet again I have been spotted in Antarctica. 

Rallies this weekend

The following rallies at the weekend have been notified to me. It is always advisable to check first before travelling far.

Saturday November 4th - Carmarthen ARS Surplus Equipment Sale, SA33 6XN. Contact g0jlx@gmail.com.

Sunday November 5th - Bushvalley ARC Rally,, BT49 0DF. Contact bushvalleyarc@gmail.com.

Sunday November 5th - Holsworthy Radio Rally, EX22 6DH. See m0omc.co.uk for more information.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 12 stations spotted me. OH1LSQ (1733km) spotted me 4 times! Certainly, I have enjoyed  my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground this autumn.

Remote beauty - NOT amateur radio

Remote places have a beauty all of their own. This photo from the Shetland Islands was recently posted by a friend up there.

Solar peak (cycle 25)

The month with the highest solar flux and sunspot number is ahead of the peak of the solar cycle with averaging. It looks like the averaged peak is this month. Whatever, we are likely to see good HF conditions still for several years.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots - Thursday November 2nd 2023

 Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 105. A=9 and K=2.

630m 10mW ERP overnight

 

Overnight, I was spotted by 18 different stations on QRP WSPR including OH1LSQ (1733km) again.

8m 2.5W FT8 (Wednesday)

Just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me so far today.

UPDATE 1733z: 4 stations have spotted me including 2 transatlantic stations.