Peterborough lunch - NOT amateur radio

On Thursday, we went to Peterborough by coach with our village history society. The main purpose was a guided tour of the cathedral, but there was plenty of time to walk around the city and have lunch. We ate at Cote Peterborough. 

As usual we were not disappointed. I like that service charge is added to the bill so there is no messing about with tips. I hate having to add this on and wonder how much to give. This way all staff get a share.   The photo shows my starter.

QMX+ bug?

In most respects I am very pleased with my built QMX+ from QRP labs.  It represents good value for money and does "what is says on the tin" well. Mine has been used exclusively on FT8 with WSJT-X with a Windows 10 PC. 

This morning my 15m QRP FT8 was spotted in Japan. My antenna is just a Par endfed.

It works fine on all the bands I have tried, but I may have a bug! 

On FT8 RX with WSJT-X the RX audio is fine on the lower bands, but seems too low on the higher HF bands remaining in the red on WSJT-X on all bands above 15m. It is as if the RX audio on digital modes from the QMX+ is too low. Just occasionally it just makes green on 10m FT8 RX, but this seems "flaky".  

All PC settings are on maximum. I am not sure if this is adjustable inside the box or can be fixed in the firmware/software. I am hoping there is something I can do to fix this.

VHF NFD 2024

In the UK VHF NFD is this weekend. It is a pity the weather is wet here! This is a chance to work some new squares on the VHF/UHF bands up to 23cm as activity can be good.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rules/2024/VHFNFD.shtml.

UPDATE 1422z:  The impression I am getting is that activity is down.  This may be due to the poor weather in this part of the UK or just that SSB is less popular than it once was. Local noise levels are higher too.

Sunspots - Saturday July 6th

 Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 111.  A=8 and K=0.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

At 1221z, 139 stations spotted me and I spotted 137 stations using my QMX+ rig.

Stations spotting my
10m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1736z: 425 stations have spotted me and 399 stations spotted by me on 10m QRP FT8.  My QMX+ may not be perfect (yet), but the results speak for themselves!

UPDATE 1841z:  435 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today.  400 stations spotted here.

Rallies this Sunday

 It looks like this is quite a busy Sunday for UK rallies. As always, I recommend checking with organisers to check the data is correct.

• Sunday July 7th - Barford Norfolk Radio Rally, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. Contact radio@dcmicro.com.
• Sunday July 7th - British Vintage wireless Society (BVWS), Swapmeet for BVS members only, Royal Wootton Bassett.
• Sunday July 7th - Cornish Amateur Radio Club Rally, Truro TR1 1TN. Contact Ken 01209 821073.

QMX+ summary ..... so far

After owning and using my built and cased QMX+ for a few weeks , these are my initial thoughts. I don't think they are "finger trouble", but if they are my apologies to Hans!

• It is basically a very good rig.
• There are still a few bugs, which are preventing me fully enjoying it on FT8.
• Much like the QDX, I am finding the recognition of the QMX+ audio by a Windows 10 PC "flaky".
• The lack of a QMX+ manual is regrettable.

Overall, with these things corrected it represents very good value for money. Perhaps some of these things will be addressed in later firmware updates. 

Maybe, it needs more testing before release with a Windows machine and more testing in digital modes?

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

So far, 8 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon in the last 12 hours as shown in the WSPR Rocks map courtesy of Phil VK7JJ.

Sunspots - Friday July 5th

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 113. A=10 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 5 stations have spotted me.

10m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ (Thursday)

14 stations spotted me early today on QRP FT8.  The RX audio seems to be too low from the QMX+ on digital RX. Sometimes it is (just) in the green on WSJT-X but many times it is too low and still in the red. 

Overnight, I wondered if the RX audio on digital was controlled by the volume control (a good idea?), but adjusting this made no difference. It is as if the default audio setting on digital RX on built QMX+ units is too low at least on a Windows 10 PC like mine. I checked that all settings of audio on the PC were at maximum.

I could see no mention of this in the QMX manual and I think, as yet, there is no operating manual for the QMX+.

It is to be expected there would be some teething issues on early builds.

UK General Election day - NOT amateur radio

 For readers in the UK, remember that this is a General Election day on which you have a chance to elect the MP of your choice to represent you. By voting you are having your say on the future government of the UK 🇬🇧. 

If you don’t vote you will have to accept the consequences. Whatever your political views it’s important that you vote!!

Sunspots - Thursday July 4th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 182. A=5 and K=2.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My 8m 2.5W WSPR was on for a few hours this morning, but no spots. Now QRT on 8m.

Dream - NOT amateur radio

Most nights I dream but cannot remember them. Last night, just before waking, I had a dream that I remembered. I have absolutely no idea why I dreamed it! This is the essence of the dream:

We were on holiday and staying in a hotel room. Before we checked out we noticed that the bathroom bowl and a cupboard had been completely removed.

Now, this is totally bizarre as in reality we would have heard this being done. Dreams often reflect something going on in one's waking life, but I cannot think what this could be. 

Any ideas?

At the chancel door: read the words! - NOT amateur radio

This gravestone is at the door of St Edmunds church in Kingsbridge, Devon. 

It is important to read the words, not just glance at the photo.

In death wealth does not matter.

10m 500mW WSPR in the last day

My 10m WSPR beacon was re-synced to internet time a few moments ago. In the last day 7 different stations have spotted my beacon with quite a few already this morning.

UPDATE 1328z:  after a break of several hours, I am back on TX. No recent spots.

UPDATE 1700z:   10 stations have spotted me in the last day.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 3rd

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 192. A=5 and K=1.

2m activity contest this evening

After 5 QSOs with 10W SSB to my big-wheel omni, my voice had had enough, so I went QRT. 

Battling with repeating my callsign is no longer fun. In fact it is hard work. As my voice is now poor, I really struggle in SSB contests. It used to be fun whereas now it is far harder.

Servicing the gas fire - NOT amateur radio

 

Annually, we have our gas boiler and gas fire serviced. It was that time of year! 

The photo shows our gas fire being serviced.

Radio France International antennas

 These are the antennas at Radio France International. It looks like they have directional antennas so the ERP in the chosen direction must be huge.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon is on again, but no spots so far.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 is currently on. 

UPDATE 1347z:  QRT. No spots.

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

 

This was my brother last Sunday looking at the view.

European Es

According to the past, the European Es season should soon go "off the boil" and subside. 

In my experience the Es season still goes on for a while longer. I have worked Scandinavians on 6m QRP SSB as late as September.  With FT8 it should be even better.  Es can occur at any time of the year, but the peak months are in the spring and early summer.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ 

Sunspots - Tuesday July 2nd

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 192. A=6 and K =1.

An amazing resource

Recently I was reminded of this amazing resource. If you are looking for an old radio magazine, look here first. 

See

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm

Sunday lunch - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where we ate lunch yesterday in Hope Cove. I have a record of my ancestors living here in the mid 1500s so we were probably here thousands of years before then. It is probable that a distant ancestor manned the Iron Age fort in the distance.

See

https://www.hopecove.com/public/miscellaneous/webcam

8m testing this week

 Later this week I hope to continue my 8m FT8 tests and re-erect my 8m dipole.

QMX+ testing later

 When I get home I expect my USB-C lead will have come. At some point early this week I hope to do more tests with the QMX+ rig.

Travelling home- NOT amateur radio

After a few days in Devon with my brother I travel home later. It has been a good few days with weather I could not improve on - sunny and warm and not humid.

Sunspots - Monday July 1st

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 199. A=11 and K=1.

With my brother in Devon - NOT amateur radio

 

This was me with my brother in Devon earlier.

Move to the right? - NOT amateur radio

 Looking at mainland Europe, it seems there is a move to the right politically. Many right wing politicians reflect a view that is shared by many. 

In the UK 🇬🇧 we seem to be moving to the left having had a right of centre party in power for 14 years.

What is this?

 

This was seen at Friedrichshafen and puzzled many.

500uW 10m WSPR tests

 As you may recall I ran some 500uW WSPR tests this Es season, but was expecting better results. When Es is good signals  can be strong so I was expecting plenty of spots.At 10mW I had few issues whereas at 500uW just a few spots. Maybe at this power I was below the local noise floor? Also, there may be fewer monitors on 10m WSPR these days as FT8 is a QSO mode.

Overall a worthwhile experiment even if the results were unexpected.

Village fete - NOT amateur radio

 Yesterday the weather was perfect for my brother’s village fete. The photo shows the driveway up to the place where the fete was held.

Sunspots - Sunday June 30th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 205. A=14 and K=2.

Rest from amateur radio

As I am with my brother in Devon for a few days, I cannot operate. How nice!!

Seen recently -NOT amateur radio

 This was seen recently. As we have elections soon in the UK, France and USA it seems appropriate. Our government is there to serve US and not them.

School view - NOT amateur radio

 

This was the view from my junior school in Salcombe. At the time we just took it for granted not knowing it was one of the best views in England.

Friedrichshafen

This is the biggest amateur radio gathering in Europe and it is on this weekend. Many from across Europe attend and make it a sort of pilgrimage.

Sunspots - Saturday June 29th

 Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 162. A=59 and K=2.

Bedroom view - NOT amateur radio

 

This is the view from the bedroom window at my brother’s cottage in Devon.

Sunspots- Friday June 28th

 Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 146 . A=9 and K=4.

Devon golf - NOT amateur radio

My brother plays golf ⛳️ in South Devon several times a week. The views are amazing.

Sunspots - Thursday June 27th

 Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 135.  A=9 and K=2.

8m TX permit

 Just got this from OFCOM......

Hi @Roger Lapthorn,

I’m afraid we can’t make any changes to the application.

We simply go of the dates provided in the application – You can of course apply again in the new year if you need more time for your project.

...and of course pay another £50!! Need I say more? Brain? Think? I am left feeling they really are stupid or brain dead.

Just to do experimentation? In the past they would just have issued an NoV to my amateur licence for free!! Meanwhile 2 MHz of VHF spectrum is available for radio amateurs by NoV. I am asking for just a few kilohertz at low power. I cannot contain my anger!

QMX+ cures

In the time I am away, I have ordered another USB-C to USB data lead as Ken's cure (suggested in a comment yesterday) did not work. 

To rule out the possibility of a lead problem, I shall replace the lead. This will have to wait until next week before I can try this.

Devon tomorrow - NOT amateur radio

All being well, I hope to travel to South Devon tomorrow by train to see my brother. My wife is staying here. I am coming back on Monday. 

This will mean fewer posts on this blog and means I cannot be on the radio.