10m 500mW WSPR TX

 Although my 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast, no reports have been received.

UPDATE 1257z:  No spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am quite surprised.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 

Stations spotting me
on 6m FT8 today

My 6m QRP FT8 is on. So far, 19 stations have spotted me. See map.  This looks like Es.

UPDATE 1026z: Spotted by 29 stations. One QSO was with an Italian.

Stations spotted here
today on 6m FT8

UPDATE 1251z:  130 stations spotted here on 6m FT8 today.

UPDATE 2109z:   44 stations have spotted me.

Monday plans

 At the moment I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR.

I can’t imagine European Es being as good as yesterday.

Sunspots - July 29th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 189. A=7 and K=2.

8m permanent allocations?

A few administrations have made an allocation to radio amateurs (the progressive ones?).  At the last count I think this was 6 administrations. Many more have allowed operation at around 8m outside the amateur radio service.

I hope many more come to their senses soon. As I have said many, many times, just 5kHz, narrow digital only, and QRP power amateur radio allocation would be a start and allow research. 

Why do radio amateurs in some countries have to pay to do research?

Am I alone in thinking the negative attitude of some PTTs is encouraging law breaking?  At least with licenced radio amateurs traceability is easy.  With my current T&I call I don't have to use a callsign or give my location, so traceability is non-existent. Talk about stupidity!!

A limited time (2 years around the sunspot peak?) amateur radio allocation at 8m with a strictly non-interference clause, with the limitations shown above, would surely cause no harm.

QMX/QMX+ firmware update

Steve G1KQH has informed me that there is a firmware update. As the changes do not really impact me, I shall not update my firmware this time. The upgrade does not add SSB.  Had it done so, I definitely would have upgraded!

European Es (Sunday)

 Es activity in Europe is holding up, at least on FT8. 

Opinions vary over the length of the Es "season" in Europe, but certainly May, June and July can be good. Others think the season goes on to September. 

In my experience it peaks in the late spring and early summer. Indeed, Es will be there at all times of year, but the intensity and frequency go down. 

I suspect FT8 and FT4 will show that 10m, 6m and 4m are open on Es paths far more often than we think. It is for this reason that I hope people will stick with FT8/4  on these bands. We have so much to learn.

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

8m QRP FT8 TX (Sunday)

My QRP 8m FT8  TX is currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Hoping for reports and QSOs. 

UPDATE 1124z:  No spots on 8m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1508z:  As I was out most of the afternoon, I was on 8m FT8 RX only. Only spotted 1 station CT1END (1676km).

UPDATE 1513z:  On 8m QRP FT8 TX again.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to be on 6m QRP FT8 with my V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 0936z:  6m QRP FT8 on. Spotted by 34 stations mostly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. See map. I think this is Es, so I am now on 8m QRP FT8.

Cow Tower, Norwich - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, Norwich is a fine city. Cow Tower (shown in the photo) was built at the end of the 1300s as part of Norwich’s defence’s.

See https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cow-tower-norwich/ .

Amateur radio?

We have to be grateful for "big" stations with "big" antennas, who sometimes hear us when others might not. 

However, this is not my idea of amateur radio fun. I prefer to see how far my QRP signals reach with very modest, low, antennas. 

Each to their own.

Sunspots - July 28th

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 178. A=13 and K=1.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today, we took the train to Norwich. It is a very fine city with a fine cathedral shown in the photo.

472kHz transverter

The photo shows me testing my 472kHz (630m) transverter in the back of the garage at the old QTH. Later it featured in a QST article. It is still used now producing about 10W into a 50 ohm load and about 10mW ERP with my earth-electrode “antenna “ in the ground.

Sunspots - July 27th

Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 181. A=23 and K=2.

OFCOM publications

A reminder that OFCOM publishes a number of publications on a number of subjects that may be of interest to radio amateurs. See the OFCOM website.

In a Cambridge shop window - NOT amateur radio

This was in a shop window in Cambridge today. It was a colourful painting in the Grand Arcade.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

15 stations have already spotted my QRP 6m FT8 at 0827z.  Many appear to be Es.

UPDATE 1544z:  119 stations have spotted me today. See map. On RX the furthermost was a station in the Gulf A71VV (5190km).

Sunspots- Friday July 26th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 171. A=9 and K=4.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

At  about 1805z I QSYed to 6m FT8 from 10m.

UPDATE 1715z:  6 stations have spotted me with furthermost S58P (1247km).

Cartoon - NOT amateur radio

 

This was shared to me by Steve G1KQH.

Rally this Sunday

 The following has been notified to me. I always advise checking the information is correct.

Sunday July 28th - Wiltshire Radio Summer Rally. Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ.  Contact  Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club .

Punting on the River Cam - NOT amateur radio

 

A few days ago we went punting on the River Cam in Cambridge as a family.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My QRP 10m FT8 was turned on around 0845z. 

So far, 8 stations have spotted me with the furthermost V51MA (8640km). 

UPDATE 1545z:  My QRP 10m FT8 has been spotted by 105 stations. Most are in Europe, 1 in Africa, 2 in South America and 4 in Asia. See map of stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1800z:  115 spots of me on 10m QRP FT8 today.

FT8 on CB

 At the moment there are very few monitors on the CB FT8 frequency and nothing has been spotted, so I am about to stop monitoring.

Sunspots - Thursday July 25th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 160. A=6 and K=1.

FT8 on CB

Apparently there is a group of enthusiasts using FT8 on 27.265MHz CB. I have not monitored this but might well try soon. My endfed Par antenna works well on 11m.

630m QRP WSPR tonight?

It is very unusual for me to try 630m QRP WSPR at this time of year. Assuming things work, I might well give it a try this evening. 

The noise floor will be higher at this time of the year on MF and that might mask my QRPP signal. It's an experiment, so the worst is nobody spots me! 

I wonder if people have moved to different modes on 630m and I should try a different mode?

UPDATE 2030z:  Initial tests were not successful. It is probably something dead simple, so I shall try and find out what is wrong tomorrow.

European Es (Wednesday)

The European Es season is drawing to a close until next spring, although there is a far smaller peak around New Year. I do not know why this happens. This is another Es puzzle (to me at least). 

There have been some (probable) Es openings today, although we can expect fewer Es openings than earlier in the spring/summer. As I have mentioned before Es can occur at any time.

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

8m FSW4-300 RX tests

G0KTN is doing some tests using this slow mode (5 minute transmissions) on 8m. 

Although I do not have my usual 8m dipole up, I am trying to RX Trevor on the endfed used for my FT8 EA 8m QSOs recently. Unlike the EA stations, this would be by tropo. Theoretically this mode is about 6dB better than WSPR2. His station is on from 0800-2000z. 

Worth a try!

It's funny how reports and QSOs are easier with more distant stations on FT8 than on more local stations on WSPR and FSW4-300.

UPDATE 2036z:   G0KTN not copied sadly.

53rd wedding anniversary - NOT amateur radio

Today is our 53rd wedding anniversary. 

In all this time we have never exchanged cards or gifts, preferring to celebrate when we met in 1968. 

What are the secrets of a long marriage? Tolerance and acceptance of each other's quirks. We have been lucky.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon is on this morning. So far, 4 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 

It is very pleasing that activity on 6m FT8 is still good. I suspect most are Es. See the map showing where my QRP FT8 has been spotted this morning.

At the moment solar activity is good although Es is (as far as I know) unrelated to solar activity. I can certainly recall very good Es conditions at all times in the solar cycle.

I am still sure there is a lot to learn about E layer propagation. For example:

• Those long Es openings to the Far East from Europe on 6m every early summer (Mesospheric clouds?).
• An apparent uptick in Scandinavian Es late in the season.
• Long path openings on 6m E layer. Is this some sort of chordal hop?

UPDATE 1355z:  QRT at the moment. 40 spots of me today.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 24th

 Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 167. A=5 and K=1.

OFCOM Consultation

 Just got this from OFCOM......

"Ofcom is today launching a review of the annual licence fees we charge mobile network operators for use of three mobile spectrum bands (900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz).

Annual licence fees (ALFs) are fees we charge mobile network operators to use certain spectrum bands. They typically come into effect after a mobile operator’s licence won at auction has come to the end of the initial licence period. The fees are designed to ensure that the spectrum is used efficiently. We currently charge ALFs for three mobile spectrum bands (900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz).

On 28 March 2024, BT wrote to Ofcom to request a review of the ALFs we charge for 1800 MHz spectrum. We have now considered BT’s request, and we consider that the evidence suggests that a fee review is justified. As a result of the commonalities in the formula we use to set ALFs, we have decided to begin a review of all of the ALFs we currently charge (that is, ALFs for 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz spectrum).

We expect to consult on our initial findings by the end of this calendar year. We welcome any additional evidence which stakeholders consider would assist us in this review."

From a different angle

We usually see King's from a footpath, but today we saw it from a punt. We took our two sons and their children.

Granddaughter with world famous ballerina - NOT amateur radio

On Sunday, one of our granddaughters (who is ballet mad)  met the famous ballerina Darcey Bussell.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcey_Bussell .

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 

My QRP FT8 on 6m is on. So far, 31 spots of me. I am not sure if this is Es or F2 propagation. 

On 6m FT8 RX 8 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1748z:  39 stations have spotted me today.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon is on 10m with 2 stations spotting me. These are a local G4KPX (14km) and a station in Portugal CT2IWW (1383km).

Grasshopper- NOT amateur radio

This is a common grasshopper seen in the UK.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 23rd

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 173. A==9 and K=1.

Lavender - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year lavender is plentiful. A lesson taught to me was 888 meaning 8th month, 8th day, 8 inches, which is meant to be when and how to prune them.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for about 15 minutes at 0936z.  No spots. 

UPDATE 1000z: Spotted by local G4KPX (14km) and OZ7IT (853km) multiple times.

UPDATE 1309z:  YO2MAX (1802km) has spotted me. F2?

UPDATE 1917z:   5 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 2131z:  12 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 6m QRP FT8 has been on for about 10 minutes at 0933z. Just 4 English stations have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1142z:  21 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost IT9TYR (1948km) probably Es. The impression is Es is less frequent. It still occurs but not as commonly as a month ago.Although less sensitive than WSPR I think FT8 can be more successful as the TX period is just 15 seconds as opposed to 120 seconds for WSPR2 so very brief openings are caught. There may now be more people monitoring FT8 than WSPR. 

UPDATE 1322z: 30 stations spotted today. See map.

UPDATE 2115z:  146 stations spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today when I was using the QMX+.

European Es

At about 0900z, there is some Es in Europe confined to the central area in the main.

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

Plans for Monday

 In a few moments I shall probably try QRP 6m FT8  with the QMX+ and 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon.

Not my idea of amateur radio

It is a good thing we are all different and find something different to enjoy in our hobby. Some enjoy chasing new countries where lots of power, a tower and a beam helps. Some like satellites, some EME, some amateur television, some just like a chat, etc..

In my case it is seeing where my QRP signal reaches with simple antennas. Each to their own. It would be a sadder place if we were all the same. I hope we can all continue to enjoy our hobby in our own way.

Sunspots- Monday July 22nd

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 200. A=9 and K=2.

Joe Biden drops out of US presidential election - NOT amateur radio

As I mentioned some days ago,  I do not understand the USA. Apparently Joe Biden has dropped out of the race against Donald Trump. He had been asked to stand down by several in his party. On balance, I think he has done the right thing.

He has put his support behind his vice-president Kamala Harris.

Dalham walk - NOT amateur radio

Today, we had a rare sight this summer - sun!  We went for a walk at nearby Dalham with our son and grandson.