70cm UKAC this evening (5W QRP)

70cms 5W QSOs this evening from home  
- best DX 105km

After less than an hour I had to stop to save my poor voice from further strain.

I worked 8 stations in 3 grid squares before I HAD to stop. I heard a station in IO81 but failed to work him as my beam (5el hand rotated) was way off.  Best DX was just 105km. Had I managed to stay in the contest longer, then I am sure more QSOs would be in the log. My normal 70cms range seems to be up to about 200km.

Conditions seemed poor and activity was lower than in the summer. I guess better weather brings out more portable stations. Most stations worked were fixed i.e at home or on club premises.   At this time of the year people prefer to stay home.  I cannot blame them!

Last USA spot this evening

WG2Z (5600km) seems to have been the last station in North America to spot my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon at 1716z. Since then, just local G4IKZ (18km) has been spotting me. I am very impressed with Jay's little beacon - it works very well.

UPDATE 1900z:   Went QRT on 10m WSPR at about 1900z as all DX seems to have stopped now.

70cms UKAC this evening

2000z to 2230z this evening (Nov 11th) is the next 70cms UK activity contest. Although my voice is poor, I shall try to come on for about an hour this evening. Contacts out to around 200km seem to be possible from the home QTH using 5W SSB and my hand-rotated 5 element beam. As it is now cold and dark and autumn, I suspect there may be less activity?   Activity is usually good with plenty of stations to work.

This is a very friendly sort of contest: just reports, serial numbers and QTH locators exchanged.   I only enter contests for fun, never to win, especially with my low power! If you can, come on 70cm SSB this evening.  Your presence would be welcomed warmly.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/ for dates and times of all UKAC sessions.  These are excellent sessions.

Using the W5OLF 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today

W5OLF WSPR beacon - complete - no PC needed

This WSPR-AXE really is a very impressive little rig, in my case for 10m WSPR.  Because of my current disabled state -  I find all electronics building just about impossible - Jay very kindly sold me a built unit to evaluate. Results in just a few hours of operating have been truly impressive. No PC is needed as long as the push button is pressed at the start of an even minute. Jay says it stays stable for weeks thereafter. I ran mine for 3.5 hours and got masses of decodes. After lunch it has been getting LOTS of spots from the USA. I am sure it will reach Australia soon.

The unit needs about 15 minutes to frequency stabilise and is always on (the PA can be turned off), but it randomises the slots within the WSPR transmit window. This means it is unlikely to be "clobbered" by more powerful stations or cause others co-channel issues. 500mW seems plenty. In a word - BRILLIANT.

Best DX report (so far) today is FR1GZ (9724km).

10m WSPR - unique spots with the W5OLF beacon today, arranged by distance

If you want to buy one Jay W5OLF may be contacted on w5olf@comcast.net .

Sunspots - Nov 11th

Sunspot number has dropped to 68 and 10m daytime propagation is "fair". 10m is open to the USA again from here with my first USA spot (with 500mW) being at 1206z from WG2Z (5600km).

UPDATE 1510z:   Best DX report today (so far) is from K9AN (6505km).

Sunspots

Sunspot count today is 78 and 10m daytime propagation is forecast to be "fair".  Already by F2, 4X1RF is copying my 500mW 10m WSPR well and Karen RA3APW's 100mW Moscow 10m WSPR beacon is being copied here well.

Amateur radio on Wikipedia

For the current Wikipedia "take" on amateur radio take a look at this link below.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio .

472kHz WSPR

Since just before 1800z I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR using my 5mW ERP from my indifferent "strapped feeder" antenna.  Best DX spot so far this evening is by PA0RDT (243km) at 1900z although I expect better later.

UPDATE 2248z: The best spot, so far, of my 5mW ERP is by G3XKR (347km) in IO70ux square in North Devon.

Australia on 10m WSPR - 500mW

Just before lunch time VK5MR (16144km) managed to copy my 10m QRP (500mW) WSPR at -21dB S/N implying he might just have copied me at 50mW ERP.

Again, the band was wide open to the USA after lunch. The first USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR was W3CSW at 1206z.

Last USA spot of me looks like it was N2BJW (5262km) at 1724z. Since then just locals spotting me.   I have now moved to MF with 5mW ERP.

Sunspots

Sunspot number is 92 today and 10m propagation expected to be "fair" although based on recent days that seems to suggest F2 propagation should be expected.

UPDATE 1900z:   It turned out to be an excellent day on 10m with lots of USA spots and a very decent spot of my 500mW from Australia. 10m is still at its best.

10m WSPR - results overnight

G0LRD (25km) running 50mW was coming through all night. At around 0630z UA6AAK (2780km) started to come through by F2.

10m WSPR overnight

Rather than QSY to MF I have decided to stick with 10m overnight tonight. Just G4IKZ spotting my 500mW since tea time, but it will be interesting to see who I spot first in the early hours and who spots my 500mW outsie of the UK. I have a good idea who this might be!

10m WSPR - 500mW from FT817, some good DX

KZ8C (6290km) was the first to spot my 500mW in the USA today. So far, 8 spots with 500mW from all over Europe, Asia and now the USA again. There were more at 2W this morning before I dropped down to 500mW. Some recent USA reports suggest much lower power would still have resulted in spots from the USA. 10m WSPR - unique spots to 1334z with 500mW UPDATE 1404z: Who needs high power?  Just been spotted on 10m WSPR by CE4RWS (11974km) when I was using 500mW. UPDATE 1623z: TI3/AB4AW (8752km) has recently been spotting my 500mW. UPDATE 1743z:  My 500mW is now being spotted in Canada and in Nuuk in W.Greenland.  500mW seems quite enough on 10m WSPR most of the time. UPDATE 1810z:  K1PLL (5367km) - nice call - has spotted my 500mW several times and, for now, looks like being the last to spot me today from the USA. UPDATE 1938z:  The last spot by a USA station was indeed K1PLL at 1758z and my last spots of US stations were of K1PLL and KZ3X at 1804z. Since then, just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me now.

10m WSPR - 2W ERP

After recent total disappointments on 6m - total blanks after 5 days attempts - I have returned to 10m WSPR at 2W ERP from my Par antenna. So far, results both given and received, are encouraging.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 96 and 10m daytime propagation is forecast to be "fair".

I am already copying RA3APW's 100mW WSPR beacon from Moscow, HS0ZKM (9485km) is also coming through via F2 on 10m WSPR. There are lots of Europeans coming through on 10m WSPR.

QSY down to 472kHz

At 2020z I QSYed back down to 472kHz WSPR and was immediately exchanging spots despite running just 5mW ERP from a very indifferent antenna and ground system.

472kHz is a most interesting band and I urge more people to give it a try, even if just on receive initially. Here, the FT817 is used directly on RX and certainly hears stations right across Europe.  I am able to hear from LA to I to EA and right across the continent between.

UPDATE 2045z:  M0PPP is putting in a massive -2dB S/N 472kHz WSPR signal currently. G8VDQ (93km) is a new station in the last 2 weeks copied here this evening.

472kHz spots so far this evening (to 2052z)

Trying 6m WSPR again today

Well, I must be a masochist! I am yet again trying 6m WSPR in the hope of some GDX, Europeans or even some TEP. As yet, nothing at all - dead.  I am using 30dBm ERP from my vertical V2000 VHF/UHF antenna.

UPDATE 1130z:  So far on 6m it has been totally dead with not the slightest hint of signals - no MS pings, no aircraft Doppler from possible GDX - absolutely nothing seen at a.ll.  It looks as if today will be as bad as the other recent days when I tried 6m WSPR. A pity, but I'll keep trying.

UPDATE 1404z:  Still absolutely nothing at all on 6m WSPR.  I'll keep going for this afternoon, but I really am getting nowhere on the band.  It suggests the Europeans on 10m are probably F layer backscatter otherwise I might have expected some Europeans on 6m Es too.There are no stations at all copyable on 6m.

UPDATE 1635z:  6m still absolutely DEAD here still.  Will continue to try until after tea time.

UPDATE 1715z:  I have (reluctantly) concluded, again, that out of season 6m WSPR is a total waste of time. Today is the 5th day in recent weeks I have tried and not a single station has been seen on the screen (even those not decoding ) or spotted me. I think it is time to call it a day on 6m WSPR. Tomorrow iI shal try on a different band.

UPDATE 1930z:   That's it then.  After 5 DAYS of trying on 6m WSPR I am now going QRT as I have been spotted by no-one and no-one has spotted me. It was a dead loss and total wasted effort. QSYing shortly to MF.

Kempton Park Rally

Sunday 9 NOVEMBER : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. TI, free CP, OT 9.50/10am. TS, FM, B&B, SIG, C, DF, WIN, LEC. Paul, M0CJX, 08451 650 351, info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.

Distance from Cambridge : 75 miles
Estimated Journey Time  : 1 hour 40 mins

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots today

The sunspot number today is 107 and 10m daytime conditions are forecast to be "fair".  If recent days are typical, this means 10m should be good for some F2 propagation, including North America after lunch.

MLS are moving

From Steve G1KQH comes news of the up-coming move by Martin Lynch and Sons to new, and larger, premises in the New Year. I dealt with MLS earlier in the year and found them very helpful.

Martin Lynch & Sons to move premises early in the new year.

Join then at the Farewell to Chertsey party:

http://www.hamradio.co.uk/hogroast.php

Last spots of my 10m WSPR at 50mW in the USA

KU4QI (6406km) was the last to spot me today at 1648z. Since then, just local G4IKZ (18km) has been spotting me.

I think it is time to QSY to MF (472kHz) WSPR for the night.

UPDATE 2036z: have now QSYed to 472kHz WSPR.  DK7FC (669km) is, as always, putting in a very decent signal here. Just G0LRD (25km) spotting my 5mW ERP so far.

UPDATE 2200z:  8 unique stations seen so far on 472kHz WSPR this evening so far.  Several have been spotted many times.

Unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR so far this evening

W5OLF WSPR kit

Jay has been working on new versions of his little WSPR beacons. All being well I should receive a 10m 500mW out version in the next few weeks.

Jay is writing the manual(s) and has asked me for my feedback, which I shall, of course, provide. The new version is a single board (again) but transmits continuously, randomising the TX frequency on each TX burst to minimise interference to/from others. It needs several minutes to thermally stabilise but uses the uP to generate everything needed such as the WSPR tones, so no PC is needed. The transmission is started manually on the start of an even minute with a push button. The PA can be separately enabled.

This should be fun. I'll give more information when it arrives and I get a chance to try it on the air.

Plenty of stateside 10m WSPR spots at 50mW

I think the 10m band has now closed here for the day to the USA with 50mW on WSPR. In the end,  there were plenty of USA spots at this power level. As I said yesterday, 500mW will seem like high power! 28 spots (if I counted right) since 1150z and I was only on 20% or less TX.

Tomorrow, I may try a different band completely for a change.

Inspecting antennas - by radio controlled quadcopter!

Some years ago I went to a BBQ where someone had a wi-fi controlled quadcopter remotely controlled from an iPad. It was very impressive with its on-board cameras for navigation and filming what was happening down below.

I see AE5X has a video showing the inspection of his antennas (from above) using one of these. My antenna farm is trivial by comparison and can be pretty well examined at ground level.

See http://www.ae5x.com/blog/various/youtube-de-ae5x/ .

First 10m WSPR 50mW stateside reports today

At 1312z, W3CSW (5886km) and WG2Z (5600km) were the first USA stations to spot my 50mW WSPR signal today, at -26dB S/N and -21dB S/N respectively.  Others are now following. KB9AMG (6300km) has spotted me twice now. At the moment there seem to be fewer USA spots with my 50mW on 10m WSPR than yesterday? Early in the day I guess. Things may change.

UPDATE 1536z: W3CSW is now copying my 50mW 10m WSPR at -19dB S/N, implying he would probably copy me on 5mW or even less if his noise floor is low.

Sunspots

Sunspot number today is 113 and 10m daytime propagation is forecast to be "fair". Still VK5MR (16144km) audible despite the 10dB pad in my antenna lead is OK. He runs 5W. He has already copied G0LRD's 50mW 10m WSPR beacon.

10m WSPR 50mW

VK5MR (16144km) was still being copied on 10m WSPR this morning despite the 10dB pad in my antenna lead.

So far, the first USA station copied here was W3CSW (5886km) at 1220z.

Best DX spots of my 50mW on 10m WSPR this morning came from LZ1OI (2153km), CT1JTQ (1843km) and UR/SWL56 (2283km). Generally, running very low power results in fewer reports but not really fewer reporters. The active stations get you weaker and less often.

10 USA reports running 50mW on 10m WSPR

I think 10m has closed for me to the USA for the day.   I'll leave 10m WSPR running a little longer just in case.  At 2010z, 10 reports had been received, all at 50mW and all from stations in the USA. This was an interesting experiment as I know my antenna is not the best. 500mW seems almost like high power now!

The FT817 was set at 500mW and a good quality rotary attenuator (set to 10dB insertion loss) added as close as possible to the rig, therefore producing 50mW into the antenna lead and antenna. Because the cable will have some loss at 28MHz (1dB?) the actual radiated power will have been a little under 50mW.

UPDATE 2100z:  The 10m band has definitely closed here to the USA. Only G4IKZ (local) spotting me now. at 50mW.

10m WSPR spots running 50mW today

USA (again) on 10m WSPR and daytime MF

The first stateside station copied on 10m WSPR today was WG2Z (5600km) at a decent -10dB S/N at 1202z.  I think this is a little earlier than yesterday?

UPDATE 1210z:  I was on 472kHz until I QSYed to 10m WSPR. G3ZJO is a very decent signal now on MF. For example at 0922z he was around -15dB S/N. He has been even stronger, which for 10mW ERP is excellent.

UPDATE 1250z:  The first USA spot of my 500mW today as by WG2Z at 1218z.  Not long after I was spotted by KC2GMM at -17dB S/N at 1228z.   USA stations spotting my 500mW WSPR regularly on 10m now.

UPDATE 1504z:  Tomorrow I may try 10m WSPR with a 10dB pad in the antenna lead so ERP will be about 50mW, but RX 10dB deaf too. No I'll try it NOW! Looks like 5mW (or less) would be enough with W3CSW.

10m WSPR spots, to 1620z, with 50mW

UPDATE 1754z:   8 USA reports, so far, of my 50mW and, even with a 10dB pad in the RX lead I still copied G0LRD (25km)'s 50mW and W7CNK's 5W (7458km).

Sunspots

Sunspot number today has declined to 98 with daytime 10m propagation forecast to be "fair".  So far here this morning, just Europeans copied and copying me.

54 stations on 472Hz WSPR

This evening (just now) there were 54 stations active on 472kHz WSPR. Several are shown as being on RX (including me!) but this may be because we've not been spotted on TX in the last 10 minutes.

UPDATE 2252z: IW4DXW (1190km) has just been spotted here on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2306z: Will be on 472kHz WSPR overnight.

Kanga Kits UK

See http://www.kanga-products.co.uk/ .

Kanga is one of the classic names in QRP kits both in the UK and the USA. They make some fine products at quite reasonable prices. Shown below (linked from their website) is their OpenQRP transceiver.

http://www.kanga-products.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=78

472kHz WSPR

Since 1900z I have been back on 472kHz WSPR using 5mW ERP.  So far, spots given and received, have been from the usual G stations. Let us hope for some new spotters tonight!

The Radio Hobbyist VE3CNU

See https://www.youtube.com/user/ve3cnu.  It is always fun to take a peek into other people's radio shacks. This YouTube channel is hosted by Canadian VE3CNU. He has a nice shack and some nice gear.

I am amazed by how much money some people seem able to spend on the hobby.  This is, of course, a very individual decision and I am not criticizing anyone. Some pay a lot more to play golf, for example.

What I would say though is the hobby can be enjoyed on a shoestring if you build simple QRP radios and/or buy good second hand rigs. My own approach has been a mix of some homebrew and a few commercial rigs.

Others prefer to buy their rigs new (often with long guarantees) and experiment with antennas and peripherals. This is a very individual hobby that can be enjoyed in a number of ways.

Others just enjoy chatting on the air.

From Pedro CT5JZX:

Here is a Portuguese project from CT4RK Carlos Mourato

High performance speech processor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9yQzhVrVro&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmcP2mvTo0&list=UUZwp0BuDysKqLmJDJ7efNlg

ARRL 10m contest - mid December

As I have missed the CQWW SSB contest for 2 years now, I hope that I can be on for the ARRL 10m contest, Dec 13-14th. This contest lasts the full weekend and is all mode. As 10m is my favourite band of all, this should be a good one. As far as I know, we are free that weekend. I rarely enter contests to win. Rather, I enter HF contests to work new DXCC countries, or states and Canadian Provinces. I am no real DX chaser! My entry (if I remember and assuming I am free) will be strictly QRP as I have no gear capable of more than 5W pep.

See http://www.arrl.org/10-meter .

Back on 10m WSPR since 1154z

Since returning from a small hospital operation, I have been running 500mW on 10m WSPR again. Best DX on TX is 4X1RF (3519km) at -20dB S/N at 1206z. On RX VK5MR (16144km) is the best DX so far.

I was in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, this morning, to have my stomach feed tube (PEG) removed. As I was sedated it was totally painless. My worry beforehand was totally unnecessary.  I think I fell asleep as, apart for the initial things on the op trolley (being sedated by cannula into the back of my hand and insertion of my mouth guard) I was unaware of everything until I was recovering afterwards. Another stroke milestone for me. Still get giddy when walking, tired and speaking is hard work. Unthickened drinks are not easy. But I can eat most foods, all by mouth and, gradually, things are getting better.

UPDATE 1706z:   23 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR signals, the majority being by stations in the USA with best DX  KD6RF (7522km). It will so be time to QSY to a different band.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

I QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR just after 1830z this evening again using 5mW ERP to my strapped feeders antenna. These are the initial spots given and received (as at 1935z):

UPDATE 2048z:  EA3NE (1198km) now being copied, which is very early.

CQ WW SSB Contest last weekend - who forgot?

Darn it! Yet again I forgot this most excellent contest last weekend, although I would have been very restricted as we had our little grandchildren staying. They take priority. I must try next year. Last year I missed it as I was in Addenbrookes Hospital still very ill. The last time I caught it was 2012.

Although I do not much like contests, this one is always a good test and I often fill a few logbook pages with DX contacts. Exchanges are simple and quick. CQWW is usually a good way to increase the DXCC score. I always use real QRP power.

I dislike CW contests as they are too much like hard work. On SSB you can usually work stations, even with 2-5W QRP, especially later on when the big stations have already worked loads and are glad of extra points.

Stateside on 10m

The first stateside station was NU3E (5663km) at 1204z.  My 500mW was first spotted in the USA at 1232z by KZ8C (6290km) at -28dB S/N. This is a little later than yesterday, but at least it continues a long run of stateside openings on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1315z:  Spotted VK on 10m 3 times this morning. Best DX  VK5ST (16214km).

UPDATE 1534z:   20 unique spots today (so far) of my 500mW 10m WSPR.  Most of these are by stateside stations. Conditions on 10m are again fine.

UPDATE 1820z:  N2NOM (5581km) was spotting my 500mW at 1806z.