Several USA stations spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today, despite the low sunspot number and only "fair" 10m conditions.
The first to spot me today was KB4SC (6560km) at 1424z and the last was W8QYT (5798km) at 1918z. It was better than I was expecting on 10m this afternoon.
The question is how low can the sunspot number fall and still have decent 10m conditions? I guess there are very many factors to consider. As I've said before, I have worked 11000km+ with QRP SSB at solar minimum on N-S paths. I wonder what WSPR will be capable of? Remember you only need an opening of 120 seconds for WSPR to be successful and WSPR is 12-14dB better than CW and CW is better than SSB. If people stick around on 10m we may be in for some real surprises in the coming "quiet years".
UPDATE 2016z: Well, the opening lasted even longer as W8QYT was still spotting me strongly (-9dB S/N) at 2006z. Often the strongest signals are just before the band dies on a particular path - something to do with the MUF being optimum and lowest attenuation? By the same logic you'd expect optimum propagation just as the MUF rises through 28.124MHz as a path opens. Can't say I've noticed this, but it could account for the early morning spots by 4X1RF?
4 Mar 2015
40m Pixie
This afternoon, I'll be giving my 40m Pixie another outing on 7.023MHz. I'll take a look on the Reverse Beacon Network to see if I was noticed if I fail to make any 2-way QSOs.
I really need to check my junk box for 7.030MHz crystals as this would be a more useful QRP frequency. When fitter, I need to put it in a box!
UPDATE 1956z: In the end I did not try the 40m Pixie today.
I really need to check my junk box for 7.030MHz crystals as this would be a more useful QRP frequency. When fitter, I need to put it in a box!
UPDATE 1956z: In the end I did not try the 40m Pixie today.
Sunspots and 10m - March 4th 2015
Sunspot number has slipped again and stands at just 38 today. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".
Already 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 5 times since breakfast, but only G4IKZ (18km) otherwise. I wonder if the 10m band will open to the USA this afternoon?
Already 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 5 times since breakfast, but only G4IKZ (18km) otherwise. I wonder if the 10m band will open to the USA this afternoon?
3 Mar 2015
UKAC - 2m SSB tonight
Just 5 QSOs this evening on 2m SSB (5W pep) with best DX 204km to G7RAU on the Isle of Wight. As my antenna would still not rotate (bolts too tight) I decided to use the halo again, which is fed with lossy RG58 coax. I am very tempted to swap the rotatable antenna for stacked big wheels with low loss feed coax. Being omni would help in these contests as if I can work over 200km with the halo and lossy cable I'd be at least one S point better on stacked big wheels and a low loss cable. I could have worked far more if I stayed on longer but after an hour my very poor voice told me to stop. There were several workable stations in IO92 square. I worked none of these this evening.
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| Stations worked tonight with 5W + halo on 144MHz SSB. |
G3XKR (IO70) spots me on 472kHz
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| Kingsbridge Estuary, S. Devon |
Years ago my very first amateur radio activity was in the South Hams area of Devon. I was active on 160m AM and CW. My first ever 2m reception was of G3VEH in Cornwall. Did the sun really always shine back then?
UK Activity Contests
Every Tuesday evening the RSGB organises a VHF/UHF activity contest. I have just in time submitted my entry for the low power section of last Tuesday evenings 50MHz contest. With just 3 QSOs logged there is no way on this earth that I'll be anywhere but near the bottom! Having a V2000 omni vertical antenna, 5W, and a stroke damaged voice is no way to enter a 50MHz, UK based, contest! The V2000 and even 2.5W is great in the Es season (I work most that is around), but it is far from ideal working inter-G on 6m SSB.
Tonight is the 144MHz (2m) March leg of the UKAC. My small 3el beam should turn again now (manually) so I'll see how long my voice holds out. 45 minutes to 60 minutes is usually my limit. Last week I was on very little time. My best DX seems to be around 200km with 5W on 2m in "normal" conditions.
At this time of the year there are fewer portable stations active but activity (SSB and CW) is usually very high so this is a good opportunity to work some new squares. People have been very friendly. If in the UK or nearby join the fun 2000-2230z on 2m. I usually go QRT by 2100z because of the strain on my voice.
Just checked where I sit in the Jan 2015 AL section of the 50MHz UKAC. You guessed? Bottom! Well someone has to be!
Tonight is the 144MHz (2m) March leg of the UKAC. My small 3el beam should turn again now (manually) so I'll see how long my voice holds out. 45 minutes to 60 minutes is usually my limit. Last week I was on very little time. My best DX seems to be around 200km with 5W on 2m in "normal" conditions.
At this time of the year there are fewer portable stations active but activity (SSB and CW) is usually very high so this is a good opportunity to work some new squares. People have been very friendly. If in the UK or nearby join the fun 2000-2230z on 2m. I usually go QRT by 2100z because of the strain on my voice.
Just checked where I sit in the Jan 2015 AL section of the 50MHz UKAC. You guessed? Bottom! Well someone has to be!
USA on 10m - March 3rd 2015
Well, 10m has opened to the USA today. KB4SC (6560km) was the first to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1418z today. I see there are a few other USA stations in the log who are spotting me since then.
Apart from the USA stations, only 4X1RF has spotted me and locals, certainly no "super-DX".
UPDATE 1840z: Still plenty of USA stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR.
UPDATE 1922z: It looks like K9AN (6505km) was the last to spot me on 10m WSPR tonight at 1846z. At least 10m did open to the USA for my little 500mW WSPR beacon today, unlike yesterday.
Apart from the USA stations, only 4X1RF has spotted me and locals, certainly no "super-DX".
UPDATE 1840z: Still plenty of USA stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR.
UPDATE 1922z: It looks like K9AN (6505km) was the last to spot me on 10m WSPR tonight at 1846z. At least 10m did open to the USA for my little 500mW WSPR beacon today, unlike yesterday.
2 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR - very quiet this evening?
I have been on 472kHz for the last 30 minutes or so but activity seems very low. So far I have spotted no-one and no-one has spotted me.Usually I can be assured of activity on 472kHz WSPR. There are between 36 and 44 active stations according to WSPRnet but no-one is actually being copied!
Even my 40m Pixie failed to get any RBN reports this evening. What with no USA stations copying me on 10m, this has been a very disappointing day radio-wise. Tomorrow may be totally different, such is the nature of our delightful hobby.
The most cheerful thing was the return of our two red legged partridges! They may not be the same ones, but to see two was great.
UPDATE 2200z: I spoke too soon! 472kHz WSPR reports received from G4SMD (250km) and G3THQ (88m) and I am spotting PA0A (417km).
In the last 2 weeks my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" has been copied by 23 unique stations with best DX spot F1AFJ (607km).
Even my 40m Pixie failed to get any RBN reports this evening. What with no USA stations copying me on 10m, this has been a very disappointing day radio-wise. Tomorrow may be totally different, such is the nature of our delightful hobby.
The most cheerful thing was the return of our two red legged partridges! They may not be the same ones, but to see two was great.
UPDATE 2200z: I spoke too soon! 472kHz WSPR reports received from G4SMD (250km) and G3THQ (88m) and I am spotting PA0A (417km).
In the last 2 weeks my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" has been copied by 23 unique stations with best DX spot F1AFJ (607km).
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| Unique 472kHz spots on earth-electrode "antenna" in last 2 weeks. |
No 10m USA spots again?
Despite 10m conditions forecast to be "fair", it looks like this will be the second day in a row when not a single USA or Canadian station will have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon. It really does look as if conditions are on the change. This afternoon just 4X1RF and G4IKZ spotting me this afternoon.
Birds at this QTH
When we first moved to our bungalow (19 months ago) we saw
2 red legged partridges regularly in the road and in the garden. Then we
saw 3 for one day. After that (for the last 6 months) there has been just 1. Now, today, we have just seen 2 again. I hope it is a male and a
female and they stop around and have young! The red
legged partridge is an introduced species, but it is the commonest
partridge with 82000 territories. It is a very good looking bird. The
ones locally seem quite content. See red legged partridge RSPB page .
Yesterday, there were a couple of mallard ducks in the close. Overall though we see fewer bird species than at the old QTH despite putting out plenty to attract them. I would have thought with an orchard next door, the windmill, allotments and fields close by, we'd see lots. Starlings do roost on the windmill sails and there are fewer starlings around nowadays.
From the shack window I get an excellent view of the birds in our garden.
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| View from shack window |
From the shack window I get an excellent view of the birds in our garden.
40m Pixie: a tip I was given
Andy Cutland in the Channel Islands has reminded me that it is well worth checking the Reverse Beacon Network to see if the signal from the Pixie is getting out, even if no replies are received. I must admit I've not yet been doing this. From now on I'll check the RBN although I usually reply to CQs rather than call CQ when using QRP (search and pounce).
Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 2nd 2015
Yesterday was dire(ish) on 10m. Let us hope today is better. My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for 20 minutes, but only being spotted l.ocally so far.
Sunspot number today is 66 (not bad) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".
UPDATE 1000z: I see 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me.
.
UPDATE 1130z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 4 times so far this morning. He is, so far, the only DX station to copy me. It seems pretty quiet.
UPDATE 1212z: 4X1RF has now spotted me 5 times today so far. No other DX spots received today.
UPDATE 1410z: 4X1RF has now spotted me 8 times today so far. Still no transatlantic spots received though. I am beginning to think the long afternoon openings on 10m to the USA are ending.
Sunspot number today is 66 (not bad) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".
UPDATE 1000z: I see 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me.
.
UPDATE 1130z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 4 times so far this morning. He is, so far, the only DX station to copy me. It seems pretty quiet.
UPDATE 1212z: 4X1RF has now spotted me 5 times today so far. No other DX spots received today.
UPDATE 1410z: 4X1RF has now spotted me 8 times today so far. Still no transatlantic spots received though. I am beginning to think the long afternoon openings on 10m to the USA are ending.
1 Mar 2015
10GHz WBFM transceivers
The modern way of getting (simply) into 10GHz WBFM appears to be using very low cost 10GHz Doppler radar modules with a 100MHz FM receiver. Whilst with G6ALB for my Pixie tests Andrew demonstrated a working 10GHz link based on these low cost modules. These are useful links Andrew sent me.
Hi Roger,These are the units I found when I was looking for [definitions of] the 10.525 GHz ISM band.It looks like 3cm Doppler radar is alive and well,I’d assumed it had disappeared in favour of PIR.Some data here:These are very good pages (for wideband FM on 10 GHz).
Andrew G6ALB
40m Pixie measurements
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| Pixie harmonic measurements |
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| Pixie on the bench |
I should also case the unit! Drilling the case could be a challenge in my current state of health! Just doing the building and testing was exhausting.
USA 10m WSPR spots (or lack of them!)
It is now 1330z and so far not a single USA station has, yet, spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon. OK , it is still quite early and things may well be better later, but yesterday was far better on 10m. Plenty of reports from Eastern Europe and near Asia though.
So far, 10m has been a bit disappointing today.
UPDATE 1445z: And still no 10m WSPR spots from the USA today yet!
UPDATE 1448z: In the meantime, 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me 22 times so far today.
On 472kHz no-one had copied my 5mW ERP so far until this afternoon when G3YAC (12km) and G8LCO (58km) copied me. My best DX on 472kHz WSPR receive is PA0A (417km) who has been coming though during the day.
UPDATE 1530z: I have the feeling that I'm not going to have my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon spotted in the USA today. If the band does "wake up", I suspect just a handful of USA stations may be lucky. By now I'd have expected some transatlantic spots. That is the nature of 10m: you can never be sure. No wonder some call it a magic band.
UPDATE 2048z: So, the day passed and not a single USA station spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today. Conditions are on the change?
So far, 10m has been a bit disappointing today.
UPDATE 1445z: And still no 10m WSPR spots from the USA today yet!
UPDATE 1448z: In the meantime, 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me 22 times so far today.
On 472kHz no-one had copied my 5mW ERP so far until this afternoon when G3YAC (12km) and G8LCO (58km) copied me. My best DX on 472kHz WSPR receive is PA0A (417km) who has been coming though during the day.
UPDATE 1530z: I have the feeling that I'm not going to have my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon spotted in the USA today. If the band does "wake up", I suspect just a handful of USA stations may be lucky. By now I'd have expected some transatlantic spots. That is the nature of 10m: you can never be sure. No wonder some call it a magic band.
UPDATE 2048z: So, the day passed and not a single USA station spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today. Conditions are on the change?
Sunspots and 10m - March 1st 2015
Sunspot number has climbed again to 70 and 10m propagation is forecast to be "fair".
So far this morning reports of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon from G4IKZ (18km), G4KPX (14km) and 4X1RF (3519km). I had to remove the antenna and turn off the beacon for a period to use the antenna on 40m CW.
So far this morning reports of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon from G4IKZ (18km), G4KPX (14km) and 4X1RF (3519km). I had to remove the antenna and turn off the beacon for a period to use the antenna on 40m CW.
First 40m Pixie QSO
At 1000z this morning I exchanged RST 579 reports with G6ALB who is 3km from me on my 40m Pixie on 7.023MHz CW. This was my first on-air QSO. Netting was perfect and I used the rig directly into my low Par triband antenna. An ATU might have helped. Andrew G6ALB said the channel was pretty busy but that I was a good RST579 with no hint of chirp. This afternoon we'll put the rig on his spectrum analyser. I gave Andrew 579 probably reflecting the poorer MDS of the Pixie. I have no idea of his power or antenna.
My initial goals have been met: I built the kit and have managed a QSO on the air with it. With the fatigue associated with my brain bleed still very apparent (I am well and truly shattered currently), I was well pleased. A few more QSOs with the 40m Pixie would be good, HI.
$10 well spent. Excellent little kit. FB little transceiver. Works surprisingly well.
My initial goals have been met: I built the kit and have managed a QSO on the air with it. With the fatigue associated with my brain bleed still very apparent (I am well and truly shattered currently), I was well pleased. A few more QSOs with the 40m Pixie would be good, HI.
$10 well spent. Excellent little kit. FB little transceiver. Works surprisingly well.
28 Feb 2015
40m Pixie - bench test went well
Well, it took a super-human effort on my part as a result of my extreme fatigue (brain bleed issue) but today I bench tested the little 40m Pixie kit I managed to build earlier this week. It is hard to explain just how exhausting this simple task was for me currently. I now need to recover my energy!
On receive a 1uV signal was perfectly readable and I could detect carrier on/off down to at least below 0.5uV. On TX it was putting out about 250mW into a 50 ohm load. On my antenna it was suffering some AM breakthrough, but less than I was expecting. I was using standard Walkman stereo headphones and a rechargeable 12V sealed lead acid battery. On a small 9V battery I'd expect about 100mW RF out, although this was not tried.
Overall, these results exceeded my expectations: it is more sensitive than I was expecting and the breakthrough of AM broadcasters is certainly OK in the day time. This is of course with no casing at all and no ATU. Using the fitted pot and fitted 1N4001 as a varicap it is easy to get the TX frequency and RX frequency to correspond, often an issue with very simple QRP rigs.
Next stage will be some on-air tests, but it most definitely works. Working the locals should certainly be possible. Sked with G6ALB (3km) arranged for 1000z Sunday on 7.023MHz CW.
UPDATE 2120z: There is a contest in full swing and several Russians and Asiatic Russians copied on the little 40m Pixie. I did not stay on long but there was no apparent BC interference noticeable. So, on a quiet night I should able to use the rig in the evenings. The main issue on RX seems to be the lack of AF filtering, so one has to use "the filter that is between the ears" i.e.the brain.
On receive a 1uV signal was perfectly readable and I could detect carrier on/off down to at least below 0.5uV. On TX it was putting out about 250mW into a 50 ohm load. On my antenna it was suffering some AM breakthrough, but less than I was expecting. I was using standard Walkman stereo headphones and a rechargeable 12V sealed lead acid battery. On a small 9V battery I'd expect about 100mW RF out, although this was not tried.
Overall, these results exceeded my expectations: it is more sensitive than I was expecting and the breakthrough of AM broadcasters is certainly OK in the day time. This is of course with no casing at all and no ATU. Using the fitted pot and fitted 1N4001 as a varicap it is easy to get the TX frequency and RX frequency to correspond, often an issue with very simple QRP rigs.
Next stage will be some on-air tests, but it most definitely works. Working the locals should certainly be possible. Sked with G6ALB (3km) arranged for 1000z Sunday on 7.023MHz CW.
UPDATE 2120z: There is a contest in full swing and several Russians and Asiatic Russians copied on the little 40m Pixie. I did not stay on long but there was no apparent BC interference noticeable. So, on a quiet night I should able to use the rig in the evenings. The main issue on RX seems to be the lack of AF filtering, so one has to use "the filter that is between the ears" i.e.the brain.
Amateur Radio Weekly
Yesterday I subscribed to this online newsletter. It is also available every Saturday on www.amateurradio.com
One of the items was about Deutche Welle (German broadcaster) vacating a slot in the 49m band. A group of radio amateurs have obtained permission to use a 10kW commercial station there. This is their website http://www.channel292.de/ . Best of luck to them!
One of the items was about Deutche Welle (German broadcaster) vacating a slot in the 49m band. A group of radio amateurs have obtained permission to use a 10kW commercial station there. This is their website http://www.channel292.de/ . Best of luck to them!
10m USA spots today
KZ8C (6290km) was the first North American to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR today at 1248z. Since then, K9AN (6505km) has also spotted me several times. I think he has a very good RX set-up as he is often copying me on 10m.
I have the feeling there will be a lot of 10m spots today as conditions seem quite good and it is the weekend.
UPDATE 2035z: The last USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR was KB9AMG (6300km) at 1922z. Quite a decently long opening today.
I have the feeling there will be a lot of 10m spots today as conditions seem quite good and it is the weekend.
UPDATE 2035z: The last USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR was KB9AMG (6300km) at 1922z. Quite a decently long opening today.
9H1US
My little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied 8 times so far today in Malta by 9H1US (2135km). No great DX , but a first time and new country on 10m WSPR. Some reports have been very strong. F2 or Es?
UPDATE 2050z: In the end 9H1US spotted me 14 times over the lunchtime period. The last spot was 1336z. This could have been Es, but more probably F2 propagation
UPDATE 2050z: In the end 9H1US spotted me 14 times over the lunchtime period. The last spot was 1336z. This could have been Es, but more probably F2 propagation
Sunspots and 10m - Feb 28th
Sunspot number has risen slightly to 58 today and 10m propagation is set to be "fair". this is a better forecast than recent days.
Already, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in LZ, OH, SV9 and 4X1 this morning, but nothing from further afield, as yet.
UPDATE 1114z: 10m does seem livelier than of late. LZ1OI (2153km) has been spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR very well. This must be an optimum distance for single hop F2 propagation. I've just been spotted in Malta (9H).
UPDATE 1126z: First DX outside Europe today as when I was spotted by PU2UIB (9524km) in Brazil at 1112z today.
UPDATE 1230z: No North American stations copying my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, as yet, but the first reports will probably be in the next hour.
Already, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in LZ, OH, SV9 and 4X1 this morning, but nothing from further afield, as yet.
UPDATE 1114z: 10m does seem livelier than of late. LZ1OI (2153km) has been spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR very well. This must be an optimum distance for single hop F2 propagation. I've just been spotted in Malta (9H).
UPDATE 1126z: First DX outside Europe today as when I was spotted by PU2UIB (9524km) in Brazil at 1112z today.
UPDATE 1230z: No North American stations copying my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, as yet, but the first reports will probably be in the next hour.
27 Feb 2015
New online shop - creative wire artwork
Gifts for the XYL?
From my French daughter-in-law:
From my French daughter-in-law:
Hi there,
I have finally come around to opening my shop on easy. Spread the word. Hope you like it.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SurleWire?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Frog 40m transceiver
The image is on the eBay page and will be removed immediately if a problem.
See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frog-Sounds-HAM-Radio-QRP-Kit-Telegraph-CW-Transceiver-Receiver-Radio-Station-V3-/251405614850 .
See also: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/qrp-transceiver for lots of QRP transceiver bargains.
40m Pixie transceiver
Yesterday I found my rechargeable 12V battery and charged it up. I also checked the Pixie I built as a kit for dry joints and shorts. As all looks good, I hope to test this on the air over the weekend or early next week.
There are a couple of locals I'd like to test with initially, although I am expecting to suffer from AM breakthrough mainly from broadcast stations very close to our 40m band. Probably there would be less breakthrough in the daytime? My antenna is short and low on 40m (a Par triband end-fed covering 10m/20m/40m) so any contacts will be good!
I can test it first on a signal generator and then a power meter. If it works, I'd expect a sensitivity of around -100dBm and a power out of around 200mW on 40m. We'll see. Even -80dBm and 100mW would be enough to work locals as long as AM breakthrough is at a manageable level.
I can test it first on a signal generator and then a power meter. If it works, I'd expect a sensitivity of around -100dBm and a power out of around 200mW on 40m. We'll see. Even -80dBm and 100mW would be enough to work locals as long as AM breakthrough is at a manageable level.
Cerebellum brain bleed update
Many
of you know I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 and was in
hospital for 3.5 months. Slowly I am recovering, but it is taking much
longer than I expected.
Amateur radio field experiments and building work are on hold, but I hope to resume these soon as long as my fatigue improves.
The main issue is I get tired quickly, especially after anything that is physical. Even small things leave me exhausted, quite unlike anything I have known. I still feel drunk when I walk, my speech is poor and drinking thin liquids is not easy. The profound tiredness really gets me down. It would be so good to be able to drink a cup of tea or coffee, or even a glass of water, as I used to.
Most foods are OK now.
All limbs, eyes, ears and intellect are fine. I still feel unwell and not my old self yet. Although recovering slowly, it is taking far too long.
Amateur radio field experiments and building work are on hold, but I hope to resume these soon as long as my fatigue improves.
The main issue is I get tired quickly, especially after anything that is physical. Even small things leave me exhausted, quite unlike anything I have known. I still feel drunk when I walk, my speech is poor and drinking thin liquids is not easy. The profound tiredness really gets me down. It would be so good to be able to drink a cup of tea or coffee, or even a glass of water, as I used to.
Most foods are OK now.
All limbs, eyes, ears and intellect are fine. I still feel unwell and not my old self yet. Although recovering slowly, it is taking far too long.
10m USA WSPR spots
At 1314z K9AN (6505km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. With the lower sunspot number I had some doubt the 10m band would open to the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1400z: W9HLY (6257km) has spotted me a couple times this lunchtime, but I have the feeling there are few stations spotting me today on 10m WSPR. OK, it is very early afternoon still.
UPDATE 1655z: A surprising number of USA stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon this afternoon, despite the relatively low sunspot number. When the next peak occurs it is likely to be a weak affair, but assuming conditions are settled we could still be spanning the Atlantic on 10m at the right time of year. It will be interesting to see how well this path holds up as the sunspot number continues to fall.
UPDATE 1732z: Still being spotted in the USA
UPDATE 1822z: K9AN (6505km) is still spotting me.
UPDATE 1830z: Still plenty of USA and Canadian 10m stations spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon. This is a much better opening than I expected.
UPDATE 1940z: It looks like the last USA spot was KC1AWS (5408km) at 1850z. Just local G4IKZ since then. I'll probably go QRT shortly on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2120z: I went QRT at 2058z. I am currently not active on any band. Back after breakfast.
UPDATE 1400z: W9HLY (6257km) has spotted me a couple times this lunchtime, but I have the feeling there are few stations spotting me today on 10m WSPR. OK, it is very early afternoon still.
UPDATE 1655z: A surprising number of USA stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon this afternoon, despite the relatively low sunspot number. When the next peak occurs it is likely to be a weak affair, but assuming conditions are settled we could still be spanning the Atlantic on 10m at the right time of year. It will be interesting to see how well this path holds up as the sunspot number continues to fall.
UPDATE 1732z: Still being spotted in the USA
UPDATE 1822z: K9AN (6505km) is still spotting me.
UPDATE 1830z: Still plenty of USA and Canadian 10m stations spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon. This is a much better opening than I expected.
UPDATE 1940z: It looks like the last USA spot was KC1AWS (5408km) at 1850z. Just local G4IKZ since then. I'll probably go QRT shortly on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2120z: I went QRT at 2058z. I am currently not active on any band. Back after breakfast.
Sunspots and 10m
Sunspot number has declined to 39 and 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor". Looks like we could have a struggle on 10m today.
UPDATE 1126z: 10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon from LZ1OI (2153km) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) this morning. 4X1RF (3519km) was copying me earlier. These are probably single hop F2.
UPDATE 1126z: 10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon from LZ1OI (2153km) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) this morning. 4X1RF (3519km) was copying me earlier. These are probably single hop F2.
26 Feb 2015
Homebrew rigs, fieldwork and fatigue
Quite a few of the rigs I use are home-built, although my recent poor health has stopped me being able to build much. The 40m Pixie kit built this week was the first thing built since before my brain bleed.
Although I feel I now have the dexterity to build rigs and accessories - case work is more of an issue - doing so makes me very very tired and I have to rest to recover my energy.
I hope to resume some field work soon, but the main risk is my fatigue: can I manage being in the field for any length of time without being totally exhausted? Given time, I am told that my energy levels will return, but I have the feeling the medics really have little idea how I shall end up. To them, I have already recovered well, whereas I know I am still a million miles from how I was!
Although I feel I now have the dexterity to build rigs and accessories - case work is more of an issue - doing so makes me very very tired and I have to rest to recover my energy.
I hope to resume some field work soon, but the main risk is my fatigue: can I manage being in the field for any length of time without being totally exhausted? Given time, I am told that my energy levels will return, but I have the feeling the medics really have little idea how I shall end up. To them, I have already recovered well, whereas I know I am still a million miles from how I was!
10m SSB with the Lincoln Mk2
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| Lincoln Mk2 with the other rigs |
My biggest issue was getting the power leads attached to the PSU. Before my stroke this would have been trivial. Now it tires me out! I wanted several rigs attached to the PSU at the same time so soldering the plugs on was non-trivial. As you know, speaking too long exhausts me,so I am taking a break.
I am waiting for my 12V battery to charge to test the 40m Pixie. Visually the Pixie build looks fine.
At the moment I am not on WSPR on any band.
472kHz WSPR
Although I was on 472kHz overnight, my PC decided to close (the whole PC including WSPR) some time after 0320z to install updates. It was re-synced to internet time and restarted at breakfast time. Wednesday overnight is usually when this happens. I could alter settings but this is not really an issue.
Local G4KPX (14km) is spotting me this morning so far on this band. G3WCB (101km) and G3THQ (88km) were spotting me just before the PC turned off.
Local G4KPX (14km) is spotting me this morning so far on this band. G3WCB (101km) and G3THQ (88km) were spotting me just before the PC turned off.
President Lincoln Mk2 (v3) arrives
Still to be unpacked, the Lincoln Mk2 10m transceiver arrived from Nevada this morning by "signed for" parcel post. Packaging was undamaged. I shall probably fire this up later today. Delivery was fast - impressive.
Sunspots and 10m
Sunspot number today is 63. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" although 4X1RF (3519km) was spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR at 0824z and 0912z this morning. Most spots were local - G4IKZ. No continental Europeans or further afield though.
UPDATE 1025z: 4X1RF (3519km) is now spotting my 500mW WSPR lots of times.
UPDATE 1050z: LZ and SV9 now spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m as well. Things are warming up on 10m. Still no real DX spotting me.
UPDATE 1025z: 4X1RF (3519km) is now spotting my 500mW WSPR lots of times.
UPDATE 1050z: LZ and SV9 now spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m as well. Things are warming up on 10m. Still no real DX spotting me.
25 Feb 2015
Invisible disabilities
I have come to the conclusion that it is better to be disabled in a visible way than have a disability that cannot be seen easily. On a walk this afternoon at Anglesey Abbey
there were quite a few people who were clearly disabled.
My wife says when I walk you cannot tell I have a disability. Inside, I still feel like I am drunk, I tire easily and I still feel wobbly when walking. My voice is still poor and swallow of thin liquids is poor.
Most people think I am fine now. I am still a long way from that although I still feel I am making slow improvements. My current disability is invisible to many.
The ongoing after-effects of my cerebellum brain bleed are the reason I try to avoid too much speaking on the air. WSPR is my favourite mode as no talking is needed. JT65 and JT9-1 are my favourite 2-way digital modes. Although I have used PSK31 I don't much like it as too many use macros.
My wife says when I walk you cannot tell I have a disability. Inside, I still feel like I am drunk, I tire easily and I still feel wobbly when walking. My voice is still poor and swallow of thin liquids is poor.
Most people think I am fine now. I am still a long way from that although I still feel I am making slow improvements. My current disability is invisible to many.
The ongoing after-effects of my cerebellum brain bleed are the reason I try to avoid too much speaking on the air. WSPR is my favourite mode as no talking is needed. JT65 and JT9-1 are my favourite 2-way digital modes. Although I have used PSK31 I don't much like it as too many use macros.
10m USA non-event (almost) today
This afternoon, 10m only just opened to the USA with WB5B (8248km) being the only USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon at 1350z and 1612z. It is still possible others may yet copy me, but this is doubtful.
4X1RF (3519km) has copied me several times today.
UPDATE 1710z: K9AN (6505km) has copied me a few times recently.
UPDATE 1740z: Now KG6MC (6545km) is spotting me. Maybe I should expect shorter, later openings now?
UPDATE 1835z: K9AN has now copied my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 14 times so far today. The opening I thought would not happen seems to be on now.
UPDATE 1915z: No further DX spots since K9AN at 1844z. Going QRT on 10m by 2000z.
4X1RF (3519km) has copied me several times today.
UPDATE 1710z: K9AN (6505km) has copied me a few times recently.
UPDATE 1740z: Now KG6MC (6545km) is spotting me. Maybe I should expect shorter, later openings now?
UPDATE 1835z: K9AN has now copied my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 14 times so far today. The opening I thought would not happen seems to be on now.
UPDATE 1915z: No further DX spots since K9AN at 1844z. Going QRT on 10m by 2000z.
10m WSPR this morning
No earth shattering DX reports this morning on 10m WSPR.
4X1RF (3519km) has spotted by 500mW WSPR beacon several times but no further reports seen. At the moment, 10m is "ticking along". I think there will be an opening to the USA later.
4X1RF (3519km) has spotted by 500mW WSPR beacon several times but no further reports seen. At the moment, 10m is "ticking along". I think there will be an opening to the USA later.
Other blog updated
After my U3AC course on digital mapping in Cambridge yesterday I was able to take a photo of "The Round" which dates back to 1130AD. I have updated my other blog to include this. See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .This is not amateur radio! Sorry.
24 Feb 2015
Pixie (40m) build completed this evening
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| Completed 40m Pixie assembly |
A very half-hearted attempt at the 6m UKAC this evening was aborted because of my poor voice but I only worked 3 locals in the short time I was on with my V2000 vertical.
I really wanted to crack on with the Pixie build, although I was not expecting to finish the built today. The small PCB based kit does represent very good value.
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