KD6RF (7522km) has just spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 1738z. This is very very late indeed for a first USA spot. It will be interesting to see if any other stateside stations copy me today.
UPDATE 1746z: AA1UI (5256km) is now spotting me too on 10m WSPR. Very late.
UPDATE 1850z: AA1UI has now spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 4 times this evening, with the latest at 1836z.
UPDATE 1945z: 3 unique USA stations spotting me, with the last at 1922z. I guess there is still a chance of later USA stations spotting me.
UPDATE 2034z: No more USA spots now for over an hour, so I think the USA opening has ended. Will go QRT on 10m soon.
EI0CF (602km) is spotting my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR. I'll stay on MF overnight again.
16 Mar 2015
Changing propagation
If proof were needed that we are now on the way down to the next minimum then take a look at the sunspot number graphs at http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
Although conditions are sliding, do not abandon the higher HF bands like 10m. There is (usually) quite a lot of good DX around still. In the last solar minimum I was still able to work well into southern South America on 10m with QRP SSB. WSPR should be even more reliable when conditions are edgy.
I really do hope a strong core of WSPR operators stick with 10m as, in many ways, in the poorer times are when WSPR will be most valuable as a tool. I am hoping that when not on traditional modes like SSB or CW people will still WSPR so we can catch fleeting openings, which are probably far more common than people expect on 10m. Remember, the F2 or transequatorial propagation has only to go above 28.126MHz for 120 seconds and someone on WSPR may spot it!
Although conditions are sliding, do not abandon the higher HF bands like 10m. There is (usually) quite a lot of good DX around still. In the last solar minimum I was still able to work well into southern South America on 10m with QRP SSB. WSPR should be even more reliable when conditions are edgy.
I really do hope a strong core of WSPR operators stick with 10m as, in many ways, in the poorer times are when WSPR will be most valuable as a tool. I am hoping that when not on traditional modes like SSB or CW people will still WSPR so we can catch fleeting openings, which are probably far more common than people expect on 10m. Remember, the F2 or transequatorial propagation has only to go above 28.126MHz for 120 seconds and someone on WSPR may spot it!
10m - single hop F2 only? Es season coming.
At the moment, it looks like all my 10m reports are from 1-hop F2 propagation e.g. 4X1RF and EA8/LA3JJ. Next month onwards we should see the start of the Es season with plentiful short skip on 10m and 6m into Europe, and occasionally much further. In previous years I have heard (and even rarely worked) some really choice DX with real QRP on 6m. My best 6m DX ever was a W on 6m CW when my ERP was about 1W. This was back in 2007.
This spring and summer I intend to run WSPR on 6m whenever I cannot be on SSB or CW. Last summer, the 6m WSPR activity was low, so I hope this season will be better. JT65 and JT9 are more popular but really need me to be in the shack. With WSPR I can monitor on another PC in a different room, or even when in the garden.
This spring and summer I intend to run WSPR on 6m whenever I cannot be on SSB or CW. Last summer, the 6m WSPR activity was low, so I hope this season will be better. JT65 and JT9 are more popular but really need me to be in the shack. With WSPR I can monitor on another PC in a different room, or even when in the garden.
Local 2m FM net
Most Mondays, a group of us in Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire meet for a net on 144.575MHz FM. We started as an AM net on 144.55MHz but had to QSY as one net member had no AM.
Although my voice is still very poor, I try to come on most Mondays but I prefer to listen more than talk. The net is open and we welcome newcomers. Some Mondays there is no-one around, but that is the exception. Usually there are about 3-5 of us on. Note 144.575MHz FM, not 145.575MHz. 8pm local time Mondays.
UPDATE 2035z: Only 2 of us this evening G3KKD and G3XBM.
Although my voice is still very poor, I try to come on most Mondays but I prefer to listen more than talk. The net is open and we welcome newcomers. Some Mondays there is no-one around, but that is the exception. Usually there are about 3-5 of us on. Note 144.575MHz FM, not 145.575MHz. 8pm local time Mondays.
UPDATE 2035z: Only 2 of us this evening G3KKD and G3XBM.
EA8/LA3JJ on 10m WSPR and no USA spots?
EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has been spotting my 500mW 10m beacon nearly all morning. This counts as Africa, so my little WSPR beacon has been copied in 4 continents this morning.
UPDATE 1350z: No USA spots, as yet, on 10m. It does seem as if the big, long USA 10m openings can no longer be guaranteed. It may open later - we'll see.
UPDATE 1355z: EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon no less than 44 times today so far.
UPDATE 1500z: Still no sign of spots from the USA today on 10m. If there are going to be any, they will be very late, although I have the feeling that my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be spotted in the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1615z: Still no spots at all from the USA but EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 95 times so far today.
UPDATE 1719z: Still not a single spot from the USA, so it is now most unlikely I'll get any. EA8/LA3JJ has now spotted me 120 times today! Propagation is fine in his direction.
UPDATE 1752z: 132 spots, so far, today from EA8/LA3JJ and very recently a couple of USA spots. Odd conditions?
UPDATE 2045z: In the end 167 spots received from EA8/LA3JJ today.
UPDATE 1350z: No USA spots, as yet, on 10m. It does seem as if the big, long USA 10m openings can no longer be guaranteed. It may open later - we'll see.
UPDATE 1355z: EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon no less than 44 times today so far.
UPDATE 1500z: Still no sign of spots from the USA today on 10m. If there are going to be any, they will be very late, although I have the feeling that my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be spotted in the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1615z: Still no spots at all from the USA but EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 95 times so far today.
UPDATE 1719z: Still not a single spot from the USA, so it is now most unlikely I'll get any. EA8/LA3JJ has now spotted me 120 times today! Propagation is fine in his direction.
UPDATE 1752z: 132 spots, so far, today from EA8/LA3JJ and very recently a couple of USA spots. Odd conditions?
UPDATE 2045z: In the end 167 spots received from EA8/LA3JJ today.
Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 16th 2015
Sunspot number today is 54 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". Already I am having my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon spotted on the edges of Europe and near Asia, but conditions don't, as yet, look to be anything other than ordinary - certainly no superb DX on offer.
15 Mar 2015
Scarce 10m USA WSPR spots today
Although the 10m band has opened to the USA again today, the number of stations spotting me is very small. I think 10m conditions E-W across the Atlantic have been very poor today.
UPDATE 1700z: It is very noticeable just how few USA stations are spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. On better days, there is an almost continuous flow of reports all afternoon and evening. The last USA report today was at 1612z.
UPDATE 1948z: N1SQ (6251km) was the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1856z.
UPDATE 2034z: Now QRT on 10m.
UPDATE 1700z: It is very noticeable just how few USA stations are spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. On better days, there is an almost continuous flow of reports all afternoon and evening. The last USA report today was at 1612z.
UPDATE 1948z: N1SQ (6251km) was the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1856z.
UPDATE 2034z: Now QRT on 10m.
Concert in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
This is advanced publicity for my wife's concert in Cambridge, UK in April. The West Road Concert Hall is an excellent venue with superb acoustics, good seating, warmth, comfort and local parking. If you can make it, it should be a good evening.
Sunspots and 10m propagation Sun Mar 15th 2015
Sunspot number is moderate at 56 but 10m is currently forecast to be "poor".
Despite the poor predictions for 10m, my tiny 500mW WSPR beacon has been widely spotted: 4X1RF, LZ1OI, 5B4AHL, 9H1US, G4IKZ and best DX this morning 3B8CW (9751km) at 1054z. Not a bad list for a morning with "poor" 10m conditions! Surprisingly often, days when 10m is supposed to be "fair" or "poor" I have my little 500mW WSPR beacon copied all over the place. Never ever take 10m for granted.
Despite the poor predictions for 10m, my tiny 500mW WSPR beacon has been widely spotted: 4X1RF, LZ1OI, 5B4AHL, 9H1US, G4IKZ and best DX this morning 3B8CW (9751km) at 1054z. Not a bad list for a morning with "poor" 10m conditions! Surprisingly often, days when 10m is supposed to be "fair" or "poor" I have my little 500mW WSPR beacon copied all over the place. Never ever take 10m for granted.
14 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR DX this evening
I see that both EI0CF (602km) and F59706 (560km) have spotted me this evening on 472kHz. I am still using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna".
On 10m I turned off the beacon some while ago as I was only being spotted by G stations.
In the last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 27 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR.
UPDATE 2130z: EI0CF (602km) has spotted me 4 times this evening so far on 472kHz WSPR.
On 10m I turned off the beacon some while ago as I was only being spotted by G stations.
In the last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 27 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR.
UPDATE 2130z: EI0CF (602km) has spotted me 4 times this evening so far on 472kHz WSPR.
Sand martins - NOT amateur radio
Sand martins have dark brown upper parts and they winter in Africa. In recent years sand martin numbers have plummeted and they are now on the RSPB's "amber" list. There are estimated to be 54,000-174,000 nests in the UK. This sounds a lot, but numbers are dropping because of droughts on their migration routes in some years.
Every year I remember my dad telling when he'd first seen them arrive.
By the month end we should have house martins and swallows back in Devon who will have flown 6000 miles to be here in the UK again. When the swallows return here in East Anglia you know all is still well with the world: they have been making this journey for many thousands , if not millions, of years. Most return to the very same nests they used last summer, if they can. I find the return of the martins, swallows and swifts a real joy. It makes me glad to be alive.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_martin .
10m USA WSPR spots today
The first USA station to receive my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today was KZ8C (6290km) at 1302z. At -17dB S/N this was a decent report for the power used. At least 10m has opened across the Atlantic today. I did think it might not have done so, although it has opened on most days now for many many months. The exceptions seem to have been when conditions were very disturbed. Even with low sunspot number, the 10m band has been OK across the North Atlantic, certainly for QRP WSPR.
UPDATE 1356z: Quite a few different USA stations now spotting my 500mW 10m beacon. :
UPDATE 1912z: The 10m opening to the USA is still in full swing.
UPDATE 2020z: W3GXT (5840km) was the latest USA station to spot me at 2002z. Just local G4IKZ (18km) since then.
UPDATE 1356z: Quite a few different USA stations now spotting my 500mW 10m beacon. :
UPDATE 1912z: The 10m opening to the USA is still in full swing.
UPDATE 2020z: W3GXT (5840km) was the latest USA station to spot me at 2002z. Just local G4IKZ (18km) since then.
472kHz WSPR - the last 24 hours
In the last 24 hours (I stayed on overnight) the best report of my 5mW ERP WSPR signal from my earth-electrode "antenna" was by F59706 (560km) yesterday evening. 9 unique station reports received in the last 24 hours.
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| Unique spots of my 5mW ERP WSPR on 472kHz in last 24 hours |
10m early F2
Despite the "fair" propagation forecast 4X1RF (3519km) was spotting me as early as 0824z this morning on 10m WSPR. It will be interesting to see who else spots my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.
UPDATE 0845z: Just after 0830z and 4X1RF has spotted me 4 times already on 10m.
UPDATE 1010z: So far, 8 spots of my 500mW beacon from 4X1RF (3519km) but no reports from any other DX station so far today on 10m.
UPDATE 1032z: I see LZ1OI (2153km) and RK3ABW (2429km) have spotted me a few times now. No 10m DX, as yet, from outside Europe or near Asia.
UPDATE 1354z: So far today I have been spotted 29 times by 4X1RF.
UPDATE 0845z: Just after 0830z and 4X1RF has spotted me 4 times already on 10m.
UPDATE 1010z: So far, 8 spots of my 500mW beacon from 4X1RF (3519km) but no reports from any other DX station so far today on 10m.
UPDATE 1032z: I see LZ1OI (2153km) and RK3ABW (2429km) have spotted me a few times now. No 10m DX, as yet, from outside Europe or near Asia.
UPDATE 1354z: So far today I have been spotted 29 times by 4X1RF.
Sunspots and 10m - Sat March 14th 2015
Today should be interesting on 10m as propagation is expected to be "fair" despite sunspot number being up to 87. I am sure the earlier forecasts were poorer.
13 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR this evening
I shall probably go QRT on 28MHz (10m) in the next 20 minutes as I think the USA 10m opening has now ended for the day.
On 472kHz WSPR my best spot this evening is from PE1RKT (285km) although I have received from further afield. My intention is to stay on 472kHz WSPR overnight, as long as the PC does not decide to install updates at around 0300z as it did this morning when I was on 20m!
On 472kHz WSPR my best spot this evening is from PE1RKT (285km) although I have received from further afield. My intention is to stay on 472kHz WSPR overnight, as long as the PC does not decide to install updates at around 0300z as it did this morning when I was on 20m!
40m Pixie now on 7.030MHz
Thanks to Andy Cutland, my 40m Pixie is now on 7.030MHz, the QRP frequency. Although I have not seriously tried for other than local QSOs, I shall do so. When fitter, my intention is to switch between two crystal frequencies to increase my chances of QSOs. As the TX and RX netting is perfect and BC breakthrough quite reasonable, sensitivity not bad, QSOs at decent ranges are entirely possible.
USA 10m WSPR spots today
The first USA 10m WSPR spot today was from WB8ELK/01 (6872km) at 1342z.
UPDATE 1830z: The 10m opening to North America is still in full swing.
UPDATE 1930z: W8QYT (5798km) at the moment is the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1912z. We'll see if any others spot me later. Somehow I doubt it.
UPDATE 2002z: As if just to prove me wrong KB9AMG (6300km) has just spotted me at 1930z and again at 1932z! K1OF (5500km) has now spotted me too as had WG2Z (5600km). This 10m stateside opening ihas not ended yet.
UPDATE 2056z: K4BYN (6231km) has just spotted me. Opening still going strong.
UPDATE 2100z: WB8ELK/01 (6872km) has just spotted me. I wonder if the end of the opening is near?
UPDATE 2115z: Since 2056z all spots have been from G4IKZ (18km). I think the USA opening on 10m WSPR is now over.
UPDATE 2150z: Just locals on 10m now for nearly an hour. QRT now on 10m WSPR. A good day though.
UPDATE 1830z: The 10m opening to North America is still in full swing.
UPDATE 1930z: W8QYT (5798km) at the moment is the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1912z. We'll see if any others spot me later. Somehow I doubt it.
UPDATE 2002z: As if just to prove me wrong KB9AMG (6300km) has just spotted me at 1930z and again at 1932z! K1OF (5500km) has now spotted me too as had WG2Z (5600km). This 10m stateside opening ihas not ended yet.
UPDATE 2056z: K4BYN (6231km) has just spotted me. Opening still going strong.
UPDATE 2100z: WB8ELK/01 (6872km) has just spotted me. I wonder if the end of the opening is near?
UPDATE 2115z: Since 2056z all spots have been from G4IKZ (18km). I think the USA opening on 10m WSPR is now over.
UPDATE 2150z: Just locals on 10m now for nearly an hour. QRT now on 10m WSPR. A good day though.
500mW 10m WSPR spotted in VK today
The image below is on VK6XT's website and not on this blog. If copyright or any other issues exist it will be immediately removed.
VK6XT (14719km) in Western Australia has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon twice already this morning.
4X1RF (3519km) and other "usual suspects" on the fringes of Europe are spotting me too on 10m WSPR.
At the moment, despite predictions of just "fair" 10m conditions, this is shaping up to be a very good day on 10m WSPR. It surprises me how good 10m often is when the forecasts are "fair".
UPDATE 1630z: It looks like VK6XT spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 6 times today.This was pretty impressive considering my antenna is nothing special at all.
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| http://vk6xt.com/communities/7/004/011/576/907//images/4586656359.jpg |
4X1RF (3519km) and other "usual suspects" on the fringes of Europe are spotting me too on 10m WSPR.
At the moment, despite predictions of just "fair" 10m conditions, this is shaping up to be a very good day on 10m WSPR. It surprises me how good 10m often is when the forecasts are "fair".
UPDATE 1630z: It looks like VK6XT spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 6 times today.This was pretty impressive considering my antenna is nothing special at all.
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| 10m VK WSPR spots of my 500mW today |
14MHz WSPR
Overnight, for a change, I decided to give 14MHz WSPR a go, although the PC decided to install updates at 0300z and turned off the computer! At breakfast I restarted everything. Stateside late at night and Europeans now. Will go back on 10m shortly.
UPDATE 0951z: Now back on 10m and 630m (472kHz)
UPDATE 0951z: Now back on 10m and 630m (472kHz)
Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 13th
Sunspot number has risen a bit to 56. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" yet again.
UPDATE 0958z: Only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m so far. Best DX on 472kHz (earth-electrode "antenna" and 5mW ERP) is a spot from G8HUH (250km).
UPDATE 0958z: Only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m so far. Best DX on 472kHz (earth-electrode "antenna" and 5mW ERP) is a spot from G8HUH (250km).
12 Mar 2015
RadCom Plus
This morning I received a request to write for RadCom Plus, the on-line RadCom supplement for members only. I shall have to think about this. My health is still not too brilliant but I do enjoy writing, so may try to give this a go. Need to think what to write about first, HI.
USA 10m WSPR spots
10m yet again opened to the USA this afternoon. First USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR was K4RCG (5995km) at 1312z.
UPDATE 1410z: It was a pretty uneventful morning on 10m WSPR. The usual stations on the eastern fringe of Europe spotting me plus a few inter-G stations until the band opened to the USA. At the moment the 10m band does not feel as lively as it did yesterday. Only 2 different USA stations spotting me so far today.
UPDATE 1506z: 10m seems to be lively now with all the usual USA suspects now spotting me again.
UPDATE 1920z: The 10m opening to the USA ended at 1928z with WG2Z (5600km) being the last to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Since that time just locals. Time to go QRT on 10m.
UPDATE 1410z: It was a pretty uneventful morning on 10m WSPR. The usual stations on the eastern fringe of Europe spotting me plus a few inter-G stations until the band opened to the USA. At the moment the 10m band does not feel as lively as it did yesterday. Only 2 different USA stations spotting me so far today.
UPDATE 1506z: 10m seems to be lively now with all the usual USA suspects now spotting me again.
UPDATE 1920z: The 10m opening to the USA ended at 1928z with WG2Z (5600km) being the last to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Since that time just locals. Time to go QRT on 10m.
SDR transceivers (more)
Several people have contacted me - thank you for the feedback so far. I have been reminded that the Elecraft KX3 has an SDR architecture and retails from about £850, ready built, in the UK, Of course with all the leads and options it works out considerably more expensive, but it is a very good unit.
Sunspots and 10m - March 12th 2015
Sunspot number is little changed on yesterday. It is 42 today. 10m propagation is expected again to be "fair" whatever this means.
I turned on my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon a few minutes ago. It usually takes about 20 minutes for the PA to warm and the box stabilise. I see a few Hertz drift in my very first reports then it is stable all day long.
UPDATE 0950z: My little beacon is still stabilising, so no reports as yet on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1020z: Almost as I was writing the above, G4CUI (172km) started to spot me on 10m. The unit has now fully stabilised. Reports are at the -24/-25dB S/N level. This is probably tropo and aircraft reflections. 172km is quite a distance for regular spots by tropo, but certainly possible. It would be interesting to see the screenshots from G4CUI to see if there are multiple Doppler shifted signals, which would suggest aircraft reflection. An absence of Doppler might suggest pure 10m tropo.
I turned on my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon a few minutes ago. It usually takes about 20 minutes for the PA to warm and the box stabilise. I see a few Hertz drift in my very first reports then it is stable all day long.
UPDATE 0950z: My little beacon is still stabilising, so no reports as yet on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1020z: Almost as I was writing the above, G4CUI (172km) started to spot me on 10m. The unit has now fully stabilised. Reports are at the -24/-25dB S/N level. This is probably tropo and aircraft reflections. 172km is quite a distance for regular spots by tropo, but certainly possible. It would be interesting to see the screenshots from G4CUI to see if there are multiple Doppler shifted signals, which would suggest aircraft reflection. An absence of Doppler might suggest pure 10m tropo.
11 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR
At the moment my 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna") is being copied by the usual suspects with the best DX spot being by being PA0RDT (243km). Although I shall go QRT on 10m shortly I will stay on 472kHz overnight.
SDR transceivers?
Recently I mentioned the 5W SDR transceiver from Italy by Elad which retails for £899 in the UK. This can be used with or without a PC. Clearly with a PC more features are available.
There are several more SDR based transceivers on the market such as the Flex 1500. There are also a few SDR transceiver kits. I wonder if readers have any favourites?
There are several more SDR based transceivers on the market such as the Flex 1500. There are also a few SDR transceiver kits. I wonder if readers have any favourites?
Firefox crippled?
Maybe it is just me and my Win 8.1 PC, but today I am having great problems with my Firefox web browser, which in the past has been both reliable and stable. The program seems to freeze on several bookmarks (notably Facebook) and I have to restart the PC to recover. I just wonder if a recent Windows Update (installed earlier) has upset it?
Anyone else suffering in the last day or so with Firefox?
I hope Microsoft is not trying to act dirty. Not saying they are - but it seems odd that all my problems have just started today. If I were to make a browser change it would be to Google Chrome.
UPDATE 12.3.15 1410z: I deleted the Facebook bookmark and replaced it. All seems well with Firefox.
Anyone else suffering in the last day or so with Firefox?
I hope Microsoft is not trying to act dirty. Not saying they are - but it seems odd that all my problems have just started today. If I were to make a browser change it would be to Google Chrome.
UPDATE 12.3.15 1410z: I deleted the Facebook bookmark and replaced it. All seems well with Firefox.
Not amateur radio!
Today my XYL and I visited a couple more churches near Cambridge. I have updated my East Anglian Churches Blog. Sadly we have found more locked churches of late, usually as a result of thefts. All very sad. I am pleased that most churches are not locked.
10m USA WSPR spots today
WB8ELK/01 (6872km) was the first in the USA to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon today at 1328z. Quite a few other USA station are spotting me too. It was a good morning on 10m WSPR: I was spotted in Western Australia twice.
UPDATE 2040z: Opening to USA and Canada on 10m WSPR still in full swing.
UPDATE 2104z: USA stations still spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. It is now several hours after dark here. Will this opening never end? I shall stick on 10m until this opening ends. At some point the band will just die out to the USA. The last 2 spots were -16 and -19dB S/N. Often signals are strongest just before the band dies out on a given path.
UPDATE 2125z: This is amazing. Just a few moments ago my 10m 500mW beacon was still being spotted by WB8ELK/01 (6872km). I am staying on 10m for a while yet.
UPDATE 2215z: It looks like the opening to the USA ended (for me) with the 2118z spot by WB8ELK/01. Only locals spotting me since then. Considering 10m was only expected to be "fair" it was in good shape with a couple of spots by Australians this morning and a long opening to North America this afternoon and this evening.
UPDATE 2040z: Opening to USA and Canada on 10m WSPR still in full swing.
UPDATE 2104z: USA stations still spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. It is now several hours after dark here. Will this opening never end? I shall stick on 10m until this opening ends. At some point the band will just die out to the USA. The last 2 spots were -16 and -19dB S/N. Often signals are strongest just before the band dies out on a given path.
UPDATE 2125z: This is amazing. Just a few moments ago my 10m 500mW beacon was still being spotted by WB8ELK/01 (6872km). I am staying on 10m for a while yet.
UPDATE 2215z: It looks like the opening to the USA ended (for me) with the 2118z spot by WB8ELK/01. Only locals spotting me since then. Considering 10m was only expected to be "fair" it was in good shape with a couple of spots by Australians this morning and a long opening to North America this afternoon and this evening.
Sunspots and 10m - March 11th 2015
Sunspot number has risen slightly to 43 but 10m propagation is forecast to be "fair". Already though my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been spotted by VK6YS (14479km) and several on the edges of Europe.
10 Mar 2015
Last 10m USA spots this evening
The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was K9AN (6505km) at 2016z. As I said before, I missed the start of the USA opening as I did not start until later today.
Since 2016z only locals G4IKZ (18km) and G3YAC (12km) have been spotting me.
I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR but I am still active on MF (472kHz).
Since 2016z only locals G4IKZ (18km) and G3YAC (12km) have been spotting me.
I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR but I am still active on MF (472kHz).
70cm UKAC tonight
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| Stations worked this evening with 5W/5el on 70cm SSB |
GPS
These days, we take satellite navigation such as GPS so much for granted. I am told that the best resolution using satellites for civilian use is now down to 30cms but for military uses the resolution is better still. It seems quite incredible that GPS is nowadays routinely embedded in smart phones and we just assume we can find our position with great accuracy. Such accuracy came about as a result of a military project way back in the Cold War.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System .
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System .
70cm UKAC this evening
Last week I mended my 2m/70cm antenna so it rotates again. This evening is the UKAC March 70cm leg. With a 5el and 5W pep it is highly unlikely I'll win even the low power section but I hope to be on long enough to work a few stations before my stoke affected voice tells me to stop.
Sunspots and 10m propagation - March 10th 2015
Sunspot number is lowish again at 29. 10m propagation was forecast to be "fair". When I turned on my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon earlier this afternoon, the band was already open across the N.Atlantic. I had my U3AC course on "Maps in the Digital Age" until after lunch.
UPDATE 1826z: Still wide open to the USA and Canada.
UPDATE 1940z: The 10m band is still open across the North Atlantic.
UPDATE 1826z: Still wide open to the USA and Canada.
UPDATE 1940z: The 10m band is still open across the North Atlantic.
9 Mar 2015
Kindness
One thing my stroke has taught me is that there are a lot of good and kind people in the world. I have been so grateful for all the genuine kindness. These good people have expected nothing in return. They have just been so very kind. It has been wonderfully heartening to find out just how kind and generous people are.
I had G6ALB help me with antennas, countless offers of help to build my "Ultimate 3" kit from people all over the world, and today I received a crystal for my 40m Pixie in the post from Andy Cutland in Jersey.
We hear a lot about bad things but rarely the good news. I am giving you this now: in my experience the good and kind people are all over the world. A million thanks to all of you who have helped me or offered help. It really was/is appreciated.
I had G6ALB help me with antennas, countless offers of help to build my "Ultimate 3" kit from people all over the world, and today I received a crystal for my 40m Pixie in the post from Andy Cutland in Jersey.
We hear a lot about bad things but rarely the good news. I am giving you this now: in my experience the good and kind people are all over the world. A million thanks to all of you who have helped me or offered help. It really was/is appreciated.
Elad SDR transceiver
From Italy come the news of the Elad SDR transceiver, which was featured in RSGB's RadCom last month. This is being sold in the UK for £899. It is an SDR 5W transceiver covering from 9kHz to 54MHz. It can be used with or without a PC. It has 0dBm output at all frequencies and 5W in the amateur bands. Looks a very nice radio.
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10m USA WSPR spots today
Despite the low sunspot number, today people in the USA were spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon early. KC2GMM (5562km) was the first today at 1210z. This is one of the earliest yet. Even with a sunspot number of just 23, the 10m band is open to the USA. Promising for future weak peaks.
UPDATE 1415z: Plenty of USA and Canadian stations currently spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon.
UPDATE 1645z: 10m is still wide open to the USA and Canada.]
UPDATE 2006z: The transatlantic opening is still going strong but I shall have to go QRT as I need the same antenna for 40m. KC2GMM (5562km) was the last stateside station that copied me, but I suspect I would have been heard by stateside stations later.
UPDATE 1415z: Plenty of USA and Canadian stations currently spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon.
UPDATE 1645z: 10m is still wide open to the USA and Canada.]
UPDATE 2006z: The transatlantic opening is still going strong but I shall have to go QRT as I need the same antenna for 40m. KC2GMM (5562km) was the last stateside station that copied me, but I suspect I would have been heard by stateside stations later.
Young amateurs?
When I was fit and healthy, I gave quite a few talks to radio clubs in East Anglia. One thing is very apparent: our hobby is mainly an interest of men and older men at that. Of course, there are the odd exceptions. In some clubs membership was good, whereas in others not so good.
What is very clear is that unless young blood is soon attracted and kept, our hobby/interest will die out within 20-30 years. I notice that this was a topic on the Southgate News Page today. I don't think this is just a UK thing, although in the USA I see licence numbers are at an all time high.
Certainly, the pure magic of radio we experienced when my generation was young is no longer a draw: it is possible to Skype video across the globe instantly via the phone in your hand nowadays. In my youth, the only way to communicate around the world really was by amateur radio and for that you needed to pass the RAE.
No, we need to find what fascinates the younger generation and use that as a lure. It is the whole future of our interest that is at stake here. To me, radio is still magic, especially QRP. However I can see this is not a source of fascination to today's youngsters, to whom texting and mobile internet are second nature.
What would draw in and keep young people fascinated by our hobby today? I think the word "fascinated" is important. As a youngster, radio communications fascinated me and has kept me interested for a lifetime. It is this fascination that is missing today I think.
What is very clear is that unless young blood is soon attracted and kept, our hobby/interest will die out within 20-30 years. I notice that this was a topic on the Southgate News Page today. I don't think this is just a UK thing, although in the USA I see licence numbers are at an all time high.
Certainly, the pure magic of radio we experienced when my generation was young is no longer a draw: it is possible to Skype video across the globe instantly via the phone in your hand nowadays. In my youth, the only way to communicate around the world really was by amateur radio and for that you needed to pass the RAE.
No, we need to find what fascinates the younger generation and use that as a lure. It is the whole future of our interest that is at stake here. To me, radio is still magic, especially QRP. However I can see this is not a source of fascination to today's youngsters, to whom texting and mobile internet are second nature.
What would draw in and keep young people fascinated by our hobby today? I think the word "fascinated" is important. As a youngster, radio communications fascinated me and has kept me interested for a lifetime. It is this fascination that is missing today I think.
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