Been away from home

2 of our grandchildren

We are back home now and I am beaconing on 10m and 6m WSPR again, but I have been off the air for a few days visiting our son and his family near Canterbury in Kent. I took no radio gear with me and blog entries were few and far between. Normal service has now been resumed.

Sunspots and 10m - May 11th 2015

Although conditions are more disturbed today, sunspot number is virtually unchanged at 134 (K=4). 10m propagation is expected to be just "fair".

Tenbox 10m AM transceiver

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox

This very simple 10m AM transceiver is based on the Fredbox and Sixbox transceivers. This is designed for local communications and NOT DX. Although the RX and TX have been breadboarded, illness has prevented the project being boxed. It would benefit from a 10dB TX linear and a RX LS amp such as an LM386 stage. More details on my main website.

Sunspots and 10m - May 10th 2015

Sunspot number is 136 today (K=3) and 10m propagation "good" again.

Well, that was a surprise - NOT amateur radio

With all the UK General Election results in we have a majority government with no coalitions needed.  All opposition has been crushed with leaderships up for grabs in all opposition parties apart from the SNP. Honestly this was a total surprise to most if, if not all, of us.

Sunspots and 10m - May 9th 2015

Sunspot number has climbed to 135 and for once 10m propagation is forecast to be "good" for the first time in weeks.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

Please, if you have not done so already and you are in the UK, get out and vote. We live in a free country and this is our democratic right. The MP we choose, irrespective of party politics, represents us. Although I have not voted for his party for over 40 years, our local MP and his team have always researched my questions and got back to me with a considered reply.

The result of the UK General Election is too close to call and I expect we will be ruled by another coalition government, although it could be some weeks before we know the mix and flavour.

Shortwave Interval Signals

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/interval  .

For a touch of pure nostalgia try the link above. Like many, my first experience with short wave was as an SWL, listening on a simple receiver to some of these broadcasters. Many were trying to indoctrinate me whereas all I was really interested in was a QSL card! I recall some great gifts from China! I heard some impressive DX back in the 1960s.

Of course radio amateur DXing came later and  radio amateurs ran considerably less power. These days I regularly copy stations running less than 5W from the other side of the planet, but I can still recall the thrill of hearing a 5kW broadcaster in the Windward Islands and copying Radio Australia on a crystal set - all the way from Australia too!

10m WSPR - such a poor day!

Apart from locals G4IKZ and G4KPX the only other station to spot my 10m WSPR today was LB9YE (1533km)in JP54pu (Norway), I presume by Es.  This is, so far at least, one of the worst 10m days that I can recall in recent years. Not even EA8BVP has been copying me, if indeed he has been active.

UPDATE 1635z:  EA8BVP (2986km) has just spotted me at -20dB S/N. Maybe I spoke too soon?

UPDATE 1820z:  No, with just a couple of spots by EA8BVP  and little else this is "a bad hair day" on 10m WSPR. Certainly the worst for a long time.

UPDATE 1915z:   Still no sign of DX stations. Just 2 spots by EA8BVP, one by LB9YE and spots by locals. Will give it a few more hours then QRT on both 10m and 6m. May watch the election results for the first hour or so.

6m WSPR - just Gs

So far today, quite a few spots given and received on 6m WSPR, but sadly they are all from UK stations. No signs of 6m Es so far today. These are the unique spots on 6m today. Most stations have been spotted many times.

6m WSPR uniques today so far.  No great DX!