2m digital TV

At the moment I am doing a test over a 7 mile path with G3KKD who has a 1W 2m digital TV TX.  The signal is getting across the path, but too weak to decode. We are about to try a different 2m antenna at my end. G3KKD wants to try the path to Luton (he has a friend Arthur there) but wanted to try this shorter path first. There is a core of keen DATV experimenters all trying to reach each other.  I am not sure if anyone in the UK is using the 4m NoV band for digital TV tests.

UPDATE 1652z:   Success!  Using Ian's 3el 2m antenna on his portable mast we were able to see pictures well over the 7 mile path with 1W DATV on 2m. This means my antenna or feeder are not working correctly. When I swap to a big-wheel or big-wheel stack with new feeder it may well perform better than I expect.

6m WSPR - CN8LI again

CN8LI (2113km) is coming in pretty well on 6m WSPR again. We exchanged spots just after lunch. He is still a good signal here at nearly 1400z.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues August 4th 2015

Sunspot number is 62 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor".  Es may be the saving grace on both 10m and 6m. We are still very much in summertime conditions. As yet, I have seen no evidence of transatlantic openings by Es on either 10m WSPR or 6m WSPR. There may well have been openings but with few stations active (especially on 6m WSPR) these may have gone unnoticed.

SignaLink off overnight

Overnight I spotted G0OQK (98km) several times on 6m but he did not copy me. Then I realised my interface was off so it worked on RX but not TX. Now on!

ON7KB (299km) again spotted on 6m WSPR

There was Es today on 6m and what appears to be tropo in the form of a WSPR spot of ON7KB (299km) quite recently. I shall stick around on 10m and 6m WSPR overnight. I did a hard reset of the 10m beacon about an hour ago so it should be spot-on during the night. The 6m WSPR is directly linked to internet time, so should be fine.  I'll go back to 630m (472kHz) WSPR tomorrow evening, unless 6m is magic tonight and shows signs of transatlantic DX, which I somehow doubt.

UPDATE 2112z:  All quiet on 6m WSPR now.  I shall have to give random MS another go on 6m. I listened (looked) a few seasons back and was surprised what came through using one of the digital modes (forget which one though!).

Project "on hold" - AM Tenbox

Like many of my projects, this transceiver is "on hold" due to my stroke. I am still too unwell to do much in the way of designing and building. One day, not too far away, I hope to complete this project. If anyone else wants to do this, please use my schematic as a starting point. With a small PCB it would make a nice club project.

It will make an ideal simple rig for nattering across town, especially as 10m loses its fizz and starts to act more like a vhf band again. Such conditions may be with us for years. I fancy putting this in a box like the old Heathkit Lunchboxes with a proper LS amp and LS.

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

Windows 8.1 - NOT amateur radio

More from the font of all knowledge Steve G1KQH. Like many, I had no idea about this key and hidden menu:

Did you know about this command on Windows 8.1 ?

Subject: Windows Key + X | Windows 8 Forums

Did you know about this on Windows 8.1?

http://www.win8forums.com/threads/windows-key-x.758/

6m WSPR

So far, 6m WSPR has been quite productive today with quite a few EU stations (and CN8LI) spotting me or being spotted by Es. As long as conditions remain like this I shall stick on 6m WSPR.

10m/6m Es - early morning Italians

They call it sporadic E or Es yet it is surprising how often my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m is copied in Italy very early in the mornings, often before breakfast. Whatever triggers the Es must be just right for this path early in the morning. Often Scandinavians and more northern stations are more common later in the Es season and in the evenings.

UPDATE 0708z:  Now DK7UG is spotting my 10m WSPR beacon strongly. No signs here of Es on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 0906z:  One Italian spot by Es on 6m WSPR so far - IU1DZZ (973km) at 0748z.

UPDATE 1132z:  EA1KV (1304km) spotting me on 10m WSPR but only Nick G0OQK (98km) being copied on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1205z:  EA1KV and I are exchanging spots on 6m WSPR and CN8LI (2113km) just spotted on 6m WSPR.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon August 3rd 2015

Sunspot number today is 51 (K=3) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" today.  Es will be the main mode for EU and nearer DX.