Sunspots and 10m - Tues Oct 6th 2015

With a sunspot number of just 15 (K=4) and 10m propagation expected to be "poor" it would be a brave man who forecasts decent results on the higher HF bands today, but you never can be sure! I shall have my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on shortly, but I'll give 6m a miss again today. I may well be on 472kHz WSPR later.

472kHz WSPR with the 2m big-wheel and feeder

As an experiment, I have loaded up the feeder and 2m big-wheel on 472kHz. I am using the earths from my earth-electrode "antenna" as grounds. Matching and tuning are done with a ferrite rod coil that I found after being lost!

UPDATE 1545z:   M0LMH (223km) was the first station to copy me.  So far he has copied me 4 times at -26/-27dB S/N. It is still very light here and in IO93 square, so I assume this is ground wave.

UPDATE 1848z: M0LMH (223km) has spotted me many times as has local G4KPX (14km). G8HUH (250km) has been spotted. As yet, I have not spotted any Germans or been spotted by any.  At the moment, the results suggest the vertical feeder is not as great as I might have expected. I may try changing the grounds tomorrow.

UPDATE 1955z:   DH5RAE (995km) has been spotted 58 times in the last week.  Although it is too early to be sure, initial indications are that the vertical feeder and 2m big-wheel is no better than the earth-electrode "antenna". The feeder and top capacity hat is not a great 472kHz antenna as much of the feeder is low. I really need a dedicated 472kHz antenna and proper ground directly outside the shack to improve my ERP dramatically. Compromise antennas are "OK" but I could do much better.

Rev George Dobbs G3RJV?

One of my fríends has expressed concern about George. Several emails have gone unanswered, which is not like him. Does anyone know if he is OK?

George, if you read this blog could you update us please? We are concerned for you.

UPDATE 0905z next day:  Does anyone have any news please? I do hope George is OK.

Russian air strikes in Syria - NOT amateur radio

Well, I have mixed feelings over these. It would be much better if Russia and the USA would agree who the real enemy is and sort things out. This is the first Russian air action since WW2 outside of the old USSR, I believe. Russia clearly wants to be seen in the Middle East. It is also looking to Syria for forward bases in the region. Indiscriminate bombing is not the answer.

472kHz WSPR

Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX and there were 14 unique stations logged since teatime yesterday. G3XIZ (46km) was the last station logged - Chris was very strong last night- but I shall probably go QRT on this band until later. Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX remains 995km, again last night and previously.

Unique stations received on 472kHz WSPR last evening and overnight

I may give 472kHz WSPR TX (5mW ERP) another go later i.e. this evening and overnight. My antenna for RX and TX is still the short baseline earth-electrode "antenna" buried in the garden. It works quite well, surprisingly.

IC7300 blog

See http://ic7300.blogspot.co.uk/ .

My comments on the mystery behind the disappearance of the ICOM IC7300 in UK adverts appeared on amateurradio.com and drew several comments. The consensus seems to be that dealers had not been expecting this product and they were rather caught by surprise. Maybe we will not see it until next year?

The ICOM IC7300 still looks a better radio than the Yaesu FT991, although lacking 2m and 70cm coverage, but adding 4m in the European version. The IC7300 SDR architecture is capable of better performance and lower BOM (bill of material) costs than the Yaesu FT991. If the IC7300 is delayed it gives Yaesu a real selling advantage.

More on Sputnik tests

This email came from Mike Rainey AA1TJ overnight:

"Dear Oleg and All,

I was QRV today in the late afternoon with one GF45011 transistor made by Western Electric in April of 1961. This is the same Germanium transistor type that was used in the original "Vanguard 1" satellite. I was very pleased to have received this as a gift from Jack Ward; curator of the online, "Semiconductor Museum."

http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_VanguardTransistors.pdf  

My GF45011 oscillator/transmitter produces 10mW on 21.060MHz. While receiving this oscillator becomes my receiver beat-frequency signal source. My Morse code keyer switches the 21MHz oscillator between the antenna and receiver via a miniature DPDT electromechanical relay. The single-balanced direct-conversion mixer, or product-detector, uses a pair of 1N4148 diodes, followed by a two-stage audio amplifier. The antenna is an end-fed 44m wire erected 10m off the ground.

I was QRV too late to hear any DX signals today. I also did not make any QSOs, but I hope to be on-the-air after breakfast tomorrow morning. 

I wish you all the best of luck!

Beep-beep,

Mike, AA1TJ "

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Oct 5th 2015

With a sunspot number of just 18 (K=3) and 10m propagation expected to remain "poor" we should not expect great things today of the higher HF bands. Any good results on 10m will be a pleasant surprise. So far just spots by local G4IKZ (18km). I am not on 6m today. I shall be on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) all day - ever hopeful! In the past 10m has surprised me with good results when the solar forecasts were "poor". A bit like the UK weather, HI.

UPDATE 1438z:  Well so far today 10m has resulted in just early spots from G4IKZ (18km) and no DX at all so far. It said it would be "poor" and so it has proved so far.

10m WSPR to Brazil again

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was received several times in Brazil again around teatime. As yet, there are no signs of reception in North America (USA or Canada) this autumn although I was spotted in Canada one evening a few weeks ago. I was hoping that I'd be getting regular spots on 10m from the USA by now.

Back on 472kHz RX (with preamp)

I am again looking on 472kHz RX (with preamp) for WSPR spots. DK7FC (669km) is the best DX so far. Stefan is always a good signal.  At the moment he is still not that strong but I expect he will be much stronger after dark.

UPDATE 1730z:   DK7FC is already 12dB better than when first spotted on 472kHz WSPR. It is still light here.

UPDATE 1752z:   DJ0ABR (983km) is the best DX so far tonight.

UPDATE 1815z:   DK7FC is now over 20dB stronger.

UPDATE 2101z:  With 13 unique spots so far, 472kHz WSPR is proving productive.