IMF warns of stagnation - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/06/imf-warns-stagnation-threat-g7-economies .

OK this is the Guardian and it is a paper of the left, but this is worrying.

The growth in the west is not based on firm foundations. For a long time I have advocated living within our means and not on borrowed money at low interest rates. This will not last.

At some point debts have to be paid.

Julian Moss - almost a year on.

It is nearly a year now since Julian G4ILO died. He was a tower of strength and has been sadly missed. I used to read his blogs regularly. His "One foot in the grave" blog was inspirational. He tried everything to beat his brain tumour, but sadly it got him in the end.

More Sputniks

This just arrived from Oleg:

"Dear Space Friends,
First of all I happy to inform about Sputnik QSOs.
Thanks Cosmonauts Jos ON6WJ and Jozef OM6TC for reports and very nice
pictures of their Sputniks.
Using 800 mW TX on 3561 kHz Jos ON6WJ/S logged follow stations ON5JD,
PA0FOX, DG3DBO, ON4ADI, F3ET.
Jozef OM6TC used 100 mW two "rod" tubes TX 21060 kHz logged OM3PV.
Me, over a hour I CQ'ed on 14060 kHz with my "Vanguard" 50 mW but got
only  RBN  reports  from  DL,  HA,  SM  2...10 dB. Sorry no one alive
operator copied my "Vanguard" TX.
See pictures and read comments on the "Sputnik Days" page on the Club
72 site - www.club72.su
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

2m UKAC contest

This is on this evening from 1900z. The contest lasts for 2.5 hours, although I can usually manage only an hour or less because of my poor voice. I actually feel below par so an hour will be the most I can manage. I shall be using the FT817 at 5w pep and the 2m big-wheel horizontal omni.

UPDATE 2008z:  In the end I only stopped for about 30 minutes to make 4 QSOs as I was just too unwell to continue. Had I stopped on I am sure lots more QTH squares were workable.  On top of my other problems I think I may have caught a virus as I feel more exhausted and tired than I have done in over a year. Hopefully it will pass. At the moment I am WSPRing (RX only on 472kHz) with my Par tribander as antenna. This is an experiment as I can monitor WSPRnet on a laptop in the lounge.

472kHz antenna analysis

Because conditions vary so much, it is not possible to make sweeping statements about antenna effectiveness however I can draw some impressions.

Judging by my experiments on 472kHz last night loading up the 2m big-wheel and feeder, I have concluded that the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground works as well.  I am sure a much more efficient 472kHz antenna can be made but, looking at compromise antennas the earth-electrode  "antenna" is not at all bad. I suspect this works as a loop.

North Devon on 10m

G3XKR (347km) spotted me on 10m WSPR this morning. No-one else has spotted me so far today - no other Gs and no DX.   This is an odd distance: probably tropo, but possibly with the assistance of aircraft? With quite a bit of drift, it suggests aircraft may well have been involved.  G3XKR is more commonly on MF. In the past I have worked all over the UK with QRP SSB on 10m. I am surprised that there is not more GDX on 10m. I guess low activity levels on 10m WSPR don't help.

UPDATE 1235z:   Local G4IKZ (18km) is spotting me too.

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.

Sputnik QRPp Days

A reminder from Oleg has appeared in my inbox:

"Dear Space Friends,
tonight (October 4) at 00 UTC Sputnik QRPp Activity Days begin.
Over two weeks (before October 18) "Sputniks" (valves) and "Vanguards"
(pnp Ge transistors) will be sound "beep-beep-beep..." or "V V V...".
All  QSOs  are approved. SWLs must copy Sputniks or Vanguards QSOs or
CQs. See details on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
I  welcome  all  operators  to  take  a  part and looking for photos,
schemes,  comments  daily.  All info will be published on the Club 72
page,  on  the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/ also in the
mail "Sputnik" group and "72 Newsletter" bulletin.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

"Dear Space Friends,
don't  forget  to send reports about your Sputnik/Vanguard QSOs/SWLs,
please.  Also  pictures, schemes of your TXs are appreciate to add on
the Sputnik gallery.
Victor UA1CEX operate on the old valves military TX 1 W G5RV on 20 m.
Peter  PA0PJE  informed he QRV on 21 MHz on Sputnik clone TX with two
"rod"  valves.  Also Peter operate on 20 m with Vanguard TX on Ge pnp
AF118 transistors 40 mW.
Sergey RV3DSA informed about his 1960 valves TX made in Germany
RV3GM  used  50  mW  TX  on  14060  +/-  kHz  (old USSR Ge pnp GT320b
transistors) together with DC RX also on old Ge types transistors (CQ
and RBNs reports so far only).
Sorry,  I  have  not info about Sputnik/Vanguard QSOs for the moment.
Check "Sputnik Days" page on the Club 72 site - www.club72.su

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB "

Even later swallows - NOT amateur radio

Fenland sky today

Well, this is extraordinary.

Today along the River Cam, about 5 miles from Cambridge, I saw 3 more young swallows. It is Oct 4th 2015 today and this is weeks later than I have seen these locally before.

There are quite a few in Devon still but this is late for up here. Maybe it is because I am looking for them or these young birds are totally thrown by our mild,warm spell? Anyway, I was very pleased to see them today. There was no doubt that these were swallows, by their appearance, flight and movement in the air.

Maybe we should expect these summer birds to stay longer these days?  I used to think Sept 21st was late for this part of the UK, but today is October!

472kHz - some interesting observations

Overnight M0LMH (223km) was the most distant report of my 5mW ERP. Well done! On RX I copied 12 unique stations without the preamp and my best DX spot was 995km again, the same as with the preamp. There is no doubt the preamp helps, but it is interesting that without it I have managed to copy much the same stations, albeit with poorer reports.

I shall be back on MF again tonight, probably RX only with the preamp.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Oct 4th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen again. It is 47 today. K=4 so conditions are disturbed and 10m propagation remains "poor" today. So far just locals G4KPX (14km) and G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR. I have decided not to try 6m today.

UPDATE 1210z:  All very quiet on 10m WSPR so far with just local spots.

South Creake - NOT amateur radio

South Creake church

Yesterday we visited light and airy South Creake church in north Norfolk. I have updated the East Anglian Churches blog to include this. South Creake is a few miles south of the north Norfolk coast and not too far from Burnham Market. The church has been important in the village for over 1000 years.

Soon be time to QSY to 472kHz WSPR

6m WSPR has produced better results (so far) today than 10m, but only with spots of G stations. Tonight I shall leave 10m WSPR running, but QSY to 630m (472kHz) transmit (20%) and receive (80%).

Unfortunately I shall not be able to use the RX preamp, so this will really be a test for others looking for my 5mW ERP signal.  Copying a weak signal on a sometimes noisy band demands a very good RX system, so all credit to those who manage it.  In past DX seasons this has been detected on WSPR at more than 1000km.

I shall go QRT on 10m later this evening, but will probably run MF WSPR through the night.

UPDATE 1710z:  Although there was a weak carrier on 6m about 10 minutes ago, I have QSYed to MF now for the evening and overnight

UPDATE 1935z:  I realised at 1900z that I had not been reporting my ERP correctly as I forgot to reset this when I QSYed to 630m from 6m. This has now been corrected to 5mW ERP.  For the record, my 630m ERP has been 5mW all evening and not 1W.

UPDATE 2152z:  Just about to go QRT on 10m WSPR, but will stay on 630m WSPR overnight.

Football: Plymouth Argyle - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago this would be the stuff of dreams but this evening Plymouth Argyle are top of League Division 2.  Keep this up and they could even be promoted at the end of the season. Lots of games to go and a lot can happen, but how fortunes are transformed!

It is years since I last saw them play live, but at one time they were my local club. I wish them well. My second cousin has a season ticket. Peter Horn must be a happy man today. So different from a few years ago!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/plymouth-argyle .

All quiet (again) on 10m WSPR, pretty quiet on 6m WSPR

Although I have been getting decent reports on 10m from local G4KPX (14km) all day, not a single DX report has been received so far today. No G stations even at any range! Low WSPR activity levels on 10m do not help. Perhaps conditions were to disturbed, although I find this unlikely.

On 6m WSPR I have spotted a couple of G stations: G0LUJ (278km) and M0ICR (90km), but no-one has copied my 1W ERP vertical today on 6m WSPR.

Where is the IC7300?

Today, through the post, I got my November 2015 copy of Practical Wireless. Suspiciously I could find no pictures or mention of the ICOM IC7300 transceiver in any advert at all. It is almost as if all the dealers have been told in no uncertain terms to sell the current products and, on pain of death, do not under any circumstances mention the IC7300. I am not saying this as fact, but it is all rather odd. A month ago everyone was full of the news and products were expected to ship by the year end. Perhaps ICOM have had second thoughts or were losing sales of current products?

There were plenty of adverts for the Yaesu FT991, although even the best published prices have since been bettered. No, I am very suspicious about why there is no mention of the IC7300. Just one dealer OK, this I could believe, but all of them tight-lipped???

ICOM what is behind this? Is there a story we are not being told?

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Oct 3rd 2015

Sunspot number has fallen again and is 58 today.  K=4 so conditions are quite disturbed. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" and I am not exactly hopeful of decent 10m results today. We will see!

So far just spots from local G4KPX (14km) on 10m. As yet, nothing at all to report on 6m WSPR.  #

2m/70cm conditions were marginally up earlier when we had some early morning fog. I usually look for GB3VHF and beacons in Holland and Belgium. GB3LEU on 70cm is also audible. I use a 2m big-wheel horizontal omni antenna with RG213 feeder on both 2m and 70cm. The big-wheel seems to work well on 70cm. I hope to be active in the 2m UKAC session on Tuesday evening for as long as my voice holds out.

QSYed to 472kHz (630m) MF

About a minute ago I QSYed from 6m to 630m (RX only). 6m is rarely good at night but, especially with the preamp, MF is quite productive in the evening and overnight. First spot was of DF6NM (824km) at -20dB S/N.

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX so far this evening

UPDATE 2021z:  DF6NM has already been spotted a couple of times followed by F1AFJ (607km), followed by DJ0ABR (983km). I wonder if this evening and night will see any new stations spotted?

More UK Rallies

I  have been notified of the following upcoming UK rallies:

Sunday 4 OCTOBER : BRITISH VINTAGE WIRELESS SOCIETY AUTO JUMBLE
The Angel Leisure Centre, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1SF. OT 10.30am to 4.30pm. Stalls £30, admission £5, early admission from 9.30am £10. Bookings/enquiries 01892 540 022 (8pm to 9pm only). www.audiojumble.co.uk.

Sunday 4 OCTOBER:  BLACKWOOD ARS RALLY
Rougemount School, Newport NP20 8QB. TI 145.550MHz, CP free, OT 10am, TS, CBS, B&B, SIG, C, LEC. Andy, 01495 220 687, andy@mw0mwz.co.uk.

Sunday 4 OCTOBER:  HORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY
Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks HU18 1NQ. OT 10am, CP, TS, B&B, SIG, RSGB, RAFARS, LB, C, DF, WIN. Details from Rick, M0CZR, 01964 533 712, R106221@aol.com. www.hornseaarc.co.uk.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Best 6m inter-G DX

G3XHB (271km) in IO94 square was spotted on 6m WSPR this afternoon. He is using 5W and a 6m beam, which I assume is horizontal. I think this was tropo and aircraft. This is my best inter-G DX spot on 6m WSPR. His QTH is Richmond on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

So far, 10m WSPR has been remarkably quiet with my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon being spotted by no-one so far this afternoon. It was so quiet that I did a resync and had to check it was working OK. It was.

UPDATE 1745z:   M0ICR (90km) was spotted on 6m WSPR this afternoon. Judging by the Doppler, I think this was tropo and aircraft reflection.

Late late swallows - NOT amateur radio

A surprise today was seeing 2 late (for this part of the world) swallows at Little Walsingham. I was not expecting these at all. I am pretty sure this is the latest I have ever seen these in East Anglia (Oct 2nd). They were probably a late brood and no doubt our settled warm weather is leading to some confusion! A few sharp frosts will soon trigger them to get a move on and head south on their long migration.

Sunspots and 10m - Oct 2nd 2015

Sunspot number in 73 (K=3) today and 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. I see that the trans-Pacific path from the USA to Australia was open on 10m yesterday. Some of these spots were 16000km plus.  It remains to be seen what DX is possible on 10m from here today.

UPDATE 1932z:  Still no spots received at all on 10m WSPR. I shall leave 10m running until later this evening, but will probably move from 6m to 630m RX only this evening and overnight.

Away

Sorry there were no posts yesterday, but we were away for a couple of nights at Little Walsingham in Norfolk. Back today and I have been on WSPR on 10m and 6m since about 1215z.

Little Walsingham is a delightful Norfolk village a few miles south of the North Norfolk coast. Little Walsingham is well known for its shrines which are a focus for pilgrimages.

There are a few shops in the village selling what can best be described as "religious tat": over-priced rubbish probably made by slaves in China. If you want kitsch these shops are the place. Most of the village though is quaint old houses and lovely.

Early spot on 10m WSPR from Reunion Is

It is only 1048z and already my little 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted in Europe, Asia and Africa . Conditions on 10m are the best I have seen them this autumn season so far.

6m WSPR

After several days with no success at all on 6m WSPR, giving or receiving spots,  I decided to give the band a miss. My usual pattern has been 10m and 6m during the day with 630m (472kHz) overnight. Sod's Law will no doubt apply and my absence on 6m will herald some super TEP and the best conditions on 6m for many years! I can just imagine! Well, it is not the end of the world if it happens.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Sept 30th 2015

Sunspot number has dropped back a bit to 125, which is still respectable. K=0, so conditions are undisturbed and the propagation forecast for 10m is still "fair". Some reasonable F2 conditions are possible on 10m. If we are lucky there might be a little "out of season" Es on 10m WSPR as well.

UPDATE 0924z:  So far, just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR,  but it is early still. I decided not to bother with 6m WSPR today.

UPDATE 0940z:  Just after writing the update above 4X1RF (3519km) in Israel spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.  F2. Today should be a good day on 10m.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

Overnight no new stations were received on MF. Just the same stations, some at good strength.

South America on 10m WSPR

KD0VWO (7412km) monitoring in Brazil has copied my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon again today. This is not the best DX today, but good to see my signal getting to South America. The question is will there be any North American 10m WSPR spots tonight?

UPDATE 2014z:  No signs of any North American spots on 10m WSPR. I shall be going QRT on 10m shortly. Below are the unique stations spotting me on 10m WSPR today. Note that the KD0 is actually monitoring in Brazil and not the USA.

Unique spots of my 10m WSPR beacon today

UPDATE 2042z:  Now QRT on 10m WSPR but will be monitoring 630m RX only overnight.

Even lower price for the Yaesu FT991

Steve G1KQH has just informed me that the Yaesu FT991 is being sold at £991 by Moonraker until stocks are exhausted or Oct 4th. I am sure we will see lower prices still in the months ahead. I can see MLS, Waters and Stanton and others doing battle.

The question is what price will the IC7300 be?  Once this becomes available there will be a price war between the UK dealers to offer the best deals. I expect even now a better deal can be had for the FT991 if paying cash and not looking for terms.

A price war is brewing....

Re-tarring the windmill - NOT amateur radio

The 200 year old restored windmill next door is getting a new coat of tar. The mill currently has a cog problem which is preventing the sails turning in the wind and grinding corn. They are hoping to fix the issue. The picture was taken from our drive. Inside, you can climb to the top (great view), although my health has prevented me doing so since the restoration.

Processing weather satellite images

This is not my thing but others may find this of interest if you enjoy weather satellite images. I am content to put seaweed out the window here or even watch the BBC weather! The latter seems only to be correct if we have a long settled period here in the UK. So, you do as well looking out of the window.

See http://www.satsignal.eu/  .