Sunspots and 10m - Tues Oct 27th 2015

Sunspot number today is 72 (K=1) but forecasts for 10m remain "poor". Despite this, 10m seems in good shape to me (see earlier post). It never fails to amaze me how I seem to get good 10m results when the forecasts are "poor". Moral is to never give up on this band which is full of surprises!

Australia already on 10m WSPR!

As well as spots from RA3, LZ and EA8 I see that VK2KRR (16789km) was spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 0942z this morning. This looks promising for another good day on 10m. Recent reports from LZ have been very strong.

On 6m WSPR, all quiet so far today.

UPDATE 1136z:  Apart from Australia, the best 10m DX report today so far is from FR1GZ (9724km) at 1058z.

UPDATE 1415z:  The first 10m WSPR spot from the USA today was W4DEX (6390km) at 1250z. There have been plenty more USA spots since.

QRT on 10m WSPR

My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was closed down about 15 minutes ago. It is some hours since I was spotted by any DX stations. It will be back on again around breakfast time in the morning. As has been the case for several days now, USA spots are a common occurrence, and likely to be regular now unless conditions are very bad.

OFCOM ......again

See the latest from OFCOM. Oh dear me, they really do try so hard to justify their existence! Bureaucrats and all that matters is £££!

"This document sets out Ofcom’s decisions on outstanding issues connected with the award of the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz spectrum bands. In particular, it sets out our decision to proceed with an auction of all the newly available spectrum without imposing spectrum caps, and our decision on the reserve prices that will apply to spectrum awarded in the auction."

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/2.3-3.4-ghz-auction-design/statement/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2.3-3.4-ghz-auction-design-statement

Last words on Sputnik Days?

From ON6WJ and Oleg....

"to Sputnik

dear Oleg (and radiofriends)
thank you very much for the magnificent “Sputnik” Certificate:
Here proud to be the owner of such exclusive “Award”
will print this on “brilliant photopaper” to decorate the shackwall.
Here no contester at all , neither a chaser for Diploma’s,Awards or Certificates,
but this “Souvenir” will be cherished ,always remembering me the ufb  QRPp QSO’s we had !

Spasibo Oleg

Jos
ON6WJ
(ps Sputnik Certificate already to see at my QRZ.com page hi)

> Dear Space Friends,
> Thanks for all operators taken part in the Sputnik QRPp Days!
> I send memorable certificates for all "Cosmonauts" and "Astronauts".
> The  list  of  all  participants  over  all  years  (2015 and before)
> published on the "Sputnik" page of Club 72 site - www.club72.su
> Cosmonauts: AA1TJ, DL3PB, OM6TC, ON6WJ, UA1CEX, UA3UAD, US5EVD
> Astronauts:  AA1TJ,  DL3PB,  OK1DPX,  ON6WJ,  RV3GM,  UA1ASB, UA1CEG,
> UA3UAD, UI7K.
> Also,  you can see results and pictures on the "Archive" page of Club
> 72 site.
> If  I  miss or forget somebody or something, put my nose to the facts
> :-)
>
> 72! beep-beep-beep...
> Deep Space Communications Center
> operator on duty -
> Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

10m in good form (again)

FG5LA (6689km) was the first South American to spot me at 1224z on 10m WSPR. Again, I was using 50mW to my indifferent antenna.  The first USA spot was W4DEX (6390km) just 2 minutes later. Since then, other USA stations have spotted my little beacon as well as being spotted by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km).  Already the little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been spotted in 5 continents today.

As I needed the PC for something else, I went QRT on 6m WSPR some hours ago.

World Climate - NOT amateur radio

Opinions vary widely on the effect Man may be having on the climate. Some say it is mostly down to Man whereas others say the world has always gone through heating and cooling cycles.

I was interested in this NASA site as it is from the USA. Until very recently both the USA and China have denied that our climate is changing. Of late, both seem more disposed to look at the evidence.

There is little doubt in my mind that it is up to Man to help keep the rise in global temperatures within safe limits. Whether or not Man is to blame we can argue later. The world needs a co-ordinated effort. It can be done.

Active again on 10m and 6m WSPR

Bothe the 10m and 6m WSPR stations were turned on again before breakfast Plenty of Russian spots on 10m WSPR by F2. I think today will be another decent day on 10m WSPR. 6m? We'll see.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Oct 26th 2015

Sunspot number has fallen to 63 today but K=1 so conditions are not very disturbed. 10m propagation is again forecast to be "poor", although yesterday there were lots of USA stations on 10m WSPR and conditions in the CQWW SSB contest seemed fine on 10m. As I've said many times,when the 10m forecast is supposed to be "poor" I have got some of my best DX on the 10m band!

QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR

So I closed down my WSPR stations on 10m and 6m at about 2045z. The chance of hearing any more F2 DX on 10m is nearly zero and on 6m WSPR I have copied, and been copied, by not a single station all day. Both 10m and 6m WSPR should be active again after breakfast tomorrow.

10m and 6m WSPR - Oct 25th 2015 - update

So far today, I have received 16 unique reports on 10m of my little 500mW WSPR beacon. Of these, 9 were from the USA.

Unique 10m WSPR spots today (but more below)

So far, 6m WSPR has been very quiet with not a single spot given or received all day.

It is still possible other stations may spot me on either band. I continue to look for others 80% of the time on 6m.

UPDATE 1752z:  K5XL (7660km),  WJ9H (6361km) as well as KD4RLD (6402km) spotting me on 10m WSPR, so now 19 unique station spots with 12 different USA stations. Much better than yesterday by a long way.

UPDATE 1935z:   The last 10m USA spot appears to have been at 1800z.

CQWW SSB contest

10m is filled with contest stations from across the Atlantic. After a quick contest exchange with a Canadian station (worked with 5W SSB), I have gone back to 10m WSPR instead. With my poor voice, an HF contest was just too much hard work! In the past I have filled pages in the logbook in CQWW SSB, but I know I can work these stations if I persevere, even with 5W, so I decided to give it a miss.

Currently I am on 10m and 6m WSPR.

Title change

You may have noticed the very slight title change.  Although the vast majority of posts will continue to be amateur radio related, a few are on other things. These other posts are proving quite popular so I shall continue to add other stuff from time-to-time. When not amateur radio related I hope to continue the trend of saying, "NOT amateur radio" so people can choose to ignore these posts if they want.

A reminder the URL of this blog is http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.co.uk/.

Plenty of USA spots today on 10m WSPR

W4DEX (6390km) was spotting me as early as 1240z. There have been plenty of USA spots on 10m today. At the moment, things look better than yesterday, even though the sunspot number is a bit down and conditions were expected to be more disturbed. In 2 minds whether or not to bother with CQWW SSB contest. I don't feel brilliant and may stick with WSPR to save my voice.

UPDATE 1436z:  6m WSPR remains stubbornly quiet with no spots given or received on that band again today.

10m Es or backscatter?

I4ZTO (1185km) is spotting me on 10m WSPR. This is too close for F2 (I think) so I wonder if this is out of season Es or F2 backscatter?

The UK and China - NOT amateur radio

The wooing of China by the UK bothers me. This last week we have bent over backwards to "love" China. I guess this is a move to get inward investment, more exports and help with our nuclear power plants. At the same time China is carrying out a sabotage job on UK manufacturing (partly of our own making) and soon we will have no industry left at all, with all our manufacturing in China or its neighbours.

No, I have the feeling this is not in our best interests at all.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34626936 .

Early 10m F2

UB9OCQ (4859km) in MO95ek square is the best DX spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon so far today.  There have been plenty of WSPR spots from the far eastern edge of Europe too on 10m this morning.

So far today, 6m WSPR has remained very quiet.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Oct 25th 2015

Sunspot number has dropped back a bit to 74. K=3 so conditions are a little more disturbed. 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". With CQWW SSB contest in full swing expect plenty of 10m SSB activity this weekend. I am currently on 10m and 6m WSPR but may come try CQWW later, although these days I prefer WSPR - I never enter HF contests but may try them to work a new country, although I only use QRP.

Strictly Come Dancing - NOT amateur radio

This is the only "reality" show on TV I watch. "Strictly" makes good entertainment on a cold autumn evening, with tea on a tray and a small glass of wine in front of the fire. My XYL enjoys it more but I do enjoy it too. In my teenage years I enjoyed ballroom dancing, although that was a long time ago!

Even though in the lounge I still monitor WSPRnet to see what is happening on 10m and 6m WSPR.

First 10m WSPR spot today - FR1GZ

Although I was very late getting on 10m WSPR today the first spot was by FR1GZ (9724km). As yet, nothing on 6m again. Our younger grandson only left mid-afternoon.

UPDATE 1555z:  The first USA 10m spot  today was W4DEX (6390km).

UPDATE 1630z:   W4DEX (North Carolina)  is the only 10m USA spot today at present. I guess there could be more later, but I doubt it.

UPDATE 1708z:    Several spots on 10m from K9AN (6505km). The USA spots are still coming in. Overall, conditions did not seem quite as good as in recent days on 10m with fewer different USA stations spotting me.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Oct 24th 2015

Sunspot number is 91 (K=1) but 10m is forecast to be "poor" again. CQWW SSB contest is in full swing with good signals from LU and PY stations, but I feel too exhausted to take part today. Maybe I shall try tomorrow? Today I have just turned on the 10m 500mW WSPR beacon and the 1W 6m WSPR station.

We have had our younger grandson with us until about 1 hour ago and I think this has taken it out of me. I was fine yesterday.

Time to go QRT

The last USA spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR signal was at 1740z and that was K9AN (6505km). Since them just local G4IKZ (18km) and G4CUI (172km) by a mix of tropo and aircraft reflection. 6m WSPR has been quiet all day. Now it is time to go QRT.

Another UK Rally

Sunday 25 OCTOBER : 26th GREAT NORTHERN HAMFEST
Barnsley Premier Leisure Complex, Queens Road, Barnsley S71 1AN or follow the brown Metrodome signs. GNHF in association with SYRG. OT 10am, TS, SIG, C, FAM. Ernie, G4LUE, 07984 191 873. www.gnhf.co.uk.

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

6m WSPR today

I have been active on 6m WSPR most of the day but no spots whatsoever given or received so far. I am looking for others 80% of the time on 6m. It was a bit surprising that not a single G was copied on 6m. On 10m there were some nearer Europeans so I wonder if this was out of season Es?

Both 10m and 6m WSPR will be active here for a few hours yet, so there is still a chance of copying some Gs on 6m WSPR.

Tomorrow and Sunday I hope to be active for some of the time in the CQWW contest on 10m SSB. Most activity is likely to be on Sunday afternoon. A lot depends on my (poor) voice.

Park and Ride - NOT amateur radio

Younger grandson and XYL

Today we went into Cambridge to visit the Dinosaur Museum (free and on the Sedgewick Site) and John Lewis for a snack with our younger grandson.

We used the "Park and Ride" bus for the last part of the journey as we can use our bus passes and it saves worrying about the city traffic and parking. In John Lewis we treated our grandson to some Lego too.

Best day on 10m WSPR this season so far

6 x 10m WSPR spots from Australia, plenty of USA spots as well as Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. Today the 10m forecast was "poor" but, for me, it has been the best day on 10m this autumn. What do "good" conditions bring on 10m?

Last words on Sputnik QRP tests?

These emails came in from Bert and Oleg:

"Hello dear Sputnikers,
Although I did not participate on the bands, I enjoyed to follow your
"adventures" here on the Sputnik Days report.
I enjoyed all, from the wigwam shack to Pampus.
Thanks to all.
73, Bert PA1B"


"Dear Space Friends,
> I enjoyed all, from the wigwam shack to Pampus.
> 73, Bert PA1B
Bert,  thank you very much for nice comments! Hopefully, milliwatting
will be continued all the year, not only in Sputnik Activity Days. We
can inform about mW results here in discussion e-mail group any time.
Dead  line  for  all Sputnik Days results is October 25. Send me your
results/pictures/comments  if anybody forget it before. After October
25  I'll  send  e-mail  nice  art  memorable  Certificates  for  all
participants    (including   assigned  personally honor titles, hehe)
Club  72  art designer Vlad UR0ET (Dnipro, Ukraine) have hardly works
with it now - thanks Vlad!
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Oct 23rd 2015

With a high solar flux (119) and a decent sunspot number of 94 (K=1) I am surprised to see 10m only expected to be "poor" today. Yesterday it was "fair".  On the face of it conditions look at least as good as previous days and possibly a little better.  Only time will tell.

I shall turn on 10m and 6m WSPR shortly.

UPDATE 0940z:  Early 10m WSPR spots by F2 from 4X1RF (3519km) bode well for the day. Two spots on 10m WSPR by VK2KRR (16789km) are even better!! Remember this is meant to be a "poor" day on 10m!

Solar Panels? - NOT amateur radio

Just received this from Steve G1KQH. I thought about solar panels on the roof but decided not to in the end. Our electricity bill is well below average already due to widespread use of LED and economy lights. I doubt solar panels would repay the investment in my lifetime. Also they have a finite lifetime too. Also new panels are getting smaller and more efficient all the time.

"The washing stacked up there wasn’t enough produced to heat the kettle? Soon the subs will be nowt..

 

Only once in Summer did the output peak at 3.9KW read on:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-3281593/Why-shouldn-t-solar-panels-ve-saved-hundreds-driving-poor-wife-twist.html

 

Glad I have never bothered.

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/"

More 10m F2 DX

At 1324z I got a spot from FR1GZ (9724km) on 10m WSPR.  A few minutes later he spotted me again twice. It looks likely that my little 10m WSPR beacon will be spotted in the USA later.

UPDATE 1855z:   USA spots started today at 1542z. There seem to be spots from the USA on 10m WSPR most days now.

UPDATE 1924z:  Lots of Germans on 10m WSPR. Out of season Es?

UPDATE 2010z:  All quiet now on 10m and 6m WSPR, although I shall be on both bands overnight.

6m Es?

At 1104z IK1WVQ (1076km) was spotted on 6m WSPR. This may well have been Es, even though it was at an odd time of the year.

UPDATE 1425z:  I think this was Es as it was only the single spot. Out of the blue then gone again. I was glad to be around for this. This is where WSPR scores.

More quangoese?

The latest from OFCOM to justify their existence? Really I have no time for bureaucrats who add no real value. Sorry if I am being harsh but my own dealings with OFCOM have been crap.  All they do is hide behind "the law" and to a man/woman they seem unable to make decisions. Bring back pragmatists and sack the rest! Unless they add value they serve no purpose.

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/general-policy-on-information-gathering/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general-policy-on-information-gathering

Another UK Rally

I have been notified of another UK rally. Please note this is this weekend. I get sent these reminders by the Cambridge Club.

Saturday 24 OCTOBER : 6th FOG ON THE TYNE RALLY
Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead NE8 4LH, organised by Angel of the North ARC. OT 10.30am, £2, TS, B&B, RSGB bookstall, C, CP. Nancy Bone, G7UUR, 01914 770 036 (eves), nancybone2001@yahoo.co.uk. www.anarc.net.

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

Back on 10m and 6m WSPR

Rather later than planned I have been on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR since about 1100z. It takes about 15-20 minutes for the 10m beacon crystal to stabilise, whereas the 6m WSPR (which uses the FT817 and PC) usually stabilises more quickly.

UPDATE 1112z:  Quite a few 10m spots from Europeans by F2 (I think), but nothing further yet. As there was 6m propagation to Italy I wonder if we there was some Es today?

UPDATE 1204z:   Recent 10m spots of 4X1RF (3519km) are probably F2.

Sunspots and 10m Thurs Oct 22nd 2015

Sunspot number is 73 today (K=2) and 10m is expected to be "fair" again. 10m propagation should mean my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon will be copied in the USA again. A sunspot number of 73 and K=2 implies reasonably settled conditions.

The Search for Life in the Universe - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon I have my U3AC course on the above subject. We have a great variety of courses in Cambridge. We are very lucky having many ex-university people with a wish to share their vast knowledge.

Someone turned the switch on!

Although the locals are not active or they have their beams away from me, I can see clear evidence of F2 spots on 10m WSPR appearing. EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) and LZ1OI (2153km) have both spotted me lots of times today already on 10m WSPR this morning. It bodes well for the day.

UPDATE 1635z:  Plenty of USA 10m WSPR spots now. This is the 4th day in a row that I've had 10m WSPR spots from the USA.

CQWW Contest

Although I am not a great contest fan - although I do like the VHF and UHF RSGB UKAC contests on Tuesday evenings - I usually go on 10m SSB for the CQWW SSB contest. The SSB leg is this coming weekend. Last year I forgot it (doh!) and the year before I was in hospital. Although we have visitors for some of the time, I hope to be on Sunday PM and occasionally beforehand. It is a good chance to work lots of stations.

Even in quiet sunspot years CQWW usually brings out the stations.  It is a good contest although I have never used much power or actually submitted a score. See you there?

Next autumn will be very interesting: sunspot numbers will have fallen but I bet CQWW will prove 10m is open despite this. Often lack of activity on 10m makes a band seem "closed". All it needs is a bit of activity to prove this. This is where 10m WSPR should prove its worth.

See http://www.cqww.com/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Oct 21st 2015

Sunspot number has fallen slightly to 77 (K=3) but 10m propagation is again expected to be "fair". We have seen USA 10m spots now for several days in a row and I expect this to continue, except on very disturbed days, until the spring.

Clocks go back in the UK this weekend! Dark evenings. CQWW SSB this weekend.

Back on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR

After a temporary glitch with the PC (internet time sync failed) I am now back on both 10m and 6m WSPR. It takes about 15-20 minutes for the 10m beacon to stabilise. Anyway, back on both bands.