9 Feb 2016

More QRP Club

From Oleg...

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,

the Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Net report of the last week here -
http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
G3UD became new honor frequenters of the "rendezvous" round tables.
See  full  "visitors"  and  "frequenters" lists on the Club 72 page -
www.club72.su
Note! All new visitors I subscribe to this "72 Newsletter".
Welcome  all  QRP  operators  to  QRP  Rendez-Vous  round tables, see
schedule  on  the  Club  72  page,  please.  Comments  and  pictures
appreciated.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72""

 

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,

just  uploaded  totals  page  of the Winter "Snowman" QRP Field Game.
There are the totals table, soapbox and photo gallery - enjoy that!
Links for results from "Snowman" or "Archives" in menu - www.club72.su

The Winners by nominations:
UA0SBQ - the lowest temperature in the field position
UA1CEG - the unusual original field position
RU3NJC - the original home brew radio in the field
RV3GM - the lowest power in the field
Z35M - the greatest number of QSOs in the field
UT8NR - the greatest number of QSOs with field operators in home
R4NX, UA1AQC, UA1ASB - the most absurd comic position design

Thanks all for game, for comments and for pictures!

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
=== In QRP We Trust! ==="

8 Feb 2016

10m DX again

As well as spotting the USA again this afternoon, spots were exchanged (both ways) with 9Y4DG (7207km) on 10m WSPR. His QTH is Trindad and Tobago.

KX3 and FT817

Further to my earlier comments in a blog post yesterday, I have received several comments about both rigs. The general view remains that the performance of the KX3 exceeds that of the FT817ND although it is in many ways less suited to field use than the FT817.

I have never owned a KX3 as these are very expensive in the UK. I own both a very old FT817 and a recent FT817ND. For the modes I use mostly, the FT817s do a great job. I just wish Elecraft radios were not so expensive and looked, and were, more robust. I for one would think twice about using an expensive KX3 as a field radio. I am sure they work really well, but they look flimsy. A fully loaded KX3 is currently more than twice the cost of the FT817, which is a fine radio. My FT817 gets used from MF (with my homebrew transverter) all the way to 70cms. The FT817 has worked all over the world, including indoor handheld SSB QSOs with the USA.

For the avoidance of any doubt I love the FT817 radios and would like a KX3 for home use, if the latter was less expensive.  My views, others may not agree.

If you have views, please leave your name and callsign. In future, unattributable, anonymous, unkind, comments will be deleted.  I want to foster debate, but please keep it civil.

QSYed to 10m WSPR

At 0930z I went QRT on 40m and moved up to 10m WSPR. It will take a few minutes to stabilise before any WSPR spots appear. Any spots (received or given) will be a bonus on 10m today. As before, 20% TX at 2W and 80% RX.

UPDATE 1006z:  Well, yet again some surprises on 10m WSPR. Already VK2KRR (16789km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR,before 1000z and I have spotted a Russian.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Feb 8th 2016

Solar flux is good again at 117. Sunspot number is 84 (not bad at all) although K=4 so quite disturbed. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. I am not expecting great things of 10m today.

Stroke or old age? - NOT amateur radio

When driving the car I seem to drive less fast than I did. To me, 50mph seems more like 60mph or faster. It is as if the world seems faster to me, at least on the roads. Also, I seem much slower doing things these days. I put these down to my stroke 2.5 years ago, but I guess I am getting older and slower.  At 67 I don't think of myself as very old though.

When our children were little we had a family joke about drivers with hats. There seemed a high correlation between drivers with hats and slow, doddery drivers. We put this down to age (most hat wearers were old) and maybe they started driving before the driving test became compulsory?

Anyway, I guess I am looked at as "a hat" these days,  even though I don't wear a hat to drive! Ho hum!

USA again on 40m WSPR this morning

After the Canadian spot last evening, I was spotted in the USA a couple of times around breakfast time this morning on 40m WSPR with the low antenna. I'll stay on 40m WSPR a little longer, then move up to 10m WSPR for the rest of the day.

7 Feb 2016

QSYed to 40m WSPR

After a very successful day on 10mWSPR, I have now moved to 40mWSPR overnight until tomorrow morning. As yet, there are no spots either given or received.

UPDATE 2150z:  Luckily I noticed that the "Enable transmit" was not on. It is now enabled. As yet, it has not gone on to TX.

UPDATE 2235z:   My first 40m WSPR spot was by VE2DPF (5260km) at 2222z.

Aldi - NOT amateur radio

For a long time, fellow blogger Steve G1KQH and my relatives have been urging me to shop at Aldi's. Sadly, our nearest Aldi's is in Ely, which is a fair bit further by car than our nearest Waitrose or Tesco. I have noticed that prices for a weekly shop seem to have gone up by around 20% at Waitrose when groceries and food generally have had negative inflation. As we were going to Ely anyway this afternoon, we called in at Aldi's to do a basic shop. For branded items you do indeed pay far less than at Waitrose. Either Aldi has very low margins or Waitrose is creaming off the profits. Either way, we'll go to Aldi's again when in Ely.  I like Waitrose as a shop, but do not like being ripped off.

10m is in good shape today - use it!

EA8/DL9XJ (2981km) has been spotted several times this morning on 10m WSPR along with Australia, Belgium and the  UK. I have been spotted in Australia, Israel and the UK on 10m WSPR a few times today too.  It looks like 10m is in quite a good mood!

A year from now it is likely to be a lot harder as the solar activity drops off. As I have said many times, even in the quietest years, N-S propagation supports QRP SSB contacts at times and Es is good at the right times of year irrespective of the sunspot cycle.

I am a great believer in WSPR (have you guessed?) and regular WSPR use of 10m will reveal the openings which otherwise would be missed.

UPDATE 1620z:  Several different USA stations spotted this afternoon on 10m WSPR here and KD6RF (7571km) has spotted me. The band is in good shape still.

Elecraft KX3

There is no doubt that the very best radio for QRPers is the Elecraft KX3. In the UK this is not low cost as VAT and duty are both payable if importing from the USA. One UK dealer sells either kits or ready made units. For the price of the KX3 you can buy a couple of Yaesu FT817ND radios covering more bands. The KX3 is the better radio. I guess one has to save up if one wants the Elecraft.
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/KX3_small1.jpg
This image is located on the Elecraft site and not on this blog. It will be removed if having the link is a problem.

See http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm .

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Feb 7th 2016

Solar flux is 118 (good) and sunspot number a respectable 71 (K=1).  10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" today.  Despite this "poor" forecast, my 2W 10m WSPR has already been spotted in Australia more than once and Israel.

I cannot tell you how often I have been spotted on the other side of the planet on 10m WSPR when the 10m forecast is "poor". Just go on 10m WSPR, regardless of the forecasts, as they are often no guide!  10m is still good - it just lacks activity: some think it is no good and go to lower frequencies. As WSPR proves, 10m propagation is still good. Like 6m, 10m is a magic band and you can never be sure.

6 Feb 2016

10m WSPR

As of about 1056z,  I closed down on 40m and have moved to 10m WSPR. It takes a few minutes for things to settle. On 10m, the cycle is as 40m i.e. 2W TX for 20%, followed by RX for 80%.

UPDATE 1112z: VK2KRR (16789km) has already been spotted and spots exchanged with FR1GZ (9724km) both ways. I have also been spotted in Brazil. A very good start on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1138z: 4X1RF (3519km) has also spotted me. Local G4KPX (14km) was spotted with -4Hz drift at 1124z. I was too late getting into the shack to check the WSPR-X screen, but this must be due to aircraft coming into or leaving Lakenheath or Mildenhall. Normally Richard shows no Doppler.  With aircraft reflections you often see multiple traces with different Doppler shifts. WSPR decodes the trace with least Doppler or fails to decode if it gets confused, even if the traces are strong.
10m WSPR spots to 1150z today
Conditions on 10m are excellent today. I think USA 10m WSPR spots are a near certainty this afternoon.

UPDATE 1810z:  Surprisingly, not a single USA spot today on 10m WSPR.  Lots of spots of G4KPX (14km) with large Doppler shifts by aircraft movements in the Ely-Burwell area.

UPDATE 1425z: G4KPX (14km) was spotted not long ago with a huge Doppler shifted second signal as strong as the direct signal. The Doppler shift was about 20Hz or more. I think the direct signal decoded. No USA 10m WSPR spots yet.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Feb 6th 2016

Solar flux is 122 (good) and sunspot number 113 (very good). K=2 which is also quite good. 10m propagation today is forecast to be "fair" again, so we could be in for a decent day on 10m WSPR.

Spotted in Australia on 40m

VK3WE (17019km) spotted my 40m WSPR at 0830z this morning. This was very pleasing considering the antenna is very poor and low on 40m. The actual ERP must be very low on this band. I was pleased with this and the USA 40m WSPR spots. Shortly, I shall QSY to 10m WSPR.

5 Feb 2016

Budding artist? - NOT amateur radio

The Santa Maria by our grandson, aged 6.

For a 6 year old I think our little grandson has REAL artistic talent. This is ALL his own work. We have seen him do similar and he totally switches off when doing this sort of painting or drawing. I think he could earn a living from his artwork when a grown-up. He loves drawing money!

Kaifeng Scroll - NOT amateur radio

There has been a fascinating TV programme narrated by Michael Wood about the history of China. I was particularly interested in the Kaifeng scroll  of the Sung dynasty.  Nearly 1000 years ago a Chinese artist created a massive scroll showing the capital city (of 1 million people even then) in immense detail. The scroll has been recreated with moving people and animals in a museum in Shanghai.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kRA9it9bKk .

Whatever your views on China today, it certainly has a rich history, much if it unknown in the West.

40m WSPR for the night

The 10m station hs been closed down as I was just spotting G4CUI (172km) and I am now active on 40m WSPR. So far, I see I have spotted EA4 and been spotted by TA2AEG (2547km) in Turkey on 40m WSPR despite a high local noise level on that band and a poor, low antenna for 40m..

10m WSPR - TX was NOT enabled

It was strange that I was getting no spots (of me) on 10m WSPR despite the band being wide open. I see I had not enabled TX.  How stupid can you be? Rather too late in the day, I have now enabled TX on 10m WSPR. W1VR (6965km) in Florida has been spotted several times.

UPDATE 1935z:  I have now gone QRT on 10m and QSYed to 40m WSPR.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge - more bikes!
Today we visited the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and had a very nice meal at a cafe at the URC church just down the road. Cafe prices were very good, as was the food. All the cafe staff are volunteers and many have mental disabilities. The Fitzwilliam has some famous exhibits.  It is funny how one takes this wonderful city for granted. People travel half way around the world to see sites we can see every day if we want, for nothing. I am sure a visitor would love Cambridge.

Inspiron battery issue

Advice needed! I am in need of some help please.

I have a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop which recently was updated to Windows 10. Most of the time it was used as the shack computer with a mains cable attached. Recently, it has been used elsewhere in the house mainly for web browsing. It has an after-market battery pack that is not that old.

My problem is the battery (which started at 30% charged) has gradually lost charge and now shows 0% and the laptop only works when plugged in on mains. Despite adjusting all the battery management plans the battery will not charge! I cannot see how to make it charge at all.

My question is....

Is there a way of making the battery charge, maybe by adjusting something in the BIOS?

Australia early on 10m WSPR

VK3KCX  (16883km) was being spotted here as early as 0820z on 10m WSPR. He has been spotted several times since at up to -18dB S/N running 5W.  Also spotted was VK6XT (14719km).  No spots yet of my 2W 10m WSPR. Things are certainly looking promising on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1530z:  Several spots of Australians on 10m WSPR this morning, but no spots of my 2W so far today.  G4CUI (172km) has been spotted several times since lunch.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Feb 5th 2016

Things are looking up.  For the first time in many weeks to 10m propagation forecast is"fair" rather than poor. Solar flux is 120 and sunspot number 95 (K=3).  Today should be decent on 10m.

4 Feb 2016

472kHz (630m)

Since moving QTH 2.5 years ago, I have been active (mainly at night) on 630m with my "antenna" that consists of 2 earth rods in the ground about 12m apart. The ERP was measured at 5mW.  Despite this, my best DX this winter was a WSPR spot by DH5RAE at 995km and last winter I reached 1047km to Norway.  On RX, I have copied stations even further away.

Although more ERP and a better antenna would certainly help, let no-one tell you either are necessary. A lot of fun can be had with just an FT817 and a simple transverter to an indifferent "antenna". On RX just the barefoot FT817 (a bit deaf on MF) is enough to decode most of Europe on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1944z:  I am about to QSY from 10m to 630m.

UPDATE 2018z:  Now active on 472kHz WSPR (20% 5mW ERP TX, 80% RX). QRT on 10m until tomorrow.

UPDATE 2026z:  DL6TY (629km - new?) and DH5RAE (995km) spotted.  Local G0VQH (15km) spotting me.

UPDATE 2106z:   DL-SWL (701km) is the best DX on TX this evening so far.

Yet more 10m Es, I think

As well as a spot from the USA by KD6RF (7571km) I see that I am spotting IK1WVQ (1076km). Although these latter spots could be back-scatter, I think it is wintertime Es yet again on 10m.

UPDATE 1840z:  Other short-skip stations copied here this evening on 10m WSPR.

Weather in the UK - NOT amateur radio


Our village green in winter
Some have been forecasting a very cold winter here. So far, we have had very little frost and lots of dull,wet days. The ground here in East Anglia is wetter than I can ever recall. If we do get a cold snap, this will be the first real snow here for several years. I'd say our weather is changing. East Anglia used to be cold and dry, but not any more.

Australia on 10m yet again today

VK2KRR (16789km) spotted my 2W 10m WSPR twice this morning. Despite the "poor" forecast for 10m, the band is again far from dead as WSPR shows. The band does need more activity.   It is still good for real DX. These days it is a lack of activity rather than conditions that is the main issue. People casually listen, hear nothing and go away.  My recommendation is try WSPR and you'd be surprised how good conditions are on 10m.  In a few years things will be a lot tougher but right now on 10m DX is still there to be had. Also, my antenna on 10m is far from the best and another 10dB of antenna gain should easily be possible. If you run 5W rather than 2W that is already about 4dB.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Feb 4th 2016

Solar flux is 112 today (quite good) and sunspot number is 78 (quite good). K index is 2 (not bad). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor", although I am expecting decent results today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1035z:  Just G8VDQ (93km) spotted so far on 10m WSPR, but it is still very early.

3 Feb 2016

Stoke, poor voice - NOT amateur radio

Today and in December I had appointments with probably the 2 best speech consultants in the UK. Sadly, both said the same - there is little wrong with my voicebox (both put cameras down my throat through my nose) and, as I have a neurological problem, there is nothing they can do for me. I hope my voice does improve, albeit slowly, but I guess I have to come to terms with the possibility that my voice might be poor for ever. There are things I can do to improve the situation - I cannot tell when my diction is poor or I am speaking too quietly (to me it sounds loud enough!) - so I need to work on these! Not long ago I was told I might never eat again and I proved them wrong. Let us hope I prove them wrong about my voice too.

QRP Club

More from Oleg...

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Firstly, thanks everyones for Snowman QRP Game support!
If someone have even one QSO with "field" stations in Snowman, fill the
declaration form on the page - www.club72.su please.

Remind  about  QRP  Rendez-Vous  round  table in Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays  at  9.00 UTC around 14060 (alt 10116 if Contests). Log and
comments to "mr72" e-mail please.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
=== In QRP We Trust! ==="

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Our son and daughter-in-law gave us an amaryllis for Christmas, which we potted in early January. After a slow start, it has shot up and will probably be in flower in the next week. There are 2 flower heads, one looks ahead of the other.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis .

10m WSPR

I have been on the band for about 15 minutes. So far, no spots given or received but it is still very early. TX is 2W 20% and I am on RX 80%.

UPDATE 1120z:  Still no spots on 10m yet today.

UPDATE 1328z:  KD0VWO (7412km) monitoring in Brazil has spotted me 6 times already on 10m WSPR. There is also some GDX with G0LUJ (278km) spotted. Not a bad start on a 10m band where the forecast was "poor". The lesson is, yet again, 10m is open more than you may think.

UPDATE 1406z:  These are the 10m WSPR spots today so far. ON7KO (295km) could be aircraft assisted tropo or pure tropo.
UPDATE 2010z:   Even more short-skip (Es?) this teatime on 10m WSPR in the form of SP5TWA (1302km) and YL2GL (1747km). Short-skip has been very good on 10m WSPR this winter.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Feb 3rd 2016

Solar flux today is 103 and sunspot number 52 (K=2). 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" again today. Yesterday the band was brought to life by a lot of short-skip, which I think was wintertime Es. I am again on 10m WSPR today.

2 Feb 2016

2m UKAC contest this evening

2000-2230z tonight is the second leg of the RSGB's 2m activity contest. I missed this last month still thinking we were in December! All being well, I shall be on 2m SSB (5W to the omni big-wheel) this evening. Because of my poor voice, 1 hour is about enough for me. I usually manage 5-10 QSOs with best DX 150-200km. At this time of the year there are fewer portable stations. I cannot blame them! These are very friendly contests which are aimed at focusing activity.

If you come on, you are almost bound to work someone, unless you are on some remote Scottish island. If you have 50-100W and a small beam, the whole of the UK is in range. Even with my QRP set-up, it is a bundle of fun.  I shall be using the FT817ND at 5W. Activity levels are usually good in these sessions. Even if you don't send a score in, it is a good way to work new squares (and maybe new countries) on 2m.

Next week is the 70cm leg.

Logs can be transcribed on line. If you are like me and usually work 5-10 stations only, this only takes a few minutes.

UPDATE 2130z:  I had to give up after about an hour as my voice was finding it very hard. Although I worked only 4 stations, I heard stations in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany, as well as stations on the Welsh borders. Most of the strong locals I usually work were not on and one was on but using "pounce and capture" so I never did manage to work them (G2XV). An enjoyable experience but another 10dB of power and 6dB of extra antenna gain would have made it a lot easier! My best DX was the Isle of Wight (216km).
Stations worked on 2m with 5W SSB and big-wheel this evening

10m short-skip (wintertime Es?)

Yet again, plenty of short-skip European stations on  10m WSPR today. This is probably wintertime Es, although we are moving into February now and the peak is usually December and January. I guess this could be back-scatter although the distance suggests Es as does the restricted a rea affected. If back-scatter I'd have expected a much wider spread geographically of stations.

UPDATE 1716z:  Still plenty of 10m short-skip, although no DX spotted here on 10m WSPR, unlike recent days. I think my antenna could be far better on 10m.

UPDATE 1838z:  SP5TWA (1303km) was spotted as late as 1836z on 10m WSPR. I shall stay on 10m WSPR until the 2m UKAC at 2000z, maybe later.
Unique 10m WSPR spots today - Es?
UPDATE 1930z:  HA9AL (1455km) is still coming in on 10m WSPR. This must be Es. He was still coming in at 1940z. I suspect 6m will have opened to central Europe too during the day, although I am not on that band currently.

BOF - NOT amateur radio


On Mondays I travel into and out of Cambridge on the bus. As a boring old f**t (BOF) I have a new hobby - "like" spotting. A teenage girl got on the bus and she said "like" 52 times in 2 miles. As a BOF I said nothing, you know what I mean like.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Feb 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 99 today with sunspot number 42 (K=2). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" although Australia has been possible on the last 2 days here on 10m despite a "poor" forecast!

1 Feb 2016

QSYed to 60m WSPR

At around 2045z I QSYed again to 60m WSPR. Most spots have been by Europeans although a few minutes ago I was spotted by KK1D (5409km) at 2210z. Up to now, no stations have been spotted here this evening. I am staying on 60m overnight and hope for some more DX. KK1D is in the south of New England,  USA.

UPDATE 2244z:    I have been spotted by KK1D again on 60m WSPR.

Australia again on 10m WSPR

VK2KRR (16789km) was spotted here this morning along with many Europeans by short-skip. Yet again, 10m DX is coming through. Never give up on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Feb 1st 2016

Solar flux is 100 and sunspot number 39 (K=3) today. 10m forecast for propagation remains "poor".  So far, just one OH spotted on 10m WSPR today.