As you know only too well, I love QRP. No TVI, no noisy fans, low electricity bills, etc.. Yes there are times when more power helps - this I do understand. However, most contacts at QRP levels are fun, and this is something that I enjoy.
Our hobby is such that it can be enjoyed in many different ways: if you chose to run 1kW and a beam and rag-chew, that is fine by me. If you like satellites that is fine too. All I am saying is QRP is fun. Two-way QRP is even more rewarding, especially if some of the gear is home made. I like 472kHz as my transverter was designed and built by me. Details are on my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk .
Over the years I have managed well over 100 DXCC countries with QRP SSB. Others have worked far more countries than me. I hope this does not sound boastful: it is intended to encourage others. Even in the worst years of solar cycles N--S paths are sometimes workable with QRP SSB on 10m.
If you think high power is necessary, may I invite you to turn the power down to 5W? You may be surprised by what you can still work, even with SSB.
7 Apr 2016
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs April 7th 2016
Solar flux is 88 but sunspot number is just 13 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation is yet again "poor". I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes.
UPDATE 1135z: No spots, as yet, on 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1135z: No spots, as yet, on 10m WSPR today.
Best ever TX DX (5mW ERP) on 472kHz WSPR from this QTH
Last night, I was spotted by LA9IY (1393km) for my best ever TX DX from this QTH on 472kHz WSPR . In all, 10 different stations received me last night on 472kHz WSPR. As usual, I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Performance amazes me.
Yet again, this proves you do not need lots of power or big antennas on this band. Simple works. QRP rules!
Yet again, this proves you do not need lots of power or big antennas on this band. Simple works. QRP rules!
6 Apr 2016
AM and AM Modulation
Someone suggested I put this on my blog, so here goes with a brief introduction.
My favorite method is series modulation using a transistor as the "modulation" stage. The modulated RF stage is set so the stage voltage is close to half rail. With modulation the voltage swings to close to full rail (4 times the power). This stage is followed by a linear amplifier to bring the power up to that required. I used this in my Fredbox and Sixbox rigs without a linear. If I ever do a simple Tenbox AM rig I'd add a linear RF stage.
See Fredbox .
See Sixbox .
Don't forget that if you click on a picture or schematic on my website a larger version is usually available.
AM rigs are simple to build. I am truly surprised that these have gone out of favour in recent times. Surplus PMR AM rigs can often be found for almost nothing. Back in the 1950s and 1960s AM was the predominant mode on HF and VHF.
There is plenty of space for AM on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. A decent AM rig should only occupy 6kHz or less of bandwidth.
My favorite method is series modulation using a transistor as the "modulation" stage. The modulated RF stage is set so the stage voltage is close to half rail. With modulation the voltage swings to close to full rail (4 times the power). This stage is followed by a linear amplifier to bring the power up to that required. I used this in my Fredbox and Sixbox rigs without a linear. If I ever do a simple Tenbox AM rig I'd add a linear RF stage.
See Fredbox .
See Sixbox .
Don't forget that if you click on a picture or schematic on my website a larger version is usually available.
AM rigs are simple to build. I am truly surprised that these have gone out of favour in recent times. Surplus PMR AM rigs can often be found for almost nothing. Back in the 1950s and 1960s AM was the predominant mode on HF and VHF.
There is plenty of space for AM on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. A decent AM rig should only occupy 6kHz or less of bandwidth.
D-star Cubesat
Southgate Amateur Radio News has a report today of a D-star transponder on a Cubesat. I ahve to admit that I am not "turned on" by these digital modes. It seems to me we are in for a standards war in the coming years. I am happy to sit this one out until the punters decide on one. System fusion, C4FM, D-star, DMR?? Others? Who cares!
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/dstar_satellite_to_launch_from_kourou.htm#.VwTc_L6LWzk.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/dstar_satellite_to_launch_from_kourou.htm#.VwTc_L6LWzk.
Sunspots and 10m - Wed April 6th 2016
Solar flux is 83 today. Sunspot number is 27 today (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor". After yesterday, I am not expecting much on 10m, but I might get a surprise!
QRT on 630m WSPR and now back on 10m WSPR
After a relatively quiet night on 630m WSPR during which I was copied by several different Dutch stations, I have now returned to 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 0945z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet.
UPDATE 1558z: Still not a single 10m WSPR spot here all day.
UPDATE 0945z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet.
UPDATE 1558z: Still not a single 10m WSPR spot here all day.
5 Apr 2016
Back on 630m (472kHz) WSPR
Since around 1900z I have been active on 630m WSPR. There have been lots of spots given and received. It would not entirely surprise me if my 5mW ERP signal is spotted in Norway again tonight. LA8AV is quite strong here tonight.
Concert - NOT amateur radio
My wife's concert was last Saturday and she spent part of this morning
erasing pencil marks from the many scores borrowed by inter library
loan.She now has a break until the autumn when they start rehearsals again for the 2017 concert which is Elijah by Mendelssohn.
The next concert will be at the West Road Concert Hall. which is an excellent venue in Cambridge. It is where the university music school is located.
The 2016 concert was good and enjoyed by the very full audience who attended.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 5th 2016
Solar flux was 82 and sunspot number 23 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today.
UPDATE 0915z: No 10m spots so far, although this is expected as it is still very early.
UPDATE 0942z: G4CUI (172km), to the west of Sheffield, has been spotted on 10m WSPR. He is often spotted here.
UPDATE 1256z: G4CUI spotted again, but no DX on 10m.
UPDATE 0915z: No 10m spots so far, although this is expected as it is still very early.
UPDATE 0942z: G4CUI (172km), to the west of Sheffield, has been spotted on 10m WSPR. He is often spotted here.
UPDATE 1256z: G4CUI spotted again, but no DX on 10m.
2m UKAC tonight
A reminder that the 2m leg of the RSGB's UK activity contest is tonight at 1900z for 2.5 hours. I shall be on with 5W QRP and the big-wheel omni. I seem to be able to work out to about 200km, although I usually only stay on for an hour or less because of my poor voice. 8-10 QSOs and I'm done in!
UPDATE 2025z: After 8 QSOs I was done in. So I stopped after 50 minutes on air. Best DX was the South Coast with G4RUL/P (172km).
UPDATE 2025z: After 8 QSOs I was done in. So I stopped after 50 minutes on air. Best DX was the South Coast with G4RUL/P (172km).
 |
| 2m QSOs tonight with 5W SSB and big-wheel in 50 minutes |
630m overnight and back on 10m WSPR
Quite a few spots on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight,but no great DX either way (i.e. spots given or received). Best DX on TX were spots from PA land (306km). I did spot LA on RX (1035km) but he did not spot me last night.
I have now gone QRT on MF and started up the 10m WSPR for the day.
I have now gone QRT on MF and started up the 10m WSPR for the day.
4 Apr 2016
Another low cost rig from Yaesu?
See http://www.qrpblog.com/2016/04/yaesu-ft-891-new-hf50mhz-transceiver.html .
The date of this was April 1st, so this may be a wind-up. If it is, like me, you have been fooled!
YO9IRF/M0HRH reports on his blog about on the Yaesu FT891. As reported, if true, it is a mobile-sized rig covering HF-50MHz.
As I said, this could be a wind-up. Caveat Emptor. It was also picked up by Amateur Radio Weekly, so if a joke, they were fooled too!
They claim this is not an April Fool wind-up. I hope this is correct.The FCC data does look genuine enough. If a hoax it is a very complex one. The question is, if genuine, will it be available in Europe and at what price?
The date of this was April 1st, so this may be a wind-up. If it is, like me, you have been fooled!
YO9IRF/M0HRH reports on his blog about on the Yaesu FT891. As reported, if true, it is a mobile-sized rig covering HF-50MHz.
As I said, this could be a wind-up. Caveat Emptor. It was also picked up by Amateur Radio Weekly, so if a joke, they were fooled too!
They claim this is not an April Fool wind-up. I hope this is correct.The FCC data does look genuine enough. If a hoax it is a very complex one. The question is, if genuine, will it be available in Europe and at what price?
50W red LEDs cheap on eBay
Bernie G4HJW recently posted to the UK Nanowave Yahoo about some powerful red LEDs that he bought from China for just £2.80. A couple of these are more powerful than the 10mm LEDs that I used in non line of night tests (when I was fitter) but even without any lenses! It would seem these would be ideal for optical tests. 50W is a lot of power. This was Bernie's post. I trust he won't mind me sharing it with you all:
"Morning all - This might be of general interest:
I recently bought a couple of 50W red LEDs from China, which I thought I might use in a wide-angle initial set-up lantern for portable use. They were very cheap (£2.80), so I also expected there would be dead segments, which there were, but there was a bigger surprise waiting to show itself.
During this weeks UK uwave group net, Martyn G3UKV asked me how wide the spectrum was, so out came my trusty secondary school Spectroscope. Instead of the expected relatively narrow response, there was noticeable output right through to yellow plus a weakish narrow line at the violet end. This should have been an obvious clue, of course, but it was only later when I was telling Stuart G8CYW (sorry about all the name dropping..) that he suggested that the LEDs might be fluorescent driven devices, just like the white lighting LEDs all seem to be these days. He was correct, as the following picture shows:
http://www.earf.co.uk/uvred.JPG
Note that in pealing back some of the fluorescent gell, all but one of the individual 1W UV leds have been destroyed. Not obvious from the picture is that these LEDs are embedded in an initial clear silicon rubber prior to the red fluorescent layer being applied. From supplier ebay pictures, it is now clear that the same UV driven devices are available in all colours, leading to the question - does this produce an overall increase in efficiency, or is there simply a significant cost saving in just fabricting UV LEDs?.
I've yet to measure the response time of the fluorescent material.
Bernie
G4HJW"
Working with simple optical gear was one of my great pleasures, so I very much hope I can do this again. Optical gear is easier than microwaves. All my kit was home designed and built and the test gear simplicity itself. For details of my optical work see http://www.g3xbm.co.uk . G4HJW and others know far more than me in this area. I consider myself very much a novice in this area.
"Morning all - This might be of general interest:
I recently bought a couple of 50W red LEDs from China, which I thought I might use in a wide-angle initial set-up lantern for portable use. They were very cheap (£2.80), so I also expected there would be dead segments, which there were, but there was a bigger surprise waiting to show itself.
During this weeks UK uwave group net, Martyn G3UKV asked me how wide the spectrum was, so out came my trusty secondary school Spectroscope. Instead of the expected relatively narrow response, there was noticeable output right through to yellow plus a weakish narrow line at the violet end. This should have been an obvious clue, of course, but it was only later when I was telling Stuart G8CYW (sorry about all the name dropping..) that he suggested that the LEDs might be fluorescent driven devices, just like the white lighting LEDs all seem to be these days. He was correct, as the following picture shows:
http://www.earf.co.uk/uvred.JPG
Note that in pealing back some of the fluorescent gell, all but one of the individual 1W UV leds have been destroyed. Not obvious from the picture is that these LEDs are embedded in an initial clear silicon rubber prior to the red fluorescent layer being applied. From supplier ebay pictures, it is now clear that the same UV driven devices are available in all colours, leading to the question - does this produce an overall increase in efficiency, or is there simply a significant cost saving in just fabricting UV LEDs?.
I've yet to measure the response time of the fluorescent material.
Bernie
G4HJW"
Working with simple optical gear was one of my great pleasures, so I very much hope I can do this again. Optical gear is easier than microwaves. All my kit was home designed and built and the test gear simplicity itself. For details of my optical work see http://www.g3xbm.co.uk . G4HJW and others know far more than me in this area. I consider myself very much a novice in this area.
IC7300 video
Sunspots and 10m - Mon April 4th 2016
Solar flux is 82 today and sunspot number higher at 38 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation is still "poor" but 10m looks a little more promising than yesterday, which was dire here.
I am about to switch on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1735z: No 10m WSPR spots all day.
I am about to switch on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1735z: No 10m WSPR spots all day.
3 Apr 2016
Redgrave and Lopham Fen, Suffolk - NOT amateur radio
 |
| River Waveney |
 |
| Marsh Margolds |
car. Although I enjoy the walks, I get very tired by the end.
QRP
More from Oleg:
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
See full QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report (March 28 to April 3, 2016)
including comments and picture at the Club 72 blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors of week: HB9DAX, UR7VT, EA5IGL, DL6YAU, HA5AZC/p, RV3GM, UA1CEG/p, UR0ET, ON6KZ, RU3NJC, EW1CY, R6TQ, F8DGY, OH5LP, R1OA, GM3OXX, RD7K, OM6TC, OK1KW, UA1ADF, R4NX/p, UA4NU, UA1CEX, SM6NT, UA1ASB, DL4HG, RA1M, OH6NPV, UA0SBQ, UR4MME, LY2H, MM0CYR, EA2AO/m, R4AAR, RW3AA, EA8YV, G6HUI, OH7QR
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists at - www.club72.su
Schedule of QRPRendez-Vous "round tables" on the Club 72 page.
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" is continue now. To become
Marathon'ers visit Club 72 page and create account on the Marathon
page. You can do it during all April. Enjoy QRP and have a Marathon
certificate in May.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
See full QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report (March 28 to April 3, 2016)
including comments and picture at the Club 72 blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors of week: HB9DAX, UR7VT, EA5IGL, DL6YAU, HA5AZC/p, RV3GM, UA1CEG/p, UR0ET, ON6KZ, RU3NJC, EW1CY, R6TQ, F8DGY, OH5LP, R1OA, GM3OXX, RD7K, OM6TC, OK1KW, UA1ADF, R4NX/p, UA4NU, UA1CEX, SM6NT, UA1ASB, DL4HG, RA1M, OH6NPV, UA0SBQ, UR4MME, LY2H, MM0CYR, EA2AO/m, R4AAR, RW3AA, EA8YV, G6HUI, OH7QR
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists at - www.club72.su
Schedule of QRPRendez-Vous "round tables" on the Club 72 page.
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" is continue now. To become
Marathon'ers visit Club 72 page and create account on the Marathon
page. You can do it during all April. Enjoy QRP and have a Marathon
certificate in May.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
Fair well - NOT amateur radio
Here he is packing his car outside our home standing next to my wife.
G3XBM Projects
Yesterday, Steve G1KQH mentioned in a comment how he missed my projects. I do too!
As many will be aware I suffered a stroke 2.5 years ago. I expected to make a full recovery, but it has not worked out that way. Even now, although people tell me how well I look, I still feel giddy most of my waking hours and I tire easily. My voice is poor and I have trouble with drinks. My fine motor skills are not good. Basically, I have struggled with things that were easy in the past. I really miss just fiddling and building. Life is much harder.
As many will be aware I suffered a stroke 2.5 years ago. I expected to make a full recovery, but it has not worked out that way. Even now, although people tell me how well I look, I still feel giddy most of my waking hours and I tire easily. My voice is poor and I have trouble with drinks. My fine motor skills are not good. Basically, I have struggled with things that were easy in the past. I really miss just fiddling and building. Life is much harder.
Sunspots and 10m - Sun April 3rd 2016
Solar flux is 81 today and sunspot number 11 (K=3). Conditions look a little worse than yesterday. The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". Although I am expecting little, this band has a habit of throwing surprises.
10m WSPR
For the last 30 minutes I have been back on 10m WSPR. I hope 10m is as good as yesterday, which was very good on WSPR despite the low sunspot count and declining solar conditions.
WSPR is excellent in the declining 10m conditions. If there is a brief opening it will be found on 10m as long as people continue to use the band and mode. 10m is often open when the band seems dead. My strong recommendation is use WSPR. It only needs low power and can be run in the background. Using 10m WSPR really helps radio science.
UPDATE 1035z: No 10m spots as yet.
UPDATE 1220z: Still no 10m WSPR spots.
UPDATE 1900z: Just G8VDQ (93km) spotted lunchtime aided by aircraft reflection. No DX at all today here on 10m. After yesterday, a really disappointing day.
WSPR is excellent in the declining 10m conditions. If there is a brief opening it will be found on 10m as long as people continue to use the band and mode. 10m is often open when the band seems dead. My strong recommendation is use WSPR. It only needs low power and can be run in the background. Using 10m WSPR really helps radio science.
UPDATE 1035z: No 10m spots as yet.
UPDATE 1220z: Still no 10m WSPR spots.
UPDATE 1900z: Just G8VDQ (93km) spotted lunchtime aided by aircraft reflection. No DX at all today here on 10m. After yesterday, a really disappointing day.
2 Apr 2016
A brilliant day on 10m WSPR
Despite the low solar activity, today turned out to be a good day on 10m with spots of stations in North and South America as well as European short skip. I was spotted in the USA. And I was expecting to copy nothing today!
UK Football - NOT amateur radio
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/tables .
The English Premier League seems more to do with money these days with many players and managers from outside the UK. I can understand this but feel sure we have untapped talent. The lower leagues are less glamorous and get far less TV coverage.
When it comes to football I admit to being a "fireside fusilier" in that I'm gunner do this or that, but rarely go to a match. I follow the fortunes of Plymouth Argyle and my local team Cambridge United and check where they are in their League (League 2). At the moment Plymouth are doing quite well and have a chance of automatic promotion at the end of the season. Cambridge are also doing pretty well too.
UPDATE 1557z: 71 minutes in Argyle were 0:1 up. In the end they lost 2:1. Had they won, they would have had a very good chance of automatic promotion, but they threw it away. Football!!
The English Premier League seems more to do with money these days with many players and managers from outside the UK. I can understand this but feel sure we have untapped talent. The lower leagues are less glamorous and get far less TV coverage.
When it comes to football I admit to being a "fireside fusilier" in that I'm gunner do this or that, but rarely go to a match. I follow the fortunes of Plymouth Argyle and my local team Cambridge United and check where they are in their League (League 2). At the moment Plymouth are doing quite well and have a chance of automatic promotion at the end of the season. Cambridge are also doing pretty well too.
UPDATE 1557z: 71 minutes in Argyle were 0:1 up. In the end they lost 2:1. Had they won, they would have had a very good chance of automatic promotion, but they threw it away. Football!!
Cambridge Concert Tonight - NOT amateur radio
A final reminder that my wife's concert is at the Leys School, Cambridge
at 7.30pm tonight, April 2nd 2016. The venue is a new one and tickets
are available on the door if you don't already have any.
Thunder later?
I plan to stop TXing and RXing on 10m WSPR later this afternoon. Thunder was forecast and as a matter of course I prefer to disconnect things to minimise risks. At the moment, no thunder is shown on the forecasts, but I prefer to edge on the side of caution. 10m WSPR can be done at any time, so I'll not miss much.
April 2nd - NOT amateur radio
Although I quite enjoy the humour is some April Fools articles I am quite glad we are now April 2nd: any articles today are serious and could be true, whereas on April 1st one can never be quite sure.
Many of the great ideas turn out to be jokes if published on April 1st. All I can say is caveat emptor. It is quite common to be caught out with many serious replies to obviously spoofs. The trouble is you are often not quite sure.
In the past I have been taken in and sometimes good ideas are taken as spoofs.
Many of the great ideas turn out to be jokes if published on April 1st. All I can say is caveat emptor. It is quite common to be caught out with many serious replies to obviously spoofs. The trouble is you are often not quite sure.
In the past I have been taken in and sometimes good ideas are taken as spoofs.
Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 2nd 2016
Solar flux is 81 today (low). Sunspot number is also low at 11 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". On the face of things, conditions are slightly worse than yesterday, and that was a bad day on 10m WSPR here.
Return to 10m WSPR
I reconnected the 10m WSPR kit at 0900z, but may turn it off later if there are storms. Thunder is a possibility tonight.
UPDATE 0933z: No 10m spots so far, although I am not at all surprised. The best I can really expect is Gs and maybe some early short skip.
UPDATE 1350z: Still not a single spot given or received on 10m WSPR. Dire indeed!
UPDATE 1628z: Still not a single spot on 10m WSPR all day. Soon be going QRT.
UPDATE 1645z: A late surprise on 10m WSPR: PU3WSF (10416km) has been spotted a couple of times. Even with a very low sunspot number and low solar flux the band still comes to life if you look. 10m is another "magic band" that throws surprises.
UPDATE 0933z: No 10m spots so far, although I am not at all surprised. The best I can really expect is Gs and maybe some early short skip.
UPDATE 1350z: Still not a single spot given or received on 10m WSPR. Dire indeed!
UPDATE 1628z: Still not a single spot on 10m WSPR all day. Soon be going QRT.
UPDATE 1645z: A late surprise on 10m WSPR: PU3WSF (10416km) has been spotted a couple of times. Even with a very low sunspot number and low solar flux the band still comes to life if you look. 10m is another "magic band" that throws surprises.
1 Apr 2016
QRP
A reminder from Oleg:
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" started today.
To become a participant visit www.club72.su - "QRP Marathon" in menu -
click "LITH" knob and click "Create account" link. Add all your
data and click "Send". After you get the e-mail request click the link
in message to activate your account. Add your QSOs in the Marathon
base and enjoy collecting"Luk's" (points)
You can connect to Marathon in any day in April. Good luck!
Also, remind about Saturday's QRP Rendez-Vous at 9.00 UTC on 14060
(alt 10116 if contest QRMs).
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" started today.
To become a participant visit www.club72.su - "QRP Marathon" in menu -
click "LITH" knob and click "Create account" link. Add all your
data and click "Send". After you get the e-mail request click the link
in message to activate your account. Add your QSOs in the Marathon
base and enjoy collecting"Luk's" (points)
You can connect to Marathon in any day in April. Good luck!
Also, remind about Saturday's QRP Rendez-Vous at 9.00 UTC on 14060
(alt 10116 if contest QRMs).
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
Satellite collision
See http://www.amateurradio.com/ao-73-funcube-and-ao-85-fox-1-satellites-collide/#comment-156869
Note the date of this post.
Note the date of this post.
Lunch out - NOT amateur radio
 |
| My cheese at The Packhorse Inn, Moulton, near Newmarket |
 |
| My XYL and I with medieval bridge behind |
MLS deal on FT991
With a Yaesu cashback offer of £80 this "shack in a box" is available for £909.95 from MLS here in the UK including VAT. The Yaesu-ICOM price war has started. Expect the IC7300 price to tumble soon.
See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-yaesu-base-station-radio/yaesu/yaesu-ft-991-only-909-95-after-cashback-pd-5621.php.
See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-yaesu-base-station-radio/yaesu/yaesu-ft-991-only-909-95-after-cashback-pd-5621.php.
Aldi Mini Bench Grinder - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.aldi.co.uk/mini-bench-grinder/p/069369016930200.
Steve G1KQH has just bought a mini bench grinder from Aldi for £26.99. This is only available in their stores and not online. Aldi certainly have some low cost items.
Steve G1KQH has just bought a mini bench grinder from Aldi for £26.99. This is only available in their stores and not online. Aldi certainly have some low cost items.
FTSE 100 falling? - NOT amateur radio
I see that the UK share index, the FTSE 100, has fallen quite sharply this morning. The last time I looked it was 6093.16 down 1.32%.
UPDATE 1532z: It seems to be recovering and stands at 6148.79 currently. This is still down but not as bad as earlier.
UPDATE 1532z: It seems to be recovering and stands at 6148.79 currently. This is still down but not as bad as earlier.
Upcoming UK Rally
We are entering the main season for radio rallies and I have received notification of this one:-
The following Radio Rallies are coming soon:
Sunday 3 APRIL : HACK GREEN BUNKER RALLY
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL
Sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio sets and vehicle spares. Doors open 10am, There will be trade stands and catering is available on site.
Further details from Lucy on 01270 623 353 or by email to Lucy@hackgreen.co.uk. www.hackgreen.co.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/.
The following Radio Rallies are coming soon:
Sunday 3 APRIL : HACK GREEN BUNKER RALLY
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL
Sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio sets and vehicle spares. Doors open 10am, There will be trade stands and catering is available on site.
Further details from Lucy on 01270 623 353 or by email to Lucy@hackgreen.co.uk. www.hackgreen.co.uk.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/.
OFCOM and the RSGB (via Southgate News)
Southgate News has a link to a recent meeting between the RSGB and OFCOM.
Southgate News usually has something of interest most days.
Southgate News usually has something of interest most days.
Return to 10m WSPR
We have a guest, so I was not active overnight, but I returned to 10m WSPR at 0915z this morning. Yesterday 10m was disappointing with just Gs spotted. I am not too hopeful about 10m today. maybe there will be a little short skip and a few Gs?
UPDATE 0926z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet.
UPDATE 1536z: Apart from one spot by G7OKV (61km) earlier, there have been no 10m WSPR spots given or received all day here. Dire.
UPDATE 0926z: No 10m WSPR spots as yet.
UPDATE 1536z: Apart from one spot by G7OKV (61km) earlier, there have been no 10m WSPR spots given or received all day here. Dire.
Sunspots and 10m - Fri April 1st 2016
No April Fools here...
Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number is just 11. K=0. The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today. I think we are going to be struggling on 10m this autumn and winter.
Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number is just 11. K=0. The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today. I think we are going to be struggling on 10m this autumn and winter.
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