Sunspots and 10m - Thurs April 14th 2016

Solar flux is 112 today and the sunspot number 41 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation is yet again "poor".  It is unlikely I'll be on the band today as there is a risk of thunder and the band will be closed for DX later. I may go straight to 630m after dark.

472kHz last night

PA0RDT (243km) was best DX on TX on 472kHz WSPR last night. In all, three different stations spotted my 5mW ERP. It was a disappointing night on the band.

I have now gone QRT on all bands as there is thunder forecast. I may resume operations later when the threat is no longer with us.

CDARC 2m FM Net

This evening at 1900z I came on the 145.550MHz Cambridge Club net. I had a long chat with M0SND (Waterbeach) who gave me a 59+50dB report despite me running QRP to an omni-vertical. Alex is 92 years old  and was a regular on our Monday 2m net. It was good to talk with him again.

At one time (early 1970s) I was on the committee of the Cambridge club. It is some years since I last went to the club. I am not keen on driving in the dark these days.

See www.cdarc.co.uk  .

Return to 472kHz WSPR

We have been out most of the day at Felixstowe Ferry for a walk next to the sea and a lunch of fish (fresh) and chips at the old fashioned cafe that has been there since 1958.

I have been on 472kHz (630m) WSPR since 1936z. Only spots by M0LMH (223km) so far of my 5mW ERP, but the evening and night are young.

UPDATE 2100z:   LA8AV (1035km) is the best DX on RX so far tonight on 472kHz WSPR.

Steve G1KQH - NOT amateur radio

Steve did look for deals on eBay yesterday and found the Bluetooth smart watch for a little over £4. See yesterday's post. I do not understand how they do it for the price and ship it half way around the world.

Steve also sent me a link in which you can check MOT history.
See https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

40m WSPR overnight

No great DX last night with only European spots given and received overnight. On previous 40m WSPR outings I have been copied in North and South America and Australia. No such luck last night!

Sunspots and 10m - Wed April 13th 2016

Solar flux is 113 today. Sunspot number is 34 (K=4) and the forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor".

As there is a chance of thunder, I am not currently active on any band at present. I shall review the situation later.

70cm UKAC

As usual, I entered the RSGB's monthly activity contest for 70cms using 5W pep and my 2m big-wheel antenna. I only stopped on for less than 1 hour because of my poor voice. 5 QSOs were made as shown on the map. Considering the QRP, poor antenna and my limited time, I was quite happy with the results.

QSY to 40m WSPR

After another disappointing day on 10m WSPR, I have QSYed to 40m WSPR for the evening and overnight.

UPDATE 1840z:  UA1ASB (2042km) is the best spot of my transmissions this evening so far. Plenty of spots given and received on 40m WSPR.

That EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36024492

As a "floating voter" in the coming EU referendum I am not impressed by the £9M government publication going to each home and the negativity of the "IN" campaign.

Surely if staying in is a good thing, there are positive messages, not just more negative comments, that can be shared? My instinct is to vote "IN" but I may well change my mind.  I have a brain and intend to use it. I need to hear positive reasons to stay in the EU. All this negativity is counter-productive.

UPDATE 1850z:  I got this in the last hour. Apparently, if you return the leaflet to the freepost address, the Conservative  Party gets billed for the postage:

Another stroke after-effect

At one time, I just looked at a word and knew if it was wrong. These days I really struggle. As an example, on one of my other blogs I used the word "daffodils". I have to admit that I had to look up the word to see if it was daffodils or dafoddils. I am sure that this lack of seeing spelling errors is yet another post-stroke after-effect. It is more of an inconvenience than a real handicap, but I can see that this has changed. Strokes and brain injuries are odd things. Even 2.5 years after it all happened it is still causing me real problems.

BeoFeng Dual Band Transceiver for £18.99 (or lower) with free postage!

See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-520-MHz-Dual-Band-DCS-DTMF-CTCSS-FM-Two-Way-Radio-/252233483100?hash=item3aba49835c:g:6RAAAOSwL7VWhdxu

Some of the prices for new amateur radio gear is just incredible. At these prices how can anyone make a profit? This is shipped from the UK too.

UPDATE 1235z:  OK, I give up! I have just seen it available even cheaper (£15.75) on eBay!! See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BAOFENG-UV-5R-Dual-Band-UHF-VHF-Two-Way-Ham-FM-Radio-Speaker-Mic-Walkie-Talkie-/262371437743?hash=item3d168e6caf:g:JXkAAOSwJQdW-zkK
 No doubt Steve G1KQH will find the lowest price ones! Once he reads this he will be "on the case".

UPDATE 1246z: Or maybe a smart watch with Bluetooth for just over £7? See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-Smart-Wrist-Watch-Phone-Mate-For-Android-IOS-iPhone-Samsung-HTC-UK-/172150503333?var=&hash=item2814f837a5:m:mIJ9EQ_TPg5B29hjQ8cDS_Q

Alibris amusement - NOT amateur radio

Each and every week I get an email from Alibris with so much off for a very limited time. Do they think I really am stupid? These offers are so often and so regular that I doubt anyone buys from them at the un-discounted prices. I hate these ploys. It is years since I have used them. Their sad marketing tricks do not impress me one bit.

10m WSPR and 630m WSPR overnight

As yet, no spots on 10m WSPR, although it is still early in the day. With solar activity up a bit I am hopeful of some 10m WSPR DX later, although 10m can be fickle and the forecast is "poor".

630m WSPR, last night was disappointing with no new stations copied or copying my 5mW ERP.  It will soon be time to switch to 6m for the Es season.

It is possible some short skip will liven up 10m and 6m. The main Es season in the northern hemisphere is May, June and July but Es can occur at any time. WSPR helps find these brief openings!

QRP

Oleg sent out a reminder about the Tuesday 0900z net on 14.060MHz but I have only just got on the PC, so I was unable to send out a reminder.

Generally there is QRP on, and close to, the internationally agreed QRP frequencies on each band. If you are after QRP QSOs then these are always the best places to look first. If you call a QRO station, the chances are they will not realise you are using 5W or less. The difference is only a few "S" points, so save the Earth's resources and only use the power you need. Besides, QRP operating is real fun.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 12th 2016

Solar flux is 113 today. Sunspot number is rising and is 42 today (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes now, having QSYed from MF, which I was on last night.

VHF conditions up?

We normally hold an East Cambridgeshire net at 1900z Mondays on 144.575MHz FM. If the channel is busy we move down 25kHz or further.  This evening it was busy so we moved down to 144.550MHz FM. G4CPE (Luton) was a "smooth noise" signal with me working G3KKD.  Next week we will be back on 144.575MHz FM all being well.

630m WSPR this evening

So far this evening my best RX report was to spot DL6TY (629km) and the best DX on TX (5mW ERP) was a spot by PA7EY (306km). Nothing further yet.

QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" is active now. Everyone can take a part in any April day before May 1'st.
See full QRP "Rendez-Vous" weekly report here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors  of last week: IT9QAU, ON6KZ, UA1ADF, DK3WX, DL4AH, G0SVX, OM6TC, UI8CM,  RU3NJC,  RV3GM,  R1OA, UR0ET, OH6NPV, UR7VT, UA1CEG/p, F6HFX, UA0SBQ, Z35M, DD4EA, UA1ASB, RA1CK, HB9DAX, RC6R, ON5EG, EA7JUK,DK2QX, DK9LO/m
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists - www.club72.su
See  all  QRP  operators  on  "rendezvous",  see  schedule  on Club 72
web-page.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

QSYed from 630m to 10m WSPR

After a rather disappointing night on 630m (with no great DX on TX), I QSYed to 10m WSPR at around 0900z.

10m WSPR disappointment

Just spots from local G0VQH (15km) today. Jenny is south of me and was mayor of Cambridge at one time.  No DX seen at all on 10m WSPR here. In all, disappointing.

Wimpole Hall - NOT amateur radio

"It will be quiet today", said my wife. Famous last words!  Wimpole Hall (National Trust) was heaving today! It was "Lambing Day" and most schools were still on holiday. We walked to Home Farm and then had a sandwich at the cafe near the entrance.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon April 11th 2016

Solar flux is 114 today (quite decent). Sunspot number is 26 (K=0) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". As conditions are not disturbed and the solar flux is quite good today, we could see some interesting 10m conditions today.

Alone again - NOT amateur radio

We are on our own again as the "London" grandchildren returned home late afternoon. Having had a stroke 2.5 years ago I find having them fun, but tiring. As the saying goes, "good to see them come and good to see them go".

WRC 2015 final agreements

See http://www.itu.int/pub/R-ACT-WRC.12-2015 .

I do hope that OFCOM and the whole of CEPT allocates a full 100kHz rather than the 15kHz agreed at the ITU WRC 2015 to the amateur service at 5MHz.

Of course this would mean OFCOM making a real decision, so this is unlikely.

Back on 630m WSPR after 10m WSPR today

10m WSPR was disappointing today here with just G spots. Already, 630m (472kHz) WSPR is better with lots of spots already both given and received.

UPDATE 2020z:  This evening looks good. Already spotting EA5DOM (1525km) and being spotted in The Netherlands on 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP. Will I be copied in Norway again overnight on 472kHz WSPR?

Church blog updated - NOT amateur radio

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

The church blog has now been updated to include the redundant St Peter's Church in Cambridge. I have still to add a photo of the font.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun April 10th 2016

Solar flux is 106 today. Sunspot number is 29, just up on yesterday, and K=3. The forecast for 10m remains "poor" today. I am not expecting great things on 10m today.

St Peter's Church, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This redundant church in Cambridge was visited yesterday. It was open. It is located just north of the Folk Museum. I'll do a write-up for the church blog next week. Nice place - small but holy.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 9th 2016

As we have had little grandchildren staying here (on their own) , amateur radio has taken a back seat, although I have been on 10m WSPR most of the day.

Solar flux has risen to 105 today and sunspot number is 27 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

10m WSPR today

10m WSPR was disappointing today with just spots by G stations all day. With slightly better solar conditions and a weekend I was expecting better. 10m is a band of surprises. Today the surprises were of the wrong sort!

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

As we have our "London" grandchildren here for a few days, amateur radio has taken a back seat. They are still very little.

This afternoon we went into Cambridge by car and the "Park and Ride" bus.  The photo shows one of them at the Cambridge Folk Museum.

MF this evening

I have been active on 472kHz WSPR since early evening. So far results have been mediocre - see below. I shall be staying on overnight.

OFCOM Updates - NOT amateur radio

See stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/wireless-telegraphy-fees-notice-2016/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Wireless-telegraphy-fees-notice&utm_term=Wireless Telegraphy Act Fees  DTT multiplex White space  Mobile licence products for details of some changes made by OFCOM.

UK Rallies

I have been notified of these UK rallies:

Sunday 10 APRIL : NARSA EXHIBITION (Blackpool Rally) organised by Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association, Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. The venue has car parking as well as disabled facilities. There will be a talk-in station and Morse proficiency tests are also available. Highlights include trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups, and an RSGB bookstand. There is a licensed bar and catering facilities. More information from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608 or by email to dwilson@btinternet.com. www.narsa.org.uk

Sunday 10 APRIL : 32nd YEOVIL QRP CONVENTION
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA Doors open 9.30am, admission £3. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and club stalls, plus a programme of talks. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & RSARS. Contact Bob Harris, by email to wjh069@gmail.com. [http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention].

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

Sunspots and 10m - Fri April 8th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today (rising) and the sunspot number is 26 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor". Today could be another disappointing day?

Late start on 10m WSPR today

As we have grandchildren with us, I was late starting 10m WSPR today. I eventually started just before lunchtime.

Google changes to blog address - NOT amateur radio

To get to my blogs you may have to change the URL. See the following from Google:

Coming in late April!
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://.blogspot.com. Existing links and bookmarks to your blogs will continue to work. As part of this change, the HTTPS Availability setting will disappear, and your blogs will always have an HTTPS version.

10m short-skip

It looks like the Es season is nearly here on 10m. Today there was just one spot from OE6PWD (1232km). These are the spots so far.

RSGB and the EMC Committee

See http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/electromagnetic-compatibility-committee/ .

Having just read the latest minutes, my negative views on OFCOM have been re-enforced. They seem to want to do very little about real EMC issues. I quote:

"JR reported that Ofcom had said that the WTA s54 Regulations, consulted on a year ago, would be published very soon. Although very welcome, if they only covered a narrow definition of “apparatus” in EMCD terms, that would leave a major hole in their scope. We would need to examine them carefully and consider how to respond. Ofcom were to have an article about the Regulations in RadCom. Ofcom said they were setting three conditions to act under the Regs. 

1. Harmful interference needed to be demonstrated; 
2.  All reasonable steps had to be taken to reduce/alleviate the interference at the receiver; 
3. There had to be a realistic prospect of an outcome. "

Full marks to the RSGB for continuing to challenge OFCOM.

OFCOM bureaucrats - do your jobs or go! There is zero space these days for quangos that do not add value. I have heard the arguments in support of OFCOM, but in all recent dealings with them I have not been at all impressed. Yes, they may bleat "lack of resources", but fewer bureaucrats and more engineers in the field would be a good start.