Sunspots and 10m - Wed April 20th 2016

Solar flux has fallen again to 28. Sunspot number is also down at 28 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor", although 10m has been livened up by sporadic-E (Es) in recent days. Yet again, I am not expecting great F2 propagation on 10m today.

481THz experiment - abject failure

Well, I am sorry to report that my 481THz lightbeam experiment was a total failure.

Although I could detect my QRSS3 signal strongly across the house bouncing off the windmill I was unable to detect any sign of the signal at my remote site. I had problems with aiming which did not help, but I was not expecting the total exhaustion this test brought on. In days gone by this would have been easy, but even soldering a headphone jack tired me. Doing the actual test left me totally "done in".  I really should repeat the test with better aiming, but I am not ready in my body.

If one thing this has taught me it is that I am still too feeble for field work. It was a great disappointment, but there will be other opportunities.

In past years I loved doing this sort of experiment. Sadly, my body is telling me, "not yet".

Fewer swallows? - NOT amateur radio

Usually by this time I have seen quite a few swallows here in East Anglia, UK. They migrate from deep in Africa (often South Africa) and I usually see them here in East Anglia, UK from April 7th. In South Devon they are usually arriving by the beginning of April. Sand Martins arrive sooner. I remember my dad telling me when he first saw them. He died in 1987 and many is the time since when I have missed talking with him.

I know there are swallows around in Devon - they appear every day in the reports - but I am surprised not to have seen any up here yet. I may have seen one last week at Felixstowe Ferry but I was not certain. I definitely saw a house martin.

So, I am beginning to wonder if there are fewer swallows about this year, as by now I would be seeing them quite commonly on telegraph wires. Of course, it could just be that I have been unlucky. It is not as if I have not been looking.

See http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/ .

All India Radio going?

Southgate News reports that All India Radio's external service may close due to high costs. Soon HF will sound quite different as more and more broadcasters cut back or close services.

Noise levels are creeping up.  More space for amateur bands?

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/air_short_wave_may_shut_down.htm .

BBC accents - NOT amateur radio

At 1200-1215pm local time BBC Radio 4 has a series looking back 100 years to ordinary people in WW1. Call me a grumpy old man, but I get appalled by the BBC's weak attempts at local accents. It is not just the BBC. Why can't they get rural accents right? You can always tell a BBC Radio 4 drama a mile off!

I watched the film "Warhorse" . It was appalling: a Dartmoor, Devon village was actually filmed in Wiltshire I think. It looked nothing like Devon. The Devon accents were very very bad. No excuses: they spend millions making these films and need to get the basics right. 

No, get the accents right please!

481THz test

The wind is soon to be light and from the north and east. This means our windmill sails will be out of the way if I manage to do some optical tests in the next few evenings. I want to see if I can detect my 481THz red light reflected off the windmill using QRSS3 at a moderate distance.

To do this test I shall need to aim my QRSS3 optical beacon at the windmill and use a PC with Spectran software and sensitive detector and optics at the remote site. I have tripods but they are not the world's best.

As it is some time since I used the gear, I need to do some local tests first to check all is well.

Optical work is fun as all the gear is homemade and test gear is simple. In my view this is more fun than microwaves. It is accessible to all. All you need are a weak light source, a scope, free software and a multimeter.

In my healthier days I had a lot of fun detecting my QRSS3 optícal signal over the horizon  There was no sign of the signal visible by eye, but on the PC screen it was very clearly visible.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical/481thz-nlos .

Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 19th 2016

Solar flux has dropped to 95. Sunspot number is 28, which is lower. K=1. The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". We can hope that Es livens up this band and 6m, as the chances of real long distance DX are not good. Both 10m and 6m often surprise, so South Ameríca is not out of the question, especially on 10m.

6m WSPR and 10m WSPR soon

Very shortly I shall be turning on the WSPR station. I plan to be on 10m (TX 100%, randomised TX frequency, 500mW) and on 6m WSPR (1W ERP 20%, 80% RX, V2000 vertical). With the Es season here, there is a chance of catching some European short skip on both bands.

UPDATE 0918z:  Now active on 6m WSPR and 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 0942z:  No spots yet on 10m WSPR, but G8VDQ (93km) spotted on 6m WSPR at -16dB S/N.

UPDATE 1530z: On 6m WSPR just G8VDQ (93km) spotted many times. On 10m WSPR my  500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted in Germany and Italy with the best DX I4ZTO (1185km). Not a bad Es day.

QSYed

Since about 1830z I have been on 472kHz WSPR. No spots yet. Tomorrow, during the day, I shall probably be on 6m and 10m WSPR. What I do in the evening tomorrow is still to be decided. I really should try a different band.  472kHz is now past its best this season I think. For the last few nights my best DX on TX (5mW ERP, earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) has been Holland. Best 472kHz WSPR TX DX this season remains Norway.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

Not a lot of change really.

My biggest issues are not being able to speak easily, drinking liquids and feeling so profoundly tired so often, even though I sleep well. The fact that I feel wobbly when on my feet I have learned to live with. The tiredness is debilitating.  I feel as if I have drunk 8 pints of beer most of my waking life. I can assure you it is no fun. Sitting down is OK. No-one, and I do mean no-one,  seems to understand what a struggle it is. The comment I get is, "you do look well". If only they understood just how difficult life really is on the inside.

Garden in Spring - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of our front garden yesterday. The windmill is in view on the right. Spring has nearly sprung: all the trees are now starting to look green or are in bud. Mind you, we still had a frost on Sunday morning.

Exclusive 24-hour Sale! Up to £18 off - NOT amateur radio

Alibris UK of course!  I'm sorry but this sort of marketing ploy does not impress me one bit. Every week there is an offer. It is stupid.

10m WSPR so far today

Just G stations being spotted and spotting me so far. G0VUH (157km) is a new one for me. G4CUI (172km) is best DX so far.

UPDATE 1140z:  HA9AL (1455km), OZ9QV (864km) and OZ7IT spotted me and I spotted OZ7IT (853km). It looks like we are now seeing Es on 10m WSPR.  It will soon be time to return to 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1235z:  Now OK2SAM (1283km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR.  Lots of Es I think.

UPDATE 1615z:  HA9AL (1455km) is being spotted again. This is classic Es with a second peak around teatime. I may start 6m WSPR from tomorrow and revert to my 500mW 100% TX only beacon on 10m at the same time on a different antenna. 

481THz lightbeam experiment?

Our local windmill. Me seated. XYL on RHS.

It is getting close to the time when I fancy some field work! My first experiment will be to detect QRSS 481THz (red light) at some distance by reflection off our local windmill. It will need my XYL to accompany me as it will involve night driving but it will either work or not. This will be my first field test in a long long time.

This picture was taken in 2014 and the laurel hedge has grown quite a bit since. Look at a later post to see how it looks now.
Small steps...

Sunspots and 10m - Mon April 18th 2016

Solar flux is 103 today and the sunspot number 35 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". Yesterday there was some short-skip (Es?) on the band and we can expect more of this during the coming months.I have been on 10m WSPR since 0630z this morning.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Well, as I think the opportunity for 10m DX has now gone for the day, I have again QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. I hope WSPRnet is working this evening and overnight.

It will soon be time to fire up the 6m WSPR station as the Es season approaches. There have already been hints of Es on 10m and soon it will be 6m. In the last two Es seasons 4X1RF (3519km) has copied my 1W ERP 6m WSPR signal several times, although I dispute the conventional multi-hop theory. I personally think this is (maybe) some sort of E layer tilt without an intermediate hop on the ground. I may be wrong.

Back on 10m WSPR

WSPRnet seems to be working again. I have been on 10m WSPR for about 20 minutes so far but I am only being spotted by local Jenny G0VQH who is 15km south of me. No DX yet.

QRP station. Currently on 10m WSPR

UPDATE 1615z:  Apart from a single spot this afternoon by OZ9QV (864km) nobody else at any range has copied me on 10m WSPR today. I have copied Norway and Sweden on 10m WSPR today so there is short-skip (Es?) around.  I'll leave the rig running a bit longer on 10m WSPR in case there are any S.Americans. In the coming months you sometimes get mixed modes on 10m with Es joining with F2 further south and some remarkable distances are possible.   USA DX by multi-hop Es on 10m and 6m is usually later in the summer. In past Es seasons I have copied USA, Caribbean and S.Americans by Es on 6m. I have only worked the USA once on 6m CW QRP but that was by Es. At the time 6m sounded like 20m!

WSPRnet - still broken?

Several times I have tried to enter the WSPRnet database, but without success. It looks like it is broken again. Without WSPRnet WSPR is no good, in my view.

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

There is a poor quality debate on this matter. We vote on whether or not to remain in the EU in less than 10 weeks but the quality of the arguments is very poor.

The UK has looked towards the EU as a common market and never with a view to a political union. Many in Europe see it as a way to keep peace in Europe. At the moment I am still inclined to vote "IN" but the politicians here are certainly not winning hearts and minds on either side.

The debate needs to be more positive! All I hear are fear and uncertainty.

Late spring? - NOT amateur radio

A few months ago everything seemed to be early. We have seen daffodils in flower right through from late November. Some places have loads of daffodils in flower and even some snowdrops still. Yet, if anything, spring is late here. It is now way in to April but I have yet to see a swallow in this area. My laurel hedge is hardly growing. The grass has only been cut a few times. Odd. Yes there buds coming out, but spring is definitely not early here.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun April 17th 2016

Solar flux has dropped back a bit to 108. Sunspot number has fallen a bit to 51 (K=4). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

Conditions are not as good as yesterday when I managed to copy an LU briefly.

On the face of it, I should not expect much on 10m today. Of course, this assumes WSPRnet works today! Without it I cannot see where I am being spotted and others will not be able to see me spotting them.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

As the storm risk seems to have passed, I have resumed 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX, earth-electrode "antenna") using the FT817 and homebrew transverter.

UPDATE 1922z:  So far only M0LMH (223km) has spotted me twice. He regularly spots me.

UPDATE 2000z:  Not for the first time, I find myself, yet again, the only UK station transmitting 472kHz WSPR.  I just don't understand why this is when transverters are easy and big antennas are not needed for WSPR.

UPDATE 2220z:  Now WSPRnet is playing up and won't load the database with me!  "Problem loading page". Wonderful. I'll stay on 472kHz overnight but without WSPRnet WSPR is not good. WSPR benefits from the internet feedback/reports that WSPRnet provides. One cannot be sure if reports up to WSPRnet are getting through. As many users have said, we'd be happy to pay towards a reliable service. Clearly the database and its maintainers are struggling currently

QRT - hail!

As there is a hailstorm currently, I decided to go QRT on all bands and disconnect antennas and PSUs. I am probably being over-cautious, but I can go on 10m WSPR another day. In the last few hours it has just been locals and no DX on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1700z: See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en. At the moment the maps show thunderstorms to the north of here. I may go on MF later.

UPDATE 1848z:  As the nearest storm is in the Leicester area, I think it is safe to resume MF WSPR transmissions.

10m WSPR DX

LU8EX (11208km) was spotted here on 10m WSPR this afternoon. Apart from this, spots were local apart from G8VDQ (93km). 

As I have said many times before, WSPR is the ideal mode to spot these brief 10m openings. On SSB it is unlikely anyone would have even realised the path to Argentina was open today. And don't forget, the Argentine station was only running 5W QRP.  With WSPR, only QRP is needed.

There is still a chance of further DX on 10m WSPR, so I shall remain on until after dark.

SteppIR antennas

The designer of the SteppeIR yagi is at W&S next week according to Southgate News.

I am not a great fan of big amateur antennas, but I understand they will appeal to some. As you know, my "thing" is QRP and small wire antennas, but each to their own. What appeals to me is different to what others judge important. There is room in our hobby for many different interests.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/steppir_at_w_and_s.htm

Broadband - NOT amateur radio

73.72Mbps download speed tested over wifi by Ookla on the cheapest Virgin Media package. Can't complain.

10m WSPR - just a local so far

G4KPX (14km) is the only station to spot me so far on 10m WSPR. This is disappointing as I was expecting more by now. I shall be on 10m WSPR until dark and hope to spot, and be spotted, by more stations including some DX.

UPDATE 1306z:  Still just the single local spot on 10m WSPR today.

ON4KST chat for skeds

Quite a few people us this to arrange skeds on VHF, UHF and microwaves. It is also used for some LF/MF skeds too. There are different forums for different bands.

See http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php .

Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 16th 2016

Solar flux is a respectable 113 today and the sunspot number higher at 69 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" but I think today will be a good 10m WSPR day.

UPDATE 0924z:  No 10m WSPR spots yet, although it is very early.

RSGB videos

The RSGB has produced some very good videos designed to introduce the hobby to those "outside" it or to explain its vast possibilities to those already in the hobby.

For example, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH9OtgAcV6g.

Well done!

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

It is now 10 weeks until people in the UK hold a referendum to decide whether or not to stay in the EU. At the moment I am voting "IN" but I have been appalled by the campaigns so far. What comes across are fear and uncertainty. No-one seems to have anything positive to say! I hope this changes.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the UK share index, the FTSE 100, is down about 0.48% today, no doubt spooked by Chinese growth slowing. The world economy is not that healthy and we could well be heading for another downturn. If the end result is a fairer world this would not be a bad thing.

Rallies in years to come?

The high streets are changing. Have you noticed that there are far more coffee shops and charity shops and far fewer bookshops? This is because of us.

I wonder what radio rallies will look like in the future. Rallies are not my scene really, but I have been to a few over the years. There seem to be fewer trade stalls nowadays and more stalls that are not amateur radio related. As the average age of radio amateurs increases, fewer people will attend and some will stop. The GQRP rally at Rishworth ends this year, no doubt because of the average age of attendees. No, radio rallies will soon be a thing of the past if we are not careful.

My concerns about radio mags and adverts have been shared before, but our hobby is likely to be very different and soon. What can be expected are fewer magazines, fewer adverts, fewer products as the market shrinks.  Our hobby has a problem on many fronts due to an ageing population. We ignore this at our peril.

Back on 10m WSPR ...and some DX

FR1GZ (9724km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR and I have been spotted in Italy. Italian stations are also being spotted here.  My return to 10m WSPR is proving worthwhile.

UPDATE 1345z: CX2ABP (11127km) in Uruguay has been spotted several times on 10m WSPR this afternoon.

UPDATE 1915z:  In all CX2ABP was copied 4 times up to 1808z. What is interesting is the large drift (Doppler?) on the signal. The most probable explanation is that the layers near the equator were moving (spread F?), hence the Doppler.

UPDATE 1920z: I have decided to go QRT on all bands to minimise the storm risk.

Sunspots and 10m. Friday April 15th 2016

Solar flux is 112 today and the sunspot number 46 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  Despite the forecast, I have "good vibes" about 10m WSPR today.

Radio active?

In a few minutes I am going to assess the risk of nearby storms and venture onto 10m WSPR for a few hours if the danger is low. I know there is a risk later but there maybe a window of a few hours. Although I do not like storms nearby, I miss not being active on the radio. I see than I have been on JT65 and JT9-1 far less than I intended this year. Still we have only had 3.5 months, so plenty of time left this year.

UPDATE 1000z:  The risks look low with no nearby lightning shown on the map, so I shall go on 10m WSPR shortly.

UK Rallies

I've been notified about these upcoming rallies here in the UK:

Sunday 17 APRIL : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. The venue has free car parking and disabled facilities. There will be a talk-in station and doors open 9.50/10am. Other attractions include trade stands, a flea market, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and lectures. A raffle will also be held. Catering is available on site.

Details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351 or by email to info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.

Sunday 17 APRIL : ANDOVER RADIO AND COMPUTER BOOT SALE
Tangley Village Hall, Wildhern, Andover, Hants SP11 0JE Doors will be open from 9amto 4pm with disabled visitors gaining access from 8.30am. Admittance will be £2. Tables in the hall are £10 and p itches in the field £8. There will be a Bring & Buy, Car boot area, as well as trade stands. Catering will be available on site and there will be a raffle held on the day.

More details from Paul Phillips, G4KZY, 0777 573 8200, paul.g4kzy@gmail.com.



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

Thunder and lightning - NOT amateur radio

For the last 20 minutes we have had thunder and lightning here. According to the time between the lightning and thunder it was about 1 mile away. My radios and PC will remain disconnected. Looking at the map linked below it seems to be tracking NW the worst may now have passed. It remains very dark outside and we can still hear thunder.

See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

UPDATE 1830z:  Although the storm risk seems to have passed today, more storms are possible tomorrow, so I may leave things disconnected. 

Innocent until proved guilty? - NOT amateur radio

A recent case has arisen in which a man found guilty of a serious crime has professed his innocence to a number further charges. Mud sticks and innocent people get tarred even when they are later proved innocent.

Personally, I think no-one should be named until they are proved guilty of any crime. The law is an arse if innocent people are found guilty by the mob. I can think of several examples where lives have been ruined, wrongly. If guilty, the courts will find this and justice will be done.

Lightning maps

See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en .

I find these maps very useful as they give advanced warnings of approaching storms. Even when storms are some way away you can get surges that can damage equipment. With approaching storms I tend to disconnect radios and PCs and unplug antennas and mains connectors.

Years ago, a friend at work got struck (his house) and I have always been a bit wary since. Thunder and lightning can be very nasty.