23 May 2016

Alibris ... again - NOT amateur radio

Just had this from Alibris UK. I just ignore these now as I know there will be more later in the week! They kid no-one with these daft Marketing gimmicks.

Today Only! 15% VOUCHER
 

630m and 10m WSPR

At the moment I am on both 10m and 630m WSPR. Overnight, my shack PC installed updates and closed the WSPR program.  

G8LCO (58km) has been spotting me on MF and there was very early Es on 10m WSPR with DK0SC (827km) spotting me as early as 0738z. Since then I have had further spots on 10m WSPR including from northern Spain in the form of EA1FAQ (1249km).

UPDATE 1406z: Spots on 10m WSPR from Germany all day.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon May 23rd 2016

Solar flux is 98 today. Sunspot number is 15 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

The UK votes in a referendum on whether to remain in the EU or leave on June 23rd.

Like many, I am undecided.

The UK is not a world power with an empire - this went years ago. The EU is a gravy train for bureaucrats and is an unelected quango in the main creating so many laws that most small companies cannot keep up with them. At the same time, WW3 starting in Europe has not occurred and as long as there is an EU is unlikely. There is much wrong with the EU but much of it is a force for good. The EU needs to reform.

No I am still undecided. What I do know is this is a very important decision which will effect us for years to come. I think the vote will be very close. Should we vote to leave, I think others will follow too not many years down the line. My gut says leave but my logical self says stay in.

UPDATE 1400z:  I am really fed up with NEGATIVE messages and spin. 

22 May 2016

Now on 10m WSPR (TX only 500mW) and 630m (5mW ERP TX, 80% RX)

With just a single spot all day on 6m from a station 33km away, I have left the 10m beacon still running (still Es about) and QSYed from 6m to 630m WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna". In recent days 630m has not been brilliant.
 
UPDATE 1915z:  PA3ABK/2 (306km) being spotted on 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

UPDATE  2256z: On 10m WSPR I have been reported at incredible strength (+4dB) by DF4UE (758km) when running 500mW. This implies he would copy me at uW levels!

Dad's Army Van - NOT amateur radio

Our local village museum held a "Classic Car" day today.  Among the exhibits was the original Jones the butcher van used in the filming of "Dad's Army" back in the late 1960s and 1970s. This was a classic comedy about the Home Guard. It is still funny even now. Also at the museum was G6ALB (Andrew) and his wife, his father-in-law and Andrew's boys.

IC7300 video

This was received from Steve G1KQH yesterday. I think he expects me to buy one. With no FT817 replacement shown at Dayton, he may well be right, when the price drops and the bugs are ironed out, but I am in no hurry. It uses 15 band-pass filters in the front end. These stop overload in most, but not all, cases.

15 bandpass filters Roger?

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

Sunspots and 10m - Sun May 22nd 2016

Solar flux is 99 today. Sunspot number is just 17 (K=2).  The 10m propagation forecast remains "poor". I doubt we will see better F2 conditions until the autumn. Come that time we will be falling solar activity so F2 openings to the USA will be much less often.

Sunday 10m WSPR Es

Today I put the 500mW (TX only) beacon on 10m WSPR. As well as lots of spots by local G4KPX (14km) I was spotted at 1008z by I4ZTO (1185km). This is quite early in the day for Es.

Although also active on 6m WSPR (TX and RX), there have been no spots (yet) on 6m.

UPDATE 1140z:  Quite a few 10m WSPR spots (Es) received in the last few hours, but still no spots on 6m WSPR. Either people are using SSB/CW or there is no Es on 6m.

21 May 2016

10m WSPR Es here

Around teatime there was a widespread 10m Es opening with spots from all over western Europe on 10m WSPR. It is not at all unusual for Es to peak at lunchtime and teatime.

I think tomorrow I shall try 6m WSPR with the FT817 and stick the 500mW beacon (TX only) on 10m.