Quiet on 10m and 6m WSPR?

It looks very different, so far at least, on 10m WSPR with not a single spot in the log apart from G4KPX earlier in the day. Things may change, but I am not holding my breath.

So far today, not a single spot on 6m WSPR either given or received. I had the same problem on 6m in previous years with more activity on SSB/CW and not that much on 6m WSPR. It is a pity there are not a few more 6m WSPR users as it is a great way to "smoke out" DX if it is there, albeit briefly.

No FT817 replacement announced at Dayton

So, there was no FT817 replacement announced at Dayton. In my view this means one is unlikely to appear ever now. I am amazed by the stupidity of Yaesu.  Yes, I know many are very happy with their FT817 units but it would have been so easy to upgrade it with a LiIon battery pack, an internal auto ATU and a speech processor. Darn it, they could even have reused the case and sprayed it a different colour.

No, they have well and truly missed the boat and they have only themselves to blame!

Return to 6m WSPR

As well as 10m WSPR (500mW 100% TX) I am back on 6m WSPR (1W TX 20%, 80% RX, vertical omni). I have been on 6m for about 7 minutes. If this is a repeat of yesterday there will be no 6m spots, but I am an optimist!

10m Es

Yesterday, 10m WSPR was good for Es all day. I was being spotted by OZ stations until very late. This morning, so far, just G4KPX (14km) is spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri May 27th 2016

Solar flux is just 88 today. Sunspot number is 30 (K=3) and the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor" today.

UPDATE 1300z:  Even 10m Es seems poor here today, well so far at least.

QRP News: Beacon Hunt

From Oleg:

Dear QRP Friends,
keep in your diaries, please. Friend of mine Igor R2AJA ask me to help
in  announce original game - Beacon Hunt. He'd like to invite as much
QRP operators as possible. Detailed rules on his blog page - http://lavrinenkov.blogspot.ru/2016/05/beacon-hunt-v.html
Wish you all the best, 72!
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB

472kHz WSPR overnight

Much to my surprise, my 5mW ERP was copied by G8LCO (58km), PA7EY (306km) and PE1RKT (285km). The reports from the Dutch stations were marginal but at least I was copied. Both the Dutch stations were in JO22 square.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR

As 6m WSPR was not at all productive all day, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR, which I shall stay on all night. I started on MF about 10 minutes ago. I also did a time resync. I am still on 10m WSPR too.

UPDATE 2020z:  PA3ABK/2 (306km) has been spotted on 472kHz WSPR already. The last 10m WSPR spot of me was at 1906z.

UPDATE 2044z:  G8LCO (58km) has spotted me on 472kHz WSPR.

Evening walk - NOT amateur radio

As it was a lovely evening, we decided to go for a walk in our local meadow this evening.  At the moment the cow parsley is splendid. Altogether, a perfect late spring evening.

Still no 6m WSPR spots

Although 10m WSPR is still very good for Es with spots received from all over the place (in Europe), 6m is still not producing any spots here. Maybe later?

I was also hoping for some brief N-S F2 DX on 10m WSPR, but it has just been Es so far. My 10m antenna is not the best, so others may fair better?

UPDATE 1905z:  Still no spots given or received on 6m WSPR, although 10m WSPR has been good with Es all day long. I shall probably QSY from 6m to MF later.

Spanning the Atlantic on 2m

Southgate News reports that a Cornish amateur was copied in Newfoundland using the International Space Station as a passive reflector. At some point the Atlantic will be spanned by "natural" means (not including EME), probably by Es, MS, aurora or tropo or a combination of these modes. It has happened on 6m and 4m. It is only a matter of time.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/may/gk4loh_received_over_3467_km_on_144_mhz.htm.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Just reminder about QRP Net schedule (QRP Rendez-Vous round table). Weekly  on Tuesdays,  Thursdays, Saturdays at 9 UTC on 14060 kHz +/- QRM,  QRL  (alternative 10116 kHz if big contests). Comments, results and pictures are appreciate direct to "mr72" e-mail, please.
Weekly reports published at the Club 72 blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
All visitors and "Honor Frequenters" lists you can see on the Club 72 web-page - www.club72.su "72 Net" in the menu.  Welcome all QRP operators! Enjoy 2-way QRP QSOs on the "72 Net"

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs May 26th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today and sunspot number 27 (K=1). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation is yet again "poor", although Es is definitely livening things up on 10m.

10m Es

I did time resync not too long ago. 10m has been wide open with Es spots from all over Europe this morning. On 10m I am running 500mW WSPR (100% TX). There have been no spots given or received here on 6m WSPR so far.  LA3JJ (864km) was spotting me on 10m WSPR in the middle of the night! I have the feeling that 10m is going to be very with Es today.

Australian in-laws - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have been hosting our son's Australian in-laws so my amateur radio and blogging have been restricted. This morning, they returned to my son and family in Kent. It was very good to see them.

Return to 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR

My shack PC spent a long time this morning installing updates to Windows 10.  For the last 30 minutes or so I have been back in 10m 6m WSPR.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed March 25th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today. Sunspot number is 24 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

Rear garden in late May - NOT amateur radio

This was our rear garden shortly after we got back home from Devon. Most blossom has now gone sadly. In the front, our laurels are growing and we have roses out.

Waitrose 1 is a CON - NOT amateur radio

They all try it to increase sales and market share. Call me a cynic but the latest marketing ploy from Waitrose is a new line called "Waitrose 1". We have received information through the post. This latest campaign will have cost them millions.  As far as I can tell it is just another way to try to persuade us to buy (yet more) over-priced food items. Even with their 25% off in early June these goods are still expensive. Con.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues May 24th 2016

Solar flux is 95 and sunspot number just 13.  K=2. The forecast for F2 propagation on 10m remains "poor" yet again.

Now on 6m WSPR and 10m WSPR

After overnight on 630m (472kHz) with very few active stations seen here, I QSYed to 10m WSPR (500mW 100% TX) and 6m WSPR (2W 20% TX, 80% RX, vertical) just before breakfast. No spots as yet but it is very early.

UPDATE 0930z:  One early spot on 10m WSPR from OZ7IT (853km) at 0840z at -19dB S/N.

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. 

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?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaWmFoLp9Bc

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.

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.

Even fewer G3 calls

In the Silent Keys list in June RadCom I see another 4 G3 stations have died. Most months there are 4-6 who have died. My G3XBM call was issued in December 1967. Some date much earlier, probably just after WW2?  If the G3s are a dying breed then those issued between the wars must be even rarer. In 20 years there will be very few of us left. There is a real chance that our hobby will just die unless the younger generation is enthralled.  I very much hope I am wrong.

Young people get excited by different things. As a youngster, amateur radio was the only way to communicate around the world. TV was limited to Europe. Short-wave was magic: hearing Radio Australia with heavy QSB early in the morning was very exciting.  These days young people can video conference for nothing with any part of the world. No, amateur radio is no longer magic as it was to me. Getting my G3 call was a passport to worldwide communications. This is no longer the case.

We are not alone: many churches seem to be totally unattractive to young people and the bulk of their congregations are old women. In time, these will die and these churches will die too. There are some exceptions.

472kHz antenna calculator

See http://www.472khz.org/pages/tools/antenna-simulator.php for a very useful tool to estimate the performance of antennas on 472kHz. This tool was produced by Rik ON7YD.  Based on my own limited experience you do not need big ERP at all to have fun with WSPR on the band.

If you know your antenna current you can use it to work out your ERP or EIRP. The tool will show how much power you need to reach the ERP or EIRP limit for the band.

Home again. Active on 10m WSPR

After 9 nights away, we are now home again. I have turned on the 10m WSPR (20% TX 2W, 80% RX). As the gear has only just been turned on, it may be some time before 10m WSPR spots are given or received.

UPDATE 1338z:  Just 10m WSPR spots exchanged with G4KPX (14km) at good strength so far.

UPDATE 1540z:  Still just exchanging 10m WSPR spots with G4KPX (14km).  No Es or F2 seen here today. The best report was -9dB S/N. This was probably aircraft reflection as there was a lot of Doppler.  I seem to exchange spots with Richard more typically at -11dB S/N to -20dB S/N.

10m Es and F2

This morning there is Es on 10m WSPR already and N-S F2 propagation. A promising start.

From Steve G1KQH - Spybot anti-beacon for Windows

This came in on an email from Steve G1KQH. I have not tried the link.

Someone sent me this link stops them spying on you!

Seems to work

https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

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

Rallies this weekend.

Notification has been received about these rallies:

Sunday 22 MAY : BLACK COUNTRY RADIO RALLY MARK 2
Portway Lifestyle Centre, Newbury Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 1HE. The venue is 1 mile from junction 2 of the M5. Doors open at 10am and the admission is £2. A raffle will be drawn at 2pm.

Sunday 22 May : 33RD DUNSTABLE DOWNS RC ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO CAR BOOT SALE
Stockwood Park, Luton All the usual facilities will be there. www.ddrcbootsale.org.

Sunday 22 MAY : BroadBand HamNet MEETING
A get together of BBHN Mesh Operators and those interested in this system of digital communications on the amateur microwave bands has been arranged at Tilgate Forest Rec. Centre, Hut 18, Tilgate Forest, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ. For details and an agenda contact Ted, G4ELM via BBHN.Event.2016@gmail.com.

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

Sunspots and 10m - Sat May 21st 2016

Solar flux is 101 today. Sunspot number is 43 (K=3) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor" today.

6m WSPR Es

This evening there has been a little Es on 6m WSPR. Not a lot, but some. We need more stations on WSPR.

I have not been on 6m WSPR for more than a week as we have been away but I shall be on 6m and 10m WSPR once home again.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday May 20th 2016

Solar flux is 100 today. Sunspot number is 38 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m (F2) propagation remains "poor".