Pound-Dollar exchange rate - NOT amateur radio

In the last few weeks the pound has gone down against most currencies. This makes UK exports more competitive, but imports dearer. Against the US Dollar the rate is $1.2244 to £1 currently. The world fears a "hard BREXIT" from the EU. My own view is the EU did not want the UK to leave as it needed us to prop up the (failing?) institution. I think the Euro will weaken a great deal in the next 18 months or so. I am no expert though!

In the short term we are likely to see higher UK prices (inflation) and a bettering of our trade deficit. Many EU nations will need our trade in the future. If we depend less on finance and make more, that would not be a bad thing.

10m JT65

No spots as yet on 10m, although it is very early and I have not been on very long. Maybe things will liven up later?

UPDATE 0904z:  RA6WF (3610km) in Dagestan, Russia spotted on 10m JT65.  I presume this is F2. At the moment I seem to be uploading my 10m JT65 spots to PSKreporter maps OK.

UPDATE 1250z: RA6AM (2908km) spotted me earlier on 10m JT65 (2W QRP). VU2TS (8062km) and EA8GF (2973km)  spotted here on 10m JT65. F2.

UPDATE 2025z:  Best DX on 10m JT65 RX was LW6EUR (11215km) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday October 21st 2016

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 16. K=1

Yesterday - 10m JT65 RX

Yesterday I was puzzled why I was being spotted far and wide (including South America) on 10m JT65 (2W QRP), but I was, apparently, receiving nothing according to PSKreporter maps. When I checked my own WSJT-X screen on the shack PC, I could see lots and lots of South Americas, all over Europe, Israel, Thailand and others on 10m JT65 RX!  For some reason, my spots were not being uploaded to PSKreporter, whereas spots by others were. I think the problem must have been my internet connection.

At 0727z this morning I returned to 10m JT65 and the PC sync to internet time was checked. I wonder how today will go?

Time to go QRT

With no new spots now for some hours, I am about to go QRT on 10m JT65. I shall be back on in the morning.

Rally

For readers in Northern Ireland and  Eire I guess.

Saturday 22 OCTOBER : CARRICKFERGUS AMATEUR RADIO GROUP RADIO RALLY

Downshire Community School, Carrickfergus, BT38 7DA. Doors open at 11.30pm and admission is £3. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. The venue has disabled facilities. Refreshments will be available. Details from Tim, MI0TBL by email to carg@hotmail.co.uk. www.radioclubs.net/carg.

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

On 10m JT65 since before breakfast

The 10m JT65 (2W) was fired up just before breakfast. As yet,  no spots given or received on the 10m band, but there are quite a few people looking across Europe and Asia. No signs of UK spots or spots from mainland Europe. Nearer Europe and UK is sometimes possible by aircraft reflection or tropo. Further away depends on Es, F2 or backscatter.

UPDATE 0924z:  Just had my first 10m JT65 spot today: from Austria OE3BOB (1228km). Es?

UPDATE 1128z:  IZ0AIS (1506km) has just spotted my 2W on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1136z: Now EA5/G3XGS (1581km) is spotting me.  Did someone say 10m is "dead"??

UPDATE 1810z:  PU4ENY (9359km) in Brazil copied me earlier on 10m JT65 (2W QRP).

QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
all QSOs installed in the total log page. Thanks!
New memorable certificates sent to:
- Honor Cosmonauts
PA0PJE, OK1DXK, R1CAF/SWL
- Honor Astronauts
RA7RA, R2DNN/B, R2AJA/B
Note:  in  next  2017  "Sputnik"  Days  Beacon/TXs  may be claimed as
"Sputnik"  or  "Vanguard".  Identifications  "beep-beep"  or  "V V V"
require.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik Activity Days finished. Thanks to all participants and to all
spectators! I'll add all QSOs in the totals log and make the order on
the  page  this  evening.  My  sorry,  I  too much busy with my house
reconstructions now.
Note: the dead line for all reports before October 25.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday October 20th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today.  Sunspot number is 31.  K=0. Yesterday was not bad on 10m JT65, certainly worth running JT65 in the background.

End of 10m DX today?

Just in case, I'll stay on 10m JT65 a little longer, but I think the DX is over here for the day. In the end I copied 10 South Americans although my own 2W QRP JT65 failed to be spotted there on 10m JT65 today. Still, it was a lot better than yesterday. CE5PRD (12194km) was the best DX today.

AM in Portugal - Nov 5/6th

Southgate News reports on an AM weekend in Portugal in November:

"ARLA - The Portuguese 'Associação de Radioamadores do Litoral Alentejano' is organizing a whole weekend of Amplitude Modulation-AM on the 6th and 7th of November, the sixth edition of the event previously known as 'Dia Nacional do AM em Portugal' (National Day of AM in Portugal).
The broadcast, in amplitude modulation, will take place in 80m, 40m, 20m, 10m, 6m and 2m between 08AM UTC Saturday Nov 5 until 11:59PM UTC Sunday Nov 6.
Therefore, ARLA asks all ham operators and SWL, national or worldwide, to participate in this special broadcast, widen this year and for the first time to two consecutive days, in AM and in the amateur band plan.
The broadcasting will take place in several frequencies and the following should be considered for calling or meeting points between the participants:
3 705.0 kHz (+- 5kHz);
7 146.0 kHz (+- 5 kHz);
14 270.0 kHz (+- 5 kHz);
29 075.0 kHz (+- 5 kHz);
51,575.0 MHz (+- 5 kHz);
144,550.0 MHz (+- 5 kHz).
As referred above, this year we've widen the event to 48h due to several requests of previous participants, tho maintaining the same goals as the last events:
a) to give the opportunity of putting old recovered or collecting equipment's on the air
b) promote an different experience as well calling, whenever possible, to this type of broadcast that it's not that used anymore, focusing on new ham operators
c) pay our respects to the old short wave amplitude modulation broadcasting in Portugal, nowadays extinct
The logbook isn't mandatory but it would be great if you send your log to the organization.
Those who can and are willing to give us that joy, please send them to cs5arla+dia.do.am@gmail.com
All participants that make a contact with CS5ARLA station, operated by Carlos Mourato (CT4RK), will receive a participation certificate.
 
João Costa CT1FBF
Vogal da Direcção da ARL"

A better 10m day

I have been on 10m JT65 all day. So far 6 South Americans spotted together with a couple of spots of my own 2W QRP 10m JT65 signal from Europeans.

UPDATE 1550z:  Now 7 South Americans spotted. Best 10m JT65 RX spot is LW7EMM (11483km).

UPDATE 1702z: Now spotted 10 South Americans on 10m JT65 RX.

10m JT65 since before breakfast

Although on 10m JT65 since before breakfast, I see IZ0AIS (1506km) spotted me a few minutes ago. I assume this is Es. I don't think there were earlier spots.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 19th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today. The sunspot number is 24 .  K=2 . As mentioned yesterday, assume 10m F2 propagation is forecast to be "poor" unless I say otherwise. In future, I shall NOT be mentioning 10m F2 propagation.

Disappointment

Well it is now 1730z and I have been on 10m JT65 most of the afternoon. Not a single spot given or received on 10m JT65. Yesterday was quite different.

I shall stay on the band for a while longer, but think the DX chances have gone for the day.
 
UPDATE 1818z:  When not looking for QSOs, I usually monitor PSKreporter maps in the lounge on a different PC. I see that PU4ENY (Brazil) was spotted at 1358z calling CQ, although he did not upload to PSK reporter. So, there was just one South American logged on 10m JT65 today after all. G0VUH was also spotted. I am still active, but 10m JT65 is very quiet here.

Exchange rates - NOT amateur radio

See https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/currencies/investing.html for how the UK pound is fairing against other currencies. Although I voted to remain in the EU, I can see the Euro weakening in the next 18 months. The UK (a big contributor to the EU pot) is leaving, the Greeks have little prospect of ever repaying their debts and there is a general sentiment that the EU is dated and holding back its members.There is no doubt that the UK will have a difficult few years, but the EU is in for a rough time too.

New Greenland 6m Beacon

Southgate News mentions a new 6m beacon OX6M in Greenland on 50.047MHz. This is worth listening for, especially in the Es season. I have worked Greenland with 2.5W handheld on 15m SSB in the past from the back garden with just a base loaded whip on the rig.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/october/new-ox6m-beacon.htm

1.3GHz UKAC this evening

This is a band I do not go on. Tonight is the 1.3GHz leg of the UK activity contests organised by the RSGB.

If this is like the 2m and 70cm contests, it is a good opportunity to come on the band and work a few new stations and squares.

In the distant past I borrowed a converter and listened on the band with a homemade, indoor 4 el yagi made of 2.5mm silver plated wire. I recall hearing a local well.

Really it is a band I should try,  like 10GHz. I have always been put off by a lack of test gear. My site is quite good, but I am not good on ladders these days and decent antennas are a must.

45 countries on 10m JT65 in the last week

Despite the declining solar conditions and my poor antenna, 45 countries were copied here on 10m JT65 in the last week alone. Who says 10m is dead?

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

QSYed to 10m JT65

At 1332z I QSYed to 10m JT65 only. No further 6m JT65 or 10m WSPR spots received. It will be interesting to see how 10m JT65 performs today.  I run 2W QRP on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1435z: A very quiet day so far on 10m JT65. No spots given or received here at all so far. Things may change - I hope so!

UPDATE 1442z:  It may be coincidence, but I seem to get better results into South America when there is good European propagation, which I presume is  Es. I wonder if the Es (?) gets signals into the TEP region? I am pretty sure the South Americans are TEP, but TEP tends to be better further south than the UK. I am so grateful we have 10m JT65 and WSPR as these weak signal modes tend to be monitored when SSB users think 10m is a dead loss.

UPDATE 1525z:  Still no 10m JT65 spots here today. Bad hair day? I'll give it a few more hours, but time is running out.

10m WSPR and 6m JT65

I have been active since just after breakfast on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65. I shall be switching to just 10m JT65 later.

On 10m WSPR EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) was spotting me earlier. I assume this is F2 propagation.

On 6m JT65 just spots by G0LRD (25km) so far.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday October 18th 2016

Solar flux is 76 today (falling) and sunspot number 23. K=3. The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". In future, I don't intend to report 10m propagation unless the forecast is other than "poor".In other words asssume the forecast is "poor" unless you hear otherwise.

In many recent days, 10m has been quite good N-S by what I assume is TEP. Here, it has only opened to the USA on a single day this autumn. This was on 10m JT65 and it only reached Florida. Since last year solar conditions have dropped a lot on average.

Now QRT

As the last 10m JT65 activity here was almost an hour ago, I have gone QRT until the morning. I may start tomorrow on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 and move to 10m JT65 later in the day, probably after lunch.

Another Geosync Amateur Satellite?

Southgate News links to another possible geosynchronous amateur satellite. Like buses, we see none and then lots! As HF conditions deteriorate, geosync satellites could prove very useful. The footprint just reaches the UK. 10GHz download.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/october/a-geosync-ham-radio-satellite.htm .

See also https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/na-gso-sat/ .

F2 DX on 10m JT65

3B8CW (9751km) and EA8YV (3004km) were spotted on 10m JT65vearlier. As yet, nobody has spotted my QRP 10m JT65 signal.

 
UPDATE 1318z:  No further DX as yet and nothing, yet, from South America. Also, still no spots of my own signal on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1344z: LU1HVK (11244km) in Argentina spotted my 2W QRP 10m JT65 11 minutes ago. We are now entering the Southern Hemisphere's Es season. I wonder if this helps very far south signals to get into the TEP zone?

UPDATE 1430z: My QRP 1m JT65 signal has been spotted by CS8ABY (2573km) in the Azores and by PY2NQ (9589km) in Brazil.

OFCOM updates

From the OFCOM website:

"Ofcom has today published a decision explaining that it will aim to make the 700 MHz band nationally available for mobile data by the second quarter of 2020 – 18 months earlier than originally planned

In November 2014 Ofcom announced that the 700 MHz band – which is currently used for digital terrestrial TV and wireless microphone applications – would be repurposed for mobile data.

As part of its funding for the 700 MHz clearance programme, Government has agreed to fund a grant scheme to support PMSE users who will have to vacate the 700 MHz band earlier than expected.

Ofcom has also set out its decision to allocate 20 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band – known as the ‘centre gap’ – to mobile data."

Sunspots and 10m - Monday October 17th 2016

Solar flux is 80 today and sunspot number 25. K=3 . Yet again the forecast for 10m F2 is "poor".

King of Thailand Dead

Until today, I had no idea that the late King of Thailand held the call HS1A. His death will sadden many in Thailand and many amateurs in the world. I was aware that the late King Hussain of Jordan was JY1.

I wonder how many other famous amateurs there are? For certain, I have not worked anyone famous!

Salcombe Lifeboat Disaster 1916 - NOT amateur radio

See http://salcombelifeboat.co.uk/lifeboat-disaster-centenary/ .

One hundred years ago this month the small Devon town where I came from suffered a tragedy when the lifeboat overturned with the loss of life of most of the crew. It was a tragedy in a small community. There will be a special service to mark the 100 year anniversary. One of my aunties witnessed the tragedy when she was a young girl.  Most of the crew were not young men as most of these were fighting in WW1. Only 2 people survived.

October 2016 2m UKAC Results

The results of this contest have just been published and I sit a credible 82nd out of 180 in the AL section. This is not at all bad considering I am only on for about 20% of the contest and run 5W QRP SSB on 2m to a small omni antenna. I enjoy these sessions, even though I find it hard going with my poor voice these days.

 See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&year=2016 . 

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Within a few weeks the weather has moved from late summer into autumn. On Friday we planted pansies at the back of the house and these should be in flower until the spring. It's funny how we adapt to shorter days, dark nights earlier, autumnal colours, the trees losing their leaves etc.. Time to hunker down by the fire.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy .

10m JT65

Although I've not been active very long, I have already been spotted in Israel by 4X1RF (3518km) and spotted a station in France F1GTU (754km). I guess the Israeli spot was F2 although it could have been Es. The French station was either Es, aircraft reflection or F2 backscatter.

UPDATE 1140z:  I have already spotted a couple of South Africans and been spotted all over Europe and the Azores.

UPDATE 1300z: First 10m JT65 spot in South America today was about 20 minutes ago. PY2JEA (9596km). Lots of Europeans spotting me and being spotted.

UPDATE 1342z:  Best DX on 10m JT65 RX is LU2XSN (13361km) in Tierra del Fuego, Southern Argentina. 6 South Americans and 3 South Africans spotted so far today on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1552z:  Just one more South American received on 10m JT65, otherwise things seem to have gone quiet here.

UPDATE 1840z: 14 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 today. As no spots recently I am going QRT.

UPDATE 1848z: GD0TEP (381km) was spotted several times. This is an interesting distance. It is possibly tropo, aircraft reflection or backscatter.  Now QRT here until the morning.

QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (October 10 to 16, 2016)

Visitors of the week: UA1CEX, HB9DAX, OE5GYL, RA1M/mm, RU3NJC, UA1CEG,
R1CAF,  UR5EFD,  DK1HW,  US3EN,  S57RT, UA4NU, OM6TC, OK2HBY, OH6NPV,
US5ERQ, R2FAE, ON6KZ, SM5ALJ, HA7NE, DF9QV, DL2DBU, YO4BQV
Congrats S57RT, he became Honor Frequenter
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters lists at the Club 72 web page -
www.club72.su

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


Dear Space Friends,
RA7RA/V  informed about new QSO with S57T on 14060 kc (150 mW). Also,
"Astronaut"  Vlad  R2DNN/V  send me pictures of his 120 mW one pnp Ge
transistor GT321 TX, enjoy pictures on the "results" page on club72.su
Note:  his  TX  installed  on  the  door's furniture (detail). What a
wonderful  idea,  isn't  it!  Also,  keep  attention for heat-sink of
transistor,  looks  like  micro-Sputnik  :-)  9  Volts battery name
"KOSMOS" (Space)
Sputniks?Vanguards frights to be continue before October 18.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
Cosmonaut Jiri OK1DXK (Sputnik) informed yesterday he logged QSO with
RX2AM on 40 m. Jiri used sloper wire 9 m long and 1 watt output.
Enjoy QRPp!
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
R2AJA  informed  about  his  a-la  "Vanguard"  beacon mode TX. Modern
components  used  in  the  auto-beacon  TX, 1 watt output to LW 10 m.
RA7RA/SWL  copied  R2AJA/Beacon  in  October 11. Picture of TX-beacon
installed on the totals result page club72.su
Flights  to  be continue before October 18. I looking for results and
QSO reports, please.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday October 16th 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and sunspot number 35. K=3 . Yet again the forecast for 10m F2 is "poor".

WSPR or JT65?

As you can tell, my favorite mode seems to be JT65 rather than WSPR, although I still use WSPR from time to time. WSPR is theoretically better by a few dB, but activity seems higher on JT65.  I think the 60 second TX period in JT65 helps too. In recent weeks with 10m JT65 I have had considerable success despite my poor set-up and 2W.

At the moment I think I'll use 10m JT65 rather than 10m WSPR. Although I have now spotted a couple of USA stations in Florida I have still to be copied in the USA this autumn on 10m JT65.

Now QRT

We have my son, his wife and 2 of our grandchildren here this weekend, so I have now gone QRT. All the DX DX on 10m JT65 seemed to stop a few hours ago, although Europe was still coming through in the last hour. I shall be on again tomorrow, although later than usual.

Another great day on 10m JT65

As well as my own 2W QRP signal being widely copied in Europe and South America, I copied stations in Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso and South Africa. A great 10m day.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

Not much progress in the last year.

Although most things work I still feel giddy when walking, tire easily, have poor fine motor skills, have problems with liquids and my speech is poor.

Overall, I feel I have to come to terms with the new me, as this is how I am going to be now, barring miracles.

Active on 10m JT65

This morning, around breakfast time, I went on 10m JT65. I have been active (2W) with this band and mode ever since. Conditions on 10m seem fine with spots all over Europe and Israel. If things don't change, it looks a lot more promising than yesterday on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday October 15th 2016

Solar flux is 91 today and the sunspot number 38.  K=2.  The forecast for 10m F2 propagation is, you guessed, "poor".