What next?

Although 10m conditions were quite good lately, activity on the band has been poor, which is disappointing. After quite a successful 2m WSPR outing last night, and continued interesting results on 630m, I am after a new challenge. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

To operate on VHF, I think I need a better TCXO in the FT817. If I (eventually) get an IC7300, maybe I should try 4m WSPR or other modes? Although some years ago I made a 4m transverter, I don't think the stability and frequency setting would be good enough for digital modes.

At present, I do not have any antennas up for 4m. I think a 4m halo would be a good choice: fine for European Es in the summer and probably fine for inter-G work when the band is dead.

Winter Sun - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was cold, bright and frosty. Today it is just cold, dull and "January". We see this windmill (just over the garden wall, literally) from our kitchen and lounge.  We are lucky to have such a nice view. The mill is almost 200 years old and was fully restored a few years ago.

2m WSPR

Yesterday evening was quite successful with spots exchanged with several stations on 2m WSPR. G8OFA (189km) was the best DX.

I am thinking of buying a Chinese TCXO for the FT817. Reports of these are good and it should give frequency accuracy and stability to 432MHz. At less than £10 shipped, one can hardly go wrong. It should be good for digital modes with the FT817.

10m JT65

About 30 minutes ago I turned on the rig and PC and am now on 10m JT65. I was not on 630m overnight. The PC was manually resynced to internet time although this should happen automatically every 1000 seconds.

UPDATE 1100z: No 10m JT65 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1452z: Just spotting G4CJC (73km) only and no DX.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday January 25th 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and sunspot number 55. A=3 and K=1.

Newer car - NOT amateur radio

Cars do not excite me - they are pieces of metal to help you get around. We bought our last car, a Kia, in 2010, so we bought the same make and model, but a 2016 version with low mileage. This is made in Europe and comes with a 7 year warranty. Our last car did around 60mpg and road tax was £20 a year. On this one, it is nothing a year road tax and we should get similar fuel consumption.

10m JT65 earlier

Apart from G4CJC (73km) being spotted, nothing at all on 10m JT65. I am sure this is due to a lack of activity rather than conditions as the sunspot number, K index and solar flux were all pretty good for where we are in cycle 24

2m WSPR

G8OFA in Salisbury is trying 2m WSPR on 144.489MHz beaming towards Cambridge, so I have QSYed from 10m JT65 to 2m WSPR.

As I am dependent on the FT817's internal TCXO, drift may well be an issue. As you can see, drift is a real problem. In the end I set the FT817 100Hz low which seemed where I was centred on the WSPR segment.

On WSJT-X V1.7 you can see about 2.5kHz of the band in real time, so I just made the frequency adjustment to where most activity seemed to be. This could be wrong and I could drift off!

Just exchanged WSPR spots with G8OFA (189km).

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday January 24th 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number 53. A=4 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR last night

A mixed bag. LA8AV(1035km) was spotted 39 times last night.  LA3EQ (769km) spotted my 472kHz 5mW ERP WSPR 7 times. In all, 9 unique spots in 3 countries last night. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

472kHz WSPR

LA8AV (1035km) has already been spotted 17 times so far this evening and DH5RAE (995km) several times. Promising.

UPDATE 2245z: LA3EQ (769km) spotted me at -25dB S/N at 2118z. I'd like to break the 1000km barrier this season, but I think LA8AV has gone QRT!

Sunspots and 10m - Monday January 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 86 today. Sunspot number is 61. A=9 and K=0.

This looks quite promising, but I left 10m JT65 this morning (late) for 630m WSPR as I detected no activity!

Trident - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38714047

Sorry, but irrespective of whether or not this nuclear missile went off course and PM Mrs May not answering Andrew Marr's questions on TV on Sunday, I think renewing Trident is a HUGE waste of money. At the time of the Commons debate this was put at £40 billion. Yes, forty billion pounds!

Years ago, for work, I visited Faslane, where these nuclear submarines are based - a very creepy place.

Just why does the UK need an "independent" nuclear weapons system? Most countries don't have one and use their money for other things. We buy the warheads from the USA anyway!

Early return to 472kHz WSPR

As 10m JT65 was going nowhere, I returned instead to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"). I am on battery power so my noise floor is low on RX. So far just a spot by G0LRD (25km).

UPDATE 1400z: Another 2 spots by G0LRD shows that he is just copying me! With JT9-1 this would probably not have been possible.

On 10m JT65 again

Following on from my poor JT9-1 outing last night on 630m, I have now returned to 10m JT65 (2W) but no spots as yet here.

Apparently I was last spotted 15 hours ago, presumably on 630m JT9-1, although I haven't been able to trace this spot.

As my as source of solar data is still showing old data, I have no idea of the current solar conditions.

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

As I said yesterday, we went for a walk at Wicken Fen in beautiful January weather. It is dull and cloudy here today! The photo shows the windmill used to pump water and the frozen lode. Yes, it was cold.

QRP amd QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (January 22, 2017)
Visitors  of  the  week:  OK2BMA, UR7VT, UA0SBQ, R1CAF, RW3AA, UR0ET,
UA1ADF,  RA1M,  US7IB,  R6TQ,  SM2FIJ,  IK2RGV, DF1HK, RV3GM, UA1CEX,
HB9FAB,  Z35M,  G3XJS,  HB9DAX,  OK1DNZ,  US5ERQ, RW3DF, RD2A, DH0DK,
RX3DIT, OH8UL, RA6AJ, ON6KZ, UA1CEG, OH5LP, EA6BB, OH6NPV, DK3WX
Congrats!
OK2BMA became Honor Frequenter (regular visitor)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - www.club72.su
Comments...
See full version of the WQR Report on the club's page (blog in menu)

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

472kHz (630m) JT9-1 overnight

Well, I stayed on this band and mode overnight but not a single spot! On the waterfall I saw several WSPR signals. I will check settings again, but it looks like WSPR is the better mode for me on this band. Maybe my low ERP and just being buried in the noise on JT9-1 is working against me, whereas with WSPR I am just detected. WSPR on 472kHz tonight!

UPDATE 1040z: All the settings were OK. I think there are fewer stations on this mode on this band, and I need to get my ERP up so my signal is not buried in the crud.

JT9-1 on 472kHz

For a change, I am trying JT9-1 on 472kHz. I have been active for about 10 minutes so far.

At the moment I am beaconing, although I tried a few CQ calls earlier. Someone was just ending a QSO with someone called Gerd but he did not send his call, so I have no idea who this was.

If you should spot me please send to PSK Reporter Maps.

UPDATE 2038z: No JT spots on 472kHz so far. There seem to be fewer stations on the band using JT modes than WSPR.

UPDATE 2240z: Still no JT spots on 472kHz. I shall remain JT9-1 beaconing overnight in the hope that someone will spot me and upload to PSK Reporter Maps.

Copyright - NOT amateur radio

If you believe I have infringed your copyright, please let me know right away so the offending material can be removed.

Whenever possible, I try to avoid posting material that infringes copyright. If I slip up, please accept my sincere apologies and let me know what I did wrong. I never intentionally infringe copyright, but I am human and can make mistakes.

Just tell me so I can remove whatever it is that is an issue - no arguments, it will go. Occasionally, I link to pictures on other sites, so the image is linked but not on this blog. I think this is OK, but if not tell me so I can quickly put things right.

Have a laugh - NOT amateur radio

Although I am theoretically on Twitter, I do not really use it, but get sent an email daily. This caption made me laugh and laugh. I understand the BBC corrected the error as soon as they noticed it.

Balloon Tracking

High altitude balloon tracking is an aspect of our hobby I have never tried, although I know some are really into this. As they say, you cannot do everything. ATV is another aspect I have never tried and satellite comms I have only "dabbled" with. Today, Southgate News has a link to an introduction to high altitude ballooning, which is well worth a read if ballooning "floats your boat".

See http://www.daveakerman.com/?p=1732 .

Judging by the comments, this is quite an old post, but worth a read.

Fen sky - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went for a walk at Wicken Fen (National Trust). It was cold and very frosty with a bright blue sky. In fact it was a perfect January morning. The picture shows the excellent skies we get in East Anglia. Wicken Fen is famous for the bittern and its dragonflies. The boardwalk was quite icy, so we avoided this where possible

10m JT65

In the last few minutes I QSYed from 630m to 10m JT65. No spots as yet.

UPDATE 1518z: I am having problems reaching PSKreporter maps, so have been unable to see if there are any 10m JT65 spots today so far today.

UPDATE 1712z: Zero 10m spots today. It is a full week now since I have been spotted on 10m JT65 and this is not conditions, rather lack of activity!

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday January 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 86 today and the sunspot number a respectable 67. A=11 and K=3.

We might get some decent 10m propagation, but will there be activity?

Not a bad session on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight, I was spotted in 5 countries by 11 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR. As usual, I get a measured 5mW ERP on TX from my earth-electrode "antenna". The power from the transverter is about 12W into 50 ohms.

Just about anyone could get on this band with WSPR with a similar set-up. Big antennas and great earth systems are nice, but are not a prerequisite to get started on the band.

472kHz homebrew transverter

Uniques on 472kHz WSPR overnight on TX (5mW ERP)

QSY to 630m WSPR

Around 2100z I QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR from 10m JT65. At the moment I am on battery power, so the RX noise floor is low. Later, I shall be on the SMPSU so although the 5mW ERP may be spotted, only the strongest stations will be spotted here.

UPDATE 2118z:  Just locals (out to 80km) spotting me, but I have spotted DH5RAE (995km). The WSPRnet database shows 111 stations active on 630m WSPR, but just 19 of these on TX.

Early evening spots on 472kHz WSPR

UPDATE 2330z: For about 30 minutes now I have been using the shack PSU with the mains PSU charging the batteries. Although 80% RX I am "deaf" because of my S8 noise floor.

First sunspot of cycle 25 spotted

Now, please don't get excited as the peak (such as it will be) is years and years away but there are reports of the first sunspot of the new cycle spotted. This has a different polarity to those of cycle 24.

See http://qrznow.com/fast-solar-solar-wind-first-sunspot-of-a-new-cycle/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

EME

Moonbounce (EME) impresses me as I know some work really hard to optimise their stations to achieve this most difficult aspect of our hobby. In recent years it has become a little easier (although still hard) with the advent of digital modes optimised for EME paths.

Jan, LA3EQ posted a video on YouTube showing his SSB reception of HB9Q via the moon. Amazing!

UK Politics - NOT amateur radio

In recent times, there seems to have been a swing to the right in the UK and the rest of the world and a sense that our politicians are "out of touch".  The victory of Mr Trump and his "make America great again" speeches are indicative of this. There is a danger that several European nations could move to the right this year.

Here in the UK, we have no effective opposition. The Labour opposition is in disarray and faces two difficult by-elections.

This swing to the right may be temporary, but all parties in all nations need to wake up and be aware.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38704082 .

Moving to 10m JT65 from 6m

With no spots at all on 6m JT65 (not even locals) I am going to QSY to 10m JT65. With solar flux over 80, a decent sunspot count, and not bad K index, there is a chance of some F layer DX on 10m.

UPDATE 1200z: Now QSYed to 10m JT65 (2W).

UPDATE 1542z: Disappointingly, no spots (yet) on 10m JT65. Is this due to lack of activity? Conditions look quite promising.

Useless Weather Forecasts - NOT amateur radio

At 0830z the Met Office weather forecast for our village said full sun all morning from 0900z. Very very briefly we saw the sun at 1140z. Really, the Met Office weather forecasts are useless. Yes I know weather forecasts in the UK are hard and complex, but surely 30 minutes ahead they can get it better?

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday January 21st 2017

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number 61. A=11 and K=2.

Amaryllis progress - NOT amateur radio

Every winter we grow an amaryllis in the lounge. It has really shot up in the last week, with what looks like 2 flowers coming, barring any disasters.

Last year we supported it with a cane and elastic band.

At the moment, it is 19cms tall.

6m JT65

I have returned to 6m JT65, although I have an S7 noise floor on the band this morning. Even with the PC on battery power it is still there, so I think it is coming from outside the house. Maybe on JT65 TX (2W) someone might spot me? In the past I have not had a noise problem on this band. I suspect 10m JT65 might be even worse?

472kHz (630m) and 28MHz (10m) WSPR yesterday and overnight

10m was dead on WSPR with not a single spot received.

630m was better even with my 5mW ERP but no spots received further than Holland on MF. I copied DL, LA, ON and F stations on 630m RX.

UPDATE 1042z: I have yet to decide on today, but probably 6m JT65 during the day for a change.

Cold, bright days - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days it has been cold, frosty and bright - perfect winter days. This is a picture of where we live (RHS), taken in the frost this morning.

472kHz (630m) WSPR to Norway

LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted here many times this afternoon on 472kHz WSPR.

Last night Jan, LA3EQ (769km) spotted me - thank you Jan - and he kindly sent a link to a screen shot of my signal with him which I have attached here. To spot me, I reckon Jan must have good gear and a quiet noise floor.

On 10m WSPR TX, no spots at all.

On 630m WSPR I have now got the PC on the SMPSU, so my RX noise floor will be too high now to spot any but very strong signals.

Church Blog Updated - NOT amateur radio

After a long break I have updated our church blog to include Grantchester.

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

Sunspots and 10m - Friday January 20th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 26. A=11 and K=2.