Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 13th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and yet again the sunspot number is zero. A=9 and K=2.

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

It is some time since I updated readers on the after-effects of my 2013 stroke. So, here goes. 

The worst effects are I still feel very giddy when walking, tire easily and my voice is poor.

And yet, 3.5 years after my stroke I am still making small improvements. I feel better able to do up buttons. Also, I feel my basic core strength is, maybe, just a little stronger. Improvements are hard to detect now.

Yet, even now, I am becoming aware of some after-effects that I'd not been "tuned into". One of these is I find it harder to follow sub-titles on foreign films. It is as if I don't have enough time.

My wife thinks some of my problems are "in the mind". For example, although I feel giddy when walking I have never once fallen. By now, I thought my brain would have "rewired".

Compared with before my stroke, I still feel very ill. My hope is that my tiredness is linked to the giddiness and that this can be fixed.

40m WSPR

Unique 40m WSPR spots so far

As mentioned in an earlier post I went QRT on 10m and 6m and am now active with 2W to a low end-fed on 40m WSPR. I seem to be getting lots of unique spots around Europe despite the poor antenna on 40m.

UPDATE 1930z: Best DX so far on TX is a spot by RV6LCY (2876km) in LN08 square.

UPDATE 2202z:   WA9WTK (5291km) is now the best DX on 40m WSPR TX.

Amateur band intruder?

Southgate News reports that a military station, probably in the Falkland Islands has been copied within the 40m amateur band.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/march/iarums-stanag-4285-in-40m.htm#.WMVrIYXXLIU

Amateur VLF

VLF seems to have been busy in the amateur fraternity of late. There have been tests around 8.27, 5.17 and even 2.97kHz.

Casual listening will not bring results: long stable transmissions are needed together with very stable, narrowband reception if amateur VLF/ULF signals are to be detected. Commercial VLF signals on the other hand are very strong as most use high power and big antennas.

The photo shows DF6NM's loading coil for 5.17kHz today.

See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/ .

Boring? - NOT amateur radio

This shop in our village (Burwell, Cambs, UK) recently changed hands. It is to become an estate agents and carpet shop I believe. The pub in the distance (The Crown) has been empty for years. Most things needed can be got in the village. There are several food shops, a baker, butcher, bank and dentist. If you did not have a car you could manage.

Red-legged Partridge - NOT amateur radio

In our close, we regularly see red-legged partridges. Sometimes we see one and occasionally up to three at a time.  They are good looking, introduced, birds that have well overtaken the common partridge in numbers these days. Yesterday there were a couple in our drive.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/r/redleggedpartridge/

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday March 12th 2017

Solar flux is 69 today and the sun is spotless yet again. A=6 and K=2.

Although I am not expecting great things on 10m, it has a habit of throwing surprises so I shall be on 10m WSPR all day.

Activity today 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m WSPR (100% TX, randomised) and 6m JT65 (2W). No spots as yet on either band.

UPDATE 1202z:  Still no spots here on either 6m or 10m.

UPDATE 1540z: Still no spots on either band. Soon be time to QSY bands/mode?

UPDATE 1620z: I have given up as nothing on either band all day today. I have now QSYed to 40m WSPR (2W) although my antenna is very low on that band. For some reason my earth-electrode "antenna" did not want to match on 160m or 80m.

Buying books on the internet - NOT amateur radio

At Christmas, I bought my wife a lovely hardback book filled with colour photos called " English Cathedrals" by Simon Jenkins. I bought it at a Cambridge bookshop where it cost me £30.

The book was a great success so my wife wanted another copy for her brother's birthday. A quick check on Amazon where the very same hardback book was less than £9! It now retails at just over £20 on Amazon. We bought it at less than £9 and it came a few days later.

How can local bookshops survive? We are as guilty as anyone. We see a bargain and grab it.

It is sad as I love browsing bookshops. Maybe the long-term answer is a bit like John Lewis? Browse in stores and buy (increasingly) online? I do not see the future high streets, but the retail trade will change in the future: fewer shops and more cafes? Whoever gets this right will be king. Amazon now, but who will succeed in the years ahead?

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Englands-Cathedrals-Simon-Jenkins/1408706458/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489312522&sr=8-1&keywords=english+cathedrals+simon+jenkins

12W handheld? - no thanks!

Considering the small difference (in range) between 2W and 12W and the very real danger (allegedly) of 12W next to the head and eyes I have no wish to buy a 12W handheld.  Even working professionally on 5W pep PAs I regularly had dry eyes.

Amateur Radio Weekly reports on a Chinese 3 band 12W handheld.

E-Field Probes

Some years ago (in the days when I was fit and well) I tried these compact receive only antennas on 137kHz and higher bands. They work on the principle that S/N matters more than absolute sensitivity, especially on lower bands when external noise is the limiting factor rather than rig noise figure. I recall using an EFP mag mount on the car and driving around picking up my QRSS3 signal on 137kHz at 24km (still a decent signal even with very very low ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  Having great success, I gave up and came home! Just a small whip, very very low TX ERP and 137kHz.  These really work!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/137efp .

Primroses - NOT amateur radio

Every autumn we plant primroses outside our house at the front. These give colour all through winter and look great. Apart from the occasional dead heading, they need very little attention.  We later replace these with small begonias.

Wild primroses are creamy whereas those from the garden centre are in a variety of bright colours. Perhaps these are nuked?

10m JT65 transceive

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m JT65 again (2W). As yet, no spots, but things could well change.

UPDATE 1255z:  No 10m JT65 spots today so far.

UPDATE 1832z:  Still no 10m JT65 spots all day.

Spring - NOT amateur radio

It is starting to feel a bit like spring here. On average, temperatures are milder and there are stirrings in the garden with fresh buds appearing.

Daffodils, that were late, are now everywhere. Another few weeks and it really will be spring again. When the clocks change to BST and the African migrant birds return it really will be spring.

Some people hate fields of yellow rape, although to me it is a sign of warmer days. I like to see this crop.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday March 11th 2017

Solar flux is 70 and yet again the sun is spotless. A=12 and K=2.

6m MSK144

HB9Q (794km) was spotted before breakfast on 6m MSK144, although I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 transceive.

Like Marmite - NOT amateur radio

It seems that the latest US president is a bit like Marmite: you either love him or hate him. The fact he was voted as president says a lot about how the people of the USA feel.

Although I like Marmite, I am afraid Mr Trump and his friends are not the sort of people I warm to. Clearly the people of the USA are fed up with politicians and are expecting great things of him. However, I fail to understand how a very rich billionaire can truly represent most in that great country.

On a personal level, I have found all the people I have met from the USA to be warm, generous and kind. I have found the same of those in Russia, Germany and most other nations. There is far more that unites us all than we think.

All I ask is that Mr Trump and his team listen to objective evidence and act on it. If all politicians in every nation did this then the world would be a better place. There is no place for egos in politics. All politicians everywhere are there to serve the people: we elect them and can easily vote them out.

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

An effective 10m antenna

At the old QTH (we moved a few years ago) I used my Homebase-10 antenna for 10m. As we enter the Es season when 10m springs to life with loads of Europeans, perhaps it is worth reminding readers of this low cost antenna.

It is basically a wire halo, small, and pretty omni-directional. It can be made with low cost materials, most of which you can buy at your local hardware store. In its time it has enabled me to work all over the world with QRP. It was in Practical Wireless in 2008 and is on my www.g3xbm.co.uk main site.

Despite my poor health, maybe I should try to get one up again at this QTH? I think I could make it (although not as easy as in the past) but I'd need help to get it up in place of my big-wheel. I think I could use the same small support mast. I'd probably feed it with some new RG58 coax.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/homebase

Openreach - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK and get broadband you probably get your service via BT's Openreach which provides the fibre and wire backbone. We get our broadband via Virgin Media with speeds up to 100M. We rarely get downtime and, overall,  they provide a good service. In rural areas where no cable is available, broadband speeds can be very poor.

Today, BT agreed to make Openreach a separate legal entity, so the hope is the broadband services will improve for many. Openreach is still part of BT but legally separate. I'm not quite sure how this works.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39228115 .

Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 10th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=15 and K=4. 10m today? Anyone's guess. On the face of it not promising but 10m, like 6m, has a habit of throwing surprises!

Rallies this weekend

MARCH 12th 2017 : DOVER RADIO CLUB RALLY

Whitfield Village Hall, Sandwich Road, Manley Close, Whitfield, Nr Dover CT163LY Talk in on GB3KS, doors open from 10am to 2pm, entry £2. Auction starts at 12.30pm. Aaron Coote, 2E0FQR, 0771 465 4267 or aaroncoote@hotmail.co.uk.


MARCH 12th 2017 GRANTHAM RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY NOTE

Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XQ There is car parking and disabled facilities at the venue. Doors open 9am and entry is £3. There will be trade stands, special interest groups, an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site. Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483, g6ssn@btinternet.com.

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

Spring? - NOT amateur radio

It is really hard to think we are already a third of the way through March already. Time flies!

Yesterday I cut our lawns for the first time this year. It really felt like spring had come: it was mild, sunny and pleasant outside. We have had a long, damp, mild winter and I am now looking forward to lighter evenings again.

Every season has something good, but I like the spring best of all as it is filled with hope.

This morning on the air (6m MSK144 RX, 10m WSPR TX)

At the moment I am monitoring 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz and on 10m WSPR TX (100%, randomised frequencies, 500mW). As yet, no spots on either band.

UPDATE 1225z: Still nothing on either band.

UPDATE 1420z: GM4UYE (507km) spotted on 6m MSK144. Aircraft?

UPDATE 1506z: Now 3 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 (F, GW and GM).

UPDATE 1812z: No further 6m spots and nothing all day on 10m here.

University of Liverpool - NOT amateur radio

"As a graduate from the department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology you are invited to share your career insights with students at an informal careers event on Tuesday 21 March 2017, from 5pm to 7pm at the Liverpool Campus....."

From LinkedIn.

No, I actually did Honours Electronics! If I talked they might be a bit confused.

OFCOM - more space for wi-fi at 5GHz

OFCOM has announced more 5GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/DA9A0AB341F05077/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859Chttp://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/DA9A0AB341F05077/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday March 9th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=12 and K=2.

20m JT65

I remained on 20m JT65 and am still on that band/mode presently, although I intend to QSY soon. So far just lots of European spots of my 2W. My antenna is poor (and very low) for 20m.

UPDATE 1005z: Still just European spots on 20m JT65.

Slowly declining solar conditions

We are now on the slow slide down to the next solar minimum. Those with memories of the last minimum will remember the long spotless periods. The next could be even worse.

Luckily the slope is quite gradual and often there are days where solar activity is higher.  On better days, the higher bands support N-S DX.

As I have said before, I have worked QRP SSB real DX on 10m in periods with no sunspots. WSPR and JT65 should be even better.

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

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago we had seas of snowdrops. These are now past their best and it seems there are daffodils in flower all over the place.

There are always great shows of these at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Another 2 weeks and they will all look superb.

20m JT65

After trying on 10m JT65 and finding nothing, I QSYed to 20m JT65 for a change, still running 2W to my low end fed tri-band antenna. Plenty of spots of my 2W from around Europe plus some from the USA. As I have said before, generally I find 20m less satisfying than 10m. Spots are much easier to get on 20m, even with QRP JT65. I'll nonetheless stick with 20m JT65 for a few more hours to see how it goes.

UPDATE 1840z:  Mostly Europe plus a few USA spots so far.

Cambridge Bikes - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge is famous as a university town filled with bikes! This shot, just across the road from Trinity College, is typical.

70cm band

In my experience this is a wasted band.

It seems under-occupied most of the time, whereas in the 1980s it was well occupied and busy on FM especially. I try to go on SSB in the monthly RSGB UKAC activity contest (next Tuesday is the next one on 70cm) with my 2m halo, but otherwise I am as guilty as the rest, rarely going on the band.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/70cm_op .

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday March 8th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number remains zero.  A=16 and K=1.

As conditions are quite undisturbed, 10m may open for N-S DX later despite the low sunspot number.

I may move to 10m JT65 transceive (2W) later.

6m DX and HF noise

This morning I returned to 6m MSK144 RX.  SK0TM (1156km) has already been spotted, presumably by random MS.

This mode is amazing as it allows 6m DX irrespective of solar conditions and Es. Yes, with Es such stations are workable with a very simple TX station, but it makes 6m useful at any time, in any month, of any year.

As the solar activity quietens I can see more and more moving to VHF and seeking new challenges. Certainly here the VHF and UHF bands are relatively noise free. Here, in what was a quiet village,160m, 80m and 40m have a lot of noise these days. It must be worse in a city. In the next 10-20 years I can see the noise floor becoming an increasing limit to amateur operations: those who can overcome such issues will be at a great advantage.

UPDATE 1040z: EI7BMB (462km) has now been spotted strongly on 6m MSK144. Aircraft?

472kHz WSPR this evening

Yet another decent evening on 472kHz WSPR RX this evening. 11 spots with best DX 1525km from Spain.

Mendelssohn's Elijah Concert - NOT amateur radio

https://sites.google.com/site/cambschoral/home/tickets

Tickets for the 2017 West Road CCS concert in which my wife is singing (April 29th 2017, Mendelssohn's Elijah) may be obtained from Sue Allin or on the door. Click the link for Sue's address and more details.

If you are in the Cambridge area, you might enjoy this classic masterpiece.

Drains - NOT amateur radio

Today, they were clearing the crud in our drains outside our house. This was the view from our lounge just after lunch.

OFCOM update

OFCOM has just produced its latest monthly report.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/6F434CD02AE01659/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Return to 6m MSK144 RX

After a good evening on 630m WSPR RX (Italy, Spain and Norway were the best DX spotted) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I returned to 6m MSK144 RX this morning.

So far, just G3RED (91km) spotted strongly, presumably by aircraft reflection.