Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday April 18th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number remains zero.  A=4 and K=1.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (April, 16, 2017)
Visitors  of  the week: HB9DAX, IV3BTY, US3EN, US5ERQ, UY1IF, UR5EFD,
RV3GM, G3XJS, DK1HW, OH6NPV, TF/RA1M/mm, ON6KZ, UA1CEG, OF5LP, DL2EEJ,
R2AJA,  IZ3SOI,  LZ2HT/p, R1CAF, DK4AN, F6BWO, UA1CEX, UA0SBQ, R2FAE,
US7IB,  R1CAN,  US2UM,  UR7VT, RW3AA, R1OA, EW1CY, IS0/IK2YSE, UR0ET,
SV2/Z35M/p,  UA4NU,  RX3DOR,  R3MAI,  IW1DFU,  DH0DK,  DK1COE, YT1NM,
RU3NJC, EA2EFI,  G3JFS
Congrats!
DK4AN, EA2EFI entered in the Honor Frequenters list (regular visitors)
New  visitors:  IV3BTY,  DL2EEJ, IZ3SOI, F6BWO, US2UM, IK2YSE, R3MAI,
IW1DFU, DK1COE, YT1NM
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page
Some comments...
See full WQR Report with comments and pictures on the blog page -http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks  all for activity and comments! See you all QRPers on the next
QRP Rendez-Vous!

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.

North Korea - NOT amateur radio

If North Korea continues its missile tests Mr Trump will retaliate. They risk a bombing of their nuclear test facility and the consequences could be catastrophic not only for the Korean peninsula.

If the USA was instrumental in putting a "spanner in the works" last time, it is unlikely they will repeat this trick. Of course, we have no proof of their involvement and the missile may have failed on its own.

I have mixed feelings: we do not want an unstable regime to be able to fire nuclear weapons on South Korea, Japan or the USA, but at the same time I do not trust Mr Trump to do the wise thing. I hope he is well advised and that he listens. He has a tendency to "fire from the hip".  Somehow I don't think this will work with North Korea.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39623882

10m WSPR TX as well as 6m MSK144 RX

As I use a different antenna, rig, and the PC is not needed, I can use my 10m WSPR beacon (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies) on 10m at the same time as looking on 6m MSK144 RX. As of about 10 minutes ago, I am also on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1828z: No spots all day of my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m. I have a feeling this is as  much to do with activity as conditions. With more stations active I am sure openings would be spotted. I shall leave the beacon running for a few more hours.

Early roses - NOT amateur radio

This year, our roses are in flower very early. The daffodils were late but everything seems to have accelerated in the last month. This rose is at the front of our house and gets plenty of sun.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday April 17th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=1.

Back on 6m MSK144 RX today

After another disappointing day on 10m yesterday, I am back on 6m MSK144 RX today. Already spotted 17 stations in 9 countries on 6m, mostly by random MS pings. Great mode!

UPDATE 1308z: Best 6m DX is currently IK5GQK (1239km) in Tuscany, Italy. Currently spotted 27 stations in 11 countries on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1553z: 29 stations spotted so far today in 11 countries on 6m MSK144 RX. Best day yet.

UPDATE 2120z:  A very good day on 6m MSK144 RX!

Crab apples - NOT amateur radio

Last year, we had very little blossom on our crab apple tree. This year we have loads. My wife gives the fruits to a friend who makes crab apple jelly, which is delicious. This should be a good year!

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

Our local windmill and museum opened today, for the first time this year, with an Easter egg hunt. It was busy. It now opens Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until late October. The windmill is literally "over the garden wall". This photo was taken from our lounge.

10m JT65 transceive

10m JT65 (2W) has been my band/mode of choice today. I have been active for about 2 hours, but nothing spotted so far on RX or TX on 10m.

Another month we'll be well into the northern hemisphere Es season when lots of Europeans can be expected.

UPDATE 1948z: Just a spot of me from G0LRD (25km). Otherwise no 10m spots all day.

Easter - NOT amateur radio

All Christian churches celebrate today as Easter Sunday. This year the western and eastern churches (that use different calendars) celebrate Easter on the same day. The next time this happens is 2025.

I went to church with my wife today. I used to go regularly. Sadly, I did not feel moved. To me the words were meaningless and empty. I deeply wish I still had my faith, but I feel lacking in faith.  Something deep inside tells me there is some truth in all this but right now I cannot discern it.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday April 16th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 11.  A=6 and K=2.

Tenbox - simple 10m AM transceiver

Years ago, before my stroke, I started work on the Tenbox, a very simple AM transceiver for 10m. As this used a super-regen receiver, this would really only work on AM and not be suitable for DX. It was to have been a "cross town" natterer. Sadly, my stroke got in the way and the rig was never completed.

I had intentions of making this in the style of the old Heathkit lunchbox rigs of old. It would make a nice club project on a simple PCB. When I left it, it needed a loudspeaker amplifier and another 10dB power on TX, maybe a simple linear amplifier.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

Failed missile test - NOT amateur radio

So, the North Korean missile test failed. I am not that surprised as I feel the USA had something to do with this. Of course, I may be totally wrong, and indeed I hope I am.

The Trump administration would be unable "neutralise" the North Korean nuclear threat without unpredictable consequences, but the USA Secret Service was probably in a position to do something to put a "spanner in the works".  Of course, the USA never uses such underhand techniques.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39612095 .

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday April 15th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. The sunspot number is 11. A=14 and K=2.

North Korea - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not a great fan of North Korea. I visited South Korea in 1994 and it had a vibrant economy even then. It would be good if those in North Korea were able to enjoy the same freedoms.

What worries me about the North Koreans is their nuclear weapons. They want to develop these.

As I speak the USA has not taken any action, despite threats. Personally, and I may well be wrong, I think a more likely scenario is deliberate hacking so that any nuclear tests fail and no political capital can be made from the tests.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39604361 .

Easter Egg Hunting - NOT amateur radio

Whilst here with us the "Kent" grandchildren had to have an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden!

More 6m MSK144 RX

9A4ZM (1298km) is another new country on 6m MSK144 RX. I have lost count of all the countries now spotted on 6m using this mode.

Today so far 15 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX and it is only 0940z!

UPDATE 1224z: So far today 17 stations in 10 countries on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1736z: 22 stations in 13 countries now today on 6m MSK144 RX. Best day yet.

Tulips - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to think that in the 1600s tulip bulbs were worth more than houses in Holland until the price crashed and lots of people lost lots of money.

We have had a strange spring. Daffodils were late, but now are mostly dead. Tulips are mainly dying now. I saw my first swallow earlier this year than previous years here in East Anglia.

Our garden always looks at its best at this time of the year. The blossom is largely out and the green on the trees is "spring fresh".

VLF Transmitter

This image has been posted before.

The link takes you to my 5W transmitter that I used a few years ago from my old QTH to cover 6km by utilities assisted earth-mode. I tried a test using this TX over a 32km radiated path without success.  A test in 2014 from the new QTH was a total failure! The TX is based on a TDA2003 audio IC. It used a keyer to produce a preprogrammed message in either CW or QRSS3.

At some point I want to do more VLF tests but my health has been against this. I need to improve my earth-electrode "antenna" before doing more tests.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter

Home quiet once more - NOT amateur radio

After a busy couple of weeks we are alone again. All grandchildren have now departed. We love seeing them very much, but when they go we return to calm! It was pretty "full on" and I am exhausted. As the old saying went, "nice to see them come, nice to see them go".  In years to come we will miss these visits.

Yet again on 6m MSK144 RX

6m MSK144 RX is easy and ideal to monitor in the background whilst dealing with a houseful of people. So far today PSK Reporter Maps shows 10 stations spotted in 7 countries, but at least one more nation has been spotted that was not uploaded.

UPDATE 1450z: 17 stations in 9 countries so far today on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 2120z: 20 stations in 10 countries on 6m MSK144 RX in last day. The system is still running and will be left on overnight, although I seem to spot most stations in the period between 0600 and 1000z.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday April 14th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number is 12. A=5 and K=3.

Old QTH

We moved to the present QTH a few years ago. This is an aerial photo of the old QTH. We moved 300m!

USA amateur numbers up (again)

According to the latest FCC figures, the number of amateur licences in the USA is up again. I think this contrasts with the numbers in many countries where amateur radio is seen as an "old man's" hobby with few youngsters entering and staying in the hobby.  I have said this many times, but we need to understand the dynamics or our hobby will simply die out in the next 20 years. What got us into the hobby is not the same today.

See http://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/Emergency-Communications-Driving-Increase-in-Amateur-Radio-Operators.html

Stables visit - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson (aged 8) enjoys riding and today was given a tour of one of the best stables in nearby Newmarket. He had a great time. They have a pool for the horses which cost £1M. There are only 3 of these in the whole country.

Solar storm?

Southgate News reports that we might get a glancing blow from the results of a solar storm. This may hit us over Easter.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/april/easter-storm.htm#.WO8_H4WcHIU
See also http://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday April 13th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 13. A=6 and K=2.

6m MSK144

Once again I am on 6m MSK144 RX where 9 stations in 6 countries have been spotted in the last 12 hours (EI, GD, G, F, LA, HB9). This band/mode never fails

UPDATE 1442z: 2 new countries today on 6m MSK144 RX including 4O6AH (1788km) in Montenegro. So far today 20 stations in 11 countries on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1629z: 23 stations in 11 countries today on 6m.

Baking - NOT amateur radio

We have 2 of our grandchildren staying this week. They are a handful, but it is usually "clean mess". They enjoy baking as the photo shows. This is them making a cake. The floor loves it :-)

OFCOM consulting again

OFCOM is again asking for inputs.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/4A7BC273EB8C8121/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday April 12th 2017

Solar flux is 73 and the sunspot number 12. A=12 and K=3

6m MSK144 RX again

This morning, I am again on 6m MSK144 RX. So far, 3 stations spotted in 3 countries (EA, F and G).

UPDATE 1320z: 8 stations in 5 countries spotted so far today on 6m MSK144 RX with best DX EA3AQJ (1221km) in Catalonia.

UPDATE 1850z: 14 stations in 8 countries so far today on 6m MSK144 RX.

70cm UKAC

Tonight I was only able to be on for about 15 minutes because we had visitors. As usual, I was only running 5W to my 2m halo - totally unsuitable for the band. Nonetheless I still worked G4CLA at 105km.

Outside St Johns - NOT amateur radio

If I have already posted this, please accept my apologies.

This picture shows 2 of our grandchildren last week outside of St John's College in Cambridge. The "Bridge of Sighs", which is world-famous, is to the right just out of shot. There is also a "Bridge of Sighs" in Venice.

EME - moonbounce

VE7SL has been busy again with moonbounce using 140W on 2m with JT65. Steve has a modest station and yet again shows that moonbounce, which used to be for a very few, is now possible for more stations.

It still needs careful optimisation and is never easy. Certainly it still remains beyond me. All credit to Steve.

6m MSK144 RX again

Since breakfast, I have been on 6m MSK144 RX again. So far, 9 stations spotted in 7 countries. Best DX is IS0BSR (1603km).

UPDATE 1006z: S51AT (1250km) brings the total today so far to 10 stations in 8 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday April 11th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is 13.  A=5 and K=2.

Islay, Scotland activation

Southgate News reported that GS3PYE/P, the Camb-Hams group, is again off to Scotland May 6-12.

137kHz transverter

Click circuit to enlarge

It is some time since I tried 137kHz. In fact, I have not tried this band at this QTH. The last time I used this band was at the QTH we moved from in summer 2013, shortly before my stroke. I need to try this band from this QTH.

If you are starting up on the band you may want to look at my TX transverter. With my 20m spaced earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground this was regularly copied by G8HUH some 250km away on WSPR. The ERP with this "antenna" is only about 30uW.  Sadly, the FT817 is deaf at 137kHz.

As you will see, it is very similar to my 472kHz design although this is a transmit only design. It is designed to be used with the FT817 at 500mW.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/137khz_tvrtr .