21 Apr 2017

6m MSK144 RX abd 10m WSPR TX

Well, more in hope than expectation, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW, 100%) as well as 6m MSK144 RX. On 6m, 3 stations in England so far with the best DX 210km. No spots on 10m thus far, although I am not really expecting much on 10m.

UPDATE 0805z: Now 6 stations in 2 countries on 6m. Best DX now 507km.

UPDATE 0925z: Now 7 stations in 2 countries on 6m.

UPDATE 1124z: Now 13 stations in 4 countries on 6m.

UPDATE 1934z: Now 17 stations in 9 countries in last 12 hours on 6m MSK144 RX.

20 Apr 2017

Blossom - NOT amateur radio

This blossom was on a path a few days ago. It is lovely when here, but so ephemeral.

The blossom on our ornamental cherry lasted just a few weeks. The grass soon looked like snow!

The lilac next door and some of our roses are already in flower about a month early.

6m MSK144 yet again

This mode is ideal for me. I put the RX on 50.280MHz and monitor what is spotted on PSK Reporter Maps on another PC in the lounge. Most signals come in strongly by reflections off the ionised trails of random meteors. Even with my poor antenna and coax I usually spot at least 10 countries on 6m most days. The pings may only be a few milliseconds long but WSJT-X V1.7 (free software) decodes the signals. Most signals I get are in the -1 to +3dB S/N range i.e. strong.

As it uses a different antenna, rig and no PC, I am also on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 0840z: 12 stations in 3 countries so far on 6m MSK144 RX today. Nothing again on 10m.

UPDATE 1434z: 14 stations in 3 countries so far on 6n MSK144 RX and nothing still on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1634z: 15 stations in 4 countries on 6m MSK144 RX in last 12 hours. Nothing on 10m WSPR.

Sixbox 6m QRP AM transceiver

Some years ago I did a 6m version of my 2m Fredbox QRP AM transceiver. This had more power than the 2m version and a tuneable receiver. It was built on a piece of copper laminate, but not a PCB. It uses readily available parts, so it should be easy to duplicate. Using a super-regen RX, this is more of a "cross town natterer" than a rig for DX.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/sixbox .

Stroke update - NOT amateur radio

It is now over 3.5 years since my cerebellum brain bleed. In all honesty, I never doubted a full recovery, so it is really disappointing that my voice is still very poor, I am still giddy when walking and that I get tired so quickly.

Other subtle effects are that I think others say one thing and I find they said something else. I find driving much harder nowadays. Often people don't understand me when I speak and I find it very tiring repeating myself. I am more emotional than I was and in many ways I must be harder to live with.

In many ways I'm lucky not to have more serious disabilities. My main problem is others think I am fully OK - indeed I look fine - but inside I still feel unwell.

Improvements, if they are still happening, are now very slow and hard to see. Still, I am grateful that most of me still works. Life goes on: I never give up.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday April 20th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and sunspot number is 14.  A=15 and K=6.

Negative Mass - NOT amateur radio

Apparently, scientists have created a fluid with negative mass.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39642992

19 Apr 2017

Nesting bees - NOT amateur radio

These bees were spotted yesterday at Brampton Wood, UK in a hole in a tree. A few hundred there?

There were lots of bluebells out too.

The bees were on the RHS path going around the edge about 400m from the car park. There were several warnings of nesting bees, but they did not bother us at all.

6m MSK144 RX

I have decided not to go on 10m WSPR TX today, although I have returned to 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 0933z:  So far, 15 stations in 8 countries spotted on 6m with best DX IS0BSR (1603km).

UPDATE 1156z: 18 stations in 9 countries in the last 12 hours on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1256z:  20 stations in 10 countries spotted so far in last 12 hours on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1542z: 22 stations in 11 countries spotted so far in last 12 hours on 6m MSK144 RX. 12 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX in the last day.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday April 19th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today. Sunspot number is 12.  A=7 and K=5.

Of late, 10m has been disappointing. I have not had my 500mW WSPR beacon spotted now for a couple of days. I think this is due to a lack of activity as much as conditions.  I remain convinced that if more stations were on WSPR we'd find out that many paths are useable, but people think it is bad and just give up. Meanwhile, the CB bands at 27MHz continue to have activity.