10m JT65

Conditions seem quite good this morning. On 10m JT65 RX my best DX is UN7DA (5276km). My own signal is being widely copied in Europe by Es. Other notable RX spots include YI3WHR (4186km) in Iraq late last night. I find it hard to believe this is Es. F2 is possible although the time is wrong for F2.

Are these long paths Es with some sort of chordal hop? I have long suspected this sort of mode. I am not a great believer of these being multi-hop Es. It would be interesting to hear what experts have to say.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday May 31st 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is zero. A=7 and K=2. 10m is likely to be livened up by Es in the northern hemisphere.

TEP and 10m (and 6m)

Newcomers may not be aware that trans-equatorial (TEP) propagation can extend to quite high frequencies. If memory serves me right, the signals cross the magnetic equator by spread-F, a sort of chordal hop. I think 2m has been used to work from Southern Africa to the Med. Today, a number of South Americans have been copied in the UK on 10m JT65.  I suspect this is TEP being extended to the UK by Es. TEP does not usually extend this far north.

Baking - NOT amateur radio

Today, we had all 4 grandchildren (all 9 and under) here for lunch. Here is our elder granddaughter busy baking in the kitchen.

SAQ transmission cancelled

Southgate News reports that the upcoming SAQ CW transmission on 17.2kHz VLF CW has been cancelled due to ongoing maintenance work.  This signal is often a good one to try if testing your VLF system. It is much harder receiving amateur VLF signals.

Often these transmissions result in a QSL card for reports. I have one from years ago.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/may/saq-transmission-cancelled.htm#.WS2KmrpFzIU

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday May 30th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 16. A=10 and K=4.

10m JT65

This morning, I am on 10m JT65. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 0848z: My 10m JT65 is being spotted in Switzerland and Austria  (Es) and the best DX on RX is the Canary Is.

UPDATE 1000z: Spots so far this morning on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1614z: Best DX on RX was RA9N (4608km) in Omsk, Asiatic Russia. This is a long way for Es, if indeed this is the mode.

UPDATE 1715z: PY2FA (9580km) and another 3 Brazilians are now being spotted. Could be Es linking with TEP?

UPDATE 1957z: Now 8 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 plus a couple of stations in the UAE at the far end of the Gulf. Still no spots of my own QRP 10m JT65 outside of Europe. Definitely a good Es day on 10m.

UPDATE 1725z: So far, 5 different Brazilians spotted on 10m JT65 today.

G7 meeting - NOT amateur radio

This photo was widely shared on Facebook. I have no idea where it was first made. Sadly, this is how much of the world sees the president of the USA. He needs not to be a joke.

6m JT65

Last night, as a precaution, I went QRT and disconnected plugs and antennas. We had thunder and lightning overnight (I'm told) but I slept through it!

At the moment I am on 6m JT65 (1W ERP). Best DX on TX is 9A2DI (1532km). There have been G spots, ON (tropo or aircraft?) and Es on 6m. On 6m JT65 RX the best DX is EA8JK (3021km).

UPDATE 1112z:  As well as the Es, I have been spotted in Cornwall by G8BCG (372km) in IO70 square. If this was tropo, it was a long way.

UPDATE 1604z: Plenty of Es from/to Europe on 6m JT65 today. What would be really good would be if we got Es to the Caribbean or South America on 6m JT65. Although it feels quite humid here, there are no thunderstorms shown in the UK. Unless thing change I intend to stay on 6m JT65 until late this evening.

UPDATE 2040z: Although the Es spots seem to have stopped, there are still plenty of G spots. As the thunderstorms seem to be mainly in Belgium and Germany I am remaining on the air.

UPDATE 2140: Today, my QRP 1W ERP 6m JT65 was spotted by 9 UK stations and I spotted 23 stations in the UK.

QRP and QRP Club

As usual, Oleg's report:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (May, 28, 2017)
Visitors  of  the  week:  F6EAZ, DK1HW, SM7RYR, DL6UNF, RV3GM, UR0ET,
UR5EFD, UA1CEG/p, RA1M/mm, RU3NJC, US5ERQ, OH6NPV, US3EN, UF6V/UA1CEX,
R1CAF
Congrats!
DL6UNF became Honor Frequenter (regular visitor)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 page, please.
Comments...
see  full version of the WQR Report with comments and pictures on the
blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
See you on next QRP Rendez-Vous round tables! Schedule on Club 72 page

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.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday May 29th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 20. A=51 and K=1.

10m JT65

At the moment the sun is shining at there is no risk of storms until much later. I am on 10m JT65 and am likely to be using this band/mode most of the day. I am not expecting "real" DX, but there could be some Es around Europe. No spots so far today.

UPDATE 1115z: So far today just spots from G6SSN (75km) on 10m JT65. No Es. There are storms over the English Channel, moving our way. I need to keep an eye on these. but it is likely to be OK for several hours yet.

UPDATE 2112z: Widespread 10m Es with lots of spots of my 10m JT65. About to go QRT. Es still great!

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday May 28th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 21. A=14 and K=7. With disturbed conditions I am not expecting great things of 10m today, although Es may well help.

Storm risk has passed - now on 10m JT65

As the storm risk has passed I have turned on my FT817 and PC on to 10m JT65. No JT65 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1945z: ZP5PIA (10275km) in Paraguay was the first station spotted n 10m JT65 at 1926z.

UPDATE 2045z: The station in Paraguay looks like the only station spotted on 10m JT65 since late this afternoon when I first switched on.

Enforced QRT - storms

There is thunder and lightning about so I decided not to go on the air today. You can track the storms at https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=52.2238;x=0.0464;z=6;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday May 27th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 22. A=3 and K=1.

Rallies this Sunday

MAY 28th 2017 : DURHAM & DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY

Bowburn Community Centre, Co Durham, DH6 5AT The venture has disabled facilities and car parking on site. Doors open from 10.30am to 2.30pm with disabled visitors gaining access from 10.15am. Admission is £2. There will be trade stands, Bring & Buy, talk in and catering on site. There will be an RSGB bookstall. More details from Michael, G7TWX on 0782 692 4192 or by email to dadars@gmx.com


MAY 28th 2017 : CAUSEWAY COAST GLENS ARC RADIO RALLY

Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim BT57 8QG There is car parking and disabled facilities at this venue. Doors open at 11am and entry is £3. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. There is catering on site. Stevie Morrow, MI0ULK on 07544 923 956 or email stephen769@talktalk.net.


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

Are ICOM and Yaesu struggling?

I am beginning to wonder if some of the large Japanese companies are getting tired of amateur radio.

When ICOM introduced the IC7300, Yaesu looked like they reacted and quickly brought out the FT991A. Yaesu seems to have "gone off the boil" in recent years. System Fusion is being pushed, but years after DSTAR. Most of us remember Betamax, VHS and Video 8. The last thing we want is a standards war.

There were no new products launched at Dayton, at least nothing was reported. I am beginning to think the Japanese have decided to introduce fewer amateur radio products. Perhaps they see a dwindling market with less profits in the coming years?

As for an FT817 successor - I think this is never happening.

Dayton Hamvention 2017

This was last weekend. It is possible I missed announcements, but nothing new appears to have been announced by the big manufacturers.

I have never been, nor am I likely to, but this is the big one. It moved venues this year. Looking at the photos, most attendees look old.

See http://hamvention.org/ .

Trident and terrorism - NOT amateur radio

Some estimates put the bill to replace our "independent" nuclear submarine fleet at more than £100 billion. Most countries don't have nuclear weapons, let alone an "independent" nuclear deterrent.  Even the Labour party supports Trident's replacement. This is at a time when we complain there are not enough police or people able to analyse people who may be a terrorist threat to the UK.

Why not scrap Trident and spend some of the money on police and anti-terrorism?

No-one in their right mind would press the nuclear button. It would lead to widespread death and destruction. We need things to counter the threats of today. 

As for nuclear deterrence, how do most countries manage without such weapons perfectly well? Just a small fraction of the Trident replacement costs would go a very long way.

Mobile phones on aircraft - NOT amateur radio

So, OFCOM has changed the rules to allow mobile phones on aircraft. I objected. In my view this is stupid idea. Imagine phones ringing all the time on a long flight. People managed in the past.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/B17ECEB3D452F524/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots and 10m - Friday May 26th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 19. A=4 and K=1. I expect 10m will be good for South America later from the UK. We can also expect 10m and 6m Es.

6m JT65 today

Having had success for the last few days on 10m JT65, today I have switched to 6m JT65. So far, just spots from 3 G stations with the best DX being G8TTI (185km). This is either tropo or aircraft reflection. As usual, 1W ERP in use here from my V2000 omni vertical.

UPDATE 1056z: LX1JX (469km) is the best distance spotted so far today on 6m JT65. Probably too near for Es?

UPDATE 1230z: Still no sign of Es on 6m JT65 here.

UPDATE 1648z: Ten G station spots of my QRP 6m JT65 today, but no Es spots.

UPDATE 2002z: Eleven G spots of my QRP 6m JT65 today, but still no Es. Tomorrow may be a QRT day because of the storm risk.

UPDATE 2142z: Some very late Es spots of my 6m QRP JT65 from Portugal just before going QRT and disconnecting antennas, PC and plugs.

SW interval signals from the past

Many of us started in the hobby by building simple shortwave receivers and listening to the many broadcasters on shortwaves long ago. Did any of the communist stations really expect us to listen intently to their propaganda? I certainly did not! Mind you, I got some nice goodies from some. These days there are fewer and fewer BC stations on the air on shortwave, and very few in English.

If you want a dose of nostalgia try https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/interval . A Google search will find others.

I miss these and I am sure I'm not alone. They speak of an age long past. Certainly we were no safer then with the constant threat of nuclear war. And yet, they bring back such memories!

Colombia on 10m JT65

Quite late last night, HK6JCF (8601km) was spotted on 10m JT65 bringing the total to 3 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 yesterday.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

Our roses came out early this year. They look great at the moment but will be bare in a few weeks' time. Our garden looks good at the moment. The risk is muntjac deer will eat the flowers!

OFCOM reviewing 410-470MHz band

OFCOM is carrying out a strategic review of the 410-470MHz band. This is a busy part of the spectrum in the UK and others want access. The 70cm amateur band is here and under pressure. At times, it seems devoid of activity. We have secondary access only. Use it or lose it, especially as OFCOM derives no revenue from the amateur service.  It would not surprise me if we end up with fewer frequencies at 70cm or we find our band shared with more users.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/\ViewEmail/i/3E3A949980CE1596/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

10m JT65 today

In view of the successes with this band and mode yesterday, I have returned to 10m JT65 this morning. There is already widespread Es on the band and I have been spotted all over Europe already and this is boding well for the rest of the day. It would be good to be spotted in South America later.

UPDATE  1240z: So far 13 unique stations have spotted my 10m JT65 throughout Europe. Plenty of Europeans spotted here. I assume all this is Es. Nothing yet from outside Europe, but I am hopeful!

UPDATE 1604z: The first South American spotted on 10m JT65 is LU4HOQ (11342km) near Corduba. There is good Es in Europe, so I am again wondering if this is Es linking into TEP?

UPDATE 2010z:  So far, just 2 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 this afternoon and evening. No-one has spotted me in South America on 10m JT65 today.

UPDATE 2110z: Well, it looks like just the two South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 today. I shall leave things running in case there is any Es in the night or early tomorrow. Again, like yesterday, my own signal was widely spotted across Europe, but not beyond.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday May 25th 2017

Solar flux is 78 and the sunspot number 15. A=4 and K=1. There is already 10m Es, but I hope 10m opens for some real DX later.

Yesterday on 10m JT65

Yesterday, I spotted 14 different South Americans plus Madagascar and all over Europe on 10m JT65. 

Even with my low, compromise, antenna, 4 continents were spotted on 10m and my own signal was copied all over Europe. I guess the "real" DX could have been Es linking with F layer further south? Personally, I doubt this was Es alone as the distances were far too great.

N-S 10m propagation over the Equator has been possible with QRP SSB, even in sunspot minimum years. Often 10m opens, but no-one is there to enjoy it.

Nestbox robins - NOT amateur radio

I checked the nestbox in our garden in which a pair of robins were nesting. They were very busy before we went on holiday, but all is now quiet.

In the nestbox was a well made nest with no dead young and no eggs. I assume they all made it and flew.

Robins can live to 11 years but most die by their second year, killed by predators or the cold. I hope these little ones manage a few years. It would be good to see a second brood.

Milking it - NOT amateur radio

We had a tragic terrorist incident a few days ago in Manchester. Sadly, the dead and injured included children and other young people. It was horrific and pure evil.

What I do not like is how the BBC milk such tragedies for days and days. Surely this is just what the terrorist want. In my view, report the facts but do not milk the incident to death.

Antenna replacement?

I'm considering replacements for a couple of my antennas.

For years, I have used a Par EF10/20/40 end fed wire on these 3 bands. It works even though very low, but I am sure I could get out better.

Also, my big-wheel on 2m has done me well for a couple of years.

In the garage I have a little used SRC X80 vertical. This is essentially a Rybakov vertical fed via a UNUN so it can be matched on most HF bands with an auto ATU. I have heard mixed results with this antenna. As a vertical it is likely to be noisy on HF and it could be worse than my horizontal Par. It is also in need of grounding as lightning protection, mainly from static. It flexes quite a bit, so might be damaged by high winds.

I could replace my big-wheel with a Homebase-10 10m halo. As an omni antenna it would give me all round coverage and I know this works. With strapped feeders, I might be able to use the coax as an antenna on other HF  bands too.

It would also be good to get a better 630m antenna up.

Sadly, I probably need help these days as I get wobbly on ladders.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday May 24th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 47. A=8 and K=2. As for 10m, there is already some Es and better equipped stations may see some N-S F layer DX.

10m JT65 today

For a change, I am in beacon mode on 10m JT65. Best DX so far is a spot by ES1JA (1701km) - early Es, I think, although this could be F2.

UPDATE 0820z: Best DX spot of me is now EW2ABC (1811km) in Belarus.

UPDATE 1146z: Lots of Es spots today on 10m JT65. Lost count of the countries in which my 500mW WSPR beacon has been copied. Certainly being copied throughout Scandinavia and down to the Adriatic. Also spotted in Portugal.

UPDATE 1840z:  Real DX!! 8 stations in 4 countries in South America spotted on 10m JT65 plus Madagascar, which counts as Africa. Best DX was spotting LU8XAF (13413km). Sadly no-one spotted me outside of Europe. I'll leave things running.

UK terror threat level raised to "critical" - NOT amateur radio

This evening, the UK terror threat level has been raised to "critical" meaning an attack is highly likely. I guess the UK government has got some new intelligence.

In the end, there are far more good people than evil ones. It is sad that a few people with evil intent can cause such widespread fear. In the end we must not be intimidated.

Back Garden - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon, we planted a few more bedding plants, cut the grass and enjoyed a cup of tea in the garden in the warm sunshine. At this time of the year, lots of birds are singing and, it seems, everything in the garden is coming out and looks fresh.

ICOM's new R8600 RX

Reading the latest RadCom I was amazed to read that the likely selling price of the new ICOM R8600 receiver based on the IC7300 is £2500!!!

Is this a joke? I was expecting the price to be below £1000.

I don't doubt this is a nice radio, but the price is stupid. At this price I hope no-one buys it and the dealers learn a lesson - don't take us for a ride to make inflated profits. By all means make a profit, but I smell the nasty side of capitalism.

See http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/receivers/r8600/default.aspx

New antennas for 6m/4m from Hy-Gain

Southgate News has reported that Hy-Gain is producing a new dual-band antenna for 4m/6m designed by G0KSC.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/may/new-hy-gain-antennas.htm#.WSP_9bpFyP8

The person who usually creates the Southgate News postings is away, so someone else must be doing these.

New Yaesu and ICOM products

As yet, I have not heard about any new product announcements by the big players coming out of Dayton. I was expecting to hear news by now. I shall have to do another trawl for news.