Now QRT

About 15 minutes ago I went QRT on all bands and disconnected everything. Storms permitting, I plan to be on 20m FT8 around breakfast time tomorrow.

The Bull - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Kentwell Hall near Long Melford, Suffolk, UK. We ate at a pub called "The Bull" in Long Melford. The pub, which opened about 1450 (quite old!) was excellent is all respects. Good service, good food, good prices, friendly, old. Recommended. We had ham, egg, peas and chips for £5.99 each. Although we did not have one, desserts were just £2.99 each with a decent choice.

20m FT8 tomorrow?

Tomorrow there is some thunder expected here in the afternoon. I may try FT8 on 20m tomorrow in the morning. I may adopt the auto sequencing system to see how this works. I can probably only manage a few hours before I have to disconnect everything to avoid the storm risk.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

Lack of personal touch - NOT amateur radio

Recently I have been playing ping pong with emails to and from my energy supplier. I keep saying "no reply wanted or expected" only to get yet another reply! Judging by the names, this comes from an automated call centre in India. Much of the letter appears to be computer generated, with maybe a small bit of human intervention, complete with spelling mistakes. I have nothing against call centres in India and wish these good people all the best.

What I really dislike is the lack of real human touch. Years ago you could ring your local bank. Now you get a call centre thousands of miles away and you are just a sort code and account number: they really don't know or care who you are.

Grumpy old man, me? Yes.

Regen 40m and 80m RX

A nice simple RX built by NG9D is demonstrated on YouTube.

10m WSPR

So far, 2 unique spots this morning early. It is now only 0825z, so this is probably good this early. Both look like Es (GMs).

UPDATE 1935z:  6 unique spots of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. Not as good as yesterday.

6m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX. 5 stations copied this morning so far: all Gs by tropo or aircraft reflections probably. The 15 second TX period must help on paths that open only briefly.

I have a question. With FT8, does the auto QSO automatically sequence through the whole QSO or just auto respond to the first CQ answer received and then leave the rest to the operator?

UPDATE 1820z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is K7BV (6360km) in FM04 square (N.Carolina) at 1653z at -15dB S/N. Judging by where he was being spotted, I am pretty sure this is genuine too. This seems a great mode.

Sunspots - Monday July 31st 2017

Solar flux remains at 69 (poor) and the sunspot number 11. A=4 and K=1.

6m FT8

In the end I decided to download the beta version of WSJT-x V1.8 which includes FT8. I have taken a look on 50.313MHz and copied a few stations by Es and a G in IO91 calling CQ. Although I called him, he did not respond. There is always tomorrow.

UPDATE 2110z: G4NBS (14km) was my first FT8 QSO on 6m. Well on any band!  I am not sure the PSK Reporter Map upload is working properly. Several stations have been reported, but none appear to show.

UPDATE 2118z: Well it helps if you look on the right band! Doh! All is well.

Hedge trimming - NOT amateur radio

Our hedge in the front grows fast. I cut it about 2 months ago and it has grown about 6 inches since then. So, today it got a haircut! The worst part is picking up the leaves afterwards.

10m WSPR

Again, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon is on. This was designed and made by W5OLF and is totally stand-alone. It does not need a PC. It has already been spotted in Italy and Germany. I use this "in the background" as it does not tie up the FT817 or PC, which I use on other bands and modes.

UPDATE 1156z: With 13 unique spots so far today on 10m WSPR TX, this is far better than yesterday. The spots are from all over Europe.

UPDATE 1505z:  Now 21 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

UPDATE 1914z: 23 unique spots on 10m WSPR today. Quite a good day really.

6m JT65

The value of 6m JT65 was again witnessed this morning. Monitoring PSK Reporter Maps you can see who you are spotting and where others are receiving you, if on TX. As the JT65 allocation is quite small, all users tend to be in a similar place making activity concentrated. In fleeting Es openings it is quite easy to miss stations. This is far less likely with digital modes. They work with very weak signals and PSK Reporter Maps can give you a picture of activities and openings well after the event too. Although I have not tried it, I am told many 6m JT65 users have already switched to FT8 mode which is available in a beta release of WSJT-X. I am waiting until the official version comes out.

This morning, I was copied well over Europe with 6m JT65 (1W ERP). At the moment I am on 6m JT65 RX only.

UPDATE 1203z:   Lots of Es spots today on 6m JT65 RX from all over Europe.

UPDATE 1307z: Best DX on 6m JT65 RX is currently OH6GKW (1839km).

Sunspots - Sunday July 30th 2017

Solar flux is 69 today. Sunspot number is 12. A=4 and K=2.

QRP and QRP Club

Oleg's weekly update:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly Rendezvous and Parade (WRP) Report (July, 30, 2017)
Happy Birthday to op. Slave RW3AA! In Saturday he was 72 years young.
The best wishes!
op. Victor RU3NJC finished his clinic procedures and go back to home.
Good health to Victor!
The 1'st MRP day was in Saturday. MRP means Micro Radio Parade - keep
activity  of  the simplest milliwatt radios. Parades have a place in
the same as "rendezvous" days in 10 UTC at 14060 kHz +/-
Users of any Micro-80, Pixie-2, FOXX, Chirpy, Lil'Squall, Pititico etc
are welcome to enjoy milliwatting!
All  other QRP operators are welcome also, but only we ask you to not
"CQ" and keep your ears open for milliwatt stations, please.
QRP  activity  in Saturday was super! So we have a lot of "1'st time"
visitors.

Visitors  of  the  week:  UY1IF, OH6NPV, RV3GM, UR7VT, ON4AEF, DK1HW,
US3EN,  RA1M,  G3XJS,  OM6TC,  US5ERQ,  ON6WJ, IV3EAD, SV8CYR, M6MPC,
RU3NJC,  DL1HRY,  R1CAF,  EA1/DL2DXA/p,  UR5EFD, R4NX/6, SV2/YU1CA/p,
SM2BYW,  UA1CEG/p, 7X2EZ, SM2FIJ, R2AJA, F5SSI, F8ALX, RW3AA, ON4ADR,
RN4AO,  UA0SBQ/p,  ON6KZ,  SV2BBK,  UA1CEX,  RW3AI,  RW3DF, RX3ALL/p,
UA6BFE/p,  I2AOX,  R2FAE,  UR5IFM/p,  UR0ET,  G3JFS,  DK7SS,  DF1XC,
UR4MCK/p, US5EQ, CT1JGA, HB9DAX, OE5PGL, DJ8HK, F5NFB, F5LMJ

MRP "Parade Guardians" - UA1CEX, RV3GM, ON6KZ, OM6TC, UR0ET
Congrats!
New Frequenters - ON4AEF, SV8CYR, UA6BFE
Welcome  New  Visitors  - IV3EAD, M6MPC, DL1HRY, YU1CA, 7X2EZ, F8ALX,
I2AOX, DK7SS, DF1XC, US5EQ, CT1JGA, OE5PGL, DJ8HK, F5NFB
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 site
Comments...
See  full  version  of the WRP Report including a lot of comments and
pictures on the blog  page - https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
See you all on the next week "rendezvous" and MRParades!

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.

Now QRT

As the Es seems to have stopped, I went QRT on all bands at 2110z. Depending on where the storm risk is, I hope to be on again tomorrow. At the moment the storms are mainly over Belgium.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en

Another site - NOT amateur radio

My wife sings in a local choir and I do their website for them: Cambridgeshire Choral Society. If you are local, you may want to join.

See www.cambschoral.org.uk

10m WSPR TX (again)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) with my little W5OLF WSPR beacon hoping for more Es. Yesterday there were 16 unique spots. The day before there were 40 uniques. So far today nothing! Is the main Es season drawing to a close?

UPDATE 1454z:  6 unique spots today, so far, of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from all over Europe. There does seem to be less Es though.

UPDATE 1740z: Still just 6 unique spots on 10m WSPR. Several spots from OZ9QV (864km) - thank you.

Sunspots - Saturday July 29th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number zero. A=7 and K=1.

UK Pound against the Euro - NOT amateur radio

My prediction was that the UK Pound would appreciate against the Euro later this year. At the moment it is getting weaker!

I am no expert, but still believe that the Euro will weaken. I am definitely not a financial expert and this is more of a hunch than science.

UK Pound against the US Dollar - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the USA seems to have a joke in charge who is even losing the respect of his own party. Personally, I give him 6 months, maybe 12, before his time will be up.

I fail to see how this billionaire is able to be the voice of ordinary US citizens. "Make America great again" is a fine tag line, but making it happen requires the gravitas of office and serious behaviour, not silly tweets.

Meanwhile, the US dollar continues to weaken against the UK Pound.

6m JT65 again

Yet again, I am on 6m JT65. Yesterday brought 3 USA stations in on RX, but it is anyone's guess what today will be like. I started on transceive (1W ERP) but no spots at all so far on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1452z: In the last few hours there seems to have been an Es opening to Central and Eastern Europe on 6m JT65. As it was quiet, I stayed on beacon mode (1W ERP) sending "B G3XBM JO02" which has been widely spotted.

HAARP news

There are some interesting experiments going on.

See https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/gakonahaarpoon/operations-news

OFCOM and 3.6-3.8GHz

OFCOM intends to release this spectrum to mobile users and is consulting on this.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/043A427CF942D7962540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Anyone for blackberries? - NOT amateur radio

Our neighbours are on holiday so they said, "help yourselves to the blackberries". I have lost count of the number we have picked, but it is a lot. Our "London" grandchildren ate a lot too.

The picture show those picked today. There are lots still there.

HB100 (10GHz) Facebook page

Quite a few people have been experimenting with very low cost 10GHz units that can be bought for very little on eBay. A few cups of coffee saved and you can buy 10GHz units. In Italy these have been used to work over 200km. Some have used them for 10GHz ATV.

There is a Facebook page on the HB100.

I have to admit to being a "fireside fusilier" in that I'm gunner do this and gunner do that. At some point I'd like to try 10GHz.

Rally

30 JULY 2017 : CHIPPENHAM AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY
Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley SN15 5NJ. Talk in on S22 (145.550MHz). There are disabled facilities and on site parking. Doors open 10am to 1pm. Entry is only £2, under 16s are free. Car boot pitches are £6 for cars/vans payable on entry, tables inside £8 each. Access available from 7am for set up. Hot food and drinks are available on site. Details from Brian by email to g6huim3hui@gmail.com www.G3VRE.org.uk

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

OFCOM, 26GHz and 5G

OFCOM is consulting about allocating 26GHz spectrum to 5G. They will need a lot of masts! Clearly written by "experts".

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/A4DCDE61BC2736792540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Tomatoes - NOT amateur radio

We are definitely not experts in growing tomatoes!

The smaller ones on the right were red ripe today, so these were picked. The larger ones on the left are still green. This picture was taken more than a week ago before they had ripened.

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

Sprite Satellites

Southgate News has information about the deployment of tiny Sprite satellites that send telemetry on 437.325 MHz.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/july/437-mhz-sprite-satellites-deployed.htm#.WXsE5bpFzIU .

10m WSPR

Yet again, I have been surprised by the Es spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon from all over Europe. Best DX is EW2ABC (1812km). This is very early for Es as it is just 0830z.

UPDATE 1556z: Unless things suddenly change for the better, today will go down as a disappointing day. No Es has been noted here since early this morning on 10m WSPR. Others may well have done better, but only 10 unique stations spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today whereas yesterday it was more than 40.

UPDATE 1852z: There seems to have been a late teatime Es opening with EW2ABC (1812km) again spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

6m JT65

Since breakfast I have been on 6m JT65. Initially I was transceive (1W ERP) but I have switched to RX only. Already spotted Norway and Sweden by Es.

UPDATE 1456z: In the last few minutes I just spotted K4PI (6800km) on 6m JT65. As he was widely spotted in Europe and the USA, I am pretty sure this is genuine. This spot was quickly followed by 2 others in Georgia, USA.

Sunspots - Friday July 28th 2017

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot count still zero. A=6 and K=1.

Late Es

In the northern hemisphere the main months are usually May, June and July for Es (sporadic E), although Es can occur at any time, but most openings are missed. With modes like WSPR we really have no excuse: leave WSPR running in the background, say on 10m, and see what spots come in.

Although we are now nearing the end of July, we still have good Es around on 10m and 6m.

Patio flowers - NOT amateur radio

These flowers are on our patio. At the moment there is a riot of colour.

OFCOM on access to 5.8GHz

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/05926F4415CC62812540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

6m JT65

Things seem to be getting harder on 6m Es. I have spotted a station in the Czech Republic, but no-one else today so far on 6m.

UPDATE 1110z: With just 2 Es spots and 1 G (tropo or aircraft reflection?), this has been a disappointing day on 6m JT65 so far. Up to now I have been transceive (1W ERP), but just about to go RX only on 6m. There was at least 1 EI station who was spotted but not uploaded to the PSK Reporter database. Maybe the shack PC lost internet connectivity?

UPDATE 1120z: Now RX only on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1525z: Widespread Es on 6m JT65 this afternoon to South and Eastern Europe. Best DX is 4X4DK (3582km).

UPDATE 1836z: Still plenty of Es about on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1934z: UB7K (2733km) was recently spotted.

Tony's 10m Band Report - a question

Every week Southgate News has Tony's 10m Band Report. Reading this you could be forgiven for thinking 10m is still wonderful. In my experience, things are much harder than a few years ago. Yes there are lots of Europeans by Es, but far less "real" DX outside Europe.

OK, I am confused: I think this is a list of stations reported and not DX heard or worked from the UK.

Well equipped stations will be able to do far better than me, but I need someone to tell me this is a list of reports and not stations heard or worked from the UK. If I am wrong, then some people are doing far better than me!

See http://southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2017/july/july-27.htm#.WXjyBbpFzIU

Sunspots - Thursday July 27th 2017

Solar flux is 68 today and sunspot number zero.  A=11 and K=1.

Heathkit HW8

Some years ago I owned an HW8 transceiver. It worked very well and I managed several DX contacts. Working stations with a very modest wire antenna was remarkably easy. I know QRP CW is not for everyone, but I was surprised.

In recent years Heathkit is making a comeback. I hope this is successful.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8 .

10m WSPR

Since breakfast, my 10m WSPR TX beacon (500mW) has been on and received 119 spots, mainly in Germany and Denmark. So, plenty of Es on 10m.

UPDATE 1105z:  437 10m WSPR spots so far today. 36 unique spots, which is the best day yet this season and it is only just after noon local time!

UPDATE 1402z: 537 10m WSPR spots so far today. Es has been good on 10m so far. (

UPDATE 1832z: With 40 unique 10m WSPR spots, this is definitely my best day on 10m this season. Best DX is a spot by OE1SJS (1230km).

UPDATE 1935z: Although I am still seeing Eastern Europe on 6m JT65, all has been quiet on 10m WSPR here for an hour.