Rainbow's End - NOT amateur radio

After a great day with the grandchildren including a picnic, this evening we had thunder and lightning. Once the storm had passed we were treated to a double rainbow. One end was on our museum and the other on a bungalow called "Rainbow's End". Pure coincidence.

Hackers? - NOT amateur radio

Blog numbers were way above normal yesterday, indicating possible "probing" for vulnerabilities. It will be interesting to see if numbers remain high today. Certainly visits from the usual suspect country are up.

Normally, if I think there is any danger, I change my password. So far, I have not been hacked.

QRT - storm risk

Today there was a risk of thunderstorms, so I decided not to turn the rigs on and leave everything disconnected.

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

UPDATE 1640z: The storms are currently 5 miles NW of here and it has started to rain.

Hamfest and GQRP Convention this weekend

2-3 SEPTEMBER 2017 : TELFORD HAMFEST & G-QRP CONVENTION
Enginuity Technology Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shrops. Combined social, Buildathon, guest speakers and Radio Rally. www.telfordhamfest.co.uk
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Thursday August 31st 217

Solar flux is 87 today. Sunspot number is 42. A=5 and K=2.

Es propagation late in the season

It is very easy to generalise, but my experience is that 10m openings to more northerly stations become more common later in the season. If this is statistically significant (and I could be wrong) I have absolutely no idea why this should be so. As an example, there have been lots of 10m WSPR spots from the Faeroe Islands, Denmark and Germany today, but few from southern Europe.

Am I wrong? Have others seen this?

October QRP days for your diaries

From Oleg:

"Dear QRPers,
keep in your diaries the period of October 4 to 17.
This is a Sputnik QRPp Activity Days.
Categories:
- Sputnik
recommend  to  use  old  type  valves (preferably 1950-60-th), output
recommend  1  watt  or  less.  Series of "beep-beep-beep..." required
before or after transmission session;
- Vanguard
recommend  to  use  simplest  TX  with  Ge old type p-n-p transistors
(1950-60-th),  output  recommend 100 mW or less. Series of "V V V..."
required for identification;
- SWL
they must to log any TX sessions of Sputnik/Vanguard. High profile to
use  old type receivers (50-60-th produced) or home made RXs with old
type components;
Beacon  TXs accepted as Sputnik/Vanguard, identifications "beep-beep"
or "V V V" required.
Every  day  log  send to the "Center of Deep Space Communications" to
duty operator "mr72" :-) The each days totals will be published on the
Club 72 page daily.
Memorable  certificates of "Cosmonaut" or "Astronaut" will be sent to
each participants.
See  full  rules  on  the  Club  72  page, please. Last years results
with comments/pictures available on the page.
We have enough time before Sputnik Days. Turn-on your solder irons and
melt the solder. Enjoy and good luck!

Wish you all the best, 72!
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB"

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

Some years ago now we visited Iceland and were surprised just how beautiful it was. The photo shows where the first Icelandic parliament was held. I think this was 960AD.  This is on a fault line. There were lupins everywhere.

10m WSPR TX (Wednesday)

After several days now of decent Es on 10m, we are due for a quiet few days this late in the season. As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) ever hopeful.

UPDATE 0848z: Lots of Es spots by OY1OF (1164km) and some of his reports were very strong.

UPDATE 0950z: 3 unique spots so far this morning of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Best DX is currently EA1KV (1304km).

UPDATE 1218z: Lots of Es again, with 7 unique 10m WSPR spots so far.

UPDATE  1345z: Now 13 unique spots of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

Reach - NOT amateur radio

Our nearest village is Reach. This has no shops, one pub owned at one time by the villagers and is at the end of an earthwork built about 1400 years ago called the Devil's Dyke. At one time it was an important Fenland port. It still has one of the oldest fairs in the land opened by the mayor of Cambridge. The village green (shown in the photo) is in the centre of the village.

Just how do they do it?

The Banggood portable BF-UV8D retails on eBay for just  £14.25 with free shipping to the UK from China. In all honesty, just how can anyone compete?

This is a 5W RF 400-480MHz transceiver and comes complete with charger, back clip, antenna and battery. If I was Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood I'd throw in the towel now. Once the Chinese really wake up, the Japanese manufacturers have no chance of surviving. The Japanese will be driven more and more to niche markets, then die. I cannot see them staying around in the amateur market for too long.

At the moment the Japanese have quality on their side, but the Chinese will soon be as good. At the moment it seems everything, just about, is made in China. Recently I bought some Olympus binoculars - these said "Made in China". The Chinese seem to be able to make most things at prices that simply cannot be matched.

20 years from now we'll be living in a very different world.

You can buy a 433MHz module for just over £1 with free shipping from China!!

They make profits too, so how do they do it?

Drone - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had a drone above our house. I think it was taking photos of "our" windmill next door. I have mixed feelings about drones. They allow some very good photos and videos to be taken, but their uncontrolled use could be dangerous. Personally, I am in favour of some sort of licence.

UPDATE 0840z: Apparently the drone was inspecting the windmill sails (next door) to make sure they are safe.

6m FT8

It seems obvious to me that FT8 has become the de facto mode for digital QSOs on 6m. Bandwidth is narrow, it is better than CW and QSOs can be fast. Once again, I am monitoring 6m FT8 RX in the hope of catching some Es.

UPDATE 0838z: Best DX already is IZ7FLP (1840km) by Es.

UPDATE 0906z: Already 6m FT8 is going great with 6 countries spotted with the best DX being SV9RGI (2776km) on Crete. Yet again, good early Es.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 30th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today. The sunspot number is 35. A=10 and K=1.

QRT on all bands

The big plug was pulled at 1925z and I went QRT on all bands until the morning. In the end, Es was good yet again on both 10m WSPR and 6m FT8, even though it is late in the season.

September swifts? - NOT amateur radio

Last night (when in the garden) I saw several house martins and one solitary swift. I must admit, I have not really looked today, as yet.

September swifts? Unlikely, but you never know. I guess an odd straggler is just possible. Further south and west is more possible than here in East Anglia.

Sloes - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk through nearby Reach Woods. These sloes were seen against a clear blue sky with temperatures around 28 degrees C.

Some people use these to make sloe gin.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sloegin_7722 .

Es - on and on?

It seems that this Es season does not want to end. We are nearly at the end of August and there is still good Es on 10m and 6m. Maybe WSPR and FT8 are showing up shorter and weaker openings? For a long time I have said these weak signal modes are helpful. Maybe they are helping to effectively lengthen the Es season?

Sunspots - Tuesday August 29th 2017

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number 17. A=4 and K=2.

6m FT8

Since before breakfast I have been on 6m FT8 RX, apart from a very brief spell calling CQ before breakfast. The only spots on RX so far have been G and northern France and all could have been by aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1118z: Es from Bavaria, southern Germany, spotted on 6m FT8 DL7AV (923km).

UPDATE 1802z: 6 countries spotted on 6m FT8 in the last 12 hours, most Es.

10m WSPR TX

Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my little W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far the only spot was from I3WXX (1090km).

UPDATE 1122z: 6 unique spots on 10m WSPR so far. All look like Es.

UPDATE 1804z: 10 unique spots on 10m WSPR so far. Another decent Es day on 10m WSPR. Spots as far apart as Italy and Denmark.

UPDATE 1922z: With 97 spots in total today on 10m WSPR, it is now time to go QRT.

10m Simple Sideband

Yes, you read correctly - simple sideband, not single sideband.

For some time, I have had in my mind a very simple 10m rig. Sadly, my stroke got in the way, so this has not progressed. Such a rig would be ideal for Es and, certainly here in the UK, most of Europe should be workable with a simple antenna. At some point, I'd like to complete this. Maybe someone else already has.

A few years ago, the whole world would have been workable. Sadly with declining conditions, this is far less likely now on 10m. May, June and July are the best months for Es (sporadic-E) in the northern hemisphere. Of course, there is nothing stopping you work local SSB stations at any time.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10msimple_sb .

Ultra-low cost 70cm handheld

When I looked yesterday they were just £10 each with free shipping to the UK from Hong Kong. It has just gone up a few pounds. It is by Banggood and called the BF-T1.

The Moon - NOT amateur radio

This was the view of the Moon when we had tea in the garden yesterday. It seems incredible that man walked on the Moon in 1969, a year before I started work! Now, I have been retired for 9 years!

6m FT8 RX

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8 RX. Yesterday was fantastic on 6m with lots of Es propagation around Europe. I thought the Es season was winding down. If so, it is going out with a bang.

UPDATE 0952z: A promising start with several spots of stations in southern and eastern Europe. Could today be as good as yesterday?

UPDATE 1945z: Lots of Es in the last 12 hours on 6m FT8. Now gone QRT.

Sunspots - Monday August 28th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 22. A=10 and K=1.

10m WSPR TX

As usual, I am on 10m with my 500mW WSPR beacon. There is no way I can match yesterday with 37 unique spots, mostly Es from right across Europe. Even though it is now very late in the Es season, yesterday was probably one of the best days for Es this year.

UPDATE 0952z:  Well, there were Es spots of me way into the night (0022z) and today has already seen lots of spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon. Promising.

UPDATE 1450z: So far today, 14 unique spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

Region 1 IARU Conference near Munich

Southgate News reports on the IARU Region 1 Conference in Germany next month. I hope they discuss a 4m allocation in Region 1 . At one time there was talk of CEPT countries recommending a 4m allocation, although I cannot remember what became of this.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/august/24th-iaru-region-1-general-conference.htm#.WaMOk7pFzmI

Fontenay Abbey, France - NOT amateur radio

Some years ago, we visited this abbey. It is in a wooded valley and is very beautiful. It is located in Burgundy, France. If you are going this way, it is well worth a visit. Of course, Burgundy has other attractions too, like wines!

See http://www.abbayedefontenay.com/en/

6m FT8 RX

There is no doubt that this mode is now very popular. Having been on 6m FT8 RX for a couple of hours, I have spotted stations all over Europe by Es.

UPDATE 0925z: 15 countries already spotted on 6m FT8 today, mostly via Es.

UPDATE 1638z: Quite incredible Es on 6m FT8 today so far. This looks more like 20m!

10m WSPR TX

My little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast. It has already been spotted all over Europe. A good Es day this late in the season.

UPDATE 0920z: 15 unique spots so far, which is very good. Some reports are massive too e.g. I3WXX (1090km) at +5dB S/N. Es today is very good.

UPDATE 1634z: With 38 unique spots today so far on 10m WSPR, today has been one of the best Es days all season. The Es season is not dead yet!

UPDATE 1735z: Now 39 unique spots today on 10m WSPR making this a very good Es day on the band.

Sunspots - Sunday August 27th 2017

Solar flux is 78 today and the sunspot number 35. A=5 and K=1.

QRP and QRP Club

Oleg's usual report:

Weekly QRP Report (August, 27, 2017)
QRP Rendez-Vous visitors of the week:
UY1IF,  UR7VT,  US3EN,  RV3GM,  RW3DF,  UA1CEG, DK1HW, F5SSI, ON4ADR,
US5ERQ,  UR3UM,  OM6TC,  ON6WJ,  G3JFS,  F3MB, IV3RJH, OK1KW, RU3NJC,
G3XJS,  OH3GZ,  DL7JO,  UA4NU, UR5FA, Z35M/p, DL2DXA/p, EA8YV, ON6KZ,
UR5EFD,  SM2FIJ, EA2BH, DL4HG, R1CAN, RZ4NWA, R2AJA, DJ0MEW, YU/4O4A,
R4NX, RZ4AH, S59GI
MRP visitors:
UY1IF (W1), RV3GM (W3), F5SSI (W3), RU3NJC (W3), UR5FA (1W), ON6KZ (W3)
Welcome new RV visitors - UR3UM, DL7JO, EA2BH, 4O4A, RZ4AH, S59GI
Congrats!
IV3RJH, OH3GZ, DJ0MEW became Honor Frequenters (regular visitors)
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 page, please.
Some comments and pictures...
see  full WQR version including a lot of comments and pictures on the
blog page - https://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

Pay attention, please!
For  all  active  QRP  operators, for all Rendez-Vous and Micro Radio
Parade  Frequenters and Visitors, for all simplest radio constructors
and milliwatt operators - new "72" e-mail reflector and on-line group
created. To enter the "72" group send empty e-mail to address -
72+subscribe@groups.io
See the group on-line -
https://groups.io/g/72
Also visit page "QRP 14.060" in the Facebook

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.

Late, late swifts - NOT amateur radio

Quite unexpectedly, a couple of swifts were seen in the sky above us as we ate tea in the garden this evening. Also, some young swallows were seen, but usually these are around for few more weeks, whereas most swifts have already gone south.

It would not (now) entirely surprise me to see swifts in early September. A few weeks ago I'd have said impossible.

Late summer day - NOT amateur radio

Today was a lovely, warm, late summer day. We had lunch in the garden and did a few gardening jobs later.

I like the seasons: they all have something good about them. The summer flowers are past their best, but soon we'll have the glorious colours of autumn.

This year our crab apple tree is filled with crab apples. Usually a friend of my wife turns them in to delicious crab apple jelly.

House Martins - NOT amateur radio

This year, we seem to have had plenty of swifts (now gone south) but fewer swallows and house martins. Mind you, we saw lots of house martins (100+ ?) at Castle Acre yesterday. A few more weeks and these will be off too.

The house martins were in the air and resting on the roof on the left. I hope you can make them out in the photo. You may have to click the photo.

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

Sunspots - Saturday August 26th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 39. A=5 and K=1.

Rally on Bank Holiday Monday

28 AUGUST 2017 : HUNTINGDONSHIRE ARS RALLY
Ernulf Academy, Barford Road, St Neots PE19 2SH. Doors open at 7am for traders and 9am for the public. Admission is £3 with free parking. Catering including hot meals and drinks are available on site. There will be an RSGB bookstall. More from Malcolm, M0OLG on 01480 214 282 or by email to events@hunts-hams.co.uk

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

6m FT8 RX

After a rather disappointing evening on 472kHz WSPR with just PA3ABK/2 (306km) spotted, I have returned to 6m FT8 RX. So far, 3 stations spotted - a couple of Gs and one station in northern France. The latter could well have been aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 2125z: Quite a good Es day as the photo shows. Surprisingly good really.

Back on 472kHz WSPR RX

I have moved to 472kHz WSPR RX having been on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX most of the day. Last evening results were far better than I expected on MF with my compromise antenna.

UPDATE 2015z: Just PA3ABK/2 (306km) spotted so far.