RSGB Convention

13-15 OCTOBER 2017 : RSGB CONVENTION
Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ. The Convention programme of lectures for all interests will be available on the website. Principal sponsor Martin Lynch & Sons. www.rsgbevents.org.

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

Sunspots - Wednesday October 11th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=4 and K=5.

630m WSPR TX

As mentioned yesterday, I managed to mend my 630m transverter and was on 630m WSPR TX last evening and overnight. This s the first time this autumn. My antenna is rubbish! It is the coax to my 2m big-wheel tuned with a ferrite rod ATU. Quite a bit of the run is les than 1m over the ground. For the earth side I am using the mains plug earth.

Much to my surprise (I thought I'd be lucky to get any spots!) I was spotted in Norway by LA3EQ (769km) amongst others. If I can get such reports then anyone can! It is a fun band and there are starting to be some FT8 contacts, which of course are 2-way.

10m FT8

Although I have been on 10m FT8 receive since breakfast, the only spot, so far, is of EA8NL (2986km) in the Canary Is. at lunch time.  I assume this was F2 propagation.

630m WSPR TX (20%) - reports please

Having fixed my little transverter, I am back on 630m TX (and RX). All reports would be much appreciated as my ERP will be very low.

UPDATE 1942z: LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted 6 times so far, but no spots yet of my own QRPP signal, but I keep trying! Earlier, there was a strong station on 630m FT8. I presume this was G3KEV.

UPDATE 2115z: G4MEM (230km) in IO94 square was my first report on 630m TX this season. And this was on a very poor antenna and ground. ERP was low millliwatts - not yet accurately calculated. My work on the transverter worked!

70cm UKAC tonight

A reminder than being the second Tuesday of the month, tonight is the 70cm RSGB activity contest (UKAC). This runs from 1900z (8pm UK clock time) for 2.5 hours, although I manage far less!

Real 10m DX again

So far, there have been 10 South Americans and 2 South Africans on 10m FT8 RX spotted here. TEP I suspect as the sunspot number is zero.

Out with the soldering iron

Well, it was harder than it used to be and I got tired easily, but this morning I mended my 630m transverter using my soldering iron.  Assuming the mod worked, I'll try 630m TX this evening.

My antenna will have to be the coax up to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU and a mains earth as my brother managed to cut through my earth-electrode "antenna" when gardening earlier in the year! I could mend this later.

Optimism in the future of our hobby

Southgate News has a very positive video on the future of our hobby. This was a video made at a recent YOTA event.

The secret seems to be to embrace future technology.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/october/the-future-of-amateur-radio-video.htm#.WdyVOrpFzIU

OFCOM and Inmarsat

Today OFCOM announced it is granting Inmarsat a licence.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/87725B5F14AB5C622540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

Many times I have mentioned that we live right next door to a 200 year old, fully restored, 4 sail windmill. This is an unusual shot taken looking up at the sails. The sails turn when the local museum is open.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 10th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=3 and K=0.

Any decent 10m conditions certainly won't be because of the "high" sunspot number, HI.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

630m WSPR RX overnight

Probably my most successful night this autumn with several stations that are new this season. I ran the PC on battery power to reduce the noise floor to about S7. G0MRF, G0NBD and DK2DB are all new this autumn I think.

Why did you vote for him? - NOT amateur radio

So President Trump in the USA is proving his credentials on the world stage leading with vision (NOT). Sorry, but my view is he is a menace.  He seems more interested in short-term votes than the future of the world, including the USA.  Dust bowl? I see no dust.

Others are free to disagree, but surely with all those recent strong hurricanes he must realise climate change is real and not a Chinese hoax? Sadly, many voted for him.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41556342 .

Before "Mr Anonymous" (name withheld) starts a rant, this is my view.  Others are free to agree or disagree, but please give us your name.

630m WSPR RX

This evening I QSYed to 630m WSPR RX earlier. Same stations (again) with best DX LA8AV (1035km) again.

With luck, and a steady hand, I should be back on 630m TX again quite soon, although I am not sure what "antenna" to try. See previous post.

"Get out that soldering iron"

After posting a photo on Facebook of some bread rolls I made yesterday (see photo) a friend has urged me, "to get out my soldering iron" again. Well, tomorrow or later this week, I might just try.

My 630m transverter needs some attention, so I might try this first. I am told there are more people listening than transmitting on 630m WSPR and I have not yet, this season, been on 630m TX. I might give 630m FT8 TX a go too.

See http://www.iamintothis.com/2012/02/friday-food-lust-ham-cheese-chive-bread.html .

Sunspots - Monday October 9th 2017

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

10m (and 630m) FT8

This mode has still not been officially released yet, but it is already very popular. Last night I copied the tail end of what was probably the world's first 630m FT8 QSO between G6AVK and G3KEV. G3KEV was very strong.

Although I have only been on 10m for maybe 20 minutes, I have already spotted IZ8IEV (1646km) at -17dB S/N. Now he is +2dB S/N. Also spotted was a PD0. This latter one could be aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1335z: First Brazilian spotted on 10m FT8 today was PY5IP (9888km). Sunspot number is zero today.

UPDATE 1348z: Now VP8LP (12772km) in the Falkland Is spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1804z: No further South Americans today on 10m FT8, but still plenty of DX ...and the sunspot number is zero! This mode really is good.

630m WSPR RX overnight

11 unique spots yesterday evening and overnight, but only PA0ONO (287km) a new call.

Wicken Fen Windmill - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a 2.4 mile walk at Wicken Fen. For me, this is a long walk these days!   Sadly, I find long walks tiring these days.   Wicken feels wild.

This windmill used to pump water.

I was hoping to catch some very late swallows, but saw none. A few little egrets, but no swallows. Most swallows have now flown to warmer weather in Africa. An odd few may still be around, but most have more sense!

Spain - NOT amateur radio

As if Europe did not have enough problems!

What with BREXIT, Greece, the Euro and migrants, Europe is having a hard time.

Now Spain risks a break-up with Catalonia voting to break away. Whether this actually happens remains to be seen, but Spain is damaged. There are shades of General Franco surfacing again.

I just hope some sensible compromise is reached. If Catalonia goes, surely the Basques will seek to break away too? That would be the end of Spain as we know it.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Country_(greater_region)
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain

10m FT8 - best day this autumn?

Today looks like it will be the best day this autumn on 10m FT8. Already most of Europe copied. Also Armenia, Israel, Qatar, Mali, South Africa, Angola, Reunion, Mauritius and Brazil. And that is just up to now.

This evening many more South American countries are likely to be copied.

UPDATE 1436z: Now 4 South Americans spotted plus Canary Is on 10m FT8. I see there is an rc2 version now, which is up to 4dB more sensitive! I'll have to try this. At the moment I am still using rc1.

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

UPDATE 1645z:  Distance chart for 10m FT8 today, showing how many stations spotted at a given distance.

UPDATE 1940z: Well, there can be absolutely no doubt that today was the very best on 10m FT8 this autumn with loads of South Americans spotted this evening. Now QSYing to 630m WSPR.

10m F2?

At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX and there is some evidence of F2 propagation with spots of Israel and Armenia. Best DX so far this morning is EK6RSC (3586km).

UPDATE 1216:  Best DX spot on 10m FT8 today is FR5FC (9743km).

UPDATE 1245z: Now South Africa and South America being spotted here on 10m FT8.

Moorhens - NOT amateur radio

We spotted a couple of moorhens on the mill leat at Anglesey Abbey last week. These are quite common. We usually see some.

Sunspots - Sunday October 8th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX last evening

Last night, I went QRT on 630m WSPR at bedtime. No greater DX than EA4GHB (1300km) spotted by the time I went QRT. 8 unique spots last evening on 630m WSPR. Average.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX (eventually)

After a couple of attempts to leave 10m FT8 (which has been brilliant this evening), I have now eventually QSYed to 630m WSPR. Nothing yet spotted on 630m WSPR RX tonight.

UPDATE 2008z:  DJ0ABR (983km) is the first MF station spotted this evening.

UPDATE 2120z: This evening Netherlands, Germany and Spain spotted so far with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

10m FT8 or 630m WSPR?

Some time ago I was about to QSY to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. When I checked the 10m FT8 sub-band was filled with South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. When I checked a few moments ago there were still plenty of South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. Later, I will probably switch to 630m WSPR RX.

10m FT8 tonight

Well, after a very average day, 10m came into its own this evening with lots of South Americans spotted on 10m FT8. I assume this is TEP. Certainly 10m FT8 has been amazing lately.

Life "on the edge" - NOT amateur radio

Often, I find it hard to explain to others just how I feel inside having had a stroke 4 years ago. Outwardly I look well and "normal".

And yet I feel giddy when on my feet all the time and I get tired very quickly. The best way I can describe life is "on the edge". My voice is very poor and I find verbal communications hard these days.

In many ways I am lucky. Inside though I still feel well below "normal".

I am not looking for sympathy, but I do feel frustrated and quite understand how hard it must be for others with hidden disabilities. People may be suffering inside when you don't realise.

Autumn cyclamen - NOT amateur radio

Autumn cyclamen at Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. Photo taken by my wife. At every time of the year there is something to enjoy there. Dahlias are nearing their end and in a few months the first daffodils will be out.

Low cost miniature UHF handhelds

Slowly, but surely, the Chinese are conquering the world by stealth.

You can buy 2 very low cost miniature UHF transceivers from China for £22.82 with free airmail shipping to the UK. Two! These give you 400-470MHz coverage and a Band 2 FM receiver! How do they do it and make money? How can any western or Japanese supplier hope to compete? There are even lower cost transceivers if these are too expensive!

See https://www.gearbest.com/walkie-talkies/pp_775273.html?currency=GBP&vip=2674264&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKyzvdne1gIVa6btCh37pwkvEAEYASAEEgK2VPD_BwE

5GHz band

I gather there are low cost modules for this band that can be used in ATV and WBFM amateur links. I see from Southgate News that OFCOM wants to allocate part of this band to broadband fixed wireless access.

Although I am sure we could co-exist, is this another example of the "thin end of the wedge" in the UK?  Amateur radio has no power and no money, whereas there is money in broadband fixed wireless access. Sadly, it seems that money talks.

10m FT8 RX

Since shortly after breakfast time, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. Unlike yesterday, not a single spot so far. In fact I just checked all settings in case I had made a mistake - locked to internet time, right antenna, set to right band on rig and PC, correct mode - all look fine.

UPDATE 1150z: GM4FVM (428km) has now been spotted. Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1230z: Now spotted 6 countries on 10m FT8 with best DX SU7JG (3527km).

Yesterday evening on MF WSPR RX

Last night I did not stay on 630m WSPR RX overnight. Instead, I was just on last evening. Nonetheless, I spotted all the main players seen overnight previously. In all, not a bad session.

In all, 20 different stations spotted here on 630m WSPR RX over the last 2 weeks.

Sunspots - Saturday October 7th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 22.  A=9 and K=1.

Back to the Stone Age next? - NOT amateur radio

Well, I freely admit that I do not have all the facts, but to an outsider living in the UK Donald's latest policy on birth control seems another backward step in the "land of the free". What never fails to amaze me is just how many American's supported him in the last election: to my mind this is more disturbing than Trump.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41528526 .

Something for the weekend

As usual, MLS, a major UK dealer, has some special discounts. With the cashback the FT891 is £554.95. So, why is the IC7300 so expensive? Because we pay at these silly prices. Blame us.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-pc-302.php

Silver birch seeds - NOT amateur radio

We have a large silver birch tree in our garden. At this time of year we get seeds everywhere! Yesterday, I swept up 5 dustbins full of seeds.