Edging - NOT amateur radio

Birds in our garden love to scrape the soil for creatures to eat. I can't tell you how many times I have had to sweep up! So, this autumn, I am adding edging stones in an attempt to reduce the summer workload. I have done one bit, but have still to do along the path, which is about twice as long.

Commercial optical communications

Many years ago, before my stroke, I did some work at 481THz, red light. I used LEDs as the TX element, but I see that there are some commercial optical links using LASERS. Light has the advantage of being very secure. I expect these commercial units are expensive. My own optical kit was very inexpensive and great fun.

At some point I hope to get back to this work. Amateur optical work is both fun and inexpensive. It is certainly at the frontier of experimentation.

See http://www.lightpointe.com/laser-radios.html .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical .

Trump and faking it - NOT amateur radio

Allegedly  President Trump tweeted that he was "probably" going to be named TIME magazine's Person of the Year, but he apparently declined. TIME has disputed this. It is also reported that the president has a fake TIME cover showing his golf clubs and him.

TIME has also disputed a claim, allegedly, that Trump has appeared on its front cover more than anyone. I am reporting this, I hope, as it appears on the BBC website, which I believe is NOT fake news.

The media portrays the present president as a fool. "I could not possibly comment", to use a phrase from Yes Minister.

The good people of the USA elected President Trump to run their nation and "make America great again".  Let us hope the next president represents the people well and has them at heart.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42121402 .

10m FT8 RX since breakfast

Since just before breakfast, I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX. Already, quite widespread European activity, which is encouraging so early.

Sunspots - Saturday November 25th 2017

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=2

Another good night on 630m WSPR

Last night, my 10mW ERP WSPR was spotted by 9 unique stations with the best being LA2XPA (1310km) way up in Norway. He must have a nice low noise floor!

I spotted 9 uniques here too, with my best DX spotted DH5RAE (995km) in Germany.

OFCOM and programme makers

PMSE users will still have access to 700MHz spectrum after 2020 here in the UK according to OFCOM.

"We believe that continued use by PMSE services is likely to secure the optimal use of this spectrum and maximise the benefits to UK citizens and consumers."

Well, they have to earn a crust at OFCOM. Darn quangos!!

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/FE70F7F0AE1D1BFE2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Black Friday emails - NOT amateur radio

When I woke up, there were 10 emails in my inbox. All were about Black Friday deals. They made me sick. Every one was immediately deleted.

This is pure commercialism imported from the USA. It is designed to make us spend more over the thanksgiving weekend. Thankfully, this vomit-inducing commercialism is losing favour here in the UK.

If you good folks in the "land of the free" like it, fine. My personal view is I hate it. Thanksgiving is not celebrated here in the UK. In my view Black Friday has no place either.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42093624 .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42106850 .

The future of our hobby

As always, Southgate News is providing links to some interesting stuff. One such story was about the future of our hobby. Personally, I have grave doubts about the future, as I have voiced before. One thing is certain: the thing that got us interested in radio is unlikely to be the same today. What "turns on" youngsters today is very, very different.

Some would call me a fireside fusilier in that I am "gunner do this and gunner do that". What is certain is that our hobby has to evolve or die out. The future is in our hands.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/november/millennials-are-killing-ham-radio.htm#.Whgjjbp2vIU

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today 2 stations spotted:  MI0RRE (495km) and IW4EGP (1284km). Nothing outside Europe today.

Rally

26 NOVEMBER 2017 : BISHOP AUCKLAND RADIO AMATEURS CLUB (BARAC) 2017 RALLY
Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High Street, SPENNYMOOR, County Durham, DL16 6DB Venue is ideally suited for both trader and disabled as it has good parking and access to a large ground floor hall. There will be the usual radio, computer, electronics stands and a Bring & Buy. Catering facilities and a bar are on site. Doors open at 10.30am (10.15am for disabled visitors). Admission is £2, under 14 free of charge with adult. More details from John, G4LRG on 01388 606 396

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

Sunspots - Friday November 24th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number zero yet again. A=9 and K=2.

QSYed to 630m WSPR

Rather later than usual at about 2000z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR. So far, just 5 unique Gs have spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR and I have spotted 4 unique stations on 630m WSPR this evening. 

So far, this has been an average evening.

Cambridge autumn - NOT amateur radio

This is very similar to a photo I uploaded yesterday. This time, you can see the punt more clearly. Autumn, so fewer people about.

More from OFCOM

More stuff.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/6B7694F0B002CACC2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Little Egret at breakfast - NOT amateur radio

Back in the 1980s, seeing a little egret in the UK would have be rare. Today, whilst sitting in the kitchen at breakfast, one flew overhead. I could tell it was a type of heron, but as it got closer I could see it clearly. Nowadays they are all over the UK.

Next it will be cattle egrets. These are now widely seen in Devon. Another 20 years and they will be common in the UK. Climate change?

Yesterday they were expecting 18 deg C in some parts of the UK - in November!

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

10m FT8 RX

Rather later than normally, I have QSYed from 630m WSPR to 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1048z: No spots as yet.

UPDATE 1428z: 3 stations in 3 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 2210z: So the day ended with just 3 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8. At least I tried. Disappointing.

Quiet Kings - NOT amateur radio

King's College Chapel looks quiet. The high number of visitors in the summer has reduced now autumn is here.

630m WSPR last night

My 10mW ERP was spotted by 10 unique stations and I spotted 8 uniques with the best DX EA5DOM (1525km). No great DX on TX.

Sunspots - Thursday November 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 74 today, Sunspot number is again zero. A=10 and K=1.

Quiet River Cam - NOT amateur radio

Usually, the River Cam behind the colleges is busy with punts. This stretch is known as "The Backs" as many world famous colleges back on to the River Cam. This stretch is just outside King's College. At this time of year, there are a lot fewer visitors.

Average night on 630m WSPR

Only 6 unique stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR last night. EA5DOM (1525km) was spotted several times here last night. Apparently his LF TX is broken so he decided to come on 630m WSPR. He is always a good signal here.

10m FT8

It is only early, but already OZ and SP stations have been spotted on 10m FT8. These could be aircraft reflections, although I am unsure. It seems too close for F2.

UPDATE 1324z: ZS6ZP (9121km) as well as quite a few Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8.

Useful radio magazine archive

Steve G3ILO has pointed out this online archive that contains some useful radio magazines - mainly USA, but some big UK one too.

See http://americanradiohistory.com/ .

Sunspots - Wednesday November 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=28 and K=3.

630m OPERA TX

Something must be wrong.

I had a couple of goes on 630m OPERA TX in beacon mode, but got no reports. I switched to WSPR and immediately was spotted and spotted others. Not sure what I was doing wrong.

Blog visits - NOT amateur radio

It never fails to amaze me how many people read this blog every day. It is humbling. I usually write about the things I do or take an interest in.  You will already have noticed that I enjoy WSPR and FT8!

Being a bit disabled these days (although most who see me tell me how good I look - inside it is not quite the same), I probably spend too much time on the PC. As my voice is poor, it is a way of expressing myself.  If you think I should cover other things, let me know.  Doing this blog is now part of my routine. It is quite good fun to record what I've been up to.

Halloween: well gone - NOT amateur radio

These rotting pumpkins are a reminder that Halloween is long passed now. Mind you, the next Halloween will be here soon enough! Also, Easter starts Dec 26th right? Well, it will in the shops!

A better database?

A couple of people have recommended a different database to see my OPERA spots on MF.

See http://spots.microwavers.es/index.php

10m FT8 RX

The band seems only good for Gs here so far. Just a couple of Gs spotted and nothing else as yet. Mind you, it is only 1000z, which is quite early.

UPDATE 1100z: Quite promising on 10m FT8 today. Best DX so far is ZS6ZP (9121km). It continues to amaze me that so much can still be spotted on 10m FT8. In previous years, these openings might well have been missed - lot of Europeans, 3 Israelis and South Africa already, and the sunspot number is zero!

UPDATE 1200z: I see that there are two South Africans in the Johannesburg area in the 10m FT8 RX log today.

630m OPERA RX

Last evening and overnight, I tried 630m OPERA RX. It is supposed to spot weaker stations even than WSPR, which is pretty good. For the first time ever at this QTH I spotted "across the pond" on 630m: VO1NA was spotted twice on "deep search". Activity is lower than 630m WSPR, but LA3EQ was spotted and a few others.

Tonight, I may well try 630m OPERA TX, although I shall also try 630m WSPR as EA5DOM is reported back on the band and mode. He is usually a very good WSPR signal here.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 21st 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=8 and K=4.

Mugabe - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago, just after WW2, my dad was in S.Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, posted there by the RAF.  Whilst there he met King George VI and our future queen.

What has happened to that country in recent times is saddening. What will happen to Robert Mugabe is anyone's guess. He appears as an old man clinging to power. Whatever happens, I hope it benefits the people of that country.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42048412 .

630m OPERA RX

OK, I may give this a try tonight. The software needs downloading and I  have to find the right frequencies, but it is more sensitive than WSPR, so seems worth a try. My noise floor (S7) may limit what I can decode.

UPDATE 2040z: So I downloaded OPERA software, set the AGC to "off", set the frequency to 477kHz DIG (i.e. USB), set the RX to "wide", but so far nothing received!

UPDATE 2220z: 3 stations copied on 630m OPERA with best DX so far being LA3EQ (768km). I might give OPERA TX a try tomorrow evening. Others with a lower noise floor might be able to spot me on OPERA but not on WSPR?

630m WSPR overnight

In all, 12 unique stations spotted my 10mW 630m WSPR in the last day. In turn, I spotted 8 uniques.

Amateur licences - rising or falling?

This probably depends on which country you are in.  Southgate News picked up a WIA story that reported roughly static numbers in Australia. In the UK, unless a trend is reversed, we are likely to see numbers rapidly fall in the next 20 years. People are getting older and die. Sadly there are too few young people and women in the hobby here in the UK.

Call me sad but every month I look in RadCom to see how many G3s are now SK. It averages about 5 a month. At this rate we'll soon all be dead!

What is it like in your country?

10m FT8

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. The last few days have been disappointing with little or no DX copied here. So far this morning just MM0HVU (479km) spotted. Aircraft reflection ?

UPDATE 1045z: Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is currently 4Z4DX (3544km) in Israel. I assume this is F2.

UPDATE 1624z: Two South Americans on 10m FT8 RX! Things are looking up. Best DX is LU4VZ (12459km).

How much better is WSPR compared with 12wpm CW?

It is very hard to calculate this as you have to compare "apples with apples". A calculation by PA3FWM suggests this could be 17dB!!

See http://www.pa3fwm.nl/technotes/tn09b.html .

Sunspots - Monday November 20th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number zero again. It seems to be zero quite often now.  A=5 and K=1.

Driverless Cars - NOT amateur radio

It seems we are going to see driverless cars on our roads in the UK sooner rather than later. The UK budget is this week and rumours suggest the go-ahead will be given for more on-road tests. Already the collision avoidance software is very good, but the main issue is consumer (driver) confidence. Somehow we find it hard not to still want to drive, even though the software driven car is probably safer!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42040856  .