Which planet? - NOT amateur radio

Does the US president live on a different planet? In the 21st century the world is very interconnected. Oh, by the way, it is round.

It is pretty obvious his major allies will put tariffs on US goods, unless he changes his mind. Free trade? What the USA is doing is attempting pure protectionism.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44324565

10m WSPR TX

Although I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies) all morning, not a single spot ! There is Es on 6m, so this is probably down to less activity on 10m WSPR than 6m FT8 or that my antenna is not very good.

UPDATE 1350z: No spots received all day today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1638z: Several spots of my 10m WSPR beacon by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Isles.

UPDATE 1848z: 8 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR beacon today so far.

UPDATE 1927z: 63 spots today on 10m WSPR.

Collecting painted pebbles and rocks - NOT amateur radio

This seems to be a nationwide craze, especially with young people. Yesterday we were visiting friends with young children and they had loads to re-hide. I saw one in Devon a few weeks ago. You find yourself looking all the time!

Another UK rally

3 JUNE 2018 : SPALDING DARS ANNUAL RALLY

New venue for 2018: Holbeach Community Sports Academy, Pennyhill Lane, Holbeach PE12 7PR. Easy access off A17, large area for boot traders, modern hall for indoor traders. Doors open 9.30am, admittance £2.50. Car boot sale, catering, flea market, RSGB book stall, special interest groups, trade stands, prize draw/raffle. Contact Graham, G8NWC, 0775 461 9701, rallysecretary@sdars.org.uk.

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

6m FT8

After a brief period calling CQ with 2.5W (2 G spots), I have been RX only since. As yet, just a few G spots and no Es here on 6m FT8.

Quite a lot of stations are active on 6m FT8. When there is Es, I spot all over on this mode.

UPDATE 1356z: So far, 21 stations in 6 countries on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1648z: Now 79 stations in 12 countries today on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1842z: At least 120 unique stations in 35 countries so far on 6m FT8 today. All EU and North Africa. No "real" DX.

Sunspots - Friday June 1st 2018

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number 21. A=12 and K=3. For this part of the solar cycle, this is quite good still.

Missed again

It looks like the heavy storms of thunder and lightning have missed us again. At the moment the worst storms are tracking westwards and well to the south of us. I can't say I am sorry.

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

Red kite - NOT amateur radio

A sight I thought I would never see - a red kite (bird) flying over our home in East Anglia. At one time this would have been extremely rare, but in the last few months I have seen a little egret and a red kite overhead. 

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

Flowers - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday an old friend was 70. When we called, we had to take a photo of the clematis and roses by her front door. They always have great roses in their front garden.

Solar cycle 25

All the predictions that I have seen point to a peak not better than the last one, and possibly lower. In recent weeks we have seen a slight improvement in solar flux and sunspot numbers. However, do not get your hopes up. The minimum is probably 2019 or 2020 and this may just be a small "blip". On average, expect things to get worse for a few years yet. Of course, the 11 years for a solar cycle is just an average, so we might start the next solar cycle sooner or later.

10m WSPR TX

Since just before breakfast, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on (100% TX, randomised frequencies). Already several spots by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is.. My current 10m antenna is not brilliant. EA6GF (1428km) spotted me this afternoon.

Sunspots - Thursday May 31st 2018

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 18. A=4 and K=2.

Early 6m success

D41CV (4518km) in the Cape Verde Islands and lots of others have already been spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX. It is only 0858z!   Could this be the day I spot some transatlantic DX on 6m?

A very early brief CQ call was spotted by 3 Gs. This was before breakfast.

Already 24 stations in 6 countries spotted on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1732z: So far today on 6m FT8 RX, 88 stations in 16 countries.

82Hz (yes Hertz!) signal received in Tasmania

Edgar, in Moonah, Tasmania, Australia has received the Russian station, located on the Kola Peninsula on 82Hz. I believe this station sends coded messages to submerged Russian nuclear subs. It is a very long way. Mind you, Edgar is not lurking on the sea bed!

Building kit

Only this lunchtime my XYL asked when I was going to build something in my shack. Since my 2013 stroke, I managed to build a Chinese Pixie kit (worked first time) and repair my 472kHz transverter (changed the MOSFET), although things are much harder for me these days.

Actually, I think I need to try to build more: it is good therapy and probably will help me. I have to come to terms with how I am now, but still battle to make the best of things.

I fancy trying a mcHF or uBITX kit, but will this be beyond me now?

Any suggestions for what I should try?

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

Friedrichshafen reminder

1-3 JUNE 2018 : HAM RADIO SHOW, FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

Messe, Friedrichshafen, Germany. Trade stands, special interest groups and IARU Member Societies all have stands in the main hall. Large flea market. Lectures take place each day, some in English. There will be a large RSGB book stall. www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de.

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

10m WSPR TX

Yet again I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies). As yet, no spots received today.

Optical DXing

Since my 2013 stroke I have not felt fit enough to do field work. I really miss my 481THz over the horizon NLOS (non line of sight) optical work.

Testing the optical kit

The results back in 2013 suggested much further would have been possible NLOS. All the gear was home made and the experiments were fun. Sadly I am just too wobbly these days.

It would be good to try infra-red frequencies. What amazed me was the total lack of a visible signal, yet perfect decode using QRSS3 on the PC on a very non line of sight path over the horizon.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical
See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical/481thz-nlos

6m FT8 RX

Since just before breakfast, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. Some people hate this mode and I can quite understand why.

It is not a mode for chatting (unlike SSB, FM and AM) with "quick fire" formulaic QSOs.  But it works with quite weak signals and in my condition it means I can monitor what I am spotting whilst doing other things.

On 2m FT8 I can spot DX every day which I just wouldn't believe possible a few months ago. Who needs lifts? With FT8 I can spot DX anyway. Most times when I go on 2m FT8 TX with 2.5W and a big-wheel omni I get spotted over 300km.

So far today (it is now 0844z) just 5 Gs spotted and no sign here yet of 6m Es.

UPDATE 1052z:  10 Gs and one ON spotted so far today. No Es here yet on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1309z: Now 15 stations in 4 countries. Best DX is SP2DDV (1177km) probably Es.

UPDATE 1923z: As yet, no DX outside Europe and North Africa on 6m FT8 RX here today. Best DX is (again) S01WS (3043km) in Western Sahara. 54 stations in 10 countries so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

Storm Gazing - NOT amateur radio

This weekend we had some of our grandchildren here. One was particularly Interested in the maps showing where storms are currently.

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

Sunspots - Wednesday May 30th 2018

Solar flux is 73 again and the sunspot number 22. A=4 and K=1.

6m FT8 thought why I'm not spotting NA

Perhaps the lack of North Americans being spotted on 6m FT8 is in part due to them being on different frequencies? Most days I monitor 50.313MHz FT8, but I believe different frequencies may be favoured "across the pond". FT8 is less good (I think) than JT65, so maybe that is not helping too. For now, I'll carry on looking at 50.313MHz FT8 RX.

NOTE May 30th 2018: Someone has told me today that 50.313MHz is still the preferred FT8 frequency in the USA.

IARU and threats to VHF and up

Southgate News has an article about the threat to our higher bands written by the IARU Region 1. Personally, I think the threat in the UK and Europe is mainly to our microwave bands. Recently great swathes of lower VHF has been made available to amateurs in Eire and in the UK OFCOM has released 2MHz total at 4m and 2m.

See http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/vhfuhsshf/newsletters .

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

My wife told me to watch a TV programme called "Flog It" as it included a piece on Liverpool's catholic cathedral.

When I was at university this had just been finished. Inside it is a sea of colour. Outside it is (perhaps) uninspiring and some call it "Paddy's Wigwam". Inside it feels very calming. I like it.

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

Human Consciousness - NOT amateur radio

Opinions differ about what happens when we die.

Some say human consciousness just ceases and we know nothing. Those of several religious persuasions say "something" lives on. Perhaps all religions are attempts to make sense of our lives? Honestly, I am not sure.

What I am sure about is our attempts to understand are futile.  We are human and fallible.

Logic says we just cease to exist. Maybe.

Several events in the last year have made me less religious: all the evidence points to human cruelty and randomness.

And yet.....

6m FT8 RX only

For a while now, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. Quite a few Es spots around Europe, but nothing further afield as yet apart from a 7X2 on the North African coast.

UPDATE 1324z: 29 unique stations in 7 countries and 2 continents so far today spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 6m FT8 

RX to 1415z today

UPDATE 1410z: Now 10 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1900z: Now 27 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

10m WSPR TX

For the last few hours, I have had my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on. Quite a few spots fron Germany.

UPDATE 1716z: FY5KE (7110km) is the best DX today. This station spotted my 10m 500mW at 1650z. 8 different stations have spotted my little 10m WSPR beacon today so far.

Catching - NOT amateur radio

This was our younger grandson yesterday. He has good hand-eye co-ordination and is already a good cricketer. He is now nine years old.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 29th 2018

Solar flux is 77 and the sunspot number 20. A=4 and K=2.

In recent days the solar flux and sunspot number have been higher than expected.  We are on the slow descent to the next minimum and such "blips" are to be expected. We are likely to be "on the way down" until 2020 or later.

Selfless heroism - NOT amateur radio

How good to see how someone showing selfless heroism gets in the news and how he is justly rewarded. Well done that man!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44275776 .

Is the Yaesu FT818 just a stop-gap?

Recently Yaesu introduced the successor to the hugely successful FT817. Like many, I was seriously underwhelmed: this was a huge disappointment. One could be forgiven for thinking this was more about Yaesu dealing with component obsolescence than meeting market needs.

Being charitable, perhaps Yaesu is working on a real FT817 successor with the features people really want. Less charitably, Yaesu is broke and trying to do developments on the cheap. I sincerely hope the former!

In recent times Yaesu seems to be drifting. I have owned lots of Yaesu rigs and it they are going to fail this would be a great pity.

10m WSPR TX

Well I have been active of about an hour (500mW, 100% TX, randomised frequencies) with just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 2005z: So far, 22 unique stations spotted me today. QRT soon.

6m FT8

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8, starting at about 0845z. After  a few CQ calls at 2.5W (2 G spots received) I have been RX only. So far, 9 stations in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1406z: 50 unique stations, 9 countries, 2 continents so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2110z: I have lost count of the different stations spotted on 6m FT8 today, but 31 countries in 3 continents on 6m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Monday May 28th 2018

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 27. A=4 and K=1

Weather forecasts - NOT amateur radio

So, if you do not like "grumpy old man" rants look away.

Yesterday, the BBC weather forecast had heavy clouds and a 70% chance of rain. The Met Office forecast said dry, sunny and light clouds. In the end I cut my front lawn and hedge yesterday afternoon.

OK, I know the UK weather is hard to predict, but honestly, you simply could not use the forecasts as they were so different.

This morning it was supposed to be dark clouds and thunder. We had light cloud, sun and warm!

It bugs me that we simply do not know. I reckon they have a phone call and say, "you say this and we'll say that. One of us is bound to be right".😀

60m in South Africa

Southgate News reports that South Africa has allocated 100kHz to amateurs at 5MHz. This is excellent and enlightened spectrum allocation.  Of course this is secondary and strictly on a non-interference basis. Wouldn't it be good if CEPT followed suit? OFCOM?

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/may/south-africa-gets-100-khz-at-5-mhz.htm#.Wwp0-vZFzIU .

10m WSPR TX

Yet again, I am TXing with my 10m WSPR beacon (100% TX, 500mW, randomised frequencies). So far, just a couple of spots from CT1CAK (1438km). Apart from synchronising the time at the start of the day this tiny beacon is totally stand alone. If the antenna is available I go on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 2112z: Lots of Es spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. OZ1IT (864km) was copying me at +8dB at times. Time to go QRT soon.

6m FT8 again

At the moment this is my favourite band and mode. As usual, I have been on since before breakfast. So far (0859z), 28 unique stations spotted in 7 countries and 2 continents. Quite a bit of Es.

UPDATE 0914z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is currently EA8DBM (3016km). 31 uniques in 8 countries already on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2118z: Lots of Es today on 6m. I have lost count of the number of stations. Soon be time to go QRT.

Sunspots - Sunday May 27th 2018

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is 26. A=4 and K=2.

Abortion in Eire - NOT amateur radio

The people of Eire have voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to overturn the law so abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy will become legal. To me this seems sensible and returns the rights to the mother. The people voted almost 2 to 1 in favour of the change. It is likely to become law later this year.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44256152.