12 Aug 2018

Sunspots - Sunday August 12th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number zero. A=10 and K=4.

11 Aug 2018

144MHz FT8 tomorrow?

Most 2m FT8 activity is on 144.174MHz. As the Es season is drawing to a close now, I may move back to 2m FT8 using the big-wheel omni antenna.

Richard G3TFX suggested I compare the big-wheel horizontal omni with my V2000 omni vertical. There was little difference suggesting the most common propagation on 2m FT8 was by reflections off planes.

Of course some reception may be tropo, so I'll stick with the big-wheel. Mind you, if you only have a vertical stick on 2m then try it, as you may be very surprised. I was surprised that DX that I could rarely hear was commonplace on 2m FT8.

I may swap to 2m FT8 later so I catch the Perseids meteor shower peak during the night.

Heathkit lunchboxes

Really I have no idea why these rigs appealed to me so much. They had poor receivers with little selectivity. Although I coveted the 2m version for years, apart from the manual, I never owned one.

These days, they would struggle on VHF. Most activity is FM, not AM, and the selectivity would be a real handicap anyway.

What I think I liked was the form factor. There was something about that that appealed.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/lunchbox

The FT8 debate

There is a debate currently about the merits (or otherwise) of new digital modes like FT8. The amateur radio population is aging alarmingly: in a few years' time most amateurs will be very old and, unless we attract younger people, our hobby will just die out.

In just the same way high streets are changing, there will be fewer new rigs, fewer radio magazines and fewer rallies. And that is just for starters. 20 years from now what will our hobby look like?

It appears that FT8 is overtaking SSB as the main mode on HF. Unless you have specialised software, you will not "chance on" casual amateurs as we "old timers" did. This is how I first found amateur radio. These days I am unsure how young people find us.

Personally, I love WSPR and FT8, but I can see that these and similar modes could adversely impact newcomers entering our hobby. I wish I had the magic bullet. Clearly what attracts people today is very different from what attracted me all those years ago.

Hidden disabilities - NOT amateur radio

This has been mentioned here before, but I make no apologies.

Like several people, outwardly I look well (with a healthy tan) yet hidden from view is that I feel giddy on my feet and exhausted much of the time. My life is a near continuous fog. Many things that were once easy are not any more.  Even after a good sleep, I awake exhausted.

Many have hidden disabilities, which are not at all obvious. My only plea is don't judge a book by its cover. If someone feels bad inside, they probably are. A very few may fake things, but most will be genuine.

Speaking personally, I have been like this for almost 5 years now. I am not after sympathy: we have to make the best we can of what we have. All I am after, on behalf of everyone with a hidden disability, is a little understanding.

6m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been monitoring 6m FT8 RX. There appears to be quite a bit of Es in evidence with quite a few southern EU stations being spotted

UPDATE 1352z: 18 countries spotted on 6m FT8 so far today. All EU. Too many stations to count!

UPDATE 1545z: A pretty decent Es day on 6m FT8. These are the spots on 6m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

In the end I decided to TX on 10m WSPR today. So far, the only spot is by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands, This could be Es.

UPDATE 1549z: No further 10m WSPR spots all day today. Unless 10m is well open I struggle on 10m WSPR. FT8 is usually far more productive. Tomorrow I am tempted to go back on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1712z: A couple of 10m WSPR spots from OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Islands.

Sunspots - Saturday August 11th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN zero. A=4 and K=2.

10 Aug 2018

QRT

At around 2000z I decided to go QRT and disconnect antenna, PC and PSU. Although there were no signs of storms, I had spotted very little since teatime.  Overnight storms are unlikely, but I shall stay "disconnected" until the morning. At this moment I am unsure whether I go on 10m or 6m.

Broadcasting on shortwave

Like many in my generation, I came to amateur radio via shortwave broadcasters. As a young teenager I enjoyed getting QSL cards from broadcast stations around the world. In those days there were a great many broadcasters and many of these were in English. Not so today! Many broadcasters have left shortwave and opted instead for internet streaming as this is clearer and easier. It is probably cheaper too as big transmitters and antennas don't need to be maintained. 

Many of the shortwave stations transmitted propaganda, not that most of us cared. Certainly all many of us wanted was that QSL card. If they were proud of their tractor factory output, we could not have cared less!

I hear today via Southgate News that All India Radio may close its external shortwave service. Years ago this was one of the stations I heard direct from India on a crystal set here in the UK. Times are changing.

If you want to take a nostalgic listen to those interval signals, you can. I know this has appeared on this blog before, but it is fun!

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

Storms

At the moment I still have my 10m antenna (looking on 10m FT8 RX) connected as the storms seem to be avoiding us. I always keep an eye out and check the storm maps often.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=2;s=200;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;z=9;y=52.1402;x=0.2554;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Lounge window view - NOT amateur radio

This view has been on many times before. Today (again) we had dark clouds and rain after our recent very hot, dry, period. No thunderstorms as yet. This was taken through our lounge window earlier. If you zoom in you may be able to see the rain.

Another UK rally

12 AUGUST 2018 : FLIGHT REFUELLING ARS HAMFEST

Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, nr Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3DA. Talk in will be on S22. Doors open at 10am and admission is £4, which includes parking. There will be trade stands, a car boot sale. There will be a lecture stream during the day. Tony Baker, G3PFM, 07743 475 018, tbaker@tiscali.co.uk www.frars.org.uk.

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

10m FT8 RX

About 15 minutes ago, I went on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just one spot from Italy. This was probably Es.

UPDATE 1038z: 7 southern EU spots, which I guess are Es.

UPDATE 1652z: 14 stations in 10 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX.  It is getting harder now on 10m Es.

Perseid meteor shower and storm risks

This weekend I hope to keep a watch on 6m FT8 RX for possible Perseid meteor shower action. Although there is a risk of thunder showers later, I do not yet know what it will be like Saturday overnight into Sunday.

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

Weather forecasts (UK) - NOT amateur radio

Almost every day the Met Office and the BBC weather forecasts are different just a few hours from now. As an example, the BBC shows a 30% chance of rain here this afternoon and light cloud whereas the Met Office has dark clouds and an 80% chance of rain! The only certain forecast seems to be looking out of the window!

OK, I know the UK weather is hard to predict, but surely the BBC and Met Office should be in close agreement for a few hours' time? Often the forecast is wrong for the present time. They forecast sun and out the window it is raining.

If you don't like the look of one, you can always try the other!

Sunspots - Friday August 10th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.

9 Aug 2018

QRT time

In a few moments I am going QRT on all bands. Although there is still Es about, I get the feeling that we are now going to see Es less often than in May, June and July. Yesterday there was a good E layer opening to the USA on 6m FT8 RX. Today was relatively quiet here on 6m. 10m WSPR was dire.

Rain - NOT amateur radio

Apart from a couple of short, sharp thunder showers we have had no real rain since May. Temperatures have been over 30 deg C for most of the summer. It has be very hot for the UK.

Today we had real rain that lasted for about 5 hours. It feels cooler too. Tomorrow temperatures should be quite low compared with a few days ago.

Our lawns are parched brown. It will take weeks for the grass to recover, assuming it will. Today's rain will have helped but we need a lot more.

See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/u121rkr90#?date=2018-08-09

Perseid Meteor Shower

In all my time, I have never had a QSO via MS. I have looked/spotted many times on VHF bands. This weekend is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Quite long pings can be expected late Saturday Aug 11th and early morning on August 12th.  Probably I'll stick with 6m FT8 RX to see what appears.

Probably I could have 2-way QSOs on 6m FT8 via MS in a good shower even with my QRP.

Italian Meal - NOT amateur radio

This lunchtime we went to a local Italian restaurant in a nearby village. It is very popular and at night you have to book weeks in advance.  The lunchtime fixed price menu is very good value (food and price). It was busy today. Service is excellent. They have obviously got a good reputation. There were 3 of us (wife, son and yours truly).

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

My 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on for about 10 minutes so far (1049z). No spots yet.

UPDATE 2012z: Still no spots today on 10m WSPR TX. I have the feeling there are going to be no spots at all today when I go QRT shortly.

6m FT8

So I was wondering why I was getting no spots at all on 6m FT8. Then I checked. It helps if you turn the rig on! I had the PC on, but the PSU was off!!

Now everything is on, so if there is activity I should catch it.  Several USA stations were spotted late last evening on 6m FT8.  Also spotted last night was C31MS in Andorra. For some reason this did not upload to PSKreporter, yet this station was widely copied in Europe and the USA. I seem to recall working Andorra years ago on 6m QRP SSB. Somewhere I must have the QSL card.

 Everything was resynced about 1015z.

UPDATE 1050z: A CQ call by EA3LL (1264km) was spotted. Then Dale G3XBY (146km).

UPDATE 1434z: Now 13 stations in 8 countries spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1826z: Now 18 stations in 9 countries so far today.

UPDATE 1848z: Best DX today is UX1UA (2065km) in Ukraine.

UPDATE 1904z: Now 21 stations in 9 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. Es seems to be getting less frequent?

Sunspots - Thursday August 9th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today. The SSN is zero. A=5 and K=1.

8 Aug 2018

Apple picking - NOT amateur radio

Some friends of ours have apple trees that are very heavily laden. We were given a bag to take home. We have been advised to cut them open first as they are sweet and the maggots like them too. Extra protein?

Political correctness - NOT amateur radio

These days it is hard to say anything without it being labelled "politically incorrect". A recent case was the UK's ex foreign secretary Boris Johnson saying Muslim women in burkas look like letter boxes allegedly.  Now, as a politician he should have chosen his words better, but these days people are too afraid to say anything in case it offends someone. Personally, I think it was deliberate on his part to get noticed.

I am no fan of this man, but I think we are all getting very stupid. Speak what you think. If we get offended occasionally, so be it. In the past I have been offended by remarks made against me, but I prefer to take them "on the chin" than live in a nanny state in which we are told how to breath.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45114368 .

UK Rally

I have to admit I don't have a clue where this is! Since writing this I have found out it is East Lothian, Scotland.

10 AUGUST 2018 : 25th COCKENZIE & PORT SETON MINI RALLY NIGHT

Community Centre, Main Hall, Port Seton. Bring along your own junk and sell it yourself. Tables on a first come first served basis. Entry £2. Doors open from 6pm to 9pm.

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


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

SETI - NOT amateur radio

SETI = Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence

We have probably been searching of extra-terrestrial life now for about 50 years. Years ago, the famous Drake equation predicted the chances of finding intelligent life as quite high. All these years later we have still not found any signs! No sign of any extra-terrestrial life, let alone intelligent life.

Perhaps we are truly alone in the universe? Perhaps we are looking in the wrong way?

Should we succeed, it could be transformative. However, I am beginning to have my doubts.

Years ago I recall reading "We are not alone" by Carl Sagan. Perhaps we are alone?

Personally, I think we should keep looking, but I am quite surprised that we have found nothing at all.

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

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although on since before breakfast, no spots.  DK6UG spotted me yesterday. Earlier I though this was today. Ho hum...

UPDATE 1014z: Still no spots today.

UPDATE 1248z: Several spots from OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Is. So far, this is the only person spotting me.

UPDATE 1810z: Early evening brought spots from DK6UG (633km) and IZ3LCH (1149km).

6m FT8

A fairly quiet start today.

So far (0900z), just 6 different stations in 3 countries spotted. Some of these could be Es or possibly aircraft reflections.

An earlier TX period (2.5W) was spotted by 2 stations (in Brittany and the UK). No QSOs.

Certainly not promising currently.

UPDATE 0950z: Best DX spotted on 6m FT8 RX is LA7DFA (1311km). Currently 8 different stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1304z: Now 32 different stations spotted in 16 countries.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 8th 2018

Solar flux today is 69 and the sunspot number, unsurprisingly, zero. A=10 and K=1.

7 Aug 2018

Rain! - NOT amateur radio

We have had a long, hot summer with just a couple of thunder showers a few weeks ago. Tonight we had rain and more is forecast overnight  After weeks of temperatures in the 30 deg C plus region, rain is welcomed. Our lawns are parched and badly in need of rain. Usually they recover, eventually. Normally we complain we get too much rain!

Storms? 2m UKAC OK?

As you know, I keep a close watch on storms and disconnect everything if there is a threat nearby. At the moment most of the storms seem to be over northern Brittany and just north of Paris. They are many hours away and we may miss them altogether.

Tonight is the August 2m leg of the activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. Assuming there is no storm threat, I'll put in an appearance for 30 minutes or so starting around 1900z on SSB. If there are storms nearby, I'll give it a miss. Last month, conditions were very good.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=2;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;

UPDATE  1849z: The storms have crossed the channel and seem to be approaching Kent. At the moment, I think we should miss most of the storms, at least until late tonight.

UPDATE 1957z: 6 SSB contacts in the 2m UKAC, with best DX 229km.  Not bad for 5W, big-wheel omni, useless voice and just 37 minutes of operating.

Bully? - NOT amateur radio

So President Trump is on the warpath again, now allegedly saying anyone doing business with Iran will not do business with the USA. Sadly, he lives on our planet.

Biased  - me? No, just reflecting the views of EVERYONE I have spoken with, honestly EVERYONE, all who think he is an ignorant bigot and a menace. Honestly, I have not met one single person outside the USA who has a good word to say about him. Everyone!! Yes everyone. Most are amazed he was voted in.

Now, I know we are entitled to our own views, and I respect you for holding yours, but I am truly amazed by the level of support in the USA for the current president.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45098031

OFCOM "Communications Monthly"

OFCOM's July report is now available. It seems no time at all since the last one!

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/E162000517E813DA2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Young birds - NOT amateur radio

It gladdens the heart to see young birds in our garden. There are young swifts overhead, young blackbirds and starlings, and today and yesterday, a young goldfinch (see photo).

6m FT8 RX

Well. there are so many spots already that I cannot say how many stations have been spotted, but lots! Best DX so far on 6m FT8 RX is A92HK (5058km) in Bahrain. Briefly, before breakfast I was on TX calling CQ and was spotted in southern Italy. No QSOs though.

Good Es today on 10m

My car had to go for an annual service today, so I was up early. I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) since way before breakfast and already there are 65 spots in the log. Today looks promising.

UPDATE 1152z: It was quiet for much of the morning, but there are spots from Germany again now. So far 75 spots on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon. 6 different stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1257z: Best DX today is a spot from IZ3LCH (1149km).

Eureka moment? - NOT amateur radio

For the last 5 years I have been fighting to get better from my stroke. Now I think this is how I am going to be.  It is pointless fighting it and myself. As I am now is probably how I shall always be: giddy, tired and with a poor voice.

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

If I make further improvements so well and good, but my energies are better spent trying to cope with the "new me" rather than fighting. This may seem trivial to others, but to me it marks a turning point.

Empathy - NOT amateur radio

Although not sure how the dictionary defines this, to me it means to see the world as others see it. Each of us is different (we are all quirky in some way!), but some people make the effort to see the world from the perspective of others, whilst some cannot.

In my friends, those who make good, empathetic listeners stand out a mile: some really try to see the world as others see it, whilst some don't even try. I am not sure if this is innate or something one can work on.

It is difficult not to judge others by our standards. We are all unique. In some cases, people have been dealt a poor hand. We can all start by treating everyone the same. As someone once reminded me, even the queen has to go to the toilet!

Whether rich or poor, we are all the same inside.