6m FT8

For about 5 minutes I have been on 6m FT8 both RX and TX (2.5W). So far, just G1IDZ (182km) spotted.

UPDATE 1120z: Lots of Es spots. I am convinced FT8 is extending the Es "season". Best DX spot is of IT9QPF (1867km)

Margaret, are you greaving.... - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday there was a young blackbird in the garden when I was cutting the grass. At first I thought it was with its parents being fed. Hours later it was still there. This morning it was dead.

Now, I know this is the rhythm of life. I know it was probably very sick and bound to die. Nonetheless it saddened me. I hid the body in the bushes so my wife would not see it. She will think it just few off.  Perhaps it is just a reminder than what happened to this little bird happens to us all. Perhaps that is why I am saddened.

Margaret, are you greaving over Goldengrove unleaving?

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall

Sunspots - Sunday August 19th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the SSN 11. A=13 and K=3.

A statesman gone - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday the world lost one of its great statesmen: Kofi Annan who for several years was head of the UN. There are sadly very few great statesmen and women in this world.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45235800 .

Now QRT

At 2030z I went QRT on all bands. The last Es here was at 1950z on 10m WSPR. In all quite a decent Es day. I shall probably be on 6m FT8 mainly RX tomorrow.

Grass mowing - NOT amateur radio

In the UK we have had a hot, dry summer. For just the second time since May, I have cut our grass.  Although parts are still brown, it is slowly recovering as we have had some rain.

Perhaps President Trump can be persuaded that global warming is a reality and not a Chinese plot.

FT8 and Es

This summer I have not used JT65 at all. Instead, I have been mostly on 6m FT8 RX with just the occasional TX period. Once in a while I tried 2m and 10m FT8. I have also been on 10m WSPR TX, although WSPR seems much less active than FT8.

FT8 is supposed to be not quite as good as JT65 on weak signals. However, the take-up of FT8 is phenomenal.

I am wondering if one of the reasons we are still seeing Es on 6m so much this late in the season is that users are in just one place and even very short openings get detected? Most FT8 is between 50.313 and 50.315MHz.  In the past, a CQ on SSB or CW might well have been missed. Also, FT8 works with signals that are more marginal than SSB or CW.

Let us hope a few remain on 6m so we can see if 6m Es is much commoner than we previously thought. In an average "out of season" day it would not surprise me to see brief openings. Remember, you only need 15 seconds to be spotted with FT8, probably even less.

6m FT8 RX spots today

ARRL numbers falling

There is a gradual downward trend in ARRL membership. This does not surprise me. However, it is worrying.

Around the world, generally, the amateur radio population is getting progressively older and it is getting harder to attract and keep younger people. We come over as an old man's hobby. I know this is not so, but we have to "connect".

As the demographic gets generally older, membership of national societies and radio clubs is likely to suffer. When I was fitter, I gave quite a few talks at radio clubs in East Anglia, UK.  By and large, the audiences were male and older men with very few women and young people. Unless we attract and keep younger people our hobby will die.

Monkey Dust - NOT amateur radio

In all my life I have never taken drugs. Even smoking cigarettes at school made me sick and after a few I stopped.

At university many were taking LSD. In later years you find people taking cocaine and marijuana.

Now there is a new menace called "magic dust". It looks like a real problem for police.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45186581 .

New FRS rules in the USA

This applies in the USA and NOT in Europe!

The ARRL reports on some rule changes by the FCC which come into effect next year.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/view/new-fcc-part-95-personal-radio-services-rules-published-in-the-federal-register?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

More in hope than expectation, I am again on 10m WSPR TX with my little beacon. As yet, no spots of me.

UPDATE 1220z: Several Es spots received from Italy and Denmark.

UPDATE 1422z: 6 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1600z: 10 unique spots today so far with 96 spots. Still seems to be plenty of Es.

Patio flowers - NOT amateur radio

For weeks, our lawns have been brown and parched, but they are at last recovering after some rain.  They may get a trim later, although it looks like more rain!

Surprisingly, the flowers in pots on our patio have done quite well as the photo shows.

6m FT8 and PSKreporter maps issues?

Since before breakfast I have been on 6m FT8 (RX and briefly TX) but nothing appears on PSKreporter. At first I suspected my internet connection but everything else seems fine. I even disconnected and reconnected yet still nothing. I stopped and restarted WSJT-X. I have spotted EA7 and I so I know 6m FT8 is good. Anyone else having issues?

UPDATE 1203z:  Up to now I was using WSJT-X V1.9 rc3. I have upgraded to the latest fully released version (v1.9.1) and all seems to be well. See comment from John below that my spots were appearing as 2m spots when I had selected 6m (50.313MHz FT8). Moral seems to be close the software and re-open if you change bands! Now getting Es spots from all over.

UPDATE 1424z: Everything is working now. My brief CQ calls (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) were copied widely in southern Europe and I worked several Balkan stations. A call to S01WS was not received, sadly.

Sunspots - Saturday August 18th 2018

Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number 11. A=13 and K=3.

Rally

19 AUGUST 2018 : THE RATS (RUGBY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY) RALLY

Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PY. Doors open from 10am to 4pm (8.30am for sellers). Admission is £3. There is a car boot sale and catering is available on site. Steve, G8LYB, 0795 685 5816, rally@rugbyats.co.uk www.rugbyats.co.uk.

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

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Since university days back in the 1960s, we have known this couple. They live about 40 miles away and we usually meet up a few times each year. We went to their house for lunch today. When we meet it seems like just yesterday when we last met. In his working life he was a project manager responsible for putting a probe on a comet. He is very modest and talking to him you'd never guess. My wife is on the left.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)

Visitor Map - NOT amateur radio

Usually I can see where visitors to my blog are from. This was very useful to see where hackers were located. This is a map visible only to me. For several days now, this has not been working. It looks like a Google issue, which I hope is soon resolved.

Lately, several things seem to be getting worse. Several of our famous high street shops have closed as we buy more and more online. Our only bank in the village has closed (similar reason). Picasa no longer allows me to send photos, etc. It almost seems we are going backwards!

No storms?

Looking at the lightning maps, it looks like we are in for a quiet day. The nearest storms are miles away. It is not too hot, but likely to remain dry.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=6
See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/u121rkr90#?date=2018-08-17

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although active since breakfast, no spots as yet. It is still early.

UPDATE 0905z: Still no spots.

UPDATE 1944z: EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Islands spotted me 4 times this afternoon. Otherwise no spots at all. Soon be QRT time.

Sunspots - Friday August 17th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN remains 12 (low but not zero!). A=11 and K=2.

6m FT8 RX

Although on since breakfast, not much doing. Just EA1SI (1071km) in northern Spain spotted so far on 6m FT8. This could be Es or could be aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 0912z: Es I think. Now 5 stations spotted in 4 countries with best DX EA7HG (1644km) in southern Spain.

UPDATE 1935z: It definitely feels like the end of the Es season. 8 different in  5 countries spotted today on 6m FT8 RX today with best DX S01WS (3043km). Soon be QRT time.

QRT on all bands

The big switch has been pulled and I am now QRT on all bands until tomorrow.

Not sure what bands to try tomorrow. Maybe 6m FT8 RX and 10m WSPR TX.

There is still Es about, but not as much as a few months ago. The main problem now will be fewer stations on as they think the Es season has ended. With FT8, even short openings will be uncovered. Es might still be productive outside of the traditional Es season.

Surprises - NOT amateur radio

In many ways this has been a hard year with several people no longer with us or now living with terrible conditions.

At the same time, we have had the joy of some total surprises! There is little doubt that receiving a total surprise is a great joy. In past years, I have received things through the post. To this day, I have absolutely no idea who sent them. Grateful? You bet. It brings joy to the heart that there are some really kind people around. These are the unsung heroes who take pleasure in seeing other people happy. Thank you. Really, thank you.

If you want to bring joy into someone's life, send them a surprise!

New projects

Someone recently asked me if I had any plans for new projects. Well, at the moment, I have not given this too much thought.

I fancy trying 136 and 472kHz RX with a decent antenna in the form of an E-field probe in the garden in a quiet spot. Up to now I have only tried these bands with compromise antennas and it would be good to find out what I can copy with an EFP in a quiet spot in the garden. Maybe I shall not transmit on MF/LF this autumn and winter?

I also fancy a better try on 4m. This means erecting an antenna for the band as presently I have none. At this QTH I have never been on 4m. 4m FT8 and WSPR could be good.

It is years since I tried 23cm reception.

In the end it will probably be none of these!

Disappearing swifts (birds) - NOT amateur radio

About this time of year, swifts start to fly south. For a few months they are part of the British summer. They sleep and feed on the wing. The screaming swifts are a common summer sound.

Then you realise they are not here. I am sure we'll see more still, but they are moving south. By early September most will have gone. They winter south of the Sahara in Africa.

Funny how I treasure the day when the first swift of the year is seen. To me, it is a sign that life goes on. This year we seem to have had fewer swallows and house martins. Luckily here swift numbers have held up. Several people have erected swift nest boxes.

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

10m WSPR TX

Since just before breakfast, I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) with my stand alone WSPR beacon. Just one spot all morning in the form of IU1DZZ (973km). There is still Es, but it is now less common.

In the last hour OY1OF (1164km) in the Faroe Is last been spotting me.

UPDATE 1640z: No spots received since 1228z. What Es there was seems short-lived? In the past I had a theory that later in the season more northerly stations become more commonplace by Es. Not sure if this is true.

UPDATE 1947z: Soon be time to go QRT. In all, 4 different stations spotted my 10m WSPR today.

Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Every year they have a great show of dahlias at nearby Anglesey Abbey. This is just one of them this year.

Big VHF beams?

Well, I can just imagine the reaction of my neighbours if I erected this monster in my garden! Southgate News reports on a new dual band 10el beam for 50/70MHz. If towers and big beams are your "thing", then I guess you may be interested.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/worlds-longest-50mhz-70mhz-dual-bander.htm#.W3U92fZFzIU

Of course, these monster stations are frequently at the far end of some QRP QSOs, so I have to watch what I say! All I can say is these are not of interest to me. Personally I prefer smaller antennas as do my neighbours.

My other websites - NOT amateur radio

On my main website are links to some of the other websites I maintain. One of these is the Cambridgeshire Choral Group in which my wife sings. They are always on the lookout for new singers, especially male. No auditions are needed and they sing in some great venues in the Cambridge, UK area with a professional orchestra and soloists.

See www.g3xbm.co.uk .

Sunspots - Thursday August 16th 2018

Solar flux is again 69 and the SSN 12. A=14 and K=4.

2m FT8 again

Yet again I am on 2m FT8. An earlier CQ call (2.5W) this morning was spotted by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. He seems to spot me every time!

Already this morning I have spotted a couple of stations in Brittany. Yesterday was typical with DX previously unheard of on my simple system within reach.

The map shows what I spotted in the last day on 2m FT8. Antenna is just the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1647z: A quieter day so far with 10 stations in 3 countries spotted here on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX is F6DBI (501km).

UPDATE 1956z: Yet again, 2m FT8 RX has surprised me today. Time now to go QRT. The map below shows the stations spotted here in the last day. Remember I just use a  big-wheel omni, no big beams!

Chaos - NOT amateur radio

Our son is a good cook, but he does leave a disaster area in his wake! The photo shows him in our kitchen last week. 15 minutes cooking and 30 minutes clearing up after him.

Hamsphere - float your boat?

Every once in a while I get Hamsphere newsletters.

Hamsphere is a "virtual" form of amateur radio. The ionosphere is simulated - it is not real. Some of these simulations are very good and they may be of interest to you. I have to admit that they do not "float my boat" much. Especially when HF is poor, I can understand the attraction, but to me this not real.

Network radios to me are a better alternative, as these allow contacts via distant repeaters that are real. Best of all is real amateur radio, actually advancing radio science by pushing the boundaries. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do this.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/virtual/hamsphere

New HF SSB/CW rig coming from QRP-labs?

There are rumours on the streets about a new, single band, SSB/CW QRP transceiver from Hans Summers. Time will tell.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/

Late start on 10m WSPR TX (500mW)

At 1028z I started up my 10m WSPR TX beacon. This is much later than usual. Normally it takes about 15-20 minutes for the crystal to stabilise, assuming there are any Es spots. So, the earliest I can reasonably expect to get any spots is 1045z. Any spots before then (unlikely) are likely to show quite a bit of drift.

UPDATE 1625z: Plenty of Es this afternoon on 10m WSPR. 6 unique stations spotting me this afternoon, either in Italy or Germany.

UPDATE 1727z: 47 spots today on 10m WSPR. The latest Es spot was over an hour ago.

2m FT8

For a change today I am on 2m FT8. An early 2-way QSO was hadt  with PA9CC (394km) in JO32 square. This was with 2.5W to the big-wheel horizontal omni. My call was copied by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. 2m FT8 continues to amaze me: unheard of DX is within reach even with my low ERP.

UPDATE 1030z:  5 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX on RX so far is DM1CG (459km).

UPDATE 1230z: I gave a brief CQ again just before lunch (2.5W to the big-wheel omni) and was again spotted by G7RAU in south Cornwall on the Lizard peninsula. So far today, 8 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1630z: So far today, I have spotted 17 different stations spotted in 6 countries. The impression is that some are by aircraft reflection and some are by tropo.

UPDATE 2145z: Time to go QRT on 2m FT8. Today 29 stations in 6 countries spotted and a QSO with a PA early this morning with just 2.5W and a big-wheel omni. And these are flat conditions on 2m. FT8 really is amazing.

Sunspots - Wednesday 15th August 2018

Sunspots at last!

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 12. Yes 12, not zero!! A=4 and K=1

70cm actvity contest

As usual, I entered the RSGB's 70cm activity contest this evening using 5W and my 2m halo. Only 2 QSOs were made! If I want to make a serious entry, I need more power and a "real" 70cm antenna.

"Successful" HAARP WSPR test?

Well, not in my book.

Southgate News carries news of this test using WSPR around the end of July and start of August. The report mentions the hundreds of WSPR reports from all over the USA and Canada. Using 1GW ERP this is distinctly average.

OK, apparently D-layer absorption was high on 80m, but I would have expected reports from elsewhere too.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/successful-haarp-wspr-research-campaign.htm#.W3LXXPZFzIU

6m FT8 RX

Although I guess these could be aircraft reflections, they are probably mostly Es, certainly the more distant spots.

I have been on 6m FT8 RX since before breakfast and spotted 15 stations in 8 countries so far. Again, a promising start to the day at 0952z. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is DM5BB (903km).

As yet, I have not tried 6m FT8 TX today.

UPDATE 1317z: Es from all over Europe. Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is IT9BCC (1889km).

UPDATE 1900z: Now going QRT, but  still plenty of Es on 6m FT8 RX today as the map shows.