472kHz WSPR

Earlier this evening I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. So far, 8 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP signal and I have spotted 16 stations on RX. Promising.

Stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR so far tonight.

Kings College Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This picture typifies Cambridge. People come from all over the world to see this view. We get it for just a free bus ride!  Even access to all the Cambridge colleges is free for locals. It is hard to think people pay thousands of pounds to see this.

10m FT8 RX

For now, I am on 10m FT8 RX.

With sunspot minimum conditions and being well outside of the Es season, I am not expecting much. Of late the South Americans have not been spotted in the early evening on 10m FT8 with my low antenna.

UPDATE 1556z: 3 stations in 2 countries spotted so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is IT9PZM (1890km).

UPDATE 1650z:  I have just updated to WSJT-x V2.0 rc3. My recent 2.5W CQ was copied by no-one at all!

Last night on 477kHz OPERA RX

Disappointing with just the 2 stations already spotted in the evening spotted overnight. This could mean several things. Perhaps my "antenna" is not brilliant. Perhaps conditions were not good. Perhaps there are fewer operators using OPERA. Maybe it is a combination of all of these or some of these.

Tonight, if I go on MF, I shall opt for WSPR again?

Sunspots - Wednesday October 31st 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0. Spooky poor conditions for Halloween.

477kHz OPERA RX

For a complete change, I am on 477kHz OPERA RX. This is a mode I have not tried this autumn on MF or on any band for that matter. In deep search I believe it is even better than WSPR, but I am unsure how many people are on 477kHz OPERA TX. No doubt, I'll soon find out!

UPDATE 2135z: So far G6AVK and SO5AS (1392km) spotted on OPERA RX on MF.

New video

It is a while since I posted a video on my YouTube channel G3XBM.  I have just made one showing the shack and antennas as of now in October 2018.

As my voice is not brilliant, there is no voice commentary, but there is music.

It was made with iMovie using my XYLs iPad. There is an Android version, I think, but I have not used this. It is a bit sad that my 7 year old granddaughter can use iMovie to make films better than me!

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBIHNPAkaac

2m FT8 again

It's a safe bet. My 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied by 4 stations in 3 countries including N. Ireland and the Lizard in Cornwall by G7RAU (461km). On RX, 4 stations spotted in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1642z: Now 16 stations spotted in 5 countries so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1854z: Now 24 stations spotted in 6 countries.

Brandon Country Park - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I posted some fungi on a fallen tree. This is a picture on the same walk. Nice place for a stroll.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 30th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number is zero still. A=3 and K=2

472kHz last night

Not a bad night. In all, 14 stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR RX and I was spotted by 8 stations with the 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Interestingly, my noise floor with the PC charger working on mains is S0 on the FT817ND.  Last year, with the old FT817 it was S7 and I had to turn off the mains to get down to S2 on RX. On the face of it, I have made no changes. All very odd.

QSY to MF WSPR

Every time I try 2m FT8 I seem to spot at least 7 countries. Even my QRP CQs get spotted at distances that I'd consider remarkable by any other mode.

As 2m was getting too easy, I QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR with the usual 10mW ERP this evening. Already 10 stations have been spotted since 2010z, including LA8AV (1035km). He seems to be spotted most evenings. My own 10mW ERP WSPR has been spotted by 5 stations. Not a bad start.

Fungus - NOT amateur radio

This is the season when odd fungi appear. It must be the autumn chill and dampness in the air. This afternoon we went for a stroll at Brandon Country Park where this fungus was growing on a fallen tree trunk.

Vestnik 14

This just came in from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Enjoy  reading the new issue # 14 of "QRP Vestnik" (Reporter) October
2018. Download 4 pages PDF 420 kB -
http://club72.su/vestnik/qv14.pdf
Any comments, offers, materials, pictures are welcome!
Thanks for assistance Alex SV8CYR and Jos ON6WJ!

72! Oleg RX3G / KH6OB "Mr. 72" "

472kHz WSPR overnight

Last night was quite a good session with 15 stations spotted and 8 people spotting my 10mW ERP signal from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) overnight

Exhaustion - NOT amateur radio

This is probably an after-effect of my stroke 5 years ago. Every morning after breakfast I am totally exhausted. I need to rest and do very little. Then I feel a bit better. Compared with 6 years ago, I am much more clumsy and lacking in energy. A few nights ago I dreamt I could run. Sadly, it was just a dream.

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

Sunspots - Monday October 29th 2018

Solar flux is 67 (low) and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8

After a night on MF WSPR I have returned to 2m FT8. A 2.5W CQ to the omni was spotted in 3 countries with the best DX being a spot by F4IAA (802km) south of Limoges.  Yet again I was spotted in Cornwall.

UPDATE 1020z:  Currently 7 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX spotted is DF3JR (439km). Interestingly, my own CQ calls were spotted further than I have so far spotted myself.

UPDATE 1153z:  Now 12 stations in 5 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1738z: Now 32 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

472kHz WSPR

As 28MHz FT8 was not very productive this evening I have now QSYed to MF. My first 2 minute transmission (10mW ERP) was spotted by 4 stations. No great DX, but an encouraging start.

Best DX so far on 472kHz WSPR RX is DF1VB (506km).

UPDATE 2204z: PA3ABK (306km) is the best DX on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) this evening.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) this evening

QSYed to 10m FT8

Hoping to see if there are any South Americans on 10m FT8 RX, I have just QSYed from 2m FT8. I put out a brief CQ (2.5W). Unsurprisingly, no spots! On RX , no spots either.

UPDATE 1954z:  Only a couple of spots on 10m FT8 RX: 2E1CIT (94km) and F5BQV (561km) in Brittany. No South Americans.

Granddaughter time - NOT amateur radio

I don't think this has been on before. If it has, apologies.

Our grandchildren are growing up fast and I know she will not want to do this for ever. Whilst I can, I am enjoying it.

Early Halloween - NOT amateur radio

As our "London" grandchildren came up to stay this week, we had an early Halloween party with silly games they just love! Here is our elder granddaughter playing the chocolate game.

More grumpy old man stuff - NOT amateur radio

If there is one thing that really irritates me it is Christmas starting in the shops months too early! Yes, I know retailers are having a hard time on the high streets, but this is all driven by profits.

For me, Dec 1st is quite early enough for Christmas fare. Grumpy old man! This photo was shared on social media earlier.

Ferrite rod TX antennas

My page on ferrite rod TX antennas has been updated and some files added. There is now reference to the work of Giorgio Grisoni I2GSI from Italy.

Ferrite rod antennas work on TX as long as the ferrite is well matched and the ferrite is not in saturation. They may well be inefficient but this may not matter in some cases.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/ferrite_tx

2m FT8

Today I am on 2m FT8 again, mainly RX with an occasional CQ (2.5W to the omni). Yet again my CQ earlier was spotted in Cornwall.

Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is currently F4TTR (477km). Currently 19 stations spotted in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX today (at 1126z).

UPDATE 1227z: Currently 28 stations spotted in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1548z: Now 37 stations in 9 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Sunday October 28th 2018

Solar flux is 69 again and the SSN still zero. A=4 and K=1.

A night off

Most nights I QSY from 10m FT8 to 630m (472kHz) WSPR. Tonight I have decided not to go on any band. My rig and PC have been on continuously for several days without a break.

Knowing my luck, 472kHz propagation tonight will be amazing!

10m FT8

Most of the day I have been on 10m FT8 RX with a few CQ calls.  So far, no spots of my CQs (2.5W) and just a couple of spots on RX. One was a G and the other, my best DX, 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Most day now (near sunspot minimum) 10m is quiet although it has opened to South America quite a few times this month in the early evenings.

UPDATE 1825z: Perhaps the quietest day for years? No further spots today.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Last night was average. In all 11 stations spotted on RX and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 7 stations with best DX G4ZFQ (203km).

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Amateur Radio Weekly

Most weeks I read Amateur Radio Weekly to see what is happening in the world of amateur radio. There are usually news items of interest.

All quiet again - NOT amateur radio

My mother-in-law had an expression, "nice to see you, nice to see you go". Having had the grandchildren for a week, lovely though this is, I am exhausted! Totally. I guess we are older and have less energy these days. We love having them, but is also nice to be tidy again, and quiet.

Sunspots - Saturday October 27th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN zero. A=6 and K=2. 

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

All day, I have been on 2m FT8 with lots of stations spotted.

A few minutes ago I QSYed to MF WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). M0FMT (51km) and PA0A (417km) were immediately spotted. My own signal was spotted by G4HPW (93km).

Parliamentary privilage - NOT amateur radio

In the UK members of parliament are able to name people under an ancient thing called "parliamentary privilege". Yesterday in the House of Lords a member named a person accused of sexual harassment.  This is dangerous. The person named may be innocent, yet his or her name is damned. Personally, I think this is wrong. Even if guilty, the facts should come out in a court of law and not before guilt is proved.

Bike time - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live at the end of a quiet close with few cars. When our grandchildren come they like to go on their bikes.

France and 60m

According to Southgate News, France will soon grant access to the WRC 60m allocation. At some point I hope the UK gets access.  Oh look, there goes another flying pig!! OFCOM - say no more.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/october/france-ham-radio-exams-and-60m-band.htm#.W9Mbq_ZFy00

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Not a bad night with several new spots this season. In all, 13 stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX. My best spot (of my 10mW ERP) was by GM4OAS (653km).

472kHz WSPR TX last night

472kHz WSPR RX last night

Sunspots - Friday October 26th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number zero. A=6 and K=2. It feels like sunspot minimum!

2m FT8

Inspired by G8OFA, I am today on 2m FT8. An earlier, brief, CQ (2.5W to the omni) was spotted in northern France and by some UK stations.

So far today, 20 stations spotted in 6 countries with best DX OK1FD (857km).

UPDATE 1137z: On 2m FT8 RX so far today, 34 stations in 7 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1400z: Now 40 stations spotted in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

472kHz WSPR

Today, 10m was dire here, so I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) earlier than normal.  M0FMT (51km) is a new one for this season on 472kHz WSPR RX.