Sunspots - Wednesday November 7th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN zero. A=10 and K=3.

USA mid-terms - NOT amateur radio

"It is no exaggeration to say that the direction America takes will hinge on these results."

Today, the people of the USA vote in their mid-term elections for some of the Senate seats and all of those in the House of Representatives. It is a brave man who predicts the outcome. 

As an outsider, I see parallels in Trump with a certain European leader of the 1930s. Unbridled power can be dangerous and this is a chance to clip wings somewhat. The leader of the USA may have the best interests of the American people at heart, but unbridled power? Is that what the USA really wants? If it is, we face a much more uncertain future. 

With swings to the right in several countries, we live in dangerous times.  What continues to amaze me is how so many in the USA believe their best interests are served by a very, very rich businessman. 

"Make America great again" … yes please! 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46099744 .

OFCOM monthly update

As usual, OFCOM has published its monthly update. I suppose this keeps them busy and is better than having to understand anything that really matters.

Seasons - NOT amateur radio

There is something good about every season. In the summer it is the long warm evenings and the summer migrant birds. At the moment, it is the autumn colours and pumpkins. Those in the photo were at Brandon Country Park in Suffolk.

472kHz WSPR last night

The best night this season on MF with 11 stations spotting my 10mW ERP and yet again being copied in Norway. LA3EQ must have a quiet noise floor!

472kHz WSPR RX last night

472kHz WSPR TX last night

Sunspots - Tuesday November 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=35 and K=4.

10m FT8

As usual in the daytime and early evening, I am on 10m FT8. A promising start with spots on 10m FT8 received from eastern Europe and Russia with best DX RG7F (3080km).

UPDATE 1450z: One 3B9 and 2 South Africans spotted and loads of Europeans. I wonder if we'll see South America on 10m FT8 later?

UPDATE  1929z: 2 South Africans, 3B9 and later best DX VP8LP (12273km) in the Falkland Is spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

2m activity contest this evening (UKAC)

If you are in Europe, the RSGB organised UKAC 2m session for November takes place this evening at 8pm UK clock time (2000z). Even if you do not enter the contest then activity is usually good, so plenty of stations to try and work. I normally go on for the first 30-60 minutes running 5W to the omni antenna.

UPDATE 2140z: 7 contacts with the best 116km with 5W and the omni antenna. Not great, but fun. As usual , very restricted on-air time because of poor voice.

Stations worked on 2m in UKAC this evening

472kHz WSPR

After the East Cambs net on 144.575MHz FM, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. At the moment IW4DXW (1190km) is the best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX. On TX (10mW ERP) just the usual suspects.

CB radio

When CB was first legalised in the UK (1981?) I gave it a try and it was very busy. Since then, I have not really used it.

Somewhere (just found them!) I have a pair of CB handhelds. These are crystal controlled, single channel, radios. I seem to recall a 2-way QSO over about 1km with these back-to-back on their whips. This was a very long time ago!

In recent years I believe one can now legally use AM and SSB in the UK on CB. Like repeaters, I suspect 27MHz CB is much quieter now.

My question is does any reader use CB these days? 

At one time it was quite popular with farmers on tractors locally. I suspect with licence free 446MHz gear (and the equivalent in other countries) use of CB channels has nose-dived.

Gear is low cost, so maybe I should give it another try sometime. At one time there were plenty of UK FM CB radios converted to 10m FM. This was popular with many. At one time 10m FM was quite busy locally.

Iran - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am sure Iran has plenty of faults, but then so have the USA, UK and many other western nations. The best way to win "hearts and minds" is by dialogue and not by imposing sanctions in my view.

Perhaps President Trump is thinking more of the mid-term elections tomorrow in the USA? Mind you, he is a genius (he told us so), so perhaps he is so wise, just like on climate change.

Sadly, I cannot remember one USA president who has been so ridiculed across the planet. What amazes me is that he is so popular in the USA. Of course, a rich billionaire is very in touch with the common man.

Said with lots of sarcasm!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46094489 .

Fallen tree - NOT amateur radio

Last week, we went for a walk at Brandon Country Park in Suffolk. On our walk, we passed this tree. I think it came down in high winds.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Just 6 UK spots of my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. On RX 19 different stations spotted from across western Europe. Average.

Sunspots - Monday November 5th 2018

Solar flux is 67 (low) and the SSN still zero. A=16 and K=5. So, conditions are far from good.

10m FT8 again

Yesterday was a real surprise, with lots of Europeans and a South American spotted on 10m FT8 RX. So, today I am again on 10m. After a very brief CQ (2.5W QRP), I am again on 10m FT8 RX. Unsurprisingly, no spots on TX or RX.

UPDATE 1029z: 4 eastern Europeans spotted so far with YO3FGO (2081km) as best DX.

UPDATE 1104z: 3B9FR (10041km) on Rodriguez Is in the Indian Ocean is currently the best DX. I am wondering if we are seeing E layer linking with F layer further south? I am seeing lots of Europeans on 10m FT8. Certainly this mode is proving 10m is often "open" when in the past it would have been missed. I have said many times, never give up on 10m. Even at sunspot minimum there is still DX on the band.

UPDATE 1453z: Plenty of Europeans spotted. Apart from the 3B8 and FR4OO (9722km) on Reunion Is, no "real" DX spotted today on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1820z: No South Americans yet, but this is sunspot minimum!

UPDATE 2120z: I had to QSY to the East Cambs 2m FM net at 2000z so went QRT on 10m FT8 at that time. No sign of South Americans here. I then came back on MF WSPR.

472kHz WSPR

As is my usual routine, I have QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR. Quite a few new stations spotted on RX, although just the usual ones have spotted me.

Pipit - 15m QRP CW transceiver

Way back in the 1980s I designed and built this tiny transceiver for 15m CW. For months it was the only rig I used. It worked remarkably well with just a simple, low dipole. Output was 800mW. The very first contact was over 4000 miles! Later the case was used to house another transceiver, the Tenner for 10m CW. Looking back, I should never have got rid of this rig. If my health was better, I should rebuild it.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit

More Cambridge- NOT amateur radio

Another typical Cambridge street scene. Bikes, bikes and even more bikes!

10m FT8 - not as good as yesterday?

All morning, I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX. So far 4 Gs and a couple of eastern Europeans. No "real DX" as yet. Mind you, copying these stations proves there is life in the 10m band.

UPDATE 1301z: Now EA1FA (1083km) in northern Spain spotted.

UPDATE 1325z: A 2.5W CQ just now on 10m FT8 was spotted by no-one!

UPDATE 1636z: 14 EU countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. No DX outside Europe.

UPDATE 1725z: First 10m FT8 RX South American today has just been spotted: CX7SS (11022km) in Uruguay.

UPDATE 2015z: Now QRT on 10m FT8. In the end just the one CX from South America. Still, this is sunspot minimum.

Cambridge streets - NOT amateur radio

Central Cambridge is unique. Most railings have posters and bikes. It has been this way since way back, certainly in all the time I have been here. I first came in 1970.

Sunspots - Sunday November 4th 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number still zero. A=4 and K=1.

Spotted in Norway again on 472kHz WSPR

Last night was probably the best yet on 472kHz WSPR with 18 unique stations spotted on RX and my 10mW ERP spotted by 9 different stations. I think this was the 3rd time I have been spotted in Norway on 472kHz this autumn.

472kHz WSPR RX last night

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) last night

Transformative effect of FT8

There is an ongoing debate about FT8, some saying it is great and some hating it. In this country (the UK) some liken it to Marmite, the yeast extract in a jar that some love and others hate.

Yes, there is a danger that real chats will become a thing of the past and casual listeners will not chance upon amateur radio as many of us did years ago. On the other hand all FT8 operation is concentrated with a few kilohertz on each band and it is widely monitored, so the chances of receiving a station are far greater than on SSB and CW. Also, FT8 works with weaker signals than those on SSB or CW. I like it. It is hard to believe I was copying VK on 10m FT8 earlier at sunspot minimum with a very much compromised antenna. In the past most would have given up the band as "dead" and moved more LF.

See https://www.flexradio.com/ft8-tipping-point-for-ham-radio/?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Walkthrough video

Someone suggested I did this, so I have put it on my G3XBM YouTube channel. I apologise in advance for my appalling voice! You may have to view a few times to get all the words. It is a video walkthrough of the shack and antennas as of November 3rd 2018.

A free Android package called YouCut was used to make this video. It is free if you avoid the adverts and I can recommend it.

Walk - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows a recent stroll with one of our sons, his children and my wife at Anglesey Abbey, which is about 4 miles away.

10m FT8

After a night off, I returned to 10m FT8 this morning. No stations have been spotted here and my 2.5W CQ was copied by no-one at all.

Ploughing a lonely furrow comes to mind! At least if anyone pops up I should spot them.

UPDATE 1102z: Lots of Europeans (8 so far) spotted on 10m FT8 plus VK8AW (13786km) in Australia. Assuming the latter is not a pirate, this remarkable for sunspot minimum on 10m FT8. Propagation does look promising on 10m FT8 today though.

UPDATE 1236z: Lots more Europeans spotted. Looking at who spotted VK8AW it would appear this is genuine. He has been spotted widely in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.

UPDATE 1650z: No further "real DX" on 10m FT8 RX here, although quite a lot of Europeans.

Sunspots - Saturday November 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN remains zero. A=4 and K=0.

QRT

Tonight, I have gone QRT and will not be on 472kHz WSPR overnight.

Another video being prepared

Later this weekend, I hope to have another video on my G3XBM YouTube channel. Someone suggested a walkthrough of the shack and antennas with me commentating. This I have done, although I need to put these clips together with MovieMaker, which I think is on an old PC.

My voice is bad these days, so I apologise in advance. Maybe you will have to watch a few times if you miss the odd word. If I can, I'll explain things in words on the screen if I can remember how to do this! As I said, should be ready later this weekend.

Like buses, you wait for ages, then several come along.

UPDATE  2225z: For reasons I don't understand, MovieMaker would not allow me to save the video. Over the weekend I may try a different package if I can find one.

"He who casts the first stone..." - NOT amateur radio

Oh to be always right!

Mind you, he is a genius and women really love him. Well, these must be true as he said so, allegedly. Iran, I am sure is not perfect. Are the USA and the UK perfect?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46071747

UK Pound v. Euro - NOT amateur radio

Volatility. This best sums up the situation. Recently, the Pound has been clawing back some of its recent losses against the Euro, although until BREXIT is sorted we can expect big swings up and down.

Solar conditions

Every month I look out for the solar numbers for the last month and the latest forecasts for solar cycle 25, especially to see the latest "expert" views on the timing of the minimum and the size of the next peak. The best place I find is http://www.solen.info/solar/.

Although the "experts" are saying we are already at, or very near, solar minimum, the graphs could be interpreted as the minimum continuing for another year or so. If you know of better predictions, please let us know.

According to http://www.solen.info/solar/cycle25_spots.html the minimum is expected to be between August 2018 and February 2019 i.e. now.

"As of September 2018 the strength of the polar fields hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude slightly stronger than that of cycle 24." This is a quote from the above website.

472kHz WSPR

Overnight was only average.

On 472kHz WSPR RX 16 stations spotted with LA1TN (1269km) as the best DX. On TX just 6 stations (all in England) spotted my 10mW ERP.

Young swans - NOT amateur radio

On our return from Cambridge we got stuck behind a tractor, so we took a detour and chanced upon these young Mute Swans and a few ducks. They look like this year's young losing their grey feathers and starting out with white ones.

10m FT8

An earlier CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one and just a single spot, so far, on FT8 RX of PA2RG (318km). I suspect this was aircraft reflection although it could be tropo.

UPDATE 1642z: Just 3 stations spotted in 3 countries on 10m FT8 today with best DX 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Dire! For me at least, this has been a bad 10m day.

Sunspots - Friday November 2nd 2018

The pits!

I cannot recall when solar conditions have been this bad since the last solar minimum around 2008. Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=2. Hopefully we will soon see the start of cycle 25 and somewhat better numbers.

472kHz WSPR

Last night was probably the best here this season with 20 stations spotted and my own 10mW ERP signal was spotted by 11 stations.

As 10m FT8 was dire today, I have already decided to QSY to 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2200z: In the last 2 weeks, 30 different stations in 6 countries have been spotted with EA7HPM (1726km) as the best DX. My own 10mW ERP has been spotted by 20 different stations with the most distant being LA3EQ (769km). My only "antenna" is the earth-electrodes about 10m apart with just a low wire running back to the shack. At the old QTH running the wire on the ground made very little difference. In my view this acts as a loop in the ground at MF.

10m FT8

Very disappointing here. Nobody spotted my CQ calls and no spots of others. Dismal!

Sunspots - Thursday November 1st 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN zero. A=4 and K=1.

Rallies

Saturday 3 NOVEMBER : VERON Ham Radio Convention (Dag voor de RadioAmateur 2018)

IJsselhallen, Rieteweg 4, 8011 AB, Zwolle, Netherlands. 9.30am to 5pm, €9.00 entry fee, free to Under 16s. Tickets available on the door from 9am. On-site Car Parking €5.00. The organising committee of the Dutch Radio Society (VERON) created an attractive programme. Besides the official part, the 'Radio Amateur of 2017' will be announced, and several lectures will be given. There will be a homebrew exhibition, demonstrations and measuring facilities, the AMRATO (Amateur radio equipment sales), and the VERON Components market (flea market). Several commissions, working groups & associated societies are also presenting, and there will be a Youth Zone to inform youngsters about techniques and the many aspects of our hobby.


4 NOVEMBER 2018 CANCELLED : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)


Sunday 4 NOVEMBER : BUSHVALLEY ARC ANNUAL RADIO RALLY
United Services Club, 8 Roe Mill Road, Limavady, Co Londonderry BT49 9DF. Doors open from 11am to 4pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10.50am. Admittance is £3. There will be an auction, trade stands, a Bring & Buy, RSGB Book Stall and Special Interest Groups. A Talk-In station will be on the air. Catering is available on site. Contact Jason Smyth, MI3UIW, 07793 314 313, jason.smyth@pepsico.com.


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