Last night on 630m (472kHz) WSPR

Overnight was average here on MF. In all, I spotted 15 different stations and my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 10 stations with best DX a spot by PA0O (440km).

Sunspots - Sunday November 25th 2018

Sunspots again!  This may be just a blip, but there are sunspots again.

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 14 today. A=4 and K=0.

Is this the start of cycle 25? Only time will tell.

QSY to 10m FT8

After a busy, family weekend, at about 1200z I returned to 10m FT8. At present I am RX only. No spots yet!

UPDATE 1258z: Just one spot so far on 10m FT8 RX MM0ZBH (482km).

UPDATE 1401z: Just 3 UK stations spotted so far today in 2 countries.

UPDATE 1707z: In all 4 stations only spotted today on 10m FT8 RX today, with best DX DL6RDM (944km).

Birthdays - NOT amateur radio

My wife is 70 today and I am 70 just before Christmas. It is hard to understand where the years have gone! Enjoy every precious moment. Inside, we both still feel young.

Sunspots - Saturday November 24th 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=0. Sunspot minimum.

Best DX yet on 630m WSPR

Overnight, my 10mW ERP MF signal from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 16 unique stations with the best being a spot by SM4GOJ (1246km) in Sweden. Although I am not sure, I think this is the most distant spot I have ever received on 630m at this QTH.

On 630m WSPR RX I was able to spot 19 stations here.

Back on MF WSPR

This evening, I decided to try 630m (472kHz) WSPR again (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Best DX, so far, on TX is PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 2218z: So far 14 unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX and 11 spots of my 10mW ERP on TX.

Up the pole - NOT amateur radio

It looks like a neighbour is having issues with his phone or perhaps having his broadband upgraded. It was a dull, dreary, cold and damp morning to be working up a pole!

10m FT8

7 stations in 4 countries spotted so far on 10 FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1533z: So far on 10m FT8 RX, 18 stations in 6 countries, all in Europe.

160m FT8 RX

In all, 5 USA plus Canadians and 2 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX last night. Shortly, I'll QSY to 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Friday November 23rd 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

How DID we manage? - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I was asked to add a safeguarding policy to one of the websites I do. Today, I received a newsletter from the Cambridge University of the Third Age and this now includes an updated safeguarding page.

Have we all gone stark raving mad??

In the past, society functioned at least as well, if not better, without all this box ticking. Now, I am sure the intentions are honourable, but do we really need it? Like anti-discrimination laws, I am sure those who wrote the legislation had the best of intent. I agree, we need to safeguard people and their data and discrimination against LGBT people is wrong. However, the balance seems to have swung too far.

Perhaps we need a few judges to say this is all getting stupid and refuse to award any damages or dismiss a few cases for those who didn't tick the boxes.

Perhaps we need a 125 page policy on how to exit houses next? Mind the step, as this is a trip hazard. If I fall exiting your house I may sue you for £1M damages! Oh silly me, I forgot to read the 125 page document spelling out how to walk safely.

Dull, cold day - NOT amateur radio

As usual, I went into Cambridge for my U3A course. It was a dull, cold morning.

Suddenly, the weather has turned and those long, hot summer days seem long ago. It is hard to think that in just a few weeks the evenings start to get lighter!

Return to topband

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8. Already lots of Europeans including European Russia, with some calling CQ JA, although no JAs spotted here! Yet again, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is still quite mind-blowing to spot so many stations each 15 second period on 160m FT8.  Best DX, so far, on 160m FT8 RX is R9GM (3499km).

A brief 2.5W FT8 160m CQ was spotted by just a single G: G8DX (197km). At the moment I am RX only.

UPDATE 1945z: Most stations seem to be E-W. I am not sure if this is the antenna directionality or just that there are fewer stations in the N-S direction.

Stations received so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2045z:  As on previous evenings, WU1ITU (4831km) was the first North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

Rally on Sunday

Sunday 25 NOVEMBER : BISHOP AUCKLAND RADIO AMATEURS CLUB RALLY

Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High Street, Spennymoor, Co Durham, DL16 6DB. This venue is ideally suited for both trader and disabled as it boasts good parking and access to a large ground floor hall. Doors open at 10.30am, 10.15am for disabled visitors. Admission is £2, accompanied under-14s free. There will be the usual radio, computer, electronics and bring and buy stalls as well as catering and bar facilities. Talk-in on S22. Contact John, G4LRG, 01388 606 396 or check website at www.barac.org.uk.

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

10m FT8

All day I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX. Only 13 Europeans spotted today with no "real DX".

Sunspots - Thursday November 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number has returned to zero. A=5 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX overnight

In all, 8 USA and Canadian plus one Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight. As before, absolutely loads of Europeans too. Again, the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was being used.

QSY to 160m FT8 RX

About an hour ago, I QSYed to 160m using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground as the DX on 10m seems to have stopped. All being well, the first transatlantic DX on 160m will appear before 2100z. The band is filled with Europeans!

UPDATE 2219z: Right on target time, there was WU1ITU again. I am supposed to believe I also received a Pacific station, but I suspect this is a pirate in Asiatic Russia or Europe, unless I get convincing evidence otherwise.

Growing up fast - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons was 11 last week. Here he is just after a haircut.

In 6 years he could be driving!

They grow up all too fast, but I guess that is life. We have made the most of his childhood days so far.

EU Article 13: a threat? - NOT amateur radio

Having a son who is a professional musician, I am keen to see his copyright protected. However, it seems that Article 13, which could become law in the EU, could have very unintended consequences. 

See https://youtube.com/saveyourinternet/  .

FETer - a very simple 80m transceiver

Many years ago, I created the FETer, a one FET transceiver for 80m. Although very simple, it certainly worked. It is featured on my main G3XBM website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

10m FT8

Since before breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 1 spot - F1RAD (867km).

UPDATE 1003z: Now 11 stations in 10 countries spotted with best DX IW0BCF (1476km). So far, these are all EU with no "real DX".

UPDATE 1025z: I spoke just too soon! FR4OO (9722km) on Reunion Is (south Indian Ocean) has now been spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Now 17 stations in 13 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1106z: A recent CQ call (2.5W) was spotted by F1RAD (867km), although no QSO resulted. Presently 41 stations in 17 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Dead? Hardly!

UPDATE 1208z: Now 3 South Africans spotted in the Johannesburg area on 10m FT8 RX.

160m FT8 last night

Yet again, I went on 160m FT8 RX last night in the evening and overnight. As usual, there were  loads of stations in Europe and Asiatic Russia with WU1ITU the first transatlantic station spotted. In all, 5 USA and Canadian plus 4 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX spotted on 160m FT8 RX was  W5IZ (7679km).

Sunspots - Wednesday November 21st 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Old Shack 1992?

Yesterday, whilst giving the shack a clean, I came across this photo of my radio gear in about 1992.

Although I cannot be sure of the year, there is a Yaesu FT747.  The MX2 is used with a homebrew 28MHz 1W transverter. Also in the picture is a Mk1 Lincoln 10m rig and a dual band Standard handheld (C828?) and charger.  Also visible is a Howes QRP ATU and a 70cms Pye PRM80.  I had more gear then than now!

At that time, I was using a table in our main bedroom.

America first - NOT amateur radio

Despite the brutal murder of a dissident reporter, the US president is still a supporter of Saudi Arabia. Perhaps this is tied up with arms the USA wants to supply them?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46283355

QSY to topband

At about 1815z I QSYed to 160m FT8. Already lots of European and Russian stations spotted on 160m FT8.

UPDATE 2052z: WU1ITU (4831km) is coming in a bit earlier each night now on 160m FT8 RX. This is always the first transatlantic station I spot.  Once again, there are lots of Europeans and Russians.

The Lesser Chirpy transceiver

This was designed for 10m when the solar cycle was on the up (rising sunspots). It could still be useful in Es conditions, or it might make the basis of a transceiver for other bands. I can already see how one capacitor can be saved! It uses FSK to eliminate chirp. In the past, I connected an SDR to the earpiece output and this allows much of the CW band to be covered on RX.

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

See also https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/ for a possible SDR .

The Democratic Unionist Party - NOT amateur radio

The governing party in the UK is the Conservative Party. However they need the continuing support of the DUP from Northern Ireland. This could be crucial in any BREXIT vote. At the moment, the DUP is not exactly pleased with the interim BREXIT deal.

Mess? What mess?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46269755 .

More village walk - NOT amateur radio

This was another photo taken on our walk yesterday. The UK foreign minister at one time, Sir Francis Pym, lived in the house on the right before we came to the village (the Tan House).

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we dodged the showers and did a walk around part of our village. My wife made this collage. It is now much colder with a biting east wind.

Cycle 25 sunspots

Southgate News reports that another short-lived sunspot of cycle 25 appeared and disappeared. According to spaceweather.com this is quite normal. Sunspot minimum could last some time yet.

10m FT8

In a few minutes I shall QSY to 10m FT8 for the day.

UPDATE 1035z: 5 stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX. All Europeans.

UPDATE 1042z: First "real DX" spotted on 10m FT8 RX today: ZS6WB (9094km) in South Africa. As there is quite decent 10m propagation to southern Europe is this a mix of E layer and F layer?

UPDATE 1158z: A brief CQ (2.5W QRP) was spotted by SP7FFY (1452km). So far today on 10m FT8 RX 27 stations in 13 countries and 2 continents spotted. The photo shows the stations spotted so far today as of 1148z.

UPDATE 1333z: Another South African spotted on 10m FT8 RX: ZS6UB (9139km).

160m FT8 overnight

In total, 7 USA and Canadian plus 2 Caribbean stations were spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight. All these were using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Details of this "antenna" were given yesterday in a comment. Best DX spotted on 160m FT8 RX was C6AGU (7032km) in the Bahamas.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 20th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the SSN 12. A=4 and K=2.

160m FT8

As it is now dark, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. On RX lots of EU stations immediately spotted and even my QRP (2.5W) CQ was copied in a couple of countries. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX (already) is RA9AJ (3901km) in Asiatic Russia.

Es'hail2 satellite

I gather this was successfully launched and it is being "parked" in a temporary orbit so engineers can check it over. You may recall it includes amateur band linear transponders and it is hoped to be placed in a geosynchronous orbit.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/

2m FT8

It is a few days since I last checked 2m FT8, and there has been a meteor shower (Leonid) in the last few days. In the past I have been amazed by the DX which I spot every day on the 2m band by this mode. Most signals come in by aircraft reflection, although some are tropo. It certainly has transformed 2m for me. What is so unusual for me is that conditions rarely matter: this DX is always there!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8  .

The week ahead - NOT amateur radio

We can be certain of one thing - the future is a mystery. The BBC is doing its best to navel gaze. One thing is certain. Mrs May, the UK Prime Minister, can expect a rough time!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46236112 .