SSTV on Oscar 100

Last night I got an e-mail from David G0LRD, who has been getting some good SSTV signals back from Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. I reproduce his letter and photos here. Thank you David.

"Hi Roger

Here are a few images I captured from the satellite (80cm dish, GPS-locked LNB, SDRPlay).

The two test cards were analogue SSTV, the other two were digital SSTV  (KG-STC software, Info here: http://www.g0hwc.com/kg-stv-english.html) 

Feel free to re-use if you wish.

73 David G0LRD "

Rally on Sunday

Sunday 3 MARCH : EXETER RADIO & ELECTRONICS RALLY

America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at 10.30am (10.15am for disabled visitors). Admission £2 (under 16s free). There will be trade stands, Bring & Buy (book in from 10.15am), and catering will be available. Details from Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198374 or g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk.

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

Still on 2m FT8 RX

Overnight and this morning, I am still on 2m FT8 RX with the best DX this morning being DG2BCP (597km) on RX. So far today, 19 stations in 7 countries already spotted on 2m FT8 with the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1800z: 47 stations spotted today on 2m with best DX DK1FG (815km).

Sunspots - Thursday February 28th 2019

Unless I am mistaken, this was a spotless month. Solar flux is 70 and the SSN still zero. A=10 and K=2.

I shall be interested to see the latest predictions for solar minimum. To me, it looks like we are just bouncing along the minimum, so it will be interesting to read what the experts think.

Return to 2m FT8

A brief CQ (2.5W to the big wheel omni) on 2m FT8 got 7 spots with best being by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall and I have spotted 13 stations already with best DX DL6BF (479km). 2m FT8 really is amazing. Every time I try this I get spotted a long way away and I spot amazing DX. Much of this is tropo and not aircraft.

New QRP mag online

The latest edition of Vestnik is now available as a .pdf download.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv19.pdf

472kHz JT9 and FT8 frequencies?

Ok, so I am asking for some advice.

On 472kHz I mainly use WSPR, but wonder if there is a better mode now more widely used? If so, what dial frequency should I set?

UPDATE 1657z: In the absence of data I am currently calling CQ about 500Hz below the WSPR sub-band on 472kHz FT8. Nothing spotted yet.

UPDATE 1725z: As I have not heard about FT8 and JT9 frequencies, I have returned to 472kHz WSPR. G1GKN (99km) is a good signal, as always.

Oscar 100 amateur TV signals

Although I check the narrowband webSDR from time to time, I have not seen examples of amateur TV through the satellite. There is an HB9 site on the BATC streaming service, but I have not yet seen any pictures. By now, I would have expected to see someone posting videos or even still images. If you know where I can find some amateur TV images, please let me know.

UPDATE 1927z: Just found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfb9_CHKDoQ

Is Trump in trouble? - NOT amateur radio

President Trump's former lawyer Mr Cohen is giving testimony to the US congress. It is quite damning.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-47390300/trump-s-former-lawyer-talks-to-congress

Cambridge Proctors - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge colleges are "policed" by proctors, These men usually wear bowler hats. The  photo shows a few of these outside Trinity College earlier today.

See https://www.proctors.cam.ac.uk/

472kHz disappointment overnight

Last night, 472kHz WSPR was disappointing here. Just 6 stations spotted me with best spot one from DL3GAK (823km) and only 8 spots of others by me with best DX spotted here being IW4DXW (1190km). Maybe it is just me, but I get the feeling interest in the band is waning. Perhaps many have changed to a different mode?

Sunspots - Wednesday February 27th 2019

Solar flux is again 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=2 and K=0.  At the moment it looks like this month is spotless.

Ickworth today - NOT amateur radio

This was a view at Ickworth, near Bury St Edmunds this afternoon. Although there were a few daffodils out, most were not. There were no lambs.

472kHz WSPR

About 15 minutes ago, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (20% TX, 10mW ERP). So far, 2 spots of my QRPP signal even though things have not yet settled.

UPDATE 2320z: So far this evening, 5 different stations have spotted me with best DX being a spot by DL3GAK (823km).

10m FT8 since breakfast

Following my usual pattern, I am on 10m FT8, mainly RX, although I  did put out a brief CQ call (2.5W) when I first came on 10m. No spots so far today.

UPDATE 1123z: Just one spot so far today on 10m FT8 RX of G0OXY (56km). Dire!

UPDATE 1352z: GI4SNA (491km) spotted. Aircraft?

160m FT8 overnight

Quite disappointing overnight with 6 North Americans and 1 Caribbean spotted on 160m FT8 RX and best DX V31YN (8346km). Only 348 stations spotted in the last day on 160m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 26th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0. A=2 and K=0.

160m FT8

At about 1725z, I QSYed to 160m FT8. My CQ (2.5W) was spotted in Belgium, but no QSOs resulted. Since then, I have been RX only. So far, 29 stations spotted with best DX LA9VFA (2460km) on the northern tip of Norway.

UPDATE 1842z:  Now 77 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

UPDATE 2210z: After a brief session looking on 1.908MHz for JAs, I have returned to 1.84MHz FT8. So far, 160 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. The first North American this evening was WU1ITU (4831km).

Global warming? - NOT amateur radio

Temperatures reached 20.3deg C in Wales today. This is the highest ever winter temperature in the UK.

It is beyond doubt that our world is warming, despite what rubbish President Trump may spout in support, allegedly, of his coal and oil lobbyists about global warming being a Chinese hoax.

Nor sure what evidence he has, but his views seem at odds with most scientific evidence. I trust science. Sorry, but I don't support the views of a billionaire president.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47360952

Lopped trees - NOT amateur radio

A very similar picture was posted here yesterday. This is another view of the back garden showing the two trees that were lopped last month. In a few months they should be in leaf.

Bolt Tail - NOT amateur radio

Another photo of where I came from in South Devon. Quite splendid. 

I have already said in earlier posts that we know for certain we were hereabouts in 1427, so there is every chance my distant ancestors fished and farmed here millennia ago and the iron age fort in the far distance on Bolt Tail was partly manned by my ancestors. 

And we are just a speck in history. Quite humbling.

Already bored?

Although Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite, has been operational for a few weeks now, the narrowband transponder still seems quite quiet. A few moments ago there were just 2 QSOs on SSB, whereas I was expecting the band to be quite full.

As I mentioned yesterday, it may take a few weeks or months before people "trust it". Even so, I was expecting more activity than we are seeing so far. As yet, I have seen activity from Brazil and Qatar, but not India or further east. Most stations are from Europe.

Solar minimum

The solar numbers for February 2019 do not look very good. Although some are still predicting the minimum is over, I have my doubts. Certainly 10m FT8 is very quiet here most days with just G spots. I hope I am proved wrong.

10m FT8

Since about 0920z this morning, I have been on 10m FT8. After a brief 2.5W CQ call, I am now RX only. No spots yet.

UPDATE 16565z: Just 3 spots today on 10m FT8 RX with best DX HA7ME (1535km). Soon be time to QSY to 160m FT8 I think. Still bright and sunny here.

The end of life - NOT amateur radio

My son's parents-in-law lost their only son in 2017 due to a freak accident involving a driver ploughing though a red light. The driver was texting. There is a chance one of their two young daughters could die from cancer leaving a husband and 2 young children. The family, my son included, is very afraid. So are we.

At times life seems very random and very cruel. All world religions try to make sense of death. Perhaps the flame just goes out and that is it. However, there is so much we do not understand. Perhaps our brains simply cannot ever hope to understand. It is a brave person indeed who says he or she really understands. At the same time it takes some faith to believe in a just and loving God when things seem so cruel.

As death approaches us all, perhaps it is right that we think about it.

Sunspots - Monday February 25th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=3 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Overnight I was spotted by 7 stations with best DX spot of my 10mW ERP being by GM4AOS (653km).  In total, 9 stations were spotted here with best DX spotted LA2XPA (1310km).

Grass cutting - NOT amateur radio

As yesterday was so warm, I gave our lawns a bit of a haircut. The blades were set higher than in the summer. We also managed a cup of tea in the garden in shirt sleeves! And this is February!

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

As it is now getting dark here, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. On the first transmission I was copied by G6AVK (78km) and G8LCO (58km) even though the transverter crystal is still drifting a few Hertz. Normally, it takes about 20 minutes, then the drift is very low.

UPDATE 2225z: Now spots of my 10mW ERP have been received by 4 stations and I have spotted 8 stations so far today on 472kHz WSPR.

My other blogs - NOT amateur radio

I maintain several blogs. Among these is my Miscellaneous Musings blog. This is updated every few days. It is not amateur radio oriented.

Blossom - NOT amateur radio

As a result of the mild weather, the tree opposite our village Post Office is laden with blossom. A few strong winds and a few weeks and this will all be gone.

Grass cutting - NOT amateur radio

In shirt sleeves, I cut my front lawn earlier. After lunch, I expect to cut the rear lawn. For February, it is extremely mild. It feels like a late spring day! These are the first cuts this year.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

As a youngster, I was brought up in South Devon, UK. I moved away for work. Even now, I go back several times most years. My brother still lives there.

Oscar 100 - still quiet

A casual check on the webSDR for the geosynchronous Oscar 100 this morning around 1000z showed 5 SSB QSOs and plenty of space. I guess it will take a while for many people to assemble the gear. Some people will have held back fearing that something would go wrong. At some point, I quite fancy having a go. Certainly right now it seems a great resource working well. People using milliwatts are getting access and, of course, the dishes are fixed: once aiming at the satellite that is it.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Neighbour pleaser?

Well, I think not.  Maybe OK if you live on a farm, but certainly my neighbours would object!

Southgate News have given details of the new antennas from InnovAntennas. These are billed as "compact".  I'd like to know what the non-compact antennas look like! With a tower, the investment must be of the order of £2k before you get a rig. Personally, this is not my style of amateur radio.

We are all different, so if this is OK with your neighbours and how you chose to spend your money, so be it. I make no judgements, but this is not for me.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/february/enter-the-innovantennas-xr7-and-xr7c.htm#.XHJlGvZ2u00

10m FT8

I was on 10m FT8 before breakfast today and called CQ earlier (2.5W). So far, no spots given or received on 10m here.

UPDATE 1005z: Still no 10m FT8 spots here today.

UPDATE 1127z: G0FWX (160km) spotted calling CQ. Also 2E0XXO (121km) spotted here, but doesn't appear on PSK reporter maps. Maybe my internet was briefly down? This station was spotted later.

UPDATE 1310z: With G4CJC (74km) spotted, there are now 3 spots in the log today on 10m FT8 RX. These were all in the UK.

UPDATE 1732z: Soon be time to QSY - probably 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). In all, 6 UK stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. Stunningly bad!

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Last night was not as good as earlier on 160m FT8 RX with just 8 North Americans spotted. Best DX spotted was V31YN (8346km) in Belize. In all, 403 stations spotted on 160m FT8 in the last day.

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX 

using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Sunspots - Sunday February 24th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN still 0. A=2 and K=0.

160m FT8 RX

About an hour ago I QSYed to160m FT8 RX after the daylight hours on 10m FT8. So far this evening 87 stations spotted on 160m with best DX 5B4VL (3188km).

UPDATE 2051z: Now 167 stations spotted today on 160m FT8 with best DX R0SR (6425km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 2302z: Now 263 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX, but nothing yet from North America. Most interesting DX is 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania.

Quiet again - NOT amateur radio

After a few days with 2 of our young grandchildren, the house is now quiet again. We love having them, but I get tired more easily than I did. The photo shows them with my wife and a neighbour outside earlier in the sunshine.