Sunspots - Sunday April 21st 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=1.

Like busses? - NOT amateur radio

The same thing happened last year. One day I saw my first swallow (bird) then the next day I saw more!  Today, I saw 2 more swallows. Next week, they should be common.

Easter Egg Hunt - NOT amateur radio

Our grandchildren are still young enough to enjoy hunting for chocolate Easter eggs hidden in the garden as the photo shows.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Considering it is quite late in the season, not a bad night. 6 people spotted my 10mW ERP  with my best spot being by PA0O (440km). On RX my best spot was of IW4DXW (1190km).

472kHz WSPR here overnight

6m FT8

Earlier, I called CQ on 6m FT8 and was spotted by 3 G stations. Later (it is now 1040z) 11 stations were spotted with best DX ON4CGB (242km).

UPDATE 2040z: Now 52 stations in 5 countries spotted on 6m FT8 today. There is a contest, so activity is greater than normal. Best DX is MM0CEZ (487km). Most stations are in England.

Sunspots - Saturday April 20th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the sunspot number 23. A=4 and K=1.

10m FT8

Although I have only been on 10m FT8 for about 15 minutes so far just 2E0XXO (121km) spotted, but no spots of my CQ (2.5W) on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1600z: So far today 8 stations in 4 countries with best DX EA3ENR (1153km).

UPDATE 1935z: When I QSYed to MF WSPR 11 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

Respectable night on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight my 10mW ERP was spotted by 7 stations with best DX PA3FNY (330km). On RX my best DX was IW4DXW (1190km).

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) overnight

Sunspots - Friday April 19th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN a respectable (for where we are in the cycle) 24. A=3 and K=1.

Probing? - NOT amateur radio

A few moments ago I had a shock: visits to this blog are way above normal. I can only assume this a mistake or hackers are doing their usual probing.

One last time?

This evening and overnight I am again on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, just a couple of stations spotting me with best DX a spot by M0XDK (80km). Only M0FMT (51km) here so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX. I am 20% TX and 80% RX.

Depending on results, this may be my last "outing" on 472kHz until the autumn.

UPDATE 2130z: Well, so far 4 stations spotted here with best DX (who else?) but LA8AV (1035km). The best spot of my QRPP signal is by G0LUJ (278km) in IO83 square.

OFCOM and 5G licences

OFCOM is consulting on possible changes to operator licences at 3.4GHz to bring them into line with the EU.

At last! - NOT amateur radio

Just seen the first swallow (migrant bird) flying over at lunchtime. There may have been some a few days ago, but this was my first positive sighting here. The others were flying away and there was some doubt. The earliest I have seen them here is April 7th.

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

Coffee in the garden - NOT amateur radio

As it was warm and sunny this morning we had coffee in the garden for the first time this year. My wife also hung out some washing for the first time this year.

10m FT8

A few moments ago I QSYed from 2m to 10m FT8, calling CQ initially (2.5W) and then RX only. So far, no spots. Mind you, it is only 0850z.

UPDATE 0950z: A couple of spots so far with best DX on 10m FT8 RX being F5OHM (631km) in central France.

UPDATE 1148z: Now 5 stations in 3 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX this morning with best DX CS7AKZ (1651km).

UPDATE 1322z: 9A7JCY was an amazing +17dB S/N signal - this must be Es!

UPDATE 1516z:  10 stations spotted in 6 countries so far on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1806z:  Now 11 stations in 6 countries today on 10m FT8 RX.

2m FT8 RX

Although it is only 0835z I have already spotted 16 stations in 7 countries in the last 6 hours. It really is amazing.

Shortly, I shall probably QSY to 10m FT8.

Sunspots - Thursday April 18th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11.  A=3 and K=1.

2m FT8

At about 0745z I started on 2m. After an unsuccessful call to a Dutch station and a brief period calling CQ (2.5W to the horizontal omni antenna) with 9 reports so far with my best being a spot by G4RRA (333km) in Devon, I have been RX only.

So far this evening, 20 stations spotted in 4 countries with best DX on 2m FT8 RX DL6YBF (471km).

Interesting that in just 45 minutes on 2m FT8 RX I have spotted more stations than all day on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1955z: 21 stations spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2125z: 28 stations spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX this evening in just over 2 hours (see photo).

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We went for a walk here today, mainly to take some photos. Being the school holidays, it was very busy. If there were swallows about I thought I would see some at Anglesey Abbey, but we saw none.

Well trained? - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I think I showed my son, who was staying with us for a few days, eating the breakfast he had cooked.  The photo shows him washing up afterwards.

It's usually my job, but he insisted I sat down. Usually at breakfast and just after I feel very giddy.

10m FT8 again

Yet again, I am on 10m FT8. At the moment, I am on RX only. So far this morning a couple of spots with best DX being DO9REF (526km). It is still very early.

UPDATE 1202z: Still no further 10m FT8 RX spots today.

UPDATE 1418z: Now 6 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today with best DX DJ1AA (660km).

UPDATE 1731z: Now 7 stations in 4 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX  today. The distances make me think these may be aircraft reflections, although some might be Es.

Still waiting - NOT amateur radio

It is now April 17th and I have still not seen a swallow (migrant bird). There may have been a couple in the last few days flying over, but these were not definite identifications. Often, a few days after seeing the first I see plenty.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 17th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 11. A=6and K=1.

Young me - NOT amateur radio

Today, I got sent a picture of me taken at school about 1965. In those days I had hair!

Oh to be that age again. I seem to have changed a lot since then. I think it was originally part of a school photo.

I seem to recall having the lapel badge as I was a librarian in the 5th year.

Notre Dame Paris - NOT amateur radio

The images of this world famous cathedral last night looked horrific and I was dreading seeing the photos this morning. Precious medieval ceilings and the spire have gone, but I was surprised just how much managed to survive. It will be rebuilt, although I may not be around to see it finished. Thick 850 year old walls stand some treatment!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47945465

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have had one of our sons and his family staying here. For that period he got breakfast. Normally, I do breakfasts. It was a real treat.

The photo shows him eating his breakfast today. They have now gone home.

10m FT8 again

Yet again I am on 10m FT8. An earlier CQ call (2.5W) got no spots, but I have spotted 6 stations so far with best DX IU0MBJ (1471km). I suspect this latter one is Es.

UPDATE 1226z: So far today 8 stations in 4 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1820z: Now 10 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 16th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 11. A=8 and K=3.

Main Website

A reminder that my main website is at www.g3xbm.co.uk . Although not as frequently updated as this blog, it contains lots of data on my projects. At the bottom of most pages are links to further pages on the subject. If you are interested, you should find something to inspire you. Often my projects are simple ones.

Notre Dame fire (Paris) - NOT amateur radio

Notre Dame is a major cathedral in central Paris. As I write it is on fire and firefighters are battling to contain the fire.  For the French it is a major disaster, visited by millions every year.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47941794 .

76GHz Cubesat?

Anything above 432MHz seems beyond me. 76GHz seems positively stratospheric! Apparently, according to Southgate News there is a new Cubesat from Australia that uses 76GHz.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/april/australian-cubesat-to-use-76-ghz.htm#.XLTFQPZFy00

Still waiting - NOT amateur radio

The earliest I have seen a swallow (bird) here is April 7th. It is now April 15th and I have still to see one here. These birds migrate, spending the winter in southern Africa. They fly around 6000 miles back here crossing seas and deserts. Often they come back to the very same nest!  The return of the swallow is an important date in my year. It is a sign that what has happened long before I was around is still going on. I patiently wait.

10m FT8

Since about 0900z I have been on 10m FT8 calling CQ initially. No spots as yet (1122z).

UPDATE 1744z:  Only 2 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 with best DX being DL1DH (715km) in Bavaria.

UPDATE 2011z: The pits!  Only 3 stations spotted all day on 10m FT8 RX

Sunspots - Monday April 15th 2019

Solar flux is 75 today and the SSN 11.  A=4 and K=3.

Duxford - NOT amateur radio

Last Thursday my wife went to the air museum at Duxford. The photo shows my wife with one of our grandsons.

Still on 6m FT8 RX

6m FT8 is amazing with 9 stations in 2 countries already spotted (0852z). I suspect these are normal "flat band" tropo and aircraft reflections. Best DX so far is PA3EWP (291km).

UPDATE 2120z: 38 stations in 5 countries spotted in the last day on 6m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted here on 6m FT8 RX here in 

the last day using the V2000 vertical omni antenna

Sunspots - Sunday April 14th 2019

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 14. A=8 and K=2.

Very tiny VLF TX antenna?

Just possibly this research could lead to compact (inches only length) VLF transmitting antennae. This link was sent to me by Jay W5OLF, who designed my 10m WSPR beacon, which is still working fine.

See https://phys.org/news/2019-04-slac-compact-antenna-radios.html

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

Our son cooked breakfast on his recent visit. Very enjoyable.

Captain Lapthorn - NOT amateur radio

On Thursday my wife took one of our sons and grandsons to the air museum at Duxford. The photo shows our grandson on (I think) Concorde.