Cactus Day - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson is quite creative. Here he is with his little sister baking the cake to celebrate Cactus Day (see photo).

In case you are wondering what Cactus Day is, it was invented by his little sister on October 22nd last year, inspired by a cactus on a cardboard box.

It is now an annual event!

Windose Defender Crappery - NOT amateur radio

Recently Windose 10 did a big update. When I tried to log into Windows Defender all appears to have changed. It is no longer clear if Windows Defender is trying to protect things or not. In the past this was very clear and it told me that my other anti-virus program was providing protection.

This was sneaked in without my knowledge. I am getting more "big brother" conscious than ever.

Microsoft, just what are you playing at? If you intend to make things worse, just tell us!! We are grown up!  When it works, Windows 10 is good, but if it is so darn good why is it forever changing?

Licking the bowl - NOT amateur radio

After baking a cake earlier, 2 of our grandchildren busy licking the bowl!

2m FT8

Just before 1000z, I switched on 2m FT8 again using 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. Already 6 stations in 4 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. My own CQ call on FT8 was spotted by 4 stations in 2 countries with my best DX on 2m FT8 TX being GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 1545z: Currently 37 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2151z: Now 65 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Off to bed now, but still monitoring 2m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 64 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=0. As far as I am aware this is the lowest solar flux this solar minimum.

BREXIT deal near? - NOT amateur radio

The UK pound continues to appreciate in value against the euro. It seems the currency markets have already assumed a deal will be done, even if there are delays. I am not sure if this is or is not good for the UK, but many will prefer certainty.

Orionid meteors

We are reaching the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. These are the result of Halley's comet. I have no idea how good this shower is at enhancing 2m propagation.

Making parkin - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson making parkin in our kitchen with my wife earlier. He loves it! Eating and making I mean.

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

One of our sons is staying with us for a few days. Here he is at breakfast with his two children.

Oscar 100 geostationary satellite

As regular blog readers know, every few weeks I look at activity levels on this satellite. At the moment activity looks similar to a month ago. I am certainly still seeing plenty of space on the narrowband transponder.

It would appear many people enjoy the challenge of getting a signal through the satellite, then lose interest. If all those who had gear were on, it could get quite busy considering the footprint. By now, I was expecting it to be very busy, although the lack of black boxes may keep numbers moderate.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Yet again on 2m FT8

At the moment I am on 2m FT8 RX.

In the last 6 hours 9 station in 4 countries spotted including the Isle of Man and Germany. Best DX so far today on 2m FT8 RX is DJ9IE (515km). 2m FT8 never fails!

UPDATE 1929z: Today, 26 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. For some reason my time server (not the internet) is not working so nothing spotted in recent minutes.

Sunspots - Monday October 21st 2019

Solar flux is 65 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=3.

Singing - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter loves singing. Here she is in our lounge - singing and dancing.

Web SDRs

This was mentioned not long ago, but if you are unfamiliar with web based SDRs I recommend them. It is like a window on the world and many of these support multiple users. Great fun.

See http://www.websdr.org/ for a list of some. Martin G8JNJ knows of some others.  I think he gave links in a comment on an earlier post.

Family - NOT amateur radio

This is half-term week, so we should see all the grandchildren one way or another. In our household October 22nd is "cactus day", so called as our youngest granddaughter named this after a cardboard box and our youngest grandson decided to decorate a cake with cactus decorations last year! It is a bit of fun. The photo shows us last year.

10m WSPR

My antenna blew down in the spring, so apart from a brief outing with a tiny magnetic loop on the back of the transceiver, it is some time since I've been on the band. With JT65 and WSPR I have literally spanned the globe with a low end fed wire antenna and QRP.

When my antenna is up again, I hope to resume WSPR beaconing on 10m. For this I use a 500mW stand-alone (no PC needed) WSPR beacon by W5OLF. This works really well.

When good, 10m is a great band and perhaps my favourite. Antennas are small and often just low power is needed. It is good every summer for Es propagation. Well over 100 DXCC countries have been worked here on 10m QRP SSB.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/w5olf

UPDATE 1247z: According to feedback from Keith, my original link to Jay's page may not be there any more, so it has been removed. A similar unit is available from https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-antenna-tester/

2m FT8

Overnight, I stayed on 2m FT8 RX. So far, 6 stations spotted in 4 countries, with most of these after breakfast.

A 2.5W FT 8 CQ to the big-wheel omni antenna was spotted by a couple of stations with the best being G4RRA (334km) in Devon. No QSOs resulted from the CQ call.

UPDATE 1058z: Now 19 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today. Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is GI0ITC (561km). As far as I can tell, conditions are flat and this is the sort of range I get most days.

2m FT8 spots this morning

UPDATE 1137z: The map shows the stations spotted to 1101z today on 2m FT8 RX using the big-wheel omni antenna. At 1137z still 19 stations spotted.

False decode

Ah well, it beats BREXIT for excitement. Just now, on my PC screen was this supposedly on 2m FT8 RX:

075345 -24  2017Hz TO2MJR   WA9RRX R  LM80

At first I was puzzled. Then I checked to see if anyone else had spotted him. Just me! Conclusion: false decode. It happens sometimes.

Sunspots - Sunday October 20th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=2.

UK amateur radio in decline?

Southgate News has a piece about the decline in the numbers of UK radio amateurs, making the point that the rate of deaths is not being made up by new people coming in to the hobby. This is serious stuff. One possibility is introducing a "Beginner's Licence" restricted to VHF/UHF only with commercial gear only. Somehow I doubt this will do the trick as radio is no longer the magic it was to young people in the 1940s-1970s.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/october/will-a-beginners-licence-cure-the-slump-in-new-radio-amateurs.htm

2m FT8

Mid morning, with the storms well gone, and after a night off, I have returned to 2m FT8. Despite just using 2.5W and the big-wheel, my CQ was copied in Devon and Cornwall again (no QSOs). On RX, 7 stations in 4 countries spotted.

Overall there appear to be fewer stations on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1322z: Now 15 stations in 5 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1748z: Now 39 stations in 7 countries spotted. A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ was spotted by 6 stations but no QSOs resulted.

Stations spotted here today on 2m FT8 

receive with the big-wheel omni antenna

UPDATE 2046z: Now 53 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni and the FT817ND. Who says 2m is dead?

Old age - NOT amateur radio

Maybe this is something that comes with advancing years, but these days I am grateful for small things.

Years ago our full lives were ahead of us, whereas as we get older we are more aware of our brief mortal span. I am grateful to be alive and generally well, that my wife is fit etc.. If this sounds morbid, I am sorry.

Live every day as if your last and think of all the good things, however small.

Charity Cards - NOT amateur radio

My wife was about to buy 40 Christmas cards from a charity online. They looked nice and were quite good value. We don't mind paying a bit more for a good cause. Then, we got to checkout to see an additional £4.95 added for delivery. We cancelled and that charity lost out. For the delivery cost we could have bought another 15 cards from a different charity. Not only that, my wife "unsubscribed" so she no longer gets emails from them. In several ways this charity has lost out. It has lost our custom and our goodwill. In future we hope the card price is inclusive of delivery. Simples.

Sunspots - Saturday October 19th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Windows 10 updates - NOT amateur radio

Windows 10 is supposed to be wonderful and safe. Yet again I have waited about 30 minutes whilst updates were installed. If it is so wonderful why are these massive updates needed? To say I am not impressed is an understatement. A good job I wasn't in a hurry.

Caught out! Heavy storms

Whilst out at my U3AC course in Cambridge we had a heavy storm this afternoon. There was lots of hail and thunder. Everything was connected. Yet again, our weather forecast was hopeless as there was nothing of the storms forecast for here.

Luckily, all seems to be well and everything, as far as I can tell, is working at normal sensitivity. The next time I go out, I shall ignore the weather forecasts and disconnect everything.

When we return later (everything is currently disconnected) I shall try 2m FT8 with the FT817 at 2.5W.

New .io groups formed

As I hosted several Yahoo groups (that are closing) new groups have been on groups.io . Transferring groups involves money whereas creating new ones does not (I hope!).  Notices have been posted in the Yahoo groups encouraging people to join and transfer across any files and photos which should be kept. At the moment, these new groups are awaiting approval. One thing that will not be saved is old messages.

Below are the old and new groups.

miraclewhip                                miracleantennas
sub9kHzamateurradio                  sub9khz
vhfam                                         vhfam

More UK Rallies

Saturday 19 OCTOBER : CARRICKFERGUS AMATEUR RADIO GROUP RADIO RALLY

Downshire Secondary School, Downshire Road, Carrickfergus. Doors will open at 12 noon for the public and 9.30am for traders. All proceeds from the sale of the food and beverages will go to Belfast Samaritans, a very worthy charity. More information from Elizabeth Forde, 0785 544 2839, elizabethforde64@yahoo.com.


Saturday 19 OCTOBER : CW CONVENTION AND CW BOOT CAMP

3rd Witham Scout & Guide HQ, Rear of Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham, Essex CM8 2HE. Registration is at 8.30am for a 9am start. The event is due to finish at around 4.30pm. Pre-register as places are limited to G0IBN: g0ibn1@yahoo.com or 0745 342 60 87 Previous events have welcomed visitors from all over the UK.


Sunday 20 OCTOBER : GALASHIELS RALLY

Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 3JX. Doors open 11am for disabled visitor and 11.15am for general public. There will be traders and a Bring & Buy. Refreshments will be available on site. Admission price TBC Plymouth Radio Club would like to inform people that this year's rally in November, will not be held due to falling numbers of members and helpers this year. The club would like to thank all those who have supported them over the years.


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

BREXIT and the DUP

At the moment the latest deal done with the EU by Boris Johnson may not get through the UK House of Commons without the support of the Northern Ireland DUP party.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Foster

Another great night on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Overnight was another great session on 472kHz WSPR TX. In the last day alone, 22 different stations have spotted me with a station in Norway yet again spotting me. Those spotting me are shown in the table below.

So far this season, I have been spotted by 43 different stations on 472kHz WSPR, which is far more than last season.

Stations spotting my 472kHz 10mW ERP WSPR in the last day. 

As usual, still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Sunspots - Friday October 18th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=0. We really are in the pits with sunspot minimum conditions. Surely, soon, conditions must get a bit better?

SAQ (17.2kHz CW) transmission on Oct 24th

Southgate News reports that there will be a special CW transmission from SAQ to commemorate UN day on October 24th.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/october/saq-to-transmit-on-un-day.htm

Autumn garden - NOT amateur radio

Already our garden is looking autumnal. Dew is now appearing on the grass and trees are starting to lose their leaves.

Last summer we lost a fair bit of the grass due to the heat. After reseeding (as you can see) the grass is recovering well.

Even better on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Overnight, I was spotted by 16 stations in 5 countries including 3 different stations in Norway!  The pleasing thing is I was spotted multiple times in Norway, and not that marginally! As usual, still using the unchanged earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, so really nothing special at all. 12 stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR RX.

I think this is the first time I have been spotted in Norway by 3 stations on 472kHz WSPR ever. The chart is arranged in distance order and shows where I was spotted and how many times.

Spots received overnight 

(10mW ERP) on 472kHz SWPR

BREXIT - DUP no

Whatever your views on BREXIT, the latest statement by the DUP is a bodyblow for those seeking a deal.

Sunspots - Thursday October 17th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

Yahoo Groups closing

It has been on the cards for ages, but Yahoo is closing its groups. Some have migrated to .io although this is not free ($110 for Premier Membership in first year?). I created several amateur radio related Yahoo groups and I propose to close these. Some groups have migrated, although none that I host.

BREXIT deal slipping away? - NOT amateur radio

Frantic last minute BREXIT discussions are continuing, but meanwhile the clock ticks. Is a deal for the UK to leave the EU about to happen? I think both sides want a deal, but they are finding the precise words of a legal agreement hard to find.

Good night on 472kHz WSPR

Last night was, I think, the best ever at this QTH with spots of my 10mW ERP 472kHz QRPP WSPR by 2 different Norwegians. One was the best DX ever from this QTH on 472kHz WSPR - LA9IY (1374km).

Stations that spotted my 10mW ERP

 472kHz WSPR overnight

Sunspots - Wednesday October 16th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.