10m FT8

As is normal, I have QSYed to 10m FT8. My initial FT8 (2.5W) CQ call was copied by no-one and I have not yet copied anyone else.

UPDATE 1820z: Just 5 10m FT8 RX spots all day with best DX spotted RA2FL (1343km). Nothing outside Europe spotted today.

Sunspots - Sunday November 10th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

Back to 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

As it is dark I have again QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX. My first 2 minute transmission was spotted by several stations. LA2XPA (1310km) has already spotted me twice, which is very early.

Windows 10 upgrades

My shack PC runs Windows 10. Up to now this has been fine.  Sadly it only has a small 32GB SSD. Despite plugging in an external hard drive temporarily is still wants 8GB of space on the C drive of the PC to install the latest upgrades. Even with removing junk I only have half of this space. I guess it means I cannot continue to upgrade Windows 10 in future.

This begs a few questions:

• What am I missing?
• Does it matter?
• How do I permanently disable windows updates to avoid these annoying messages?

If probably tells me it will soon be time to upgrade the shack PC!

UPDATE  1633z: I have just found this at  https://www.windowscentral.com/how-stop-updates-installing-automatically-windows-10, which others might find useful too. I think you can then decide whether or not to install an upgrade. I have not tried it. There may be a way to turn all Windows 10 upgrades off for ever which is probably what I need.

"To permanently disable automatic updates on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
3. Navigate to the following path: ...
4. Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.
5. Check the Disabled option to turn off the policy."

Cabinda - NOT amateur radio

A bit like Kaliningrad in Russia, Cabinda is a bit of Angola cut off from the rest of the country. I guess this is one of those quirks of history. No doubt these are others too in the world I have not yet found.

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

10m FT8

For the day, I am on 10m FT8 again. My recent 2.5W CQ was spotted by no-one and there are no spots so far on RX (0933z).

UPDATE 1630z: So far 17 stations spotted with best DX ZS6S (9109km)

Quite a good session on 472kHz WSPR

Last evening and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR TX again with the usual set-up of 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  In all, I was spotted by 13 stations with 5 spots by LA9IY (1374km) in Norway. He seems to spot me often.

Stations spotting me on 472kHz 

WSPR (10mW ERP) overnight

.

Sunspots - Saturday November 9th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number still 0. A=5 and K=0.

Chrysanthemums - NOT amateur radio

Several weeks ago my wife got some cut chrysanthemums.

They still look great as the picture shows.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

After another successful day on 28MHz (10m) FT8 RX with Mauritania and South Africa logged, I have decided to QSY to 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). My first 2 minute transmission was copied by 3 stations with best DX being G8TTI (186km).

IC-705 video

Some months ago ICOM introduced us to the IC-705, which should be available in 2020. This is a QRP (10W or less all mode) radio. It is a radio that appeals to me.

I created an IC-705 website to add links as I find them. This rig hopefully will cover all HF and VHF bands to 70cm and be SDR based like the IC-7300 and IC-9700. This is just one video.

Baby Brennan - NOT amateur radio

For my birthday and Christmas (my birthday is a few days before Christmas) my wife has bought me a baby Brennan BB1 receiver. This stores lots (16GB) of music (e.g. from CDs), has access to 40000 internet radio stations as well as YouTube videos on a small TFT screen. It works with Bluetooth headphones.

Actually, I suggested this and I ordered it!

See https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/newbrennan

WRC-19

As you may know, this conference in Egypt to discuss spectrum matters is well under way. Southgate News has a piece on this and links the regular updates by the RSGB.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/rsgb-wrc-19-update--23cms-and-a-long-day.htm .

Lies - NOT amateur radio

Every time there is an election coming nearly all politicians make promises that are rarely kept.

In the UK we have a General Election due December 12th. Yesterday the Labour Party and the Conservative Party were making promises to spend big on the health service.

Today there was a Conservative politician on TV about a points based immigration system. When repeatedly asked a very direct question about whether this would result in more overseas workers working in the UK she swerved around the answer as most politicians do.

I seem to remember President Obama in the USA promising to close Guantanamo Bay.  Many years later it is still there. Then there is President Trump's wall.

Cynical me?

Whatever politicians promise, ignore.  Is it any wonder we don't trust our politicians?

10m FT8

Just after breakfast I decided to go on 10m FT8. As yet, no spots. Yesterday 10m FT8 was pretty good considering we are right at the bottom of the solar cycle.

UPDATE 0918z:  A brief 2.5W FT8 CQ earlier got no spots - am I surprised? No. No RX spots yet still.

UPDATE 1204z: 35 RX spots so far from southern Europe and North Africa with S01WS (3043km) as the best DX in Western Sahara. Did someone say this is 10m at sunspot minimum and well outside of the Es season?

UPDATE 1918z: 53 stations spotted today on10m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Friday November 8th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Night off

This evening and overnight I shall not be on 472kHz WSPR TX. I have decided the rig and PC can have a night off!

Cactus - NOT amateur radio

Usually in time for Christmas, this cactus flowers. This year it is early and glorious. My wife has a magic touch!

BATC ATV Convention (south)

Saturday 9 NOVEMBER : BATC ATV CONVENTION (SOUTH) 

Chilton Village Hall near Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0SH. ATV Clinic, Show and Tell, Bring and Buy and 2 interesting talks. More information at https://forum.batc.org.uk.

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

Art exhibition - NOT amateur radio

Last weekend we went to an art exhibition in The Maltings at Ely. There were all sorts on display, not just paintings.

The picture shows just one stall.

Sadly, most things were expensive in the exhibition, so we bought nothing.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Overnight I was spotted by 17 stations with the best DX again being LA9IY (1374km) in Norway. In the last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 44 receiving stations on 472kHz WSPR (see table).

10m FT8

Things are looking better than yesterday with 5 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX in 3 countries by 1036z. A recent 10m FT8 CQ call (2.5W) was spotted by no-one.

UPDATE 1208z: 9 stations in 4 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX. The Spanish stations spotted had huge signals.

10m FT8 RX spots today

UPDATE 1842z: 48 stations spotted today including South America and St Helena. A good 10m day considering where we are in the solar cycle (rock bottom!).

Sunspots - Thursday November 7th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

After a dismal day on 28MHz FT8 RX, I have again QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX. On my first 2 minute transmission I was spotted by 2 stations with best DX PAOEHG (296km).

UPDATE 2125z: So far 12 stations have spotted me this evening on 472kHz WSPR. This sounds typical. Will I reach Norway overnight?

UPDATE 2152z: LA9IT (1374km) copied me at 2128z.

Maltings and church - NOT amateur radio

On our walk around our village (Burwell) earlier we went past the church and the maltings. Both are old with parts of the church being almost 1000 years old.

Figs - NOT amateur radio

On a walk around the village earlier we saw these figs growing beside the road.

Miracle Antennas

The other day, I tried to find my Miracle Whip. I have not used this for many years. With a decent earth or counterpoise it is not that bad on the higher HF bands. It certainly is convenient and easy to match on all bands from 40m to the VHF bands. It fits on the back of the rig.

Years ago I even managed an 80m SSB QSO with it using the auto ATU in the ICOM IC-703 to help match the whip.

I searched high and low and failed to find the miracle whip. It is probably in the loft.

Originally these were made in Canada, but the designer has been dead for several years. Several people are offering similar antennas.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/mwhip

OFCOM interim chief executive

OFCOM has announced the appointment of Jonathan Oxley as interim chief executive. What thrilling, earth shattering, news. See their website, if you can contain your excitement.

10m FT8

I have QSYed to 10m FT8, mostly RX, for the day. When I switched on I called CQ on FT8 (2.5W) but no spots resulted. For the first time, I am seeing interference on 10m. I get vertical lines every few 10s of Hertz. I have no idea  if this is local or not.

UPDATE 1231z: Still no spots. A very recent 2.5W FT8 CQ was spotted by, you guessed, no-one. At the moment, 10m is looking dire.

UPDATE 1530z: Just one spot of F5PBG (548km) on 10m FT8 RX all day, well at least so far.

472kHz WSPR TX overnight (10mW ERP) again

Yet again I was on 472kHz WSPR TX overnight and last evening. As usual I was running 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground as described in a recent RadCom. Best DX spot was by LA9IY (1374km). 16 spots in all including 2 from Norway and 3 from Germany and EI0CF.

Stations that spotted my 472kHz 

WSPR (10mW ERP) overnight

472kHz (630m) is so much more productive than 28MHz FT8. At night 28MHz is a dead loss at this part of the cycle and outside of the Es season. In the summer months 28MHz QRP SSB often brings EU QSOs at good strength.

OFCOM Communications Monthly

As usual, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly with its latest data. See the OFCOM website.

Barclays Bank - NOT amateur radio

Apparently in the UK, Barclays Bank has had a change of heart and decided, after all, to continue to allow people to get cash from their local post office. This was due to end at the end of the year.

Unless I am mistaken Barclays usually makes billions each year in profits.  Our local branch of Barclays closed over a year ago and getting cash from the Post Office has been a real help. The Barclays Banks in nearby Newmarket and Cambridge are huge. We know about one disabled lady who would have to walk twice as far for cash if the Post Office stopped its link with Barclays. I suspect Barclays go lots of complaints.

Barclays - you must have been stupid!! My personal opinion and others are free to disagree.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 6th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0 . A=5 and K=1.

UPDATE 1400z: After a very brief blip with the SSN peaking 13 at the start of the month SSN has returned to 0 again. If we are to climb out of this minimum any time soon, I would expect to see sunspot numbers starting to rise a bit. At the moment we still seem to be bouncing along the minimum.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) again

As I have done on several evenings recently, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX for the evening and overnight.  Already 8 stations have spotted me.

2m UKAC (activity contest) tonight at 2000z

As usual, there is an SSB (mainly) contest this evening. I usually run QRP and stop on for under a hour, although the contest lasts for 2.5 hours. Although I usually submit a log, I really come on just for the fun. This is a friendly contest and activity levels are normally high.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs with 10W SSB and the big-wheel with best DX Isle of Man. I only stayed on for 35 minutes because of my poor voice.

Stations worked this evening with 

2m QRP and the big-wheel omni antenna.

OFCOM decision on mobile phone repeaters

OFCOM has made the rules for in-car mobile phone repeaters easier.

Starter homes - NOT amateur radio

From the start of the UK election campaign, I'd like to be as neutral as possible. I am a floating voter and have still to decide.

We all know only too well that politicians of all colours make promises that are unlikely to be kept. It seems to me that most politicians become politicians to "feather their own nests" rather than for the common good. There are a very few exceptions.

I was dismayed to read on the BBC News Page that an independent watchdog (the National Audit Office) has concluded that the present government's promise to build 200000 starter homes has completely failed with not one being built. Caveat emptor.  Pie crusts come to mind as in "promises are like pie crusts" i.e. thin and easily broken.

With over a month to go to the UK election, I forecast a hung parliament with Boris Johnson's Conservative party forming a minority government yet again.  So, the mess continues. Whatever your views on BREXIT are, this is like a stuck record.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50296672

False dawn?

At the moment the solar numbers just aren't clear. We may be starting the climb out of the solar minimum, or this could just be another blip and we are bouncing along the bottom of the solar cycle still. It will be some time (a year?) before we can be sure. I hope conditions start to improve soon.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Oscar 100 from Sweden with 100mW

Apparently, according to Southgate News, Swedish amateurs are restricted to 100mW on 2.4GHz, yet still they can activate the narrowband transponder on this geosynchronous satellite.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/qo-100-geostationary-satellite-with-just-100-milliwatts.htm

Old cottage - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago this very old cottage in our village was tastefully extended. It is very hard to tell the extension from the original.  We are blessed with quite a few old houses in Burwell, our village.

Here I am trying to take a photo on my phone! I have no idea when this cottage dates from, but I'd guess the early 1800s. Some old houses date from the 1200s - that is old!