15m FT8 RX

Since about 0740z I have been on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the indoor loop.  Already a couple of European stations spotted.

UPDATE 1013z: 28 Europeans spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1455z: 43 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX so far.

Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey gardens are open with pre-booking and the dahlias are looking good. 

Home QTH

The photo shows an aerial shot of the home QTH . As you can see, the windmill is right next door! 

Sunspots - Sunday September 6th 2020

 Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2. 

Reach - NOT amateur radio

Reach is about 2 miles from Burwell, where I live. It is a sleepy village with a big green with an annual fair. Its only shop closed some years ago. The photo shows some of the lovely old cottages around the green.

International Space Station - cross band amateur repeater

 Southgate News has a piece on the recent commissioning of the crossband repeater on the ISS.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/september/iss-cross-band-repeater-activated.htm#.X1OT32jYq00

QRP convention online

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions the GQRP convention is online this weekend. GQRP members can access the talks for £4. Normally it is held in Telford. Maybe next year?

See http://www.gqrp.com/GQRP_Conference_Agenda.pdf

472kHz WSPR

We are now approaching the DX season on 472kHz. Last autumn, I used my homebrew transverter and was regularly spotted in Norway despite using 10mW ERP WSPR and my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The transverter puts out about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is quite inefficient. 

When I left the band earlier in the year, I think there was a break in the connection to the "antenna" which I need to mend.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472khz_tvtr

Antenna choices

As mentioned yesterday, I want to erect an external antenna for 10m, probably a dipole or inverted vee. It occurs to me that a nested pair of dipoles for 10m and 15m is still small and not much more difficult to erect. 10m is my favourite band, but 15m is often good when 10m is not. Having both bands available would give me choice. Neither would require an ATU.

Peregrine - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson loves animals. His best friend's dad is a vet. The photo shows our grandson recently with a peregrine. These falcons are one of the fastest birds in the world: they swoop down on their prey at great speeds.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

At  0830z, 15m FT8 RX was turned on. Apart from a few unstable carriers (local SMPUs?) nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 0930z:  17 spots on RX so far today, all European.

UPDATE 1432z:  53 stations spotted here so far on 15m FT8. All are in Europe with best DX spotted SV1QN (2410km) in Greece.

UPDATE 1803z:  Currently 95 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted here is J68HZ (6860km) in St Lucia.

UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT. 105 stations spotted in last 12 hours on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop. Best DX spot was PU2OOC (9598km) in Brazil.

Is PW in trouble?

I am wondering if the UK magazine Practical Wireless is in trouble? Personally I hope not. It has been in existence for a very long time, but I have heard horror stories about major retailers being unable to get copies this month.

If you regularly get copies via a newsagent have you experienced any problems recently? I get copies by post and, so far, I have not had issues.

Sunspots - Saturday September 5th 2020

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=2.

Yaesu competition for the ICOM IC-705?

Apparently Yaesu has discontinued a couple of their popular transceivers. According to Steve, G1KQH, he thinks Yaesu is about to launch competition to the IC-705, but at lower prices. 

In recent years, I have thought of Yaesu as being followers rather than leaders. In my own experience, it would not have surprised me if Yaesu threw in the towel and left the amateur radio market based on their terrible marketing performance. They totally missed the boat with the FT818, which was pathetic. 

For over 40 years I have been a great Yaesu supporter and have owned many Yaesu transceivers. They have all been good, reliable radios, so I hope Steve is correct. 

20m FT8 RX

A few moments ago (it is now 1718z) I QSYed to 20m FT8 RX.  Already 22 spots on RX in 3 continents.

UPDATE 2150z:  511 stations in 5 continents spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX on the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. QRT. 

15m and 17m FT8

For a change, I am trying FT8 with 2.5W and the other small loop on 15m and 17m.  The other loop is far less efficient than the loop used on 10m. Several European stations have spotted me on 15m. 

Currently I am RX only on 17m FT8. 53 stations in 4 continents already spotted on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1650z: Currently 75 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX. I may QSY to 20m RX soon.

10m antenna

As many know, I want to erect a new external antenna for 10m soon. Ideally my Homebase-10 antenna would be a good choice, but my skills are not so good these days, so I probably need to rule this out. A vertical might be a good choice although a vertical could be more noisy. In the end it will probably be a dipole or inverted vee. I probably still need help erecting it.

By next year, 10m should be much better.

Dipoles for 10m are quite small. Inverted vees take up even less space.

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

UK pound creeping up? - NOT amateur radio

Although it is hard to be sure, the UK pound has appreciated against the euro, US dollar, and yen in recent weeks. Gains are modest, but they are gains. Time will tell if these are maintained. 

From a very low base, it seems oil prices are rising too.

Reach walk - NOT amateur radio

Since our lockdown in April, we have tried to do walks as often as possible. 

Luckily spring was mainly dry and sunny so we were able to get out often. We have done some lovely local walks, many times on local paths we did not know. It has been great watching the seasons change. Overall, we have had a good lockdown.

There is now an autumn feel in the air and it seems far cooler. This is the blackberry season so we collected some on our walk earlier around Reach along with some apples. It is definitely autumn now. Even though the weather will get cooler and wetter, we hope to continue the walks.

 

6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 omni)

Since about 1025z today, I have been on 6m FT8. So far, no reports on RX, but I have been spotted by 4 G stations.

UPDATE 1430z:  29 spots of me so far today. Some Es in evidence yet again. Although Es is less common than a few months ago, it is still there. On RX just 4 Gs spotted so far.

Elecraft September newsletter

 Elecraft has published its September 2020 newsletter. See the Elecraft website for details. 

Grass cutting - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago we got one of our grandsons to cut our front lawn as the photo shows. For a first attempt he did quite well.

Sunspots - Friday September 4th 2020

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

Rally changes

This is the latest information I have on rallies. As mentioned before, my apologies if this is hard to read on some screens, but this is how I receive it.

Sunday 6 SEPTEMBER : CANCELLED

ANDOVER RADIO CLUB AUTUMN BOOT SALE. Wildhern.


Sunday 6 SEPTEMBER : ONLINE ONLY

TELFORD HAMFEST & G-QRP CONVENTION 

Harper Adams University, near Telford, TF10 8NB Due to uncertainty about large gatherings being allowed, and in recognition that many radio amateurs may not want to attend physical meetings for some time, the G-QRP Club took the unwelcome decision to cancel their Conventions for 2020. However, following a very successful survey of members, a meeting of the Standing Committee this week confirmed that the G-QRP Convention fisor 2020 will definitely take place as a virtual event over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September. There will be a series of webinars and possibly a virtual Buildathon. A small working group are now developing the detail and a number of key speakers have already volunteered. Full details will be shared as soon as they are known. More information and e-mail details may be found on the Telford HamFest website www.telfordhamfest.org.uk or by contacting Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255 416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716.


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

Another great IC-705 video

This was a live stream yesterday. It is long video but one of the best I have seen.

 

6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 vertical omni)

For the last few minutes, I have been on 6m FT8. Already spotted by 6 stations including OY1OF (1163km). Just G3RIK (224km) spotted on RX so far.

UPDATE 1952z: 48 stations have spotted my 10W 6m FT8 today. Plenty of Es on 6m today.  See photo to see stations that have spotted me. QRT soon.  37 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2050z:  QRT.

A year ago - NOT amateur radio

A year ago things were quite different. There was no Covid-19 around and our local museum next door had a vintage car weekend.

Sunspots - Thursday September 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=9 and K=1.

6m FT8

It is now 0945z. A few moment ago I turned on 6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 vertical omni). So far, 3 spots of me (all G) and nothing on RX.

UPDATE 2050z:  Now QRT.  3 QSOs and spots of me by 22 stations including 2 that look like Es. Best DX spot of me was by ES5PC (1783km).

Dragonfly - NOT amateur radio

My son took this photo a few days ago on his iPhone

V2000 vertical

The photo shows the V2000 vertical omni antenna used on 6m, 2m and 70cm FM. For 2m and 70cm SSB and FT8 I use the big-wheel omni antenna.

The V2000 is also used on 6m FT8. On the same mast is a rarely used 2m halo antenna.

2m UKAC

Conditions seemed up last night for the 2m activity contest (UKAC). In 45 minutes, 8 stations were worked with 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna as the map shows.

After that time I had to stop because of my poor voice. As usual, these were SSB.

OFCOM updates

Every month, OFCOM publishes its Communications Monthly with its latest data. For example, the number of UK TV licences. See the OFCOM website for the latest data.

This month’s update covers:

• Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator update
• Television broadcast licensing update
• Radio licensing monthly update
• Letters: Publication of our granting of consent for launch of Sky Arts on DTT
• Qualitative research study on declining calls and changing behaviour
• Cost models for consultation on BT’s commitment in Area 3
• Co-regulation of on-demand advertising

Riveting stuff I am sure you cannot wait for!

Sunspots - Wednesday September 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=16 and K=3.

Updated solar data

My page for solar data has been updated. This is usually done in the early days of the new month.

At some point the more active side of the sun will turn into view. We have now had several days without sunspots. Assuming we are at the start of the next solar cycle, I expect sunspot numbers will increase.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

6m FT8

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 with 10W and the V2000 vertical omni. As yet 9 stations have spotted me including 2 stations in Germany.

UPDATE 1419z: 14 stations have spotted my so far today. Some are probably brief patches of Es, although they could be scatter.

More grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

For several days now we have had the grandchildren.

This photo was taken at Anglesey Abbey yesterday.

2m activity contest tonight

Being the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the RSGB organised 2m UKAC session. I come on SSB with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna for about an hour. It starts at 1900z.

IC-705 firmware update

ICOM Japan has a firmware update for the IC-705 available on its website. In the coming months we can expect a few more as bugs are found and new features get added.

I have heard rumours that it could be available in Europe later this month.

Sunspots - Tuesday September 1st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=26 and K=3.