17m FT8

For about 20 minutes I have been on 17m FT8 (it is now 1020z) with the poorer indoor loop and 2.5W. For some reason (I have to investigate) the better loop is not tuning: something has fallen off or is broken.

So far today, 20 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being R4PU (3262km) and nothing yet on TX.

UPDATE 1121z: 48 stations spotted so far today. Nobody has yet spotted me on TX and no QSOs.

UPDATE 1417z: 136 spots on RX and 16 spots of me on TX with the tiny indoor loop including N1NK (5327km).

UPDATE 1552z:  23 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 RX with 2.5W and the indoor loop. 192 stations spotted on RX today.

UPDATE 1845z:  28 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 TX.  On RX 241 stations spotted.

Cycle 25 forecasts?

It is some time since I saw a forecast for the magnitude of the next sunspot maximum. 

We certainly seem to be on the up-slopes after the solar minimum. If there have been any recent forecasts, I have missed them! Please let me know if you know of any recent ones. 

The last forecast I saw was expecting the next peak to be broadly similar to the last one. Compared with the huge peaks after WW2 (e.g. 1957), this was a pretty poor one, although 10m was very good at times. I remember a peak (in the 1980s?)  when ZSs were coming in well on 6m SSB with just a wire dipole. It would be good to see that again.

See https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/what-will-solar-cycle-25-look-like-sun-prediction-model

Sunspots - Thursday October 29th 2020

Solar flux is 88 (highest for a very long time) and the SSN 36 (also highest for a long time).  A=12 and K=3.

Day off

 Apart from a brief outing this evening on the CDARC 2m FM net, I have had a day off from radio. Usually I go on FT8 on some band. Depending on how the mood takes me this can be anywhere from 30m to 70cm.

CDARC 2m FM Net 145.55MHz - Wednesdays

 This net is being resurrected by 2E0WDN, Steve. It meet at 8pm.

Water buffalo - NOT amateur radio

There is a nature reserve near us which has water buffalo to control the banks. One is shown in the photo. Don't think he likes me! 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 28th 2020

 Solar flux is 82, which is the highest for some time. SSN is 22.  A=9 and K=3. 

Early Halloween - NOT amateur radio

Our grandchildren go home tomorrow so we are having an early Halloween party! 

2m FT8

Just before tea I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I transmitted very briefly, but most of the time I was RX only. So far today 15 stations in 4 countries spotted. 

UPDATE 2235z: QRT.

Chinese radios

Looking on eBay just now there are several clones of a UK designed SDR transceiver. 

One example is the Ailunce product that retails at £389.99 with free post and packing from the Far East.  The price drops even further if you buy more than one.

What has always bothered me is what happens when it goes wrong? 

At this price, even if you add import duties and VAT it is way below the price of Japanese made products. When the Chinese really get into the amateur radio market (assuming they do) we can expect to see the big Japanese manufacturers really getting a shock.

I gather the UK designer did not register the design, hence the clones.

See https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ailunce-HS1-Shortwave-SDR-Transceiver-SSB-HF-0-5MHz-30MHz-Station-Ham-Radio-/401905344297?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10

Getting ready - NOT amateur radio

Our grandchildren love Halloween and dressing up and the games. This is one of our grandchildren earlier. 

15m FT8 RX

For about 15 minutes (it is now 1000z) I have been on 15m FT8 RX. So far, 15 stations spotted using the indoor loop. 

UPDATE 1358z:  210 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX today. Best DX spotted is PP5BK (10115km).

UPDATE 1540z: Now 235 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop.

SAQ QSL card

Many years ago I got a QSL card from SAQ in Sweden for successfully copying the historic alternator VLF TX on 17. 2kHz CW. 

This QSL card is very special. 

I am unsure what I used for the RX, probably my homebrew upconverter although there are several options nowadays.

See also https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/

Sunspots - Tuesday October 27th 2020

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 17. A=75 and K=2.

Konik ponies - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of our grandchildren with a friend enjoying the konik ponies at nearby Wicken Fen. 

10m FT8

Although I have been on 10m FT8 RX all morning with the loop, nothing spotted.It is now 1111z. I have just gone on TX (2.5W and the indoor loop). No spots of me so far.

UPDATE 1500z: Just European stations spotted on RX. Local G4BAO has spotted me on TX. 

UPDATE 2250z: QRT. South America spotted every time I have been on 10m FT8 recently. 

Zoom meeting

Instead of club meetings, the Cambridge radio club (CDARC) has been holding online Zoom talks. These have been very successful. The photo shows the session last Friday. 

Sunspots - Monday October 26th 2020

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=14 and K=4.

30m FT8

My loop tunes down to 30m. It may get to 40m, although I have not tried this yet. 

On 30m FT8 RX 91 stations so far have been spotted (at 1845z) with the furthermost being R6JY (3414km). One station shown on the map as Iran, may have the wrong QTH locator.  On TX 23 spots of my QRP (2.5W to the loop) so far. I think I shall have to see how low I can tune! 40m FT8 here I come.

UPDATE 1940z:  On 40m I was unable to get a low SWR so I have returned to 30m FT8 RX. So far today, 161 stations spotted on 30m FT8. 

Virtual amateur radio

Many amateurs are plagued with man-made noise. This is getting worse. One solution is to turn to virtual amateur radio where the internet replaces the ionosphere. The advantages are there are no noise problems and with an internet connection you can work the world. I am aware of QSONet and Hamsphere. There may be others. 

Echolink is not the same as this uses "real radio" for part of the link, often to a distant repeater. 

Virtual amateur radio has never appealed to me.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/virtual

Breaking BBC news - NOT amateur radio

 This has appeared on the BBC news site:

"Police are dealing with an "ongoing incident" on board an oil tanker situated off the Isle of Wight.

The tanker, named in reports as the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda, was due to dock in Southampton earlier.

Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are aware and dealing with an ongoing incident on board a vessel which is situated south of the Isle of Wight."

The Maritime Coastguard Agency said it was assisting police and search and rescue helicopters were at the scene."

I hope this not a potential terrorist threat.

See  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-54684440

Morning walk - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows my wife and one of our grandsons off to the skatepark this morning. He could not take part as it was busy and he needed helmets etc.

UK-EU trade deal? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, everyone's mind and the media is focused on Covid-19. It will soon be on the presidential election in the USA. 

Also going on are the post BREXIT trade deal talks between the EU and the UK. It is in both parties interest to arrive at a good deal for both sides. I am pretty sure both sides have been waiting for the other side to blink. 

What is now needed is a bit of compromise and a good outcome for all. I am puzzled why this should be so hard. The UK wants to stand as an independent nation and the EU has its own ways. As a big trading nation and trading partner for the EU, surely something can be worked out.

6m transatlantic DX yesterday?

They call 6m the "magic band" for good reason. I heard on Facebook that several QSOs were made across the Atlantic yesterday from the UK and mainland Europe. I expect these were FT8 QSOs. 

Normally, transatlantic QSOs are associated with summer E layer propagation. I have no idea what propagation modes were involved yesterday.

15m FT8 RX

Using the indoor loop, I have been on 15m FT8 RX since 0845z. The UK clocks changed last night and it often takes me several days to adjust!  So far (it is now 0857z) 11 stations have been spotted with the furthermost being UF0W (5659km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 1244z:  505 stations in 5 continents spotted so far today on 15m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop. 

UPDATE 1441z:  So far today 662 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX. Although I have only been on about 20 minutes, already my 2.5W FT8 to the indoor loop has been spotted by 17 stations.

Stations spotted to 1458z today

UPDATE 1533z:  31 stations have now spotted me and I have spotted 672 stations on 15m FT8 with the indoor loop today. Compared with a 15m dipole outside I must be losing a few dB, but I am still doing pretty well. With my loop tuning I can almost certainly get on 20m. I need to see if I can reach 30m or even 40m later.

UPDATE 1737z:  784 stations have been spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 64 stations so far today on 15m FT8 TX (2.5W). Furthermost are the Canary Is and the Azores.

UPDATE 1747z:  QRT.

Wind - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had quite strong winds. The trees in the garden have lost most of their leaves but a few stubborn ones remain. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 25th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 11 still. A=17 and K=2.

SAQ transmission

Earlier today there were transmissions from the historic 17.2kHz CW VLF alternator TX in Sweden. Several people tested their VLF receive capability. 

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Although activity was higher than the last time I looked, it is still quieter than I expected at this time. When I looked it was Saturday evening in Europe. Most activity still seems to be from Europe.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Touch me - NOT amateur radio

This tree at Anglesey Abbey gets touched often. It is near the end of the Winter Walk and has very inviting bark. 

I think they polish it!

472kHz WSPR RX

For about 15 minutes (it is now 1918z) I have been on 472kHz WSPR RX using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1940z: 5 different stations spotted so far this evening. Furthermost was LA8AV (1012km). Next was SM6BGP (994km).

10m FT8 RX (indoor loop)

The sharper, and more efficient, indoor loop in very hard to tune on 10m.  My eyesight is not as good and I find it harder to get it spot on tune than I did. At the moment I am using the loop with thinner wire which is less efficient, but easier to peak. In the past, I cut coax cable to tune. Maybe I should consider than again. Once the length is established in does not need to be adjusted as long as I stick with FT8.

Just one station in the Canary Is spotted so far today on the poorer loop on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1610z: The plug was intermittent on the sharper link. Now fixed.  Just a single spot of my 2.5W TX from G0VQH (13km).  On 10m FT8 RX 77 spots with best DX spotted PU5BOY (9961km).

Things getting worse? - NOT amateur radio

Recently I replaced my electric lawnmower. The battery does not last as long. Our kettle switch is temperamental after 7 years. My wife was going to replace her National Trust bag, but the new one has fewer pockets. My underpants are now thinner. My wife's coat has fewer pockets and is thinner.

Get the picture? We seem to make goods poorer so we are encouraged to throw the old ones away and buy new instead. This is a model of existence that cannot continue.

Sunspots - Saturday October 24th 2020

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 11. A=12 and K=4.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we met up with some old university friends at nearby Anglesey Abbey. We have known them for over 50 years. 

Mending that 472kHz transverter

At the moment, I think the IRF510 PA in my transverter has been damaged. Before I change this, which is no easy task for me these days, I shall connect everything up and check it  is not something else! It would be daft to change the PA only to find the problem is still there! 

Assuming it is the PA, that is a job for later today. I have taken a photo so that I know what was there and don't forget to connect something. Years ago this would have been trivial for me.

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

UPDATE 1021z:   PA changed and still no antenna current! Oscillator running OK, so something else must be wrong. Further investigation needed when I am less exhausted. I guess the first thing to try is running the transverter into a dummy load to check there is output on 472kHz. Another thing I can try is using the FT817ND with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m. This measured some antenna current on the antenna current meter. If this is zero, it gives me some clues. It was so much easier when my brain was not foggy and I had a clear head. The best way I can describe it is like trying to fault-find after drinking 8 pints of beer.

UPDATE 1130z:  No antenna current on 160m suggesting something else is amiss.

Wisdom? - NOT amateur radio

This may be an artifact of getting older, or a strange after-effect of my 2013 stroke, but I seem wiser.  Often I seem to be able to "read" situations better. Now, this could just be how I see things! Quite often I say to myself phrases like, "you shouldn't have said that" or "you should not have done that". Quite often my hunches turn out to be right.

10m FT8

At about 0805z, I turned on the 10m FT8 QRP gear. At the moment (0845z) I am RX only. I understand that VK6 was worked from the UK on 10m FT8 yesterday. I am still just using 2.5W to the poorer indoor loop.

UPDATE 0901z: Nothing spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1133z:  Swapped to the better 10m indoor loop. 27 stations so far spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1811z:  287 stations spotted on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna today. Sunspot minimum year!

UPDATE 2147z: 318 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today on the tiny indoor loop antenna. Now QRT. 

Sunspots - October 23rd 2020

 Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 11. A=6 and K=1.

With some of the grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

One of our sons came for a night with his children. This autumn scene was this morning in our back garden.  Another week or so and all these leaves will be gone.