MLS winter sale

One of the big UK dealers is holding a winter sale.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/wintersale.php .

Radio Caroline returns - NOT amateur radio

According to Southgate News, Radio Caroline (once a pirate radio station on a ship) is returning to Medium Wave on an old BBC frequency.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/radio-caroline-returns-to-the-airwaves.htm#.Wj0sIUx2tMs

2m UKAC activity contests

Over the whole year I see I am placed 64th out of 205 in the AL section. This is not bad considering the time on the air (usually short because of my voice), 5W and an omni antenna. On 70cms (results next week?) my setup is even worse!

Cyber attacks - NOT amateur radio

From my own limited experience, I know cyber attacks are a real threat.

According to the BBC the UK Foreign Secretary is to warn Russia that the UK will retaliate if the Russians are guilty of cyber attacks that threaten national security. I am sure most governments have a "dirty tricks" department. Some get caught. It is the nature of 21st century warfare.

See www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42450479 .

630m WSPR last night

This was again disappointing.

I spotted just 6 unique stations with best DX LA8AV (1035km) and I was spotted by just 6 unique (all UK) stations with my best DX using 10mW ERP being G8HUH (250km).

Sunspots - Friday December 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 18. A=3 and K=1.

10m FT8 RX

As there is a mini Es peak around now, I have returned to 10m FT8 RX. Within a short while of turning on I spotted OZ1LXJ (805km). Promising.

UPDATE 1600z: Not a bad 10m day so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is EC5AC (1576km). So far, 7 unique stations in 5 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1715z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX today is EA9CD (1873km) in North Africa. Es? Now 10 uniques in 8 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1755z: Now the Falkland Is! VP8LP (12772km) spotted, so there is some F2 about on 10m.  Now 15 uniques, 10 countries and 3 continents today on 10m FT8 RX. 10m dead?

UPDATE 2100z: In the end a PY in Brazil too. Altogether, a good day on 10m FT8 RX.

mcHF clone RS-918

The mcHF-QRP rig clone is being sold by XBS Telecom for 585 euros or less. As this is within the EU, no additional VAT needs to be added, I think. This is a nominal 5W SDR HF rig. If my reading is correct, this includes a 2 year warranty.

You may recall that MLS was going to sell this until it found the Chinese "rip off" had not been agreed with the originator.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/sdr-100-digital/392-recent-rs-918-ssb-hf-qrp-15w.html

UK Pound versus the Euro - NOT amateur radio

OK, I was wrong!

Some time back, I predicted the Euro would lose value against the UK Pound by the end of the year. It looks like I shall be spectacularly wrong. What a surprise!

Perhaps the best advice is to believe the exact opposite of what I think. As said many times, I am no financial expert.

Reflections - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property about 4 miles from here, has beautiful grounds at any time of the year. A few days ago it looked very "wintery" as the photo shows.

Late afternoon return to 630m WSPR

On 6m MSK144 RX I spotted stations in G, GW and GM today on 50.280MHz, but I have now returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) for this evening and overnight.

Spots on 630m WSPR received from M0NKA (154km) and G4ETG (44km), even though the transverter crystal is still settling, so my signal still shows some drift.

UPDATE 1630z: Although my QRPP has been spotted by 3 unique stations, I have spotted none so far.

630m WSPR last night

After a promising start yesterday evening, the overnight period was disappointing with no new stations spotting my 10mW ERP and no new stations spotted here. In all, I was spotted by 10 uniques with best DX Norway again - LA3EQ (769km), and I spotted just 6 uniques. 630m was disappointing.

Sunspots - Thursday December 21st 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is still zero. A=5 and K=0.

UPDATE 1626z: The sunspot number has climbed to 16.

6m MSK144 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 6m MSK RX (50.280MHz) hoping to catch either random MS or aircraft reflections. So far, just GW4MBN (347km) spotted this morning.

On 630m WSPR again

As 6m MSK144 RX was not producing lots today, I have returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Overnight my best DX (on TX) was just OR7T (337km).

I am intrigued to see how I get on with just a ferrite rod antenna only. I may try this this evening if I can match it. The coax up to my 2m big-wheel is very non-resonant! You may remember many years ago I had some success on TX WSPR with a ferrite rod only on 30m and 40m.

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

UPDATE 1536z: My transmission at 1530z was just the ferrite rod antenna as an E-field antenna on the bench. I am now on the ferrite rod as a RX only antenna..

UPDATE 1850z: Well for once I am happy that the test with just a ferrite rod antenna failed. Not a single spot given or received with just the ferrite rod, but spots both given and received as soon as the "big"antenna (relative term!) was reconnected. Now back on 630m WSPR using the ferrite rod as the ATU to load up the coax to my 2m big-wheel, which is far from ideal!

UPDATE 1925z:  My QRPP 630m WSPR signal has already been copied in Norway and Belgium this evening. Are conditions up?

UPDATE 2012z: Already 9 unique stations spotting my 10mW ERP this evening. Best DX spot is by LA3EQ (769km). Conditions seem promising.

Bury St Edmunds market - NOT amateur radio

We love shopping in this old Suffolk market town, especially the market that has some real bargains. At the moment it has a bit of a Christmas theme!

6m MSK144 RX

All morning, I have been on 6m MSK144 RX (50.280MHz). So far, 6 unique stations in 4 countries, all in the British Isles.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 20th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today. Sunspot number is zero. A=6 and K=1.

Hamnet

Before reading about this via Southgate News today, I had no idea about this high speed pan-European network. It is widespread in Germany. Novice licencees in Germany are to be allowed the bands to access this.

630m WSPR

As usual, I was on 630m WSPR overnight (10mW ERP, 20%). An uneventful night. I copied just 6 uniques with best DX LA8AV (1035km) and I was spotted by just 6 unique stations with just G8HUH (250km) as my best report. Unimpressive!

First snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, we saw our first snowdrops this winter at nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday. Another month and there will be carpets of them.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, no spots yet. I was hoping to see a few Gs maybe. At this time of year there is a small Es peak, although I do not know why.

UPDATE 1326z: DG5HR (721km) spotted.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 19th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number is still zero.  A=.17 and K=1

Bath repeaters to lose university site

Southgate News reports that the Bath repeaters are being evicted from their university site next month. I do not know if there are plans to re-site them.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/bath-repeaters-lose-university-site.htm#.Wjgqr0x2vIU .

Amateur TV

There is always something in our hobby that we cannot do. One of these is ATV, which despite being interested, I have never tried. The BATC streams many TV repeaters, so you can take a peak without investing in TV gear.

See http://batc.tv/multi_screen.php .

Daffodils and snowdrops

Most months we visit Anglesey Abbey, which is about 4 miles away. The daffodils, which were out in November 2015, are just coming. Another 2 weeks and these will be out. We saw the first snowdrops out. Things seem much later this winter. Blink and it will be spring though!

Return to 630m WSPR

After a disappointing session on 6m FT8, I have returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) for the evening and overnight.

UPDATE 1706z: M0NKA (154km), G4ETG (44km) and G4FGJ (44km) have copied my 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 1756z: Now PA0RDT (243km) has spotted me.

Fuel prices upwards? - NOT amateur radio

Looking at commodity prices, it looks like the wholesale price of oil is moving upwards. At the moment prices are well below prices a few years ago, but the trend seems to be upwards. Expect higher pump prices in 2018.

630m WSPR overnight

My 10mW ERP WSPR reached LA3EQ (769km) again last night, but overall it was disappointing as only 4 stations spotted me and I only spotted 10 uniques.

Sunspots - Monday December 18th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number zero. A=24 and K=4. Not promising on higher HF.

6m FT8

After a brief try on 6m MSK144, I am now on 6m FT8 RX for the day. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1302z:  Just M0HUI (122km) spotted so far today.

UPDATE  1600z: A very quiet day. ON5LGS (264km) is the only other 6m spot today. I assume this is aircraft reflection rather than tropo.

Ultra tiny mobile phones

Years ago I visited someone in prison and the searches on the way in were very thorough. Apparently there is a real issue with drugs and smuggled mobile phones. So, there is a ready market for mobiles phones that cannot be detected when hidden within the body.

Imagine my surprise when I could easily find such phones sold via Amazon! OK, I am sure some users just want a really tiny phone, but these are aimed, allegedly, at the illegal market in phones to be smuggled into prisons. Should these be banned?

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/J8-World-Smallest-Mobile-changer/dp/B00O586YB2/ref=pd_sim_107_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0HQM62NG9CBSKACSHZMN

Back on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%)

After a few days and nights Geminids MS hunting on 6m MSK144, I have returned to 630m WSPR. Spots out to 154km so far.

UPDATE 2240z: Just 2 stations have copied my 10mW ERP so far tonight. EA5DOM (1525km) is the best DX copied on RX so far.

Heavy frost - NOT amateur radio

This morning we awoke to a very heavy frost. It was quite late before it became milder.

This photo was taken last week and shows the windmill "next door" on a cold and frosty morning.

Most snow has now gone with just the remnants of snowmen. Already this is a much colder winter than we have seen for several years.

Es DX

As mentioned yesterday, Es DX can be spectacular at times. I am not a great believer that these really long paths are multi-hop Es. Far more likely are some kind of chordal-hop DX paths.

At this time of year Es is best in the southern hemisphere in places like South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. As well as the usual 1 and 2-hop Es keep a watchful eye out for real DX.

Last season, JT65 was useful on 6m. FT8 is not as good on weak signals, so I am not sure what mode to try next summer here in Europe.  I have had little success on 6m WSPR.

Last summer I copied loads of continents on 6m JT65 with just a simple vertical omni antenna by Es. There was one morning when a whole stack of JAs were copied "over the pole".  No wonder they call this the magic band. At any point in the solar cycle it can surprise us. Often there is just white noise, then something special appears.

Sunspots - Sunday December 17th 2017

Time is really racing!

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number (you guessed!) zero again.  A=4 and K=5. HF conditions look distinctly unpromising today.

6m MSK144

At the moment, I am still monitoring 50.280MHz MSK144 RX. In the last 12 hours 5 unique stations have been received in 3 countries with best DX OZ4VV (772km) in northern Denmark. These could be random MS or aircraft reflections. Either way it just shows that 6m DX can be worked at any time of the year. In the last day 12 uniques in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1515z: 8 uniques in 4 countries on 6m MSK144 in the last 12 hours.

UPDATE 1712z: 9 uniques in 5 countries now in last 12 hours on 6m MSK144.

Amateur radio when driving

My son's brother-in-law was killed by a distracted driver. My view is DO NOT do anything that will distract you when driving. Even fiddling with the car radio is a distraction. Operating amateur radio gear on the move, even hands-free, is a no-no in my view.

In a split second a life can be changed for ever or ended. The knock-on impacts the family, friends and the driver FOR EVER. Amateur radio is just a hobby. Pull over to operate /M. It can wait.

Cycle 25

We are approaching the next solar minimum. Opinions vary on the next peak, but most seem to agree it will not be great. Thank goodness for digital modes which allow us to make the best of poor conditions. Es, which peaks in May, June and July in the northern hemisphere, is often as good or better when F layer propagation is poor.  Es DX can be spectacular.

See http://spaceweather.com/

6m MSK144 RX

As 6m MSK144 RX seemed promising, I have stayed on this band and mode all last night and today. Best DX copied is GM3NKG (474km). I suspect this is now either aircraft reflection or random MS.

Sunspots - Saturday December 16th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number is zero again. A=5 and K=1.

Android WSPR beacon

To say I am a WSPR fan is an understatement! Nothing compares with the ability to span the globe with QRP, perhaps excepting OPERA. I see there is a WSPR app (Android) which allows a tablet to be hooked up to a rig to form a WSPR beacon. The app costs £1.58.

See https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iu4apc.wsprbeacon

Busy eating curry - NOT amateur radio

They all look miserable, but actually they are a friendly and happy bunch! 

Every month I go for a meal (different pubs in the area) with ex-work colleagues and this time it was a curry night at the pub (buffet) and everyone is tucking in! The curry was great.

ICOM IC7300 - time for a price drop?

Much to my surprise the price has still to fall, although there are "cracks": some are now offering the rig with free gifts.

Personally, I can wait. It is a good rig, but to my mind, the dealers have had a very good time and very good profits. Now is the time to drop the price. Sub £1000 please - soon.

BREXIT next stages - NOT amateur radio

Apparently the EU has agreed to move to the next stage in talks with the UK on its wish to leave. No doubt these talks will be hard, especially as Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, is leader of a government only propped up by a group of Ulster MPs who don't like gays and abortions allegedly. I am not clear of my facts here.

Personally, I think the EU is fearful of other leavers and is concerned the EU could fall apart. There was much good in this "club", but much wrong too. In the end I hope we all strike a good deal in the best interests of all.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42368096 .

Desperately tired - NOT amateur radio

It is nearly 4 years since I was discharged from hospital, where I had been for 3.5 months following my stroke. In many ways I am lucky. However 15-20 minutes of physical or mental effort leaves me desperately tired. Others just do not "get it". My tiredness is utterly draining and then I am fine again. My voice is poor too.

Although I am still hopeful of further small improvements, I suspect how I am is how I am going to be. In the meantime, I still enjoy life. We are dealt a card in life and have to make the best of it.

Risks to under-sea cables? - NOT amateur radio

Much of our internet, banking and commercial traffic is carried on undersea cables and fibre. Apparently the military is worried by the vulnerability of such cables to rogue nations intent on disruptive warfare. The internet is a distributed system, so unless lots of lines are cut, it is unlikely to break completely, although traffic could be slowed.

I am not quite sure how you can protect these cables. It needs a nation with submarines to be a real threat.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42362500 .

Remaining on 6m MSK144

OK, it was the Geminids MS shower, but I was surprised by the level of activity on 50.280MHz MSK144. I was half expecting stations to have migrated to FT8. I am not sure if MSK144 works with much lower signal levels, but most MSK144 signals have been strong.

UPDATE 1214z: So far, 6 stations in 3 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 today. No great DX with the best being F4VPC (518km) in Brittany spotted.

Sunspots - Friday December 15th 2017

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

Dreamer's Band (sub 9kHz amateur radio)

This is the new frontier. As Paul Nicholson pointed out, it is inexpensive and fun. It is much easier than many think.

"Perhaps the perception is that it is difficult?  Surely not.
Don't believe all those stories you hear about how hard it is
to radiate, or how difficult it is to find a location to
receive from!

Let's see -

- Low cost. You don't need expensive SDRs or test equipment.
  Your PC soundcard is signal generator, spectrum analyser,
  and SDR, all in one.  Transmitter is just an audio amplifier,
  even a low quality one.  The most expensive thing you'll buy
  is a load of wire for a loading coil.

- GPS timing?  £18 quid for a NEO-7 module and you know your
  frequency to the micro Hertz.  Buy two, you'll use them!

- Easy to build.  Just audio frequency signals, nothing critical
  about layout.   VLF is great for the homebrew enthusiast.

- You don't need a huge ERP.  10uW and you're on the air.  Your
  LF antenna will probably do better than you think at VLF.

- UK Notice of Variation?  No problem, a simple application form,
  and if enough apply, maybe the regulators will make that easier.

- Where else can you operate at the cutting edge with such
  simple equipment?

In case you think my location here is specially good, it certainly
isn't.  The mains here at the top of the Calder Valley is very
rough, terrible sidebands.  All the properties around here get
their power by overhead lines at 12kV and one of the two 33kV
lines feeding Todmorden is only a km away.  The nearest 12kV
line is just 120m from the E-field antenna. 140mV RMS of 50Hz
on the E-field probe and a lot of harmonics.  Reception here is
bad!   You can probably do better in the suburbs.

How many times per century does amateur radio find a green field
to explore?  Not just a new band but a whole new frequency range.

Don't miss out on this one!

--
Paul Nicholson"