Although my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon has been on all day, I am surprised to not get any spots. On 6m FT8 I have had lots of spots with 10mW. I shall try a re-sync.
20 May 2024
8m experiments
Experiments at 6m (as opposed to 8m) have FAR exceeded what I expected and convinced me that 8m WSPR at 10mW ERP would definitely be spotted by Es. The fact that 10mW FT8 on 6m reached Brazil yesterday was amazing with an omni antenna.
I may try 8m FT8 at 10mW ERP as soon as my 8m antenna is mended. At this rate, it would not surprise me if this spanned Europe as well. Judging by results at 6m, it certainly should. The only difference is the dipole, which is a bit lower in height than the V2000 used on 6m. I would expect this to (maybe) make a few dBs difference.
630m QRP WSPR
For the first time in months I was not on 630m QRP WSPR, when I was at home, last night. Gradually, the number of spots I had received had been dropping off. I shall be back on in the autumn and may try occasionally in the coming months, but not every night.
A new night-time challenge calls! I am still undecided what form this should take.
Swifts - NOT amateur radio
Swifts are part of the UK sky in late spring and early summer.
19 May 2024
QMX+ transceiver
QRP Labs have the QMX+ multi-mode 160-6m transceiver on sale. Hans makes some really good kit and I have no doubt that this rig will also be great.
6m QRPP FT8 (Sunday)
How do I work out 10mW? The rig is set to the lowest power setting (measured 500mW). There is a 15dB pad right at the antenna connection of the radio. My 6m antenna is fed with RG58 coax with a loss of 2dB at 6m. Assume 0dB gain on 6m from the V2000 omni antenna, although it probably has a loss in many directions on 6m!
So just 10mW to the antenna.
UPDATE 0855z: Already spotted with 10mW pretty well in Sardinia by IS0AWZ (1599km). Really, with good Es not much power at all is needed! Even at 10mW 6m FT8, I probably had 8dB in hand.
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| Spots of my 10mW 6m FT8 today |
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| PY1EME's 6m antenna |
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| 6m FT8 RX spots - despite the 15dB pad! |
10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Sunday)
10m Es looks promising and my 500uW 10m WSPR beacon is on.
UPDATE 1457z: Despite Es being excellent today with 24 spots across Europe in 6m 10mW FT8, I have received no spots at all of my 500uW 10m WSPR. This is 13dB less power, but I was surprised that not a single spot was obtained. This must mean (1) 13dB makes a lot of difference, (2) many more are now on FT8, or (3) the 15 second period of FT8 catches more very brief Es openings than the 120 seconds of WSPR-2. It is probably a bit of all three.
UPDATE 1838z: GM4WJA (624km) has spotted my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR several times.
End of the road?
Overnight just 2 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR. It looks like the season is ending as noise levels increase over the spring and summer making the reception of weaker signals much harder. It was fun.
I shall try again in the autumn.
A new challenge calls!
18 May 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1910. So far, spotted by just G6AVK (78km).
8m FT8 QRPP under ISM rules
My 10mW 6m FT8 tests have already exceeded my expectations. I am very tempted to try 8m FT8 (not WSPR) at 10mW ERP on under ISM rules. Perhaps I should try to mend my 8m dipole tomorrow?
New ICOM HF transceiver?
On John's blog he mentions a new concept radio from ICOM called the X60. This is on show at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend. The main unveiling will be at the Tokyo Ham Fair later this summer.
The Dayton Hamvention is probably the biggest amateur radio show in the world.
I have not yet heard if Yaesu will announce anything. Personally, I think they are in a total muddle and it would not surprise me if Yaesu and Kenwood leave the amateur radio market within 5 years.
Blog numbers - NOT amateur radio
One of the things as a runner of a blog I can see is how many visitors I get each day. Basically these numbers are unreliable!
Yesterday, for example, the number of supposed visitors tripled within minutes only to go down again later. Today I have already well exceeded the number seen yesterday.
Basically they are rubbish.
European Es
At the moment, things do not look too great. However, with Es, things can very quickly alter, so I shall stick with 10m and 6m QRPP WSPR in case things change.
6m 10mW WSPR (Saturday)
Once again, I am on 6m with my 10mW WSPR. Although I have been copied locally, I have yet to get any Es spots.
I am trying to simulate what would happen with ISM powers in the UK on 8m, which is open to all without a licence in the UK. I remain convinced this is enough power on WSPR to allow Es spots from Europe on 8m.
With FT8, conditions would have to be exceptional to be copied I suspect.
UPDATE 1234z: My experiment has worked. Quite a few European spots of my 10mW 6m WSPR. Some reports suggest even FT8 might have worked. Starting next week I shall try 6m QRPP FT8 at 10mW. It is my conclusion that 10mW ERP WSPR on 8m (available to all in the UK without a licence) would work under Es conditions.
Near where I come from - NOT amateur radio
10m 500uW WSPR (Saturday)
My QRPP beacon is on again. It was spotted in Germany yesterday, so I remain hopeful.
UPDATE 1712z: Spotted in 2 countries today.
At Anglesey Abbey yesterday - NOT amateur radio
630m WSPR overnight
4 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight with the furthermost GM3YXM (425km).
17 May 2024
Kenwood TH-D75
Who pays this stupid money for a handheld?
I guess people with very deep pockets and very small brains.
Ancient websites - NOT amateur radio
Nothing infuriates me as much as websites that are very out of date! Today, I chanced on this:
"Next proposed Working Party Dates: 6th February 2011 and 6th March 2011."
This is only 13 years out of date 😉. If you are doing a website it has to be maintained!!
6m 10mW WSPR (Friday)
My 10mW 6m WSPR is on again. As you will know this is to find out how well 10mW ERP might perform on 8m, which is available to all (certainly in the UK) under ISM rules without a licence. I am guessing there are more monitors on 6m.
UPDATE 1900z: No 6m spots of me today. Unexpectedly, 3 UK stations were spotted on 6m WSPR RX despite the large pad on the rig output!
UPDATE 2135z: G0VQH (15km) has spotted my 10mW 6m WSPR very strongly (+2dB S/N)
10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on again, although I doubt this will be copied unless we have really good Es further west in Europe. Maybe later?
UPDATE 1343z: DK6UG (633km) has spotted my 500uW 5 times today.
European Es
At the moment, Es seems better in Europe further east. Let's hope it spreads further west!
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
Rallies this weekend
The following have been notified to me, but it is always advisable to check beforehand.
- Saturday May 18th - Barry ARS , CF64 5SP. Contact s.cawsey@sky.com
- Sunday May 19th - Braehead Rally, G51 4BN. See http://braeheadrally.com. No contact details given.
- Sunday May 19th - Dartmoor Radio Club Rally, Yelverton, PL20 6AL. Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com .
16 May 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1910z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. So far, 2 spots received from G8OCV/SDR (65km).
What are these? - NOT amateur radio
Something was put in months ago and must have germinated.
70cm UKAC on Tuesday last
6m 10mW WSPR (Thursday)
My 10mW 6m WSPR is on, but no spots of me at 0835z.
UPDATE 1920z: No spots of me all day.
10m QRPP WSPR (Thursday)
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on. So far (at 0833z) no spots of me.
UPDATE 1807z: No spots.
European Es (Thursday)
At the moment the Es seems to be mainly in the east. I hope this spreads west.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
A better session with 6 stations spotting my 10mW ERP. No amazing DX but it gives me hope!
The West and China - NOT amateur radio
China is in the ascendancy in the 21st century.
For a long time the USA has been acknowledged as the strongest power in the world, but it looks as if this is changing.
No doubt the USA will try to hang on to their supremacy, but I suspect long after I am pushing up daisies things will be very different. China is communist and the USA a western democracy. Both systems have merits and demerits.
15 May 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
Once again, I am on 630m QRP WSPR with 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At the moment I appear to be the only UK station on TX. So far, just spots by G8OCV/SDR (65km).
European Es
At the moment I am carrying out two experiments:
- 500uW 10m WSPR
- 10mW 6m WSPR
The latter is to simulate 8m under ISM rules (10mW ERP) which is open to everyone without the need for a licence.
So far, I have received no spots. When Es is good, this power should be enough, although with weak signals, these can be masked by noise. This could prove to be the limiting factor. My intention is to continue these experiments during the Es season.
Yet more Google rubbish - NOT amateur radio
Yet again, I have received another email from Google Adsense, about adverts in certain USA states.
Perhaps they could either not bother at all (preferable) or learn to communicate in plain English? I am getting fed up with receiving so many rubbish emails from Google that I immediately delete.
Two-faced? - NOT amateur radio
The USA (according to the BBC) has told congress that it wants to send $1bn in arms to Israel. No doubt these (along with many others before) will be used to render women and children dead, maimed or homeless.
We accuse Russia of war crimes in Ukraine, but allow Israel to do the same in Gaza with weapons we provide.
Indeed, Israel has a perfect right to defend itself. However, many will question the way Israel is trying to prosecute the war in Gaza.
My firm belief is everyone on the planet has a right to live in peace, be respected and worship in the way they choose.
6m 10mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My QRPP 6m WSPR was turned on at about 0830z.
UPDATE 1606z: No spots. I am beginning to think that 10mW 6m WSPR is harder than I was expecting. When I went on earlier I noticed that there were quite a few lines of interference. This, if typical, could make reception of weak signals hard.
Sunspots - Wednesday May 15th
Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 185. A=6 and K=1. Solar activity seems to be high. Another peak?
OFCOM auction
OFCOM is consulting on the format of its upcoming auction of 26-40 GHz spectrum. See the OFCOM website for details.
Reminder - Dayton Hamvention
This is a reminder that the Dayton Hamvention is this coming weekend. Dayton is in Ohio, USA 🇺🇸.
As far as I know, it is the biggest amateur radio gathering on the planet. It particularly attracts visitors in the USA, but is also a meeting place for overseas visitors too.
It is often the place where new products are announced. I am still waiting for the FT817 true successor, although I fear it is now too late!
630m QRP WSPR overnight
I forgot to change back to G3XBM from GE3XBM that I was using on 6m during my QRPP tests overnight. Just a single station spotted my 10mW ERP overnight. It was quite the worst night for months. Probably time to think of a new challenge!!
UPDATE 0950z: I shall keep going on 630m WSPR until the weekend before reconsidering things.
14 May 2024
70cm activity contest (UKAC)
This evening was the 70cm activity contest. I worked a couple of stations with my 10W pep SSB to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna before I went QRT after about 40 minutes.
10mW 6m WSPR (Tuesday)
This is really to see how 8m WSPR would work under ISM rules (10mW ERP). I am testing on 6m as I hope there will be more monitors.
If it works on 6m, I am pretty sure it would work on 8m. On 6m QRPP WSPR I am using a unique callsign so I can ID spots at 10mW.
UPDATE 2000z: No spots of me all day.
500uW 10m WSPR (Tuesday)
Once again, I am on 10m WSPR with 500uW to see how I get on in the Es season.
UPDATE 2017z: No spots all day.
Last post about Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio
On Sunday we went to see the famous Sacred Lamb altarpiece in the cathedral in Ghent painted by the van Eyck brothers. In the crypt is an audio visual presentation introducing it.
Amusing - NOT amateur radio
My wife took this photo of 2 geese in Citadel Park in Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪. It looks like they are discussing if they should sunbathe!
10m QRP WSPR late yesterday
My 10mW WSPR on 10m was turned on late yesterday. 11 stations spotted me suggesting the Es season is in full swing.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
As we returned from our holiday in Belgium 🇧🇪 I returned to 630m QRP WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode “antenna“ in the ground. Spots from 3 stations.
Eurostar - NOT amateur radio
Everyone we interacted with in Belgium was extremely kind. In fact this is probably what I shall remember most.
A piece of history
In those days crystals were quite inexpensive, so I made one with crystals for the fledgling GB3PI, 145.50MHz simplex and 145.55 MHz simplex. I think I added a 1750Hz tone burst as well.
They were bodyworn radios with a LS/mic. A handheld version was also made.
These radios are hard to find these days and batteries rarely work.
Sunspots - Tuesday May 14th
Solar flux is 215 and the SSN 207. A=30 and K=2.
Conditions still look disturbed. I don't know how this affects Es.
13 May 2024
10mW 10m WSPR (Monday)
Once again I am on 10m WSPR with 10mW. There is Es about as I have been spotted in less than an hour by 3 stations.
10mW ERP 630m WSPR (Tuesday)
After a break of a few days, I am back on 630m QRP WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It has been on for about 30 minutes. So far, 6 spots by G8OCV/SDR (65km)
Bruges, Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio
We last visited Bruges in October 2001. We visited here last week and it was heaving with people, so much so that it had lost its charm. It is doubtful if we will ever return, but perhaps in winter?
12 May 2024
Cobbles - NOT amateur radio
Among the problems of Belgian 🇧🇪 streets are trams, bikes and cobbles. Since my 2013 stroke, balance has been a problem .This means I am always looking down to ensure the cobbles are OK as I could easily fall.
Crossing the road has always been hard, but it is worse with trams, tram rails and bikes, especially when they come from the wrong direction!!
Yaesu FT710 field
If you are after a good all round HF, 6m and 4m rig I can recommend it . It can TX on all bands to 75MHz in Engineering Mode without uncasing just with button presses. Mods are fully reversible.
I forgot the 3 year warranty on Yaesu gear which I hope they still do.
Solar storm
As radio amateurs we look for good auroral propagation. Visually they can be stunning as this photo from Wicken Fen near us at 2330z shows.
11 May 2024
EchoLink
As I am away from home, I am able to monitor my local repeater - silent every time I tried!!
Swifts in Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio
A sight that gladdened my heart tonight: swifts screaming and flying overhead. These were the first I have seen this year. All is well with the world. When swifts return as they have for thousands of years I know the world carries on. I know this is a sight I shall not see much more, but it confirms my place.
That solar storm
The earth is being hit by a massive solar storm which is the biggest in 20 years so the aurora is being watched far farther south than normal . This was taken in our village last night at 11.30pm by local G3TFX.
10 May 2024
Swifts have arrived - NOT amateur radio
My son has seen a swift in our village so they have arrived in East Anglia. I have not seen any yet.
Steve Webb G3TPW
Years ago I used to work with Steve who created the Cobwebb antenna. I tried to email him using the email on qrz.com Unfortunately it bounced so I was wondering if any readers know his latest email.
Special vintage station
Apparently the RSGB is organising a special station with vintage CW gear this summer. I forget what the reason is.
9 May 2024
Rally this weekend
The following is the information I have .Please check if you are making a special trip.
Sunday May 12th - Retrotech UK (BVWS), Coventry, CV8 3FL. Contact info@retrotech.com
Dark web - NOT amateur radio
After all this time I have come to the conclusion that I am simple. They keep talking about the dark web, but I have no idea how to access it , even if I did.
Eurostar yesterday- NOT amateur radio
8 May 2024
7 May 2024
Cambridge Botanic Garden - NOT amateur radio
10m 10mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My 10mW 10m WSPR has been re-synced to internet time. No spots.
UPDATE 1432z: Several spots by local G4KPX (14km). No DX.
UPDATE 1802z: It is quite a surprise to find out I am struggling with 10mW 10m WSPR when on 6m with 2.5W FT8 I am being widely spotted. Once again EA8BFK (2880km) is spotting me. No Es spots.
6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My 6m QRP (2.5W to the V2000 vertical) is on and 4 stations have spotted me at 0816z.
UPDATE 0838z: 7 stations have spotted me. All of these are in England.
UPDATE 1826z: 49 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 today.
sBitx V3
Steve G1KQH has reminded me of this low cost HF kit. Sadly, building it would be beyond my fine motor skills these days, but I see it has a built-in FT8 decoder, so no PC is needed. I am not sure if it can be bought ready built, but Ashar makes some great kit. His designs always use readily available parts.
6 May 2024
8m or 6m 10mW WSPR?
My intention was to try 8m WSPR with 10mW with ISM rules but I was concerned by the lack of monitors on 8m.
Then it occurred to me that I could try 10mW WSPR on 6m instead during the Es season and be assured of a reasonable number of monitors.
If it works on 6m it would work on 8m in the ISM band. So, my proposal is to try 10mW WSPR on 6m instead of 8m knowing that if it works on 6m it would work licence free on 8m.
630m QRP WSPR (Monday)
My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1845z. So far, 2 stations have spotted me.
York - NOT amateur radio
See https://visityork.org/ .
10m 10mW WSPR (Monday)
There is some Es about, although I have not been spotted yet with my 10mW. The impression is this is not yet at the intensity to regularly support QRPP WSPR.
UPDATE 1730z: No spots of me. It would appear EA8BFK (2880km) is either not monitoring or my signal is too weak.
Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio
This is a very old National Trust piece of land. In the UK, members can visit any National Trust property for free. Others pay an entry fee. NT properties include old houses, clifftops and other land of interest. It is a great resource. I think Wicken Fen was the first NT property in the country. We visited here on Saturday.
We heard lots of cuckoos. Cuckoos like reed warbler nests - there are plenty! Cuckoos are often heard and not seen.
6m QRP FT8 (Monday)
UPDATE 1653z: 34 spots of my QRP so far today. See map.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight . No great DX, but better than I expected really.
5 May 2024
Es so far and QRPP 8m WSPR
There have been Es openings in Europe on 10m and 6m, but nothing yet to suggest my 10mW ERP 8m WSPR would be copied. This is the power that anyone may use licence free with ISM rules in the UK as long as IR2030 is met.
I still have to replace my 8m dipole. I shall probably do this the week after this. Hopefully someone during this Es season will get my 10mW ERP WSPR on 40.680 MHz USB dial. My reluctance is ladder work as I get giddy up ladders!
There are two factors working against me - the low power and too few 8m monitors. Results on 10m suggest 10mW should be enough, but 8m suffers from too few monitors. However, I remain hopeful.
Es is usually good during May, June and July. In my experience the season goes on during July, August and September, but it is on the wane by August.
6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0915z. So far, just one local spot.
UPDATE 0950z: 9 spots of me.
10m 10mW WSPR (Sunday)
EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me multiple times (F2?). At 500uW this would probably not have been possible.
UPDATE 1922z: So far, just EA8BFK has spotted my 10m 10mW WSPR over 100 times!! This looks like single hop F2. I was surprised nobody else spotted me. Perhaps his noise floor is exceptionally low.
Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows the old wind pump at Wicken Fen. It is often thought of as a windmill although it is a pump not a mill.
Still no swifts - NOT amateur radio
On Saturday, we went to Wicken Fen. Although we saw swallows, we saw no swifts. The odd straggler may have arrived, but most have not. Once they arrive they will be quite common.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
Not a bad session overnight. No great DX spots of me and I continue to be really disappointed by how few people there are on TX in the UK. For now I am staying with 630m QRP WSPR.
Homebase 10 antenna
The photo shows a dual band version for 10m and 6m.
Discovery TX-500
The product looks solid yet very thin. It looks like a military product in many ways.
For details see https://lab599.com/
4 May 2024
Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio, USA
This takes place in a few weeks. It is probably the biggest ham gathering on the planet.
It is often the place where new products are announced, even before the product is ready! Why? The USA is probably the biggest market in the world.
One can imagine the pressures on the design teams! You can almost hear the bosses at ICOM and Yaesu saying, "we MUST have a demo product in time for Dayton". The fallback is a non-working model under a screen so punters can only look. I just wonder if there will be any new products announced this year? There was little announced by the big Japanese manufacturers last year.
FT710 or IC7300?
Both these rigs are solid work horses with very similar specs. In the past I have owned an FT710, but I have not owned an IC7300. There are those who really enjoy these rigs. Both have an auto-ATU and are SDR based.
There are some very competitive Chinese products on the market although I am still unsure about the quality and consistency of these Chinese products. They will get there.
The FT710 is a bit less than the IC7300, especially with the Yaesu cashback deal. Mind you, the Chinese products are significantly less expensive.
Once the Chinese really get their act together, they will definitely be serious competitors to the Japanese.
IC-7300 100000 sold!
I wonder if a new version is coming?
Cambridge Botanic Garden flowers - NOT amateur radio
Wicken Fen
This is not far from here. Good to hear cuckoos and once again . They like reed warbler nests!!
10m 10mW WSPR (Saturday)
Today, my plan is to go on 10m WSPR with 10mW to see how it goes. If there is some Es, I am hopeful.
UPDATE 1549z: Plenty of Es about with my 10mW 10m WSPR being spotted by several stations. Some are probably Es, although I suspect the EA8 and TA may be F2 propagation.
Bird table experiment - NOT amateur radio
Being quite big, we had pigeons and other large birds dominating. As an experiment we now have 2 smaller bird tables hung from the tree.
Hopefully, pigeons will be too big and fat!
UPDATE 1743z: A big fat pigeon was eyeing the food on the bird tables and trying to work out how to get it.... and failing! I just hope the smaller birds now find it.
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