Like a small kid - NOT amateur radio

OK, I admit it - I am like a small kid with a new toy, even though I have had this Android tablet for over a year now!

This morning, I walked to the local Post Office to post a birthday card and took my tablet with me so I could record the walk using the built-in GPS. It tells me the average speed was 3 mph and the total distance 0.5 miles total.

GPS and Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Until yesterday, I had not tried my Android tablet (not a phone, just wi-fi) to plot my routes using GPS.

Yesterday, I put my tablet in my pocket as I walked to and from the bakers in the village. It plotted my path perfectly.

Later, I tried it in the car going to Anglesey Abbey some 5 miles away. The plot looks very accurate. I must try it again. I was surprised how well it did in the car.

CSG Shop

This is Latvian online shop, but I have heard some good reports of it, although I have not (yet) used it myself. They do some good GPS kit as well as 2.4 and 5.8GHz ATV modules.

See http://www.csgshop.com/

GPS

These days, we take satellite navigation such as GPS so much for granted. I am told  that the best resolution using satellites for civilian use is now down to 30cms but for military uses the resolution is better still. It seems quite incredible that GPS is nowadays routinely embedded in smart phones and we just assume we can find our position with great accuracy. Such accuracy came about as a result of a military project way back in the Cold War.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System .

2m WSPR - Sunday

Already I see G3WKW's 20W of 2m WSPR (134km) is appearing on my screen at 0902z at -22dB S/N. As there are 4 UK stations active on 2m WSPR I wonder if I shall see, or be seen, by others too?

Stability is the main issue with the FT817's warm-up drift. The trick is to check GB3VHF's dial frequency as this GPS locked. Use the same offset on WSPR and one should be spot on. A 0.5ppm TCXO would help too, but not worth the outlay. I  have a similar issue (not as great) at 6m where I always set the rig 40-60Hz low after allowing it to stabilise. This seems to get 6m WSPR pretty close.

At 0956z  I see my 2W WSPR to the halo has been spotted by G8XWR in IO91oc at 150km. That is encouraging as it is the far side of Guilford and Farnham and further away than Bob. I notice strong Doppler, so probably aircraft reflection.

Lae in the afternoon G3WKW swapped to a lower loss feeder and his signal increased and he began to copy my QRP signal.

In all it was a successful day on 2m WSPR but my drift issue does need to be improved. The DX spots are due to aircraft reflection (when Doppler suits - i.e. little) and the SW package mentioned below helps to predict best opportunities.

144MHz WSPR spots sent and received today (2W and halo)

Ultimate 3 beacon - GPS module

The GPS module for the Hans Summers WSPR beacon to provide QTH locator and very accurate timing is now back in stock so I have ordered one. It needs a 3.2V regulated supply.

Walking in Devon

No posts for a few days as I've been away staying with my 68 year old brother in South Devon. I managed a couple of nice walks along the cliffs and lanes in the cold bright winter sunshine. I believe in the Met Office definition of winter starting Dec 1st. The lanes were VERY muddy but Salcombe, my home town in my childhood was quiet and beautiful.

My 2 Devon walks plotted using the G730 GPS tracker

My Ventus G730 GPS tracker - available for around £34 from Martin Lynch - plotted the 2 walks.  One was around 14km and the other 16.5km.

This shot is of the coastal path near Thurlestone. There are a few nice seats on the walk and I have worked some good HF and VHF pedestrian portable DX from them, although I took no radio gear this time.

GPS Route Logger

Last week I bought a Ventus G730 GPS Route Logger from Martin Lynch for £34.95. Today I tried it out for the first time on a walk in the bright autumn sunshine at Ickworth park, near Bury St Edmunds. I am totally delighted with it.

The map below shows the route taken as plotted on Google Earth. The data that comes out of the logger shows route taken, speed (average and instantaneous) , distance traveled, and altitude up and down. If linked to a digital camera file it can be used to geotag photos on a walk. I am very impressed that something this small shoved in your pocket can produce such fun results. I now need to find a use for this in my amateur radio experiments.

Google Earth plot of a walk today using data from the Ventus GPS logger

GPS tracking?

Some help needed......

When out in the field locally receiving my VLF and LF test transmissions from home, it would be very helpful to be able to plot signal strength against location. For example, if doing a drive test, with an E-field probe antenna on the car feeding an LF RX and PC audio package such as Spectran, it would be excellent to be able to plot a map or database showing field strength and location. Now I have to confess I haven't a clue where to start! My knowledge of GPS is almost zero and my PC skills are limited to MS Word and simple spreadsheets in Excel (some years ago). So, if anyone knows of a SIMPLE way of achieving this goal please let me know.

On a related subject, what is the best, low cost, pocket GPS tracker that would record a walk (distance, track taken, times) and allow this to be plotted on a map when one gets home?

GPS cannot always be relied upon

As if to remind us of the vulnerability of modern technology yet again:

The MoD has informed OFCOM of the following GPS jamming exercise

Dates: 19 – 26 May 2011.

Times: limited periods between 0700z 19 May to 100z 2 May 2011. 

Location:  The ground based radar jamming events will take place in the SW approaches against the remote radar head at Portreath 21-22 May, undertaken by F-18 Growler aircraft. Additionally there will be radar jamming against deployed targets in South West Wales throughout the period 19-26 May. Communications and airborne radar jamming will take place throughout the same period on the East Coast with aircraft operating within the North Sea Military Danger Areas. Communications and maritime unit radar jamming will take place in the SW approaches and Bristol Channel. Falcon aircraft will operate from Sea Level to FL240 unless jamming AEW aircraft where they may operate above FL245.

Note: Safety of life operations will take precedence over exercise activities at all times.