Spring? - NOT amateur radio

Yes, I know it is only February and we could still get really cold weather and snow. However, it feels like spring and the daffodils on our green are in full bloom. This picture is a few days old and they are even more in bloom today.

2m FT8 RX

Much of the morning, I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far, 29 stations spotted here with best DX DF7JC (468km). Once again using the FT817ND with the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1621z: Currently 50 stations in 6 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1754z:  Now 56 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2230z:  Now 71 different stations in 8 countries with best DX spotted DL3TW (655km) on 2m FT8 in the last 12 hours.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Last night (overnight) and last evening, I was active on 472kHz WSPR with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I would describe conditions and results as "average"  with 7 stations spotting me and I spotted 9 stations. On TX my best DX was a spot by F59706/1 (560km) who copied my 10mW ERP at -23dB S/N.

Stations that spotted me.

Stations I spotted.

Sunspots - Sunday February 17th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=1.

QSY to 472kHz WSPR

At about 1837z, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

QSYed from 10m FT8

At the moment, I am looking on 1.84MHz FT8 RX, although I think I'll try 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) shortly. Even within a few minutes, much of Europe was coming through again on 160m FT8 RX.

Stations received within a few minutes on 160m FT8 

RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Earth-electrode "antenna" further description

Earth-electrode "antenna" system - click to enlarge

As blog readers will know, over the years I have had great success on VLF earth-mode, LF and MF with a very simple "antenna" that the neighbours and XYL don't even realise is there. Now, if you have space for a real antenna you may well get better results with a proper antenna and ground system. However, if like me, you don't like big antennas this may be an answer, at least with modes like WSPR, JT9 and FT8. Every situation is different. At the old QTH I did not need a matching transformer at all. At your QTH you may need a different turns number or ratio. At 137kHz, 472kHz and 1.84MHz my theory is this forms a loop in the ground. With VLF utilities assisted earth-mode I think it behaves differently.

3C90 step-up transformer

Basically, the far end connects to a ground rod about 1m long in the soil. This is connected to the shack end via a wire (normal hook-up wire) that runs along the garden fence, not far off the ground. At the shack end I connect to the mains ground (please check that this is safe at your QTH as mains earths vary), although at the old QTH I used a separate ground spike (outside the shack) with the wire from the far ground spike run along the ground. Results were almost identical.

At this QTH I use a 3C90 42mm diameter toroid with 2t on the primary (connected to the rig or transverter) and a 20t secondary (connected to the "antenna"). This was empirically wound to give best match and best ERP. I hope the diagram and photo helps. The video was at the old QTH.

Oscar 100

Only time will tell how this geosynchronous satellite (Es'hail2) will work out. At the moment, it seems to be working well with about 6-8 users at one time. As time goes by, I expect more people will get active on it. In the end it could get quite busy.

Will the initial enthusiasm wane? Will people soon tire of this "repeater in the sky"? OK it is 22000 miles up, but once you have worked a few stations, you know you can work just about anybody that is in range across the planet with suitable gear. At the moment it is novel to be able to work real DX with ease on microwave frequencies at any time.

At the moment I am monitoring on the web SDR. See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

10m FT8 during the day

As per usual, I am on 10m FT8 RX during the day. Just one G spotted so far G4HZW (212km). No sign here of much activity today.

UPDATE 1425z: HB9DFP (714km) best DX spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Just 3 spots in all here.

Witch hazel? - NOT amateur radio

I am definitely not a plant expert! This was seen at Anglesey Abbey a few days ago. I think it is witch hazel, although I am not sure. If it is, I am not sure why it got this name.