Gilbert and Sullivan - NOT amateur radio

This evening we went with friends to nearby Swaffham Bulbeck for a Gilbert and Sullivan performance of "The Pirates of Penzance". Every June a local barn is taken over to do a G+S production. It is part of our year. The performance was excellent. It always is good. The cast is amateur but they always put on a first class show. At one point it rained heavily. Luckily the lights stayed on!

Sunspots and 10m - Wed June 15th 2016

Solar flux is 87 today and sunspot number 26 (K=3). 10m F2 propagation is forecast to remain "poor".

It is hard to believe we are approaching the summer solstice and the longest day. It seems 5 minutes since Christmas and the shortest day.

Still on 6m JT65

Today, I shall remain on JT65 on 6m, but continue with WSPR on 10m. A couple of G stations have already spotted my CQ on 6m in JT65, but no Es as yet. I have seen CQs from other G stations on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1240z:  On 6m JT65 I have spotted GU8BFO (374km) and OZ0TFW (829km) as well as several G stations.

Now active on 6m JT65

For the last hour or thereabouts I have been on 6m JT65 rather than WSPR. I am still just using the FT817 and the V2000 vertical omni fed with (lossy) RG58 coax.

Much to my surprise I am being spotted by G0LFF (146km) not far north of Brighton. At the moment I am calling CQ every 2 minutes, but I shall probably switch to RX only until after breakfast. There seems to be more activity on this mode than WSPR on 6m. It will be interesting to see what I spot, and who I can work, by Es tomorrow using this mode.

UPDATE 2050z:  On 6m JT65 I have now switched to RX only until after breakfast tomorrow.

70cm UKAC contest - dreadful!

Well, although I only have 5W and a 2m omni antenna I usually have a go in this contest and give a few points out. Tonight was truly dreadful. I only worked 2 stations in the limited time I was active and only heard 3 stations in total. Conditions seemed very flat and activity low. Usually I can work far more stations at greater range.

Anne's old house - NOT amateur radio

We have a friend who has been to visit me most months. She lives in a VERY old house. Today we walked to her house for tea and scones.

This roof, to the rear of her house, is a real problem in heavy rain as gallons and gallons of water flows off it, causing her cellar to flood. She has taken measures to minimise the problems but she is always nervous with heavy rain around.

QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR - thunderstorm risk

As there are storms moving this way, I decided to go QRT on both 10m and 6m WSPR and disconnect antennas and power plugs. The shack PC is also off and disconnected. Once the risk passes, I may reconnect. This could be some hours.

See www.lightningmaps.org to see where the storms are.

West Coast Canada to Africa on 6m

See http://www.amateurradio.com/ for a  report by Steve VE7SL of his 6m exploits. This sounds like Es but on these very long paths I question the conventional theories of multi-hop Es. I wonder if this is some kind of chordal-hop Es? As I reported yesterday, my QRP 6m WSPR was spotted for the 3rd year running in Israel. It could be multi-hop but I have my doubts.

There is also the possibility of mesospheric noctilucent clouds being involved in some very long paths on 6m such as Europe to Japan. This 8000km + path seems to be there most summers. We have much still to learn.

Hornets in Kent - NOT amateur radio

One of our sons who lives near Canterbury, Kent, UK reports lots of hornet sightings this year. Maybe it is as they are quite near to France? Normally they are quite uncommon but he has seen lots this month alone. Of course it could be global warming and we are beginning to see less common insects more often? I have seen a few beetles and flies in the garden that I do not recognise. Perhaps they have always been around. I have asked my son to take some photos.

SAQ transmission

"Grimeton Radio Station was listed as a world heritage site because, its original equipment is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the development of communication technology. In fact, it is still in working order.
Grimeton (call sign SAQ) still transmits a message to the world twice a year: at the Alexanderson Day (Sunday at the end of June/beginning of July) and at Christmas Eve. The frequency is 17.2 kHz CW."

Next transmission is July 3rd 2016. I am lucky to have a QSL card for their VLF transmission some years ago.

See  http://alexander.n.se/?lang=en .

Sunspots and 10m - Tues June 14th 2016

Solar flux is 89 today. Sunspot number is 27 (K=2) but 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Early start on 6m WSPR and 10m WSPR

OZ7IT (853km) was spotting my 1W ERP 6m WSPR at 0658z this morning. I assume this is Es, but early.

UPDATE 0900z:  Steve VE7SL has suggested I monitor JT65 on 6m instead of WSPR as activity levels are higher. I am seriously considering this.

UPDATE 1002z:  Lots of 10m WSPR spots from stations in Scandinavia this morning. Nothing more on 6m WSPR.

10m still open (Es)

It is 2106z and my 500mW 10m WSPR is still being copied around Europe. 10m WSPR has been good for Es all day. My "gut" feel is reports on 6m Es are generally much stronger than 10m, but there are too few WSPR stations on 6m.

UPDATE 2120z:   IU1DZZ (973km) is still spotting me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2138z:  Now DK6UG (633km) is spotting me on 10m WSPR.

East Suffolk Wireless Revival

John G4BAO on RHS. Not sure who is on LHS

This was yesterday. I saw a post on Twitter showing Sam Jewell (G4DDK) and John Worsnop (G4BAO) engaged in conversation, no doubt about microwaves! The photo does not show Sam. John does the microwaves column in RadCom.

Storms

See www.lightningmaps.org .

I am very sorry folks. About 30 minutes ago I cut my front lawn and now it is really raining very hard.  According to the maps (see link) the thunder and lightning are heading this way. I shall stay on 10m and 6m WSPR for a little while, but I may well have to disconnect things soon.

UPDATE 1715z:  Well, although it rained hard, the storms decided to miss us, so I am still active on 10m and 6m WSPR.

Israel (again) on 6m WSPR

For the third year running my 1W ERP has been spotted in Israel on 6m WSPR by 4X1RF (3519km). This is a long way on VHF. It has now happened at this QTH for the last 3 summers! It seems too strong and regular for multi-hop Es. To me, it seems more like some sort of chordal-hop Es.

Tropo on the radio

Listen to www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03x0dq0

Southgate News has a link to the BBC Radio Lincolnshire broadcast featuring Jim Bacon talking about tropo.

PW QRP 2m contest - missed it again

Yet again I managed to miss the Practical Wireless 2m QRP contest yesterday. It would have been a good test of my simple station too. It is many years since I seriously entered this 2m contest. This was back in the days of AM I think and we operated portable with a big beam. These days, it would be from home with just my big-wheel omni.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon June 13th 2016

Solar flux is 92 today. Sunspot number is 39 (K=4) and 10m F2 propagation is forecast to remain "poor".

More storms?

At the moment there are thunderstorms in the UK, but these seem to be out to the west and in the Oxford area according to http://www.lightningmaps.org . I shall remain on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR,but if they get nearer I shall go QRT.

They seem to be moving this way - maybe disconnect everything in a few hours?

http://www.lightningmaps.org

Unlike weather forecasts these are actual storms. At this time of year especially, it is worth going to the linked maps to keep an eye on storm progress.

UPDATE 1857z:  At the moment the storms seem to be going in the Chelmsford and Corby directions and not coming towards us.

UK Weather Forecasts are Rubbish - NOT amateur radio

OK, I moan about weather forecasts a lot and here I go again. 

Yesterday the forecast for OUR VILLAGE on the day said rain showers all afternoon. It was dry until we went to bed. 

Today OUR VILLAGE was supposed to be dry all day. It is raining! 

If you cannot rely on the forecast for NOW, what IS the point? Before readers tell me how complex our UK weather is may I say, yet again, our forecasts are rubbish.

The only reliable weather forecast in the UK is to look out of the darn window.

Millions have been spent on super-computers to enable better forecasting - oh yes? 

UPDATE 1400z:  Perhaps the best is to look at the forecast and assume the opposite?

All quiet so far on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR

It is now, as I write this, 0800z. So far, both 10m and 6m WSPR have been very quiet although it is very early still. Certainly there have been no signs here of Es as yet.

UPDATE 1140z:  So far just a single spot on 10m WSPR from HA9AL (1455km). Nothing as yet on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1306z:  Apart from the above Es spot, just G4KPX (14km) spotting me on 10m WSPR. All still quiet here on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1342z:  Spots exchanged with G4NRG (58km) on 6m WSPR. I am giving him much better reported S/N. OK, he is running a little more power, but maybe he has a higher local noise level?

UPDATE 1712z: OZ7IT (853km) has just spotted me strongly (+10dB S/N) on 6m WSPR. This is incredibly strong - more than a local! It implies just uW would have been enough.

UPDATE 1852z:  OZ5XN (812km) running 5W WSPR was a colossal signal on 6m WSPR at +13dB S/N. Almost like he is in the same street!

England Football Fans - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, I am ashamed of the England supporters abroad. Now, I am sure it is a small minority who cause all the unrest and violence but these tarnish the game. Also, sometimes others start the violence knowing that England fans will be blamed.

Personally, I think a lot of this is due to drinking to excesses. Maybe there should be a blanket ban on alcohol within a certain radius of games? This seems unfair on "normal" fans who just go to follow the teams.

I am not a great football fan. Some games are watched on TV but I would never follow my teams abroad. It must be 30 years (at least) since I last went to a football match!

Sunspots and 10m - Sun June 12th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today. Sunspot number is 40 (K=2). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation yet again remains "poor". Luckily there has been Es around to liven up 10m and 6m.

Queen at 90 - NOT amateur radio

Although not a royalist, I think the UK queen has done very well over her long reign. The very survival of the institute of monarchy is in no small part due to her. The money that royalty brings in must more than make up for the expense of the royal household.

Ours is a constitutional monarchy: although the queen has weekly discussions with the Prime Minister of the day, she in no way influences the day-to-day running of the nation. She does open Parliament (The State Opening of Parliament) in her "official" role as queen and head of state.

I cannot imagine us as a republic with a president. We are lacking people that we could all look up to and respect. Somehow I cannot imagine the monarchy after Elizabeth dies. It is bound to happen sooner rather than later. Will we still have a monarchy 50 years from now?

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
72 QRP Net (Rendez-Vous) weekly report (June 6 to 12, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  US5EFU, UA1CEG, RU3NJC, F/PA0PJE/p, UA1ADF, SM7RYR,  UR0ET,  UA3PCJ,  UR7VT,  UA4NU,  R1OA, RN4NAA, US3EN, ON6KZ, US5ERQ, IT9IFI
IT9IFI became Rendez-Vous Frequenter
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - www.club72.su
Welcome  all  QRP  operators  on  the  "72  QRP Net" (Rendez-Vous) in Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  Saturdays  at  9 UTC on 14060 kHz (alternative 10116 kHz if contents) +/- QRM, QRL.
P.S. Full "rendezvous" weekly reports published on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

472kHz transverter

472kHz transverter (homebrew design and build)

All winter, spring and indeed right up to now, I have been using my FT817 and a homebrew transverter for 472kHz WSPR. Although the transverter puts out about 12W, my ERP on 472kHz is a measured 5mW from the earth-electrode "antenna". Although far from efficient, it provides me with a means of radiating a signal on 472kHz WSPR.  Best TX DX this season on the band was well over 1000km to Norway on several occasions. It has copied 1525km on RX with just the FT817 without a preamp.

New UK record on 241GHz

I guess we do things the hard way "because it is there".  There are far easier ways to communicate over this distance! As  I said before, personally I think 481THz (optical) is much easier than microwaves.

UK distance on 241 GHz improved to 400m in latest tests by G8ACE. Tweeted by @UKGHZ which is the UK microwave group.

See https://twitter.com/UKGHZ/status/74124618582711091 .

Local Church Fete - NOT amateur radio

Church Fete in the churchyard

This is usually held the next weekend in June each year, but it was changed to coincide with the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations. Although thundery showers have been threatened all afternoon, they have kept off for now. My wife is running the cake stall as she does most years. It is usually a good chance to meet village people not seen for a while.

6m daytime and thunder

OH5MD (1757km) spotted me on 6m WSPR this lunchtime, but there were no spots on 10m WSPR of my 500mW WSPR beacon.  Because of the risk of thunderstorms this afternoon I have gone QRT on 10m and 6m and disconnected antennas and power plugs to the rigs and PC. I may return at teatime.

There is quite a high risk of storms this afternoon.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org .

UPDATE 1715z:  In the end it was muggy, but dry, all afternoon, The storms seem to be in the Ipswich area and moving away. I shall probably return to 10m and 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1730z: 10m and 6m WSPR now on. There was a strong signal on 6m just after turning on, but being the first cycle it did not decode.  I shall have to hope this signal returns soon.

6m Overnight

Although my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was not spotted overnight I did see OH7TE (1861km) running 10W at 0418z on 6m WSPR with quite a bit of drift. Although likely to be Es, I am not certain. G4NRG (58km) was spotted on 6m WSPR this morning.

It certainly to be on the right frequency in the 6m band! See my post yesterday!

Sunspots and 10m - Sat June 11th 2016

Solar flux is 85 today and sunspot number 28 (K=2). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

Marlon Brando

Tweeted by the RSGB:

Friday fun fact – Marlon Brando used the call signs KE6PZH and FO5GJ. He said amateur radio allowed him to be himself.

10GHz DX

I get excited about German spots on 10m WSPR. Meanwhile I noticed this from G4HTZ:

"Just worked DF6IY on 10GHz SSB at 618km ..fantastic conditions but little activity @UKGHZ

Now that is DX!  No doubt helped by being on the coast, but really well done Steve.

6m WSPR - doh!

I knew I had to offset my FT817 on 6m WSPR but it helps to be on the correct frequency! I realised I was set to 50.292700 whereas I should have been 50.292970. As soon as I corrected my stupid error of the last few days I was immediately spotted by G0LRD (25km) at +5dB S/N. I feel so stupid. Maybe now I'll see some 6m Es!  Silly boy.

Meanwhile my fully stand-alone W5OLF 10m 500mW WSPR beacon continues to be spotted across Europe and beyond. This little beacon has given me so much fun - it beats everything I have ever owned. It is so tiny too. If everything else had to go this is the one bit of kit I would want to keep. In terms of DX per pound spent this is incredible value. It is so small it can be overlooked, but boy does it pack a punch.

UPDATE 1835z: My first DX Es spot on 6m WSPR this season: EA1CCM (1301km) spotted me at an incredible +4dB S/N at 1832z. Yes, it definitely helps to be on the right frequency!

UPDATE 2135z: OH7AZL (2000km) was spotted on 6m WSPR earlier this evening.

10m WSPR Es - late, but here

Eventually, I see my 10m WSPR is being spotted in Germany from 1006z. This was later than yesterday, but definitely Es around again. I wonder what the rest of the day will bring?

UPDATE 1215z:  10m WSPR spots from France and Denmark now.

6m WSPR Es - not yet here

As yet, I have still to catch an Es opening on 6m WSPR. Others with higher ERPs have. I use WSPR as I can monitor activity remotely in the lounge on another PC, or even in the garden. WSPR also suits my disability as I do not have to use my voice.

In the last few summers 4X1RF (3519km) has received my 1W ERP WSPR on 6m several times. He is monitoring, so I just have to be patient and see if this path opens this year too. I know I'd have more 6m success on SSB, CW or JT65.

In the meantime, I  am trying on both 6m and 10m WSPR although 10m WSPR is quiet here today.

EME or Moonbounce

See http://www.amateurradio.com/ for details of VE7SL's EME activity. He runs (relatively) low power for moonbounce, but still seems to get lots of contacts via the moon. Inspiring stuff.

More UK Rallies this weekend

Sunday 12 JUNE : 15th JUNCTION 28 RALLY
Alfreton Leisure Centre, Church Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. The venue has car parking available and disabled facilities. There will be trade stands, special interest groups and a raffle will take place, there is also a licensed bar. More information from Anya Lawrence on 01159 307 322 or by email to adylawri@btininternet.com.

Sunday 12 JUNE : EAST SUFFOLK WIRELESS REVIVAL (Ipswich Radio Rally)
The Orwell Crossing Lorry Park, A14 Eastbound, Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0DD. There will be a talk in station on S22 and car parking is available on site. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is £2. There will be an RSGB bookstall, a car boot area and a Bring & Buy. Special interest groups will be attending. There is a licensed bar and catering available. An HF station running GB4SWR will be on the air. Details from Kevin, G8MXV, 0771 004 6846. www.eswr.org.uk.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

BHS recently, so who is next? - NOT amateur radio

In recent years some very well known shops have closed and gone from UK high streets including Woolworths and recently BHS. Sadly, these stores never quite got their acts together in the on-line age. More are certain to follow.

My bet is on W.H.Smith closing next.  These shops always look tired and poorly lit. You get the impression this is a chain hanging on rather than thriving. They have looked tired for many years now. I find shopping there a dismal experience these days. No, they need to work on their lighting and on-line activities if they are still to be around in years to come.

Shops that will survive are those with a good website, good on-line sales, and a "click and collect" option in a bright and inviting local store. The model is John Lewis. Sadly W.H.Smiths is not a John Lewis. They could be though. I think there time to change, but not much.