9 Jul 2016

Stroke - NOT amateur radio

Every now and then, I like to update readers on the after-effects of my stroke. After nearly 3 years I seem to be on a plateau now feeling giddy most of the time, my voice is poor, getting tired very quickly and feeling sick (slightly) nearly all the time. Drinking liquids is still hard. On the positive side, most things work and I can drive. Life carries on.

After all this time, I was expecting to be better. Sadly, I now have to learn to accept these disabilities are permanent. Things may still improve, but progress is likely to be very slow.

PA0RDT mini-whip

Several people use this very compact antenna on LF and MF for RX. It is an active antenna for receive only. I am thinking of buying one. There was an interesting article on http://www.amateurradio.com/ about optimum height mounting.

6m JT65 and 10m WSPR early today

There were several spots by OZ7IT (853km) on 10m WSPR late last night and one German spot, but so far today (Saturday) both 10m and 6m have been quiet with just a couple of Gs spotting me on 6m JT65. I hope things improve later.

UPDATE 1046z:  OK, it is early I know, but there is no early Es about here.  In past seasons I have noticed more northerly stations later in the Es season. This pattern seems to be there again on 10m and 6m.

Declining solar conditions

We have yet more evidence of the slide in solar conditions. We have had several days without any sunspots in recent days.  Next autumn when the Es is rare and 10m propagation depends on F2 propagation, we will see E-W propagation more rarely than last year on 10m.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

BREXIT again - NOT amateur radio

We voted in a referendum to leave the EU. Although the pound has fallen, the UK stock markets (FTSE 100 and FTSE 250) seem to have shrugged it off.

There is bound to be a period of uncertainty, but I think the EU is worried about its very survival. In the end the UK will be OK, although the "European Project" i.e. the move to a federal Europe is in grave danger. As I have said before, we want a common market but not a federal Europe. We want peace in Europe, but disagree on how best to keep the peace.

In summary, I think BREXIT is more about the future of the EU than the future of the UK.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat July 9th 2016

Solar flux is 86 today. Sunspot number is 55 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

8 Jul 2016

Bury St Edmunds - NOT amateur radio

Last Tuesday when our "London" grandchildren were off school because of a strike we had a great time in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds having a picnic and playing crazy golf. The picture shows them before our picnic.

Yes you see right! Our granddaughter (always an individual) chose to wear 2 right shoes, with one being a winter boot! We love them just as they are.

Grass - NOT amateur radio

Only on Monday I cut the rear lawn but it already needs cutting again! At this time of year grass grows and I guess the combination of dampness and warmth create ideal growing conditions.

UPDATE 1138z:  Grass cut, but I feel knackered!

6m JT65

So far this morning I have spotted a few G stations on this band (best DX 182km) but no Es seen here yet. I have had reports (from locals) of spurious signals about 700Hz away from my main signal. They say this is not RX overload.  This is puzzling as the FT817ND is not being over-driven. Later, I shall swap to JT65-HF software (I need to load it first!) to see if that makes any difference. Currently I am using WSJT-X V1.6.0.

UPDATE 1140z:  Just G spots so far (TX and RX) on 6m JT65 today.

UPDATE 2120z:  Es on 6m from Scandinavia and Spain. I have now swapped to JT65-HF to see if the "ghost" signal goes with the change of software.

10m WSPR disappointment

Just a couple of 10m WSPR spots from Europe overnight. Although probably a blip of Es these could be tropo or aircraft reflections. So far this morning, not a single 10m WSPR spot since the early hours.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri July 8th 2016

Solar flux is 84 today (up a little). Sunspot number is 25 (K=3) and the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". It is a long time now since I have been spotted a long way away on 10m by F2.

7 Jul 2016

Newmarket - NOT amateur radio

This pedestrianised shopping area in Newmarket was once called "The Rookery" but it is now called "The Guineas". There are horses everywhere! Newmarket is the home of horseracing. We do most of our food shopping here.

No Es here?

This is the first day this season when I have seen no European spots at all here on 10m WSPR or 6m JT65. There may have been Es around, but not here. Things can still change and the kit is still running on both bands. 10m WSPR has been particularly disappointing.

UPDATE 1930z:  Just one 10m WSPR spot by GM4WJA (624km) may have been Es. This was at 1700z today.

An OFCOM report prepared by an old work colleague

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/technology-research/2015-reports/assessment-effects-of-repeaters-mobile-networks/.  This report for OFCOM (dated Nov 2015) was prepared by PA Consulting. My old work colleague, Simon Tonks, was involved according to LinkedIn.

UK Conservative Party Election - NOT amateur radio

I have never voted Conservative in more than 40 years but I am very pleased that Michael Gove has been eliminated. In the last few weeks he has, in my view, acted really badly and he has been hosted by his own petard. In my view he deserved all he got. Let us hope he is not in the new Cabinet.

Although not a great supporter of Theresa May, I think she is the best choice for Prime Minister of the UK as we move to leave the EU. She voted to remain in the EU, but is likely to unite the Conservatives.

Interesting times.

AES closes

A large USA dealer has closed according to a message from Steve G1KQH. As I have said many times, we are (in the main) an ageing population of radio amateurs and it is quite likely other dealers will close within the next few years. I fear for some UK dealers and some magazines. Unless more young people are attracted, the dealers will go, the magazines will get less revenue from adverts and the magazines will shrink and go too.

What attracted many of my generation into the hobby does not hold true today. To young people today video messaging around the world is commonplace. Young people get "turned on" by different things.

Our hobby will be very different in 20 years.

10m WSPR

As yet, no spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, although it is very early. Certainly no Es spots on 10m as yet. No G spots either. It is a pity I cannot use JT65 on both 10m and 6m at the same time.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs July 7th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today. Sunspot number is 11 (K=3) and the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor".

No luck on transatlantic 6m DX

Overnight, I see that some Europeans were answering Canadian CQs on 6m JT65. Nothing was copied here sadly on 6m and I was not spotted "over the pond".  The gear is still running and I remain hopeful. So far this morning just G spots on 6m and no Es as yet.

UPDATE 0925z: A 6m JT65 spot of me by MM0AMW (520km) is unusual. This seems too close for Es and too far for tropo or aircraft.MM0AMW Loc IO75EJ

6 Jul 2016

10m Es - nothing special today (so far)

All of the 10m Es spots have been scattered around Europe, with nothing remotely "DXy" here so far. No signs here of spots from the Americas for example.

I'll leave things running on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 just in case. Sadly, I cannot listen with the 10m WSPR beacon, well not on the same rig. The FT817 and PC are tied up with 6m JT65 and WSJT-X V1.6. The stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon (500mW) randomises TX frequency, but is 100% TX. On 6m it is looking for others half the time.

More 6m Es

JT65 is showing there is Es on 6m this evening (see map). I am still amazed by the spot of UN7TW (5214km) this morning. It is such a long way!
JT65 on 6m today

Yahoo oddity

Recently I had great difficulty approving members of my VHF AM Yahoo Group. I was using Firefox, which I'd been using for years. Changing to Microsoft Edge and I had no problems at all and they were approved in seconds. I am using Windows 10. I wonder if anyone else has had similar issues? Odd.

Best DX on 6m JT65 for some years

UN7TW (5214km) in southern Kazakhstan (MN52 square) was spotted on 6m JT65 earlier today. This is a very long way for a VHF band!  A reminder that I am just using a V2000 vertical omni antenna, so nothing special. It bodes well for transatlantic 6m reception. I assume this was some form of Es.

Early morning 6m JT65

It is now 0926z. Already I have had several G spots of my 1W ERP 6m JT65 beacon and I have spotted several G stations here. I assume these are either tropo or aircraft reflection. Best DX on 6m RX here is G0VUH (157km). Best DX on 6m JT65 TX is G1IDZ (182km). As yet, no Es seen here on 6m.

Early 10m Es

I did a resync of the 10m WSPR beacon before breakfast. There was early Es on 10m WSPR this morning with Danish stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 0954z:  Es spots from all over Europe now.

UPDATE 1028z: Some of the 10m spots are from Holland. If Es, this is very short skip suggesting Es possibly as high as 2m. It is possible these are tropo or aircraft reflections.  I think Es is more likely as aircraft reflections are usually accompanied by lots of Doppler and the aircraft have to be in the right place for quite a long time with WSPR.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed July 6th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today. Sunspot number is 23, not zero as it has been for quite a while.  K=1 but the forecast for 10m F2 propagation remains "poor". Luckily there is 10m Es.

More from OFCOM

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1st-Tues-June.  More exciting stuff from OFCOM.  Gosh, this is so exciting that I find it hard not to lose sleep.

5 Jul 2016

10m Es WSPR

Today was not (so far) the best day on 10m for Es, although I have received 26 reports from across Europe. Looking at the reports the Es seemed to favour more northerly stations with nothing so far from southern Europe today.
10m WSPR spots received so far today

2m UKAC tonight

As this is the first Tuesday of the month, it is the 2m UK activity contest this evening. With VHF NFD last weekend I wonder what activity will be like? As usual, I shall go on for a while until I have to stop because of my poor voice. Usually I manage an hour or less in the AL section running 5W and an omni antenna.

UPDATE 2210z: 8 contacts made with best DX G5BBL/P at 221km. Conditions were up. Good turnout with GM, GW, F, ON and PA heard.
Stations worked (5W and omni antenna) on 2m SSB tonight

Grandchildren gone home - NOT amateur radio

We had the "London" grandchildren here last night and today as their school teachers were on strike. We had a picnic in the Abbey Gardens at Bury-St-Edmunds and played crazy golf.

6m JT65 today

At the moment, it looks like there were fewer Es openings on 6m today. Most of my spots  were from Gs although I was spotted in Poland this morning (1W ERP JT65) and I have spotted stations as far away as Eastern Ukraine  in the form of UR5MED (2692km).

Sunspots and 10m - Tues July 5th 2016

Solar flux is 73 today and again the sunspot number is zero (K=1). The 10m F2 propagation forecast is "poor" again.

4 Jul 2016

SAQ yesterday

Although I did not try to listen for SAQ (17.2kHz CW on VLF) yesterday I wonder who did? It was received in Russia and is a good test of your VLF system. Although they have a lot of power and big antennas it can be a challenge to receive them.

July 4th - NOT amateur radio

If I am not mistaken, today is a national holiday in the USA to celebrate independence of the 13 original USA states from the UK in 1776.  I am sure if they wanted to join the UK they would be welcome!

The UK voted recently to leave the EU. Time will tell whether this was a good move or a bad one. We probably have more in common with the USA than the rest of Europe. Certainly we share a common language.

I like Europe but am not a great fan of the EU as an institution. Like many, in many nations, I am happy with a common market but not a federal Europe. The EU has sadly become an inefficient institution which has not added a lot of value in recent years. Although I voted REMAIN, I am not surprised we voted to LEAVE. It is now up to us to forge our way in the world. In some ways being outside the EU is not so bad.

Disappointing Es so far today

With just 3 Es spots on 10m WSPR all day and just G spots on 6m JT65, today has been disappointing for Es. Even with 500mW and my indifferent antenna on 10m, I still get decent reports, but I guess there was not much Es about today. A "bad hair day".
There was a little Es on 6m earlier as I spotted an Italian but, so far, no Es spots of my 1W ERP on 6m.

Transatlantic on 6m?

Last night I spotted Italians and Finns on 6m JT65 calling "CQ USA" or "CQ NA". I spotted, and was spotted by, nothing from across the Atlantic.  I presume some were luckier or just plain hopeful!

This morning all is quiet here with just G spots on 6m JT65 and no spots at all on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1114z: No 6m Es seen here yet. My best DX is a spot by G1IDZ (182km). This is either aircraft reflection or tropo.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon July 4th 2016

Solar flux is just 72 today and we have yet another day with the sunspot number at zero (K=3). The forecast for 10m F2 propagation is, not surprisingly, "poor". So far, no Es on 10m or 6m here.

3 Jul 2016

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
72 QRP Net (Rendez-Vous) weekly report (June 27 to July 3, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  UA1ASB,  SV8/LZ1WF, US5ERQ/p, US3EN, UR0ET,
UR7VT,   RV3GM,  Z35M/p,  RA3AL,  UA1ADF,  TF/RA1M,  RU3NJC,  OK1KW,
OE/DL6UHA, SM7RYR, DF9QV, UA1CEG, OH9XX/p, PA5XM, G3XJS, HA8TI, RX3FY,
LX1KM, HB9FSV, F5SJB, RZ4NWA, OM6TC, HB9BIN/p, DH0DK, OH6NPV

At once SIX operators became Frequenters of the "rendezvous" -
OK1KW, DL6UHA, DF9QV, OH9XX, F5SJB, US5ERQ
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters  lists  at  Club  72 web page -
www.club72.su
Comments and photos of "rendezvous" -
http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

France v. Iceland UEFA 2016 - NOT amateur radio

As hosts I want France to win the football, but I have the greatest respect for little Iceland. We had one of our best holidays ever in Iceland a few years ago. It was a beautiful place, and nothing like as barren as we had expected. There were lupins everywhere and the people were kind and friendly. At halftime France were 4:0 up so it looks like France will win.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus .

VHF NFD

Yet again, I almost forgot this! I was prompted by a Facebook post by the Cambridge Club. I have just been on (5W and a 2m omni antenna) to give away a few points. Because of my poor voice I was not on long but my best DX was G4RFR/P (250km) in IO80ST on 2m. I worked G3PYE/P (local) on 70cm with my 2m halo. The contest runs until 1400z today.