HF satellite transponder

Southgate News reports on an amateur satellite with an HF transponder. My one and only satellite QSO was one many years ago with a 10m downlink.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/hfsat-will-have-21-to-29-mhz-transponder.htm .

Gardening - NOT amateur radio

Although colder than of late, today was a bright and sunny day, so ideal to be in the garden. There are leaves everywhere at this time of year.  Our son came up this afternoon from London to help us "put the garden to bed" for the colder months ahead. We had no idea just how long the roots were on the shrub our other son dug up last week!  He turned over the ground and planted some bulbs with my wife. It will be fun seeing these appear in the winter and spring.

First frost - NOT amateur radio

Well, after a fairly mild summer and autumn, we had our first frost this autumn last night. Just a smattering, but frost nonetheless. It seems to have suddenly become autumn, although we have yet to have the winds and gales we normally get at this time of the year.: these suddenly make the trees bare. It is Nov 2nd and we still have sweet peas out in the garden.

OFCOM Newsletter

As usual, OFCOM has published its monthly newsletter.  They have to justify their existence.

10m JT65

At 0634z I went on 10m JT65 and checked the PC was synced to internet time.

UPDATE 1035z: Spots of my 10m JT65 (2W) from UR2MZ (2742km) and I have spotted several Europeans here. Promising.  Es, F2?

UPDATE 1235z: CT4RC (1814km) spotted my 10m JT65 (2W) nearly 2 hours ago. Nothing yet outside Europe on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1420z:  Still waiting for the first spots today outside of Europe. It was close to this time yesterday that I got my first 10m JT65 spot from the USA. On the face of it, conditions today are a little better than yesterday. Oh, the anticipation! G0OYQ (177km) in IO93 was spotted. I think this will have been aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1630z:  3 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 so far. No-one outside of Europe has spotted my 10m JT65 (2W) today yet. No USA spots today.

UPDATE 1822z:  It looks like the 10m DX has ended for the day. Just in case, the rig will be on for several hours yet.

UPDATE 1906z:  Still no more 10m spots.

Sunspots and 10m Wednesday November 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 12.  K=1. On the face of it, things look marginally better than yesterday when my 2W 10m JT65 was spotted in the USA for the first time this autumn.

2m UKAC tonight

If my voice allows, I hope to take part in the 2m November leg of the RSGB's UKAC contest this evening. As usual, I shall be running 5W SSB and my big-wheel omni. The contest starts at 2000z. If you have the stamina, it lasts for 2.5 hours. I usually manage 30-60 minutes.

UPDATE 2155z: In the end 12 QSOs in 50 minutes with best DX 181km.

10m JT65

A return to 10m JT65 was made around 0715z today and the PC sync to internet time checked.

UPDATE 1044z:   F1GTU (754km) spotted me 44 minutes ago on 10m JT65. Es?

UPDATE 1215z:  No further 10m JT65 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1840z:  AB1KW (3256 miles) in New England (FN43 square) was spotting me on 10m JT65 4 hours ago. This is my first spot in the USA on 10m this autumn. I did spot a couple of Florida stations some weeks ago. Interestingly, no South Americans as yet on 10m JT65. Last night, they were being copied here way after 2000z. I wonder if more USA stations will spot me on 10m JT65 this month? Conditions E-W seem very marginal now, unlike a few years ago when USA stations were very common on 10m.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday November 1st 2016

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 12. K=2.

QSYed to 10m JT65

At about 1715z I QSYed to 10m JT65 from 6m JT65. I may have left it too late as I have not had any spots on 10m yet. Maybe, there was no European propagation to link to the TEP area? Anyway, I'll leave things running for a few more hours.

UPDATE 1927z: IZ4RE (1138km) spotted me in the last ten minutes.

UPDATE 2200z:  I finally went QRT at around 2145z. In all, 5 South Americans were spotted on 10m JT65, all after dark here.  Best DX on 10m JT65 RX was Argentina. I was not expecting to spot any South Americans on 10m this late. Surprised again!

6m JT65 (2W) and 10m WSPR (500mW)

This morning, I decided to go on 6m JT65 and 10m WSPR.  Just G0LRD (25km) spotting me on 6m and nothing on 10m.

UPDATE 1538z:  F1LII (995km) spotted me on 6m JT65 a few hours ago and EA6SX (1439km) in the Balearic Is was the best DX on 6m JT65 RX. Both these were a total surprise on 6m. Nothing at all on 10m WSPR.

Working QRP SSB stateside DX from the car

This photo was taken in spring 2013 (before my stroke) and shows me working QRP SSB DX from the car on the edge of Dartmoor, Devon. I guess this will never happen again now as SSB is such hard work! I think the band was 15m. Conditions, and the weather, were good.

Cobweb in the dew - NOT amateur radio

This cobweb was covered in dew this morning. We are now very much in autumn and the grass is very wet in the mornings. I hope you like it as much as I do. In every season there is something good.

G3XBM video channel

Just a reminder that I have a video channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM . This channel has many of my projects.  Most videos were created before my stroke. I hope you enjoy these.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday October 31st 2016

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is12 . K=3.

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of October.

24GHz handheld

Well, I missed this at first, but am mightily impressed!

This was spotted on Amateur Radio Weekly, but it first appeared on a blog in Spain. Can you believe it? A 24GHz handheld! What some manage just astounds me.

See ea4eoz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/24ghz-old-way.html?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

UK clock change and 10m

In the end, I gave CQWW a miss today (because of my voice) and stayed on 10m JT65.

I keep forgetting that the UK clocks went back last night (we are now GMT until the end of March) and that it will be dark an hour earlier tonight. So, I have to remember that any DX on 10m is likely to peak an hour earlier. So far, just a single Brazilian spotted on 10m JT65 today. With the earlier darkness, it is less likely there will be many (or any) more today. I think the chances of USA spots on 10m has passed for today. I guess this needs a lower K index and a higher sunspot number, although I am no expert.

UPDATE 1536z:  I have just spotted a station in Faro, Portugal, CT4RC (1814km) on 10m JT65 at 1528z, although no further South Americans. If the South Americans are coming through by TEP, then the Portuguese station indicates some chance of linking into this TEP from the UK.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_and_FM_DX#Transequatorial_propagation_.28TEP.29  . This article is about FM and TV DXing, but it gives some insight into TEP.

UPDATE 1725z:  In the last 15 minutes 2 more Brazilians (Sao Paulo area) have been spotted on 10m JT65. This is consistent with TEP and an extension to northern Europe by some other mode of propagation.

UPDATE 1800z:  Now 5 South American spotted on 10m JT65 with the best RX DX being CX3BA (11131km) in Uruguay.  I am more convinced than ever that this is TEP with extension to northern Europe.

UPDATE 1925z:  No further South Americans in the last 3/4 hour. In the end 9 South Americans spotted with best DX on RX Argentina. I am wondering if we are seeing TEP extended by southern hemisphere Es? I doubt we'll see more South American spots tonight on 10m JT65.

Halloween - NOT amateur radio

Call me a killjoy if you like,  but I think Halloween has been commercilised here in the UK. A few years ago Halloween was nothing special. Now, it is BIG business. Tills are ringing and we are all sucked in. No, the prime reason it is now so big is MONEY and PROFITS, pure and simple. It stinks.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

It seems only a few weeks since we were in summer, but it is definitely autumn here. We still have sweet peas out in the garden, we have still to have a first frost, but the trees have turned and the colours are great.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (October 24 to 30, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  US3EW,  R1OA, UA1ASB, UA0SBQ, UR7VT, UR0ET, OH5LP,  UR5EFD,  IT9QAU,  LZ1IC,  EA6BB, DK1HW, DL1HSI, US3EN, G4MLW, HB9DAX,  UA9MLY,  DL8AWK, RW3AA, R1CAF, RU3NJC, RV3GM, S52GP, PA3ALX,  UA1CEX,  G6HUI,  DK4AN,  EA5EQ, UA1CEG, US7IB, OH6NPV, SM2BYW, YU1KM, G3XJS, EA7JUK, G0FMY, ON6KZ, 4Z5NX, US5ERQ, DL6UHA/p, R4NX, RV3DSA/0
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - club72.su
See   full   report   including   "soapbox"   on  the  blog  page  - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
See you all on next QRP "rendezvous" round tables.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.
 

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

UW5EKR  op.  Maxim  visited  "rendezvous"  today.  That  was his 1'st "rendezvous" - congrats! Sorry for my error

10m JT65 today (Sunday)

This morning I went straight on to 10m JT65. E73DN (1630km) has already spotted my 2W 10m JT65 and I have already spotted many Europeans.

UPDATE 1346z: As well as being spotted  in Italy, I see that I have spotted PY1ON (9304km) in the Rio area of Brazil. I was going to try CQWW again, but think I'll stick with 10m JT65 and save my voice!

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday October 30th 2016

Solar flux is 78 today. Sunspot number is 16 and K=3.

CQWW SSB - too hard these days

In years gone by (before my stroke) I enjoyed this contest as a way of working new countries. Sadly, these days my voice is too poor. When I give my callsign it is a real strain and I am not quick enough. Sadly, I think my days with CQWW are now past.

10m was not as busy as the last few years: I heard several EA8s working stings of Europeans, but I was just too slow.

Looking back on the blog, I see I gave up on CQWW last year because of my poor voice.

BITX at bargain basement prices

My friend Steve G1KQH has pointed me to a website in India selling 40m BITX assembled PCBs at ridiculous prices. If you are after SSB on 40m, this may be for you.

The BITX is a well proven design. This assembled PCB uses a mix of SMA and wire-ended parts. You only have to assemble the PCB and pots into a case.  It should be a low risk approach to 40m SSB and you finish the assembly yourself.

See http://www.hfsigs.com/ .

MF "antenna"

The picture shows my son removing a shrub by our garden shed.  My MF "antenna" of the last few years has been an earth-electrode pair spaced about 10-12m. The far end is on the right of the picture. I want to get up a better antenna this season, but I depend on help these days!

6m and 10m JT65 and CQWW

4Z5ML (3571km) has already been spotted on 10m JT65 this morning despite a sunspot number of zero.

As I have a small window to operate on 10m SSB in the CQWW contest, I shall probably go on 6m JT65 soon in beacon mode.

UPDATE 1038z: G0LRD (25km) spotting me on 6m JT65, but no-one else. CQWW on 10m was slow with just a couple of Italians coming through earlier. So different from a few years ago.

UPDATE 1136z: G6NLZ (153km) near the South Coast of the UK has been spotted on 6m JT65. This was either by tropo or aircraft reflection.  I'll try 10m SSB CQWW again after lunch.

UPDATE 1918z:   Having returned to 10m JT65 I have spotted a couple of South Americas (Argentina and Brazil)  and I was spotted by OE3BUB (1228km) in Austria.So, not everybody is on CQWW!

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Welcome  all QRP operators in the special QRP Chat room on the Club 72
web  page  -  club72.su  (QRP Chat in the menu) - see attached screen
shot.  Don't worry for Russian words, there are only testing group of
Russian QRPers now.
In chat you must to create account and nik-name. for nik-name use only
your CALL sign, otherwise non-callsign nik-names will be deleted.
English or Russian languages may be used in the QRP Chat. QRP chat is
comfortable  to  inform "I'm on *** frequency now" as well as evening
"pub"  with  your  friends, heheheh. Enjoy it! See you ALL in the QRP
Chat.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Salcombe webcam - NOT amateur radio

See http://webcams.chestnutcorp.co.uk:8185/?rand=1391520236357 

A lot of fun can be had looking at webcams. The one linked is at Whitestrand, Salcombe, Devon, UK.

UPDATE 30.10.16 1605z.  Every time I have tried to connect with this link recently it has failed. I think you have to subscribe to the South Sands Hotel Newsletter to be able to access it. See http://www.southsands.com/ .

BATC videos on YouTube

See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUWLnUZllytlcCFd93tnBzw/videos .

Southgate News reports that videos of the recent BATC convention talks are now available on YouTube. I watched some of these when they were steamed, but it is good to hear they are available offline.

Kent family - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our son, his wife and 2 of our grandchildren sitting on a log at Anglesey Abbey yesterday. They live near Canterbury.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday October 29th 2016

Solar flux is 78 today. Sunspot number is zero.  K=4 .

CQWW SSB contest all weekend so bands you thought were dead will spring into life magically only to appear dead again on Monday. Even with real QRP 5W or less SSB I usually have no problem filling a couple of pages of my log book.

ISWL (International Short Wave League)

Back in the 1960s, when the ISWL was thriving, I joined. Subsequently I left and rejoined some years ago. After a few years, I left again. When I left there were about 200 members only. I have no idea of membership numbers now, but I''d be surprised if it was more than 150 and probably far fewer?

Sadly, ISWL was no longer "for me". When I  left a few years ago not one email was received saying they were sorry I was going. I was surprised. Every month I had contributed a log, as well as several articles.

My feeling is this is now a very small group that is on the way out. Back in the 1950s and 1960s it was a very strong, international group. No longer do I feel this is true, sadly.

If you are considering joining, then my recommendation is join GQRP Club instead. I have never been disappointed.

See http://www.iswl.org.uk/ .

Hamsphere Newsletter

This is not real radio. It is virtual ham radio with the internet acting as the propagation medium. If you have real issues with antennas, rigs, etc, it may offer you a kind of amateur radio experience.

See http://www.hamsphere.com/23_43446_read.html .

Sunspots and 10m - Friday October 28th 2016

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is 12 and K=3. It will be interesting to see how 10m is later. If we get N-S DX I shall not be too surprised. Apart from Florida (once) I have not seen USA spots on 10m this autumn.

10m JT65 overnight and today

Last night I decided to stay on 10m JT65 overnight. Not unexpectedly, there were no spots overnight. I shall check internet sync soon, although this should happen every 1000 seconds automatically if the internet connection holds up. Yesterday, the internet was not reliable. This is unusual as normally it is good.

UPDATE 0930z: Just did a manual resync to internet time "just in case".  No 10m spots overnight and so far today, but I see I spotted GD0TEP yesterday too on 10m JT65. This is an interesting distance. Could have been tropo, aircraft or backscatter.

UPDATE 1050z:  My 2W QRP 10m JT65 has been spotted in Greece and Spain. Es I assume. RK6MF (2838km) is currently the best DX on 10m JT65 RX here. I assume this is F2.

UPDATE 1106z: A45XO (5708km) in Oman is now the best RX DX on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1122z:  EA5IDQ (1576km) in Spain now spotting my 10m JT65 (2W QRP). Looks like quite a widespread opening on 10m.

UPDATE 1606z: So far, 3 South Americans, in the Sao Paulo area of Brazil, spotted on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1750z:  No further South Americans and USA still noticeably absent.

UPDATE 1802z: LX1JX (469km) spotted me 2 hours ago.

Our back garden in autumn - NOT amateur radio

This is view of our back garden at the end of October. Most trees are now changing into their autumn colours. In autumn you can get some wonderful shades.

Shakespeare - NOT amateur radio

OK, I come from England and I am supposed to love Shakespeare. Alas poor Yorick, he sends me to sleep!

I do not know why, but ever since school days Shakespeare has had this effect on me. Maybe it is the style or the rhythm but I am not a Shakespeare fan. There are a few famous verses which I have remembered since school days, but other than these I am afraid I do not like the bard.

Each to their own I guess, but I  am sure I am not alone.

10m JT65

After a good day yesterday, I returned to 10m JT65 (2W) at 0652z this morning. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 0922z:  Still no spots as yet.

UPDATE 1056z: Just spotted on 10m JT65 by IZ0AIS (1506km) suggesting there is some Es about on 10m. I spotted another Italian further south too.
  
UPDATE 1154z:  No further spots since the Italians as yet, but most days 10m opens to somewhere.

UPDATE 1932z:  2 South Americans spotted on 10m JT65 today. Dead band? Low sunspots? Disturbed conditions?  JT65 is the answer!

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

I glad to inform about new Club 72 member -
# 93 US7IB op. Vyacheslav (Slava) from Kramatorsk city

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday October 27th 2016

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 15.  K=5.

On the face of it, it does not look promising on 10m. Yesterday was similar and it turned out to be pretty good! You can never tell.