Soar Mill Cove, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken 4 years ago in South Devon, UK where I was born.  The cliff walk from Hope Cove to Salcombe is perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world, although I am biased!

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

We seem to have moved very rapidly from warm summer days to winter. Already we have had more frosts than in all of last winter and it is still December.

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey, where the trees are now bare and the herbaceous borders "sleeping". Another month and the snowdrops and some daffodils will be out.

10m JT65

For about 10 minutes now I have been QRT on 630m WSPR and I am now again on 10m JT65. As yet, no spots given or received.

UPDATE 1648z: LU5MT (11576km) has been spotted on 10m JT65 near the border with Chile. This is very early at 1616z.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday December 5th 2016

Solar flux is 82 today. Sunspot number is 37. A=2 and K=0 .

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (December 4, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  ON6KZ,  R1OA,  UR7VT, SM7RYR, RV3GM, R1CAF,
UA1CEG,  DK1HW,  EA6BB,  RA1M,  UA1ADF, UR0ET, UA0SBQ, RA7RA, RX3DIT,
US3EN,  G3XJS, OH6NPV, OK1DNZ, SM2FIJ, YO6AHR, EA5EQ, US5ERQ, DL8BCJ,
IT9IFI, F4WBY, UR5LEH
Congrats!
EA5EQ entered in the Honor Frequenters list (regular visitor)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page.
Comments...
Read full report here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Overnight on 472kHz (630m) WSPR

Last night and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR. Results were disappointing. Are there fewer on than last year? Only 6 unique spots with 5mW ERP and best DX just 250km.

10m JT65 since breakfast

Overnight I was on 630m (472kHz) WSPR. It was rather disappointing with the same stations spotting me. Since breakfast I have been on 10m JT65, although no spots as yet. It was teatime yesterday before I spotted South America on 10m. Unless there are active stations in South Africa or short skip to Europe, I might have a similar wait today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday December 4th 2016

Solar flux is 84 today and the sunspot number a respectable 62. A=3 and K=0. As the last few days have shown, 10m does open for DX.

More digging on HF needed!

The DX on the higher HF bands is getting harder to find now. I have been on 10m JT65 all day but not a single spot. Although conditions are not as good as they were, I am sure one of the issues is people take a casual look and give up. A major contest brings the higher HF bands alive, proving it is activity (or lack of it) and not conditions. Switch to weak signal modes and stick at it.

10m remains good far more often than is realised. This is a great opportunity for JT65 to prove its usefulness. WSPR should be even better, but sadly activity on 10m WSPR seems much lower than JT65.

UPDATE 1830z: As if to prove the point, LU1AMH (11207km) in Argentina was spotted at 1702z on 10m JT65. There is definitely life still on 10m.

South Hams trains again - NOT amateur radio

Once again, after many years, Kingsbridge in Devon has trains again. The light railway is again running along the side of the water delighting children and adults alike. I wish them all the best.

See https://www.facebook.com/kdlr.co.uk/ .

Record? - NOT amateur adio

I am nearly 68 and an Old Age Pensioner. Today, I lost my lone baby tooth that was still in my mouth. For all this time it had remained until today. I guess my gums are shrinking.

Will the tooth fairy still pay out at my age? I guess not!

Tenbox 10m QRP transceiver

This was a project started before my stroke, but it is a reminder that 10m is always a good band for cross-town nattering. It is not a coincidence that the 11m CB band is "next door" in the spectrum.

My Tenbox is just one approach.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

Bands 30-88MHz

The lower VHF bands are becoming less popular for professional users as antennas on handhelds are long and there is Es interference from time-to-time. This is great news for amateurs as lower VHF ex mobile radio gear is often cheaply available and the chances of amateur 6m and 4m allocations around the world get better. I certainly hope we get a small 8m (40MHz) allocation (mainly for Es work) and we see 6m and 4m allocations worldwide.

More deals

This morning I got an email from Waters and Stanton offering 5% off in a "post Black Friday" deal. I expect MLS will be doing similar.

See http://hamradiostore.co.uk/ .

10m JT65 since breakfast

As you know if you read this regularly, I was not active overnight. I returned to 10m JT65 around breakfast time, but no spots as yet.

UPDATE 1036z: Still no spots on 10m JT65

UPDATE 1344z: Still no 10m spots. Disappointing.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday December 3rd 2016

Solar flux is 83 today (this is quite good for where we are in the solar cycle). Sunspot number is 59. A=4 and K=1. I wonder what joys 10m JT65 will bring today?

Not on any band tonight

Tonight, overnight, I am not on any band. I went QRT on 10m JT65 about an hour ago and should be back in the morning around breakfast time.

KX2 review

Southgate News has a link to a nice review of the Elecraft KX2 transceiver. The KX2 is smaller than the KX3 but is ideal for QRP portable use with a wide range internal ATU and an internal Li-Ion battery pack. Both these are extras and not in the basic price. Sadly the case has to be opened to charge the battery.

See http://swling.com/blog/2016/12/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx2-general-coverage-qrp-transceiver/

Return to 10m JT65

After a rather disappointing evening and overnight on 630m WSPR, I QSYed to 10m JT65 at breakfast time today. As yet, no spots given or received.

UPDATE 2205z:  Sadly no spots given or received today on 10m JT65.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday December 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 84 today (not bad) and the sunspot number 49. A=3 and K=1.

Another UK Rally

Sunday 4 DECEMBER : BISHOP AUCKLAND RAC RALLY

Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High St, Spennymoor, Durham DL16 6DB Venue has good car parking and disabled facilities. There will be the usual radio, computer and electronics as well as a Bring & Buy. Catering and bar will be available on site. Facilities. As you can imagine, there is a lot to do for all the family within the confines of the leisure centre for those of the family not interested in radio. Doors open at 10.30am with disabled visitors gaining access from 10.15am. Admission is £2 with under 14 free of charge with an adult. Talk in will be on S22. More details from John, G4LRG on 01388 606 396 or Brian, G7OCK 01388 762 678.

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

Cambridge Lights - NOT amateur radio

In the run-up to Christmas, Cambridge has its lights on for Christmas. To be fair, some shops have had Christmas displays since at least the start of October. This was the view on the way to the bus.

MLS Hog Roast

One of the major UK retailers, MLS, is holding a Hog Roast this weekend, Dec 3rd 2016.

See http://us13.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e333c5d40a2f50d7f47615328&id=1ef9d22431&e=e7d0ed0d96

472kHz (630m) WSPR

For the evening and overnight, I have moved to 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Although mostly on RX (80%) my noise floor is S8 (noise from the PC's SMPSU that charges the laptop battery) I am only able to receive very strong stations. I see that Jenny G0VQH (15km), is spotting me, as well as others. No DX as yet this evening.

Rally

Saturday 3 DECEMBER : SOUTH LANCS WINTER RALLY

Bickershaw Labour Club, Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, Wigan WN2 5TE. The venue has disabled facilities and car parking on site. Doors open at 9am with traders gaining access from 7.30am. Admission is £2.50. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. There is a licensed bar and catering on site. Details from Jason, G0IZR on 01942 735 828. www.slarc.co.uk/rally.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Solar Activity

Just a reminder that http://www.solen.info/solar/ has lots of data on solar activity. Usually there is an update early in the month showing the sunspot activity. It is worth seeing the trends.

Winter - NOT amateur radio

Today is December 1st. How time flies. It seems no time since summer and the evenings (not the mornings) start to get lighter here from December 18th. The UK Met Office assumes winter starts today and it certainly feels like winter here!

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday December 1st 2016

Remember, the slow decline in solar activity is an average, but today the solar activity seems higher. Solar flux is 83 and sunspot number 75. A=3 and K=1. Today might be a "not too bad" day on 10m, assuming there are some people on the band!

10m JT65

At around 0940z, I returned to 10m JT65 having spent the evening and overnight on 630m WSPR where the best DX on 5mW ERP TX was DL-SWL (701km). As yet, no 10m spots given or received.

UPDATE 1120z: Still no spots on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1938z: SQ7W (908km) in southern Sweden spotted me at teatime. Es? No South Americans, which surprised me.

UPDATE 2042z:  HC5K was spotted earlier but this was not uploaded to PSK reporter maps for some reason. So I did spot South America after all. I have now moved to 630m WSPR (5mW ERP).

QSY from 10m JT65 to 630m WSPR

After failing to see 10m JT65 spots, given or received, from South America today (I was surprised) I had to be content with 2E0CIT (94km) in South London!

I QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR some hours ago. Best spot of my 5mW ERP on MF is again DL-SWL several times (701km).

ISWL Callsigns

Southgate News has details of ISWL callsigns in December. Anyone know how many members ISWL has now? I left a few years ago.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/iswl_callsigns_for_december.htm#.WD8M24XXL4g

Frosty Garden - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been glorious with bright sunshine and little wind, but it has been (and still is) cold. We have had night-time frosts, which have been slow to clear.

The photo shows the slow to clear frost in the back garden. You can see where the sun has reached! The bird bath has been frozen solid for days.

Does all this suggest a cold winter ahead? Met Office winter runs from Dec 1st (tomorrow). To me, December, January and February are winter months and March 1st seems like spring again. So, I agree with the Met Office.

See http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ .

Sunspots and 10m

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 43. K=2. I hope we see some 10m DX later.

UPDATE 1725z: The K index has dropped to zero.

10m JT65

Around breakfast time I returned to 10m JT65. After a quiet spell, there is short skip around with several stations in Europe spotting me. Is this the start of the small Dec/Jan Es peak? OK it is late November!

I am being widely spotted and I have spotted EU7FBB (1931km) in Belarus.

UPDATE 1656z: No further spots since the Europeans earlier. If I am going to catch South America on 10m JT65 then the next hour will be the best chance. After about 1830z, I think any chances will be gone.

More spots on 472kHz WSPR

Last night PA7EY (306km) spotted me bringing the total number of unique stations spotting my 5mW ERP to 11. I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 for the day.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

About 30 minutes ago I went QRT on 10m JT65 (after a fruitless day) and returned to MF WSPR (5mW ERP).

PA0A (417km) and G3KEV (232km) have been copied even though I have an S8 noise floor caused by the SMPSU for my laptop.

So far, M0FMT (51km) and M0XDK (80km) have again spotted me. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna".

UPDATE 2020z: G8LCO (58km) spotted me at 2008z.

UPDATE 2050z: PA0RDT (243km) has already spotted me. This is my best DX so far this evening on MF.

UPDATE 2100z: G8HUH (250km) and PA3ANG (391km) have spotted me. These are early DX spots.

UPDATE 2108z: PA0A (417km) has just spotted my 5mW ERP.  Best DX so far this evening. Conditions seem to be "up" on MF.

472kHz spots in the first few days this autumn

Sweet peas in the garden still - NOT amateur radio

It is almost December and we have had a few frosts but there are at least 4 sweet pea flowers to cut in the garden! This is very late. We also have clematis in flower.

OFCOM annual plan

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/proposed-annual-plan-2017-18?utm_source=updates&utm_campaign=proposed-annual-plan-2017-18&utm_medium=email

OFCOM has published its draft annual plan for consultation.

"Ofcom exists to make communications markets work for everyone. 

To achieve this, we are proposing three main goals: to promote competition and ensure that markets work effectively for consumers; to secure standards and improve quality; and to protect consumers from harm. Our proposed Annual Plan highlights some of the key work areas that we will seek to deliver in order to meet these goals, across the UK and its nations, in 2017/18. We also outline our broader ongoing work to support these goals, and how we will work for consumers across the UK’s nations.

We will publish our final Annual Plan for 2017/18 in March 2017. The final Plan will take into account responses from stakeholders to the proposed Plan. The closing date for consultation responses to our proposed Annual Plan is 7 February 2017."

Blah,blah,blah, blah........ QUANGOese talk? Cynic, me?

When the BBC wanted to interview OFCOM at breakfast time, no-one was available. I doubt they start work before 9am.

Some think I am being too harsh on OFCOM. Indeed they are, arguably, better than authorities in many other countries. I am only reflecting what I have directly experienced. I was not impressed. This was a few years ago and things may have changed. I certainly hope so.

10m JT65

At around 1045z I went QRT on 630m WSPR and activated my 10m JT65 station and checked PC sync to internet time.

UPDATE 1910z: It looks like no 10m JT65 spots today, sadly. Soon be time to QSY back to MF.

472kHz so far this autumn

So far this autumn (I've only been back on in the last few days) my 5mW ERP 630m WSPR has been spotted by 8 different stations with DL-SWL at 701km being the best DX so far. I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, which is far from optimum.