Ferrite rod TX antennas

My page on ferrite rod TX antennas has been updated and some files added. There is now reference to the work of Giorgio Grisoni I2GSI from Italy.

Ferrite rod antennas work on TX as long as the ferrite is well matched and the ferrite is not in saturation. They may well be inefficient but this may not matter in some cases.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/ferrite_tx

2m FT8

Today I am on 2m FT8 again, mainly RX with an occasional CQ (2.5W to the omni). Yet again my CQ earlier was spotted in Cornwall.

Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is currently F4TTR (477km). Currently 19 stations spotted in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX today (at 1126z).

UPDATE 1227z: Currently 28 stations spotted in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1548z: Now 37 stations in 9 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Sunday October 28th 2018

Solar flux is 69 again and the SSN still zero. A=4 and K=1.

A night off

Most nights I QSY from 10m FT8 to 630m (472kHz) WSPR. Tonight I have decided not to go on any band. My rig and PC have been on continuously for several days without a break.

Knowing my luck, 472kHz propagation tonight will be amazing!

10m FT8

Most of the day I have been on 10m FT8 RX with a few CQ calls.  So far, no spots of my CQs (2.5W) and just a couple of spots on RX. One was a G and the other, my best DX, 9A7JCY (1424km) in Croatia. Most day now (near sunspot minimum) 10m is quiet although it has opened to South America quite a few times this month in the early evenings.

UPDATE 1825z: Perhaps the quietest day for years? No further spots today.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Last night was average. In all 11 stations spotted on RX and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 7 stations with best DX G4ZFQ (203km).

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Amateur Radio Weekly

Most weeks I read Amateur Radio Weekly to see what is happening in the world of amateur radio. There are usually news items of interest.

All quiet again - NOT amateur radio

My mother-in-law had an expression, "nice to see you, nice to see you go". Having had the grandchildren for a week, lovely though this is, I am exhausted! Totally. I guess we are older and have less energy these days. We love having them, but is also nice to be tidy again, and quiet.

Sunspots - Saturday October 27th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN zero. A=6 and K=2. 

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

All day, I have been on 2m FT8 with lots of stations spotted.

A few minutes ago I QSYed to MF WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). M0FMT (51km) and PA0A (417km) were immediately spotted. My own signal was spotted by G4HPW (93km).

Parliamentary privilage - NOT amateur radio

In the UK members of parliament are able to name people under an ancient thing called "parliamentary privilege". Yesterday in the House of Lords a member named a person accused of sexual harassment.  This is dangerous. The person named may be innocent, yet his or her name is damned. Personally, I think this is wrong. Even if guilty, the facts should come out in a court of law and not before guilt is proved.

Bike time - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live at the end of a quiet close with few cars. When our grandchildren come they like to go on their bikes.

France and 60m

According to Southgate News, France will soon grant access to the WRC 60m allocation. At some point I hope the UK gets access.  Oh look, there goes another flying pig!! OFCOM - say no more.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/october/france-ham-radio-exams-and-60m-band.htm#.W9Mbq_ZFy00

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Not a bad night with several new spots this season. In all, 13 stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX. My best spot (of my 10mW ERP) was by GM4OAS (653km).

472kHz WSPR TX last night

472kHz WSPR RX last night

Sunspots - Friday October 26th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number zero. A=6 and K=2. It feels like sunspot minimum!

2m FT8

Inspired by G8OFA, I am today on 2m FT8. An earlier, brief, CQ (2.5W to the omni) was spotted in northern France and by some UK stations.

So far today, 20 stations spotted in 6 countries with best DX OK1FD (857km).

UPDATE 1137z: On 2m FT8 RX so far today, 34 stations in 7 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1400z: Now 40 stations spotted in 7 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

472kHz WSPR

Today, 10m was dire here, so I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) earlier than normal.  M0FMT (51km) is a new one for this season on 472kHz WSPR RX.

Early Halloween party - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I mentioned that school starts again before Halloween, so an early party at Granny and Grampy was called for. We had this tonight along with silly games. They still love it, although we know these days will soon pass.

Rally

Saturday 27 OCTOBER : ESSEX CW ARC CW BOOT CAMP

3rd Witham Scout & Guide HQ, Rear of Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham, Essex CM8 2HE. Doors open at 8.30am for registration and the event runs from 9am to 4.30pm. Parking is free. Entry £10 with free sausage rolls, drinks, cakes. Contact Andy, G0IBN 0745 342 6087 g0ibn1@yahoo.com.

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

10m FT8 again

After a night on 472kHz (630m) WSPR, I have again gone on 10m FT8 but no spots on RX or TX as yet.

UPDATE 1551z: No spots still.

Sunspots - Thursday October 25th 2018

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number zero. A=3 and K=0.

Now on 472kHz WSPR

All the DX on 10m seems to have stopped, so I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. All being well, I shall be on until breakfast (20% TX, 10mW ERP, earth-electrode "antenna"). As of now, just a couple of spots of me and none of others.

UPDATE 2107z:  5 unique spots of others with best DX IW4DXW (1190km).

All the grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

A photo showing all of our grandchildren.

Well nearly - NOT amateur radio

Halloween is next week when our grandchildren are back at school. So, tomorrow we are having an early Halloween party. Our granddaughter decided to try her hat today!

Solar cycle 25 start

"While smaller spots with the correct polarity alignment of cycle 25 regions have been observed at high latitude locations as early as 2016, this overview will only include spots large enough to have been visible at a 1K resolution. In the case of reversed polarity cycle 24 regions, those that are not at a sufficiently high latitude (ie. 30 degrees or more), are considered most likely to belong to cycle 24 and will not be included in this list until closer to the actual solar cycle minimum (likely to be sometime between August 2018 and February 2019)."

Notice the last few words. This was copied from http://www.solen.info/solar/cycle25_spots.html .

Bury St Edmunds earlier - NOT amateur radio

Earlier today, we went to Bury St Edmunds with 2 of our grandchildren. It was market day. Bury St Edmunds still has a very old fashioned East Anglian feel. Unlike Cambridge it is not filled with Far Eastern visitors with their selfie sticks. It feels "authentic".

The photo shows my wife with 2 of our 4 grandchildren.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

Last night was average. Although I spotted my best DX of the season on 472kHz WSPR RX , my own 10mW ERP was only spotted by 7 UK stations.

472kHz WSPR RX last night

472kHz WSPR TX last night

10m FT8 today

Although I was out for several hours I left the RX running on 10m FT8 RX. There were quite a few spots from Europe today, although nothing further spotted so far.

UPDATE 1635z: No spots outside Europe today on 10m FT8 RX. 15 spots today, so far. Plan to stay on 10m for a few more hours then try MF WSPR.

UPDATE 1555z: A single spot from the Canary Is now.

UPDATE 1812z: The first South Americans came through at 1652z on 10m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 24th 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN is zero. A=4 and K=0.

Cactus Day - NOT amateur radio

No, we'd not heard of this either! It was an invention of our granddaughter. To celebrate this day, we will celebrate Oct 22nd as Cactus Day every year from now on.

The photo show the cake that our grandson iced.

Why cactus? Absolutely no idea! 😀

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

As 10m DX seems to have stopped, I have again QSYed to 472kHz WSPR. As usual, my 10mW ERP is set at 20% TX so I am on RX 4 times out of 5. This means I transmit about once every 10 minutes. I shall be on overnight. With increasing noise floors it is getting harder to spot weak signals, so if you spot me you are doing well. Best of luck!

UPDATE 2050z:  Not a bad start this evening with 8 spots on RX with best DX IW4DXW (1190km). On TX, 6 spots of my 10mW ERP so far tonight, all in England

Blood test - NOT amateur radio

About 10 days ago I had a blood test. Today, I rang to get the results. "No further actions required". Although I had no symptoms, this was good news. As you get older, one wonders if something lurking will be found.

10m FT8

Although I have been on 10m FT8 for a while, no spots as yet on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1845z: Several Iberian spots plus ZS6WB (9094km) on 10m FT8 RX today. No other spots. After another hour I shall QSY to 472kHz WSPR.

472kHz last night

Last night was average on 472kHz WSPR. In all, 8 English stations spotted me. These were all UK stations.

Sunspots - Tusaday October 23rd 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the SSN still zero. A=6 and K=1.

10m FT8 again

Rather later than usual, I have returned to 10m FT8. After a brief QRP CQ call, I am now RX only. Just a spot of G8KHF (98km) so far.

UPDATE 1542z:  Odd. The only other spot so far today on 10m FT8 RX is ZS6WB (9094km) in South Africa.

UPDATE 1615z: Another spot, this time from central France - aircraft reflection? No South Americans yet tonight on 10m FT8 RX.

Autumn walk - NOT amateur radio

Before lunch, we went for a nice walk with our son and his children at nearby Anglesey Abbey in the pleasant autumn sun. It was about 12 degrees C.

Sunspots - Monday October 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN zero still.  A=4 and K=1.

Toadstools - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not very good at telling apart edible mushrooms from poisonous toadstools, so unless I am sure, it does not get touched or eaten! These toadstools (I assume) were seen at Anglesey Abbey earlier in the week where they had removed an old tree. This seems to be the season to see all sorts of strange fungi.

446MHz in the UK

Quite a few of these licence-free radios are available in the UK for silly prices. Some are also available I believe for licence-free use at 70cm, but don't ask me which ones! I have zero experience of 446MHz radios, so have no idea how busy these channels are. If you are an infrequent professional or casual user of 2-way radio, I expect these are an ideal fit. I am pretty sure there are alternatives in other countries.