Caveat emptor - Kuhne and Oscar 100 upconverter

This appeared on Facebook earlier about the Kunhe Oscar 100 upconverter. I do not know if these comments are correct, but it is worth a few questions of the manufacturer if you are thinking about buying one.

"It has been reported that the Kuhne up converter has a major design flaw related to frequency stability. This is so major that the voice is almost not intelligble on SSB from some stations using this Kuhne product. I have attached a recording documenting this issue (stations significantly worse than this has been heard as well). The station on the recording is using the Kuhne up converter.

Customers have also reported several soldered straps on the product so it appears thst an unfinished prototype has been released (!) Finally the product is not equipped with an input for external reference. This is very supprising since this is an S band transmitter. It should be clear to any seasoned and experienced RF engineer that frequency stability must be very critical on an S band transmitter for narrowband operation released into the market.

It is very surprising that Kuhne releases what in my opinion appears as a unfinished prototype with stability issues and straps into the market. Especially when we compare the price to other offerings in the market.

**Buyers be aware!**"

QSYed to 10m FT8 RX

Whether or not I spot anyone today on 10m remains to be seen, but about 10 minutes ago, I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX for the day. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1130z: Still no 10m FT8 RX spots here today.

UPDATE 1340z: 2 spots so far with best DX DJ8QX (466km).

UPDATE 1550z: No further spots today on 10m FT8 RX. I shall probably QSY to 160m FT8 shortly. Roll on the Es season! At the moment for poorly equipped stations (like me) 10m is hard work, even with FT8.

G3RJV Silent Key - Mr QRP

Sadly, as reported elsewhere, the Rev George Dobbs G3RJV who helped start the GQRP Club in 1974 has died. He had had dementia for some while, but this is sad news. I am sure he will be greatly missed in the amateur community. He certainly inspired me.

See https://www.amateurradio.com/ .
See also http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/rev-george-dobbs-g3rjv-silent-key.htm#.XIjpcPZ2u00

Clunch outhouse - NOT amateur radio

Clunch is a kind of chalk. Many walls and buildings around here are made of clunch. The out-building in the photo was badly cracked in the heat last summer, so they decided to rebuild it. The old roof timbers are propped against the wall, which is also clunch I think.

Plymouth Argyle - NOT amateur radio

So I am not a big soccer fan, but I still look to see how my old local team is doing. As last season, they were lingering at the very bottom of their league, whereas they are now way up the table. Not being an avid follower, I am not sure why they are doing so well again after their poor start. At this rate they should be safe and avoid relegation to a lower league.  

See https://www.pafc.co.uk/ .

160m conditions changing?

Many times in the past I have said that I am definitely no expert on 160m!

Last night the only North American spotted on 160m FT8 RX was V31MA (8300km) in Belize. The other station copied from "across the pond" was KV4FZ (6764km) in the Caribbean.

In all, 242 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Now, this could be conditions changing or just a bad night.

160m FT8 RX spots overnight

Sunspots - Wednesday March 13th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=7 and K=1.

That BREXIT vote - NOT amateur radio

My gut says that the UK Prime minister is going to fail to get her EU withdrawal bill approved tonight when the House of Commons votes. If this happens, I suspect the UK pound will fall heavily against the Euro and the US Dollar. I may be wrong and frequently have been in the past.

If we do not accept her deal, we will be in a constitutional crisis, probably the biggest since WW2. Why does Mrs May not seek compromise? To my mind she seems an obstinate woman. I am a floating voter and have voted for most UK parties in the past.

At the moment, the UK parliament seems unable to govern. The sad thing is, I see no good leaders in any party.  Will we see good leaders in my lifetime?

UPDATE 2132z: The government lost the vote again. Will the UK Prime Minister never learn?

QSYed to 160m FT8

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed from 10m to 160m FT8. I called CQ (2.5W) at first (no spots, which I was surprised at) and now I am RX only. As yet, no RX spots.

UPDATE 1645z: Europeans are starting to appear now.

UPDATE 1700z: Now 5 stations in 4 countries spotted so far this afternoon on 160m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2155z: Now 231 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. As yet, most are Europeans.

Stations spotted this evening so far on 160m FT8 RX 

using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

70cm activity contest this evening

Although I use my 2m big-wheel omni on 70cm and just 5W, I usually try this friendly, once a month, contest. I often work over 100km. This is in the UKAC contest series organised by the RSGB. Although the contest runs for 2.5 hours, I am rarely on for even as much as an hour. If you are in the UK or other parts of western Europe, you may want to give it a try, even if you don't send a log in.

As I have said before, these UKAC contests are friendly and good fun. Even if you don't usually "do" contests they are, in my view, worth entering.

UPDATE 2150z: Just 2 QSOs but one was G4CLA (105km), which is a respectable distance on 70cms with 5W to a 2m omni antenna!

New Sepura products adopted by Met Police - NOT amateur radio

In a previous life (well it feels like that, having been retired for almost 11 years!) I worked for Sepura. Their latest products have been adopted by the Met Police, which must be good news.

Sepura specialises in TETRA terminals with an emphasis on public safety users.

See

https://www.sepura.com/news/metropolitan-police-service-invests-in-sepura-tetra-terminals-in-force-wide-refresh

10m FT8

After a few minutes calling CQ (2.5W) I am now on 10m FT8 RX only. I have been active on 10m for about an hour. So far, no 10m spots here today.

I see John EI7GL has spotted a couple of Europeans on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1600z: Still no 10m FT8 spots here today. Soon be time to QSY. I think I'll try 160m FT8 RX (1.840MHz USB) this evening and overnight.

472kHz WSPR

Disappointing.

472kHz WSPR overnight

In all, I copied 7 stations with my best spot (again) being LA2XPA (1310km). My best distance on TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was just G4ZFQ (203km). In all just 5 stations spotted me. As I said, disappointing.

XBS Telecom discounts IC7300

Every month, I get an email from XBS Telecom in France (I think). At the moment they have discounted the ICOM IC7300 to 1079 Euros until the end of March. This is with VAT and warranty.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/

Sunspots - Tuesday March 12th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 11. A=3 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR

Apart from about 20 minutes on the East Cambs 2m FM net at 2000z on 144.575MHz, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX, 80% RX) most of the evening. My best spot this evening (10mW ERP from here) is G4ZFQ (203km). As usual, I am on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Underwhelmed - NOT amateur radio

For a few weeks my wife has wanted to see the daffodils at Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs. Today we went.

A few weeks ago there was a splendid carpet of snowdrops. The daffodils were disappointing; several clumps had no buds. Although there were daffodils in flower, there were far fewer than we expected.

2m FT8

Somehow, I suspect I lost internet connection to PSKreporter maps as there were quite a few 2m FT8 stations spotted in the last few hours that did not get uploaded.

10m FT8 RX

As of about 0930z, I QSYed to 10m FT8. With solar conditions not looking too great, this is more in hope than anything. I expect to be monitoring 10m FT8 RX until dark.

Comparing my results with John in southern Eire, I think my 10m results could be significantly improved with a change of antenna. Another job!

UPDATE 1121z: Just one station spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX. This was G4HZW (212km).

UPDATE 1200z: 2E0YSO (33km) also spotted.

UPDATE 1155z: G3ZSE (71km) also spotted. No DX here currently.

UPDATE 1711z: No further 10m FT8 RX spots here. I'll stay on a bit longer, then QSY to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP).

Sunspots - Monday March 11th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1.

What hope?

Earlier I was in Bury St Edmunds so I popped in to W.H.Smith which is one of the bigger UK stationers. They carry a selection of hundreds of different magazines in this store. I looked and looked, but failed to see even 1 radio related magazine. If you want magazines on PCs, tattoos, trains, etc, no problem. Casually find a radio mag? No way! Without the casual interest caused by someone browsing a radio magazine, there is little hope for the future of our hobby.

There is little hope for RF engineering too. Over 11 years ago I recall interviewing someone for an radio design job. This person had a good honours degree in a communications related subject, but I knew more at 14 than this person. Needless to say this person did not get offered a job. Frankly, I was appalled. Hundreds of CVs were read, but a tiny handful had any idea.

No, RF engineering is in crisis. In general the magic is no longer there for young people today. People who had good RF design skills are retiring or have already retired. People can no longer chance upon radio magazines or amateur AM QSOs as we once did as youngsters. Yes, times change. However, the future of RF design is in deep trouble, in my view.

Still on 2m FT8

So I stayed on 2m FT8 RX overnight and am still using 2m FT8 RX. Since turning 2m FT8 RX on late yesterday afternoon a total of 36 stations spotted. In just the last few hours 11 stations in 4 countries already spotted. At the moment, the best DX spotted on 2m FT8 RX is GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 1700z: Now 46 stations in 7 countries in the last 12 hours on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DL2AKT (761km).

Stations so far spotted today on 

2m FT8 RX with the omni antenna

UPDATE 1906z:  Now 54 stations in 7 countries spotted in last 12 hours on 2m FT8 RX.

Elder son now 43 - NOT amateur radio

Our elder son is now 43, which seems scarcely believable. Where did those years go? The photo shows him with his children and my wife singing "happy birthday to you". We did not have 43 candles, so 1 had to do!

Sunspots - Sunday March 10th 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=1.

2m FT8

After the total failure on 70cm FT8, I have QSYed to 2m (144.174MHz) where at the moment I am calling CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna). I see my CQ is being spotted by G8TTI (186km). So far, 8 stations are spotting me with best DX GI6ATZ (479km).  My 2.5W to the omni is being spotted in 3 countries already! The sad thing is 70cms could be as good on FT8.

UPDATE 1630z: Now RX only on 2m FT8. 4 stations in 3 countries spotted so far today on the big-wheel 2m omni antenna.

UPDATE 2132z: Now 21 stations in 5 countries spotted since early evening. Best DX spotted is DL3TW (655km).

UPDATE 2225z: Now 29 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening.

Stations spotted here this evening on 2m FT8 

with the big-wheel omni antenna.

Returning summer migrants - NOT amateur radio

Slowly, the summer bird migrants are returning. Already in Devon there are wheatears, sand martins and swallows. At first just the odd one, whereas by mid April, many will be commonplace once again.

Tree trunk - NOT amateur radio

This was seen on a walk a few days ago. I love the patterning.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Not a bad night with 7 North Americans and 7 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8. Best DX spotted was AA7A (8369km) in New Mexico. In total, 332 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the last day.

Stations spotted on the earth-electrode "antenna"

 in the ground on 160m FT8 here overnight.

70cm FT8 RX

Ever hopeful, I am on 432MHz FT8 RX for the first time. I am monitoring 432.174MHz USB with WSJT-X. I shall be on all day using the 2m big wheel which matched well on 70cm and is omni-directional (well it is on 2m!).

Using this antenna I can usually work stations over 100km away with 5W SSB on 70cms. First 70cm switch-on was 0921z. A brief 2.5W CQ at around 1000z got no spots.

UPDATE 1529z: Still no 70cm FT8 RX spots. From the PSKreporter map it looks like 70cm FT8 is quite popular in Japan.

UPDATE 1544z: Unless I get any 70cm FT8 RX spots in the next 20 minutes or so, I am giving up and QSYing somewhere else. I knew it would be hard, but nothing at all. This is sad, as I suspect 70cms would be a good aircraft reflection band and good tropo band. FT8 with its concentration of activity and 15 second periods would be ideal.

UPDATE 1604z: Total failure, with not a single 70cm FT8 spot all day. Now QSYing to 144.174MHz FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Saturday March 9th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 11.  A=5 and K=0

160m FT8 RX

For a few hours, I have been on 160m FT8 RX.  So far, 158 stations spotted here with the first North American being WU1ITU (4831km).

70cm FT8 in Western Europe (including UK)?

Although I have tried FT8 on 160, 80, 60, 10, 6 and 2m I have never tried this mode on 70cm. I have no idea at all about activity levels or frequencies. I can imagine this band is pretty good for aircraft scatter and probably quite good on tropo. I'd hazard a guess that 70cm FT8  might be as good as 2m (or even better) given decent levels of activity. In reality, I expect 70cm is much, much quieter than 2m FT8.

If you know anything about this mode on 70cm please let me know. I am happy to sit on 70cms FT8 all day and all evening, mostly RX. For antennas I'd either have to use my 2m big-wheel horizontal omni (not ma bad match on 70cm) or my V2000 vertical. For aircraft reflection, the V2000 is proably better, although not for tropo.

Newmarket - NOT amateur radio

This is our "local" town where we do most of our food shopping. Considering it is world famous as the home of racing, it is actually quite an average sort of place that could do far more to make it look better.

There are lots of short people (jockeys) and drivers of "Chelsea Tractors" who own studs or racehorses or train these.

Considering the wealth some of these people must have, I am quite surprised Newmarket isn't a really splendid town. The photo shows Newmarket High Street on an average weekday.

10m FT8 RX

For about 30 minutes now, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. Not unexpectedly, no spots.

UPDATE 1232z: 3 spots so far. 2 are UK spots and 1 from Germany. Best DX spotted so far today is DO4SH (533km).

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

In all, 456 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX here in the last day. Although I can hardly believe I am saying this, last night was "average" with just 3 North Americans and 2 Caribbean stations spotted here with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX spotted here was KV4FZ (6764km) in the US Virgin Islands.

Stations spotted on the earth-electrode "antenna" 

in the ground on 160m FT8 RX in the last 24 hours

Sunspots - Friday March 8th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 14. A=8 and K=2. So far this month the SSN has been better than last month which was dire.

160m FT8 RX

For about an hour, I have been on 160m FT8 RX. As usual loads of Europeans already spotted.

UPDATE 2158z: Absolutely loads of Europeans on 160m FT8 RX this evening. Best DX spotted is 4F6FO (3964km) in Azerbaijan.

UPDATE 2218z: 215 stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX.

10m FT8

For the last hour or so I have been on 10m FT8. After a brief CQ (2.5W) I have been RX only, but only G4XYT (93km) spotted. No spots of my CQ call.

Grumpy old man - NOT amateur radio

As I read somewhere that the UK food chain Greggs was doing very well, I thought I'd check out their menus and prices.

Wouldn't you have thought that their menus would include prices? I looked and looked and was unable to find any prices!! Lots of stuff about contents, but I was totally unable to find prices. If this is obvious please accept my apologies. In the meantime, they will not be getting my business.

See https://www.greggs.co.uk/

UPDATE 1517z: I have looked again, but still cannot find any information on their prices. If it is there, it is far from obvious. Surely this is stupid.

Successful amateur VLF TX tests from Poland

Transmissions from Poland at 8.27kHz VLF have been received in the UK. The antenna used was a long baseline earth-electrode "antenna".  From my own experiments with far shorter baselines, I know such structures work.

See https://klubnl.pl/wpr/en/index.php/2019/03/03/nadawcze-proby-z-dipolem-ziemnym-w-zakresie-vlf/