Es (sporadic E) super DX

OK, I may be wrong, but to me multi-hop (lots of hops) Es does not seem to fit with some of the "real DX" being worked on 10m and 6m.

Some of the paths being worked would need 5-6 hops or more. To me, it seems far more probable these very long paths depend on some sort of chordal hop between patches of E layer ionisation without the intermediate hops. Of course, multi-hops are possible in some cases, but I am sure these are the exceptions. For European DX on 10m and 6m I am sure 1 and 2 hop Es is likely in the summer months.

Neighbours 50th wedding anniversary celebrations - NOT amateur radio

This lunchtime we joined about 70 other people at a local garden centre for food and drinks to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of our next door neighbour. It was a happy, unfussy occasion.

2m AM rig

Many years ago I used a homebrew 2m AM rig. It was about 500mW out from memory. When I bought a second-hand Liner-2 SSB rig it was abandoned. I think it was scrapped for parts. I think the meter is still being used today as part of an antenna current meter on 630m! I can see an old Pye Telecom PF2AMB speaker/mic.

For several months I had a regular sked on CW with G5UM who was about 80km away. As I recall I used an external 455kHz "gimmick" BFO to resolve him. On RX the oscillator drifted! On AM it mattered little. He always gave me 559.

The rig was crystal controlled on TX.  It had a metal case covered in wood effect fablon. For its time, it was a decent rig and got me to France in a lift. Happy days!

2m FT8 RX

Until just now I have been on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna. I am at the moment QRT, but 9 stations spotted here in the last hour on 2m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1524z: Back on 2m FT8. A recent CQ call resulted in no QSOs, but I was spotted in Devon by G4RRA (333km) and Cornwall  by G7RAU (461km). In all, 12 stations spotted me.

UPDATE 1642z: 13 stations in 4 countries spotted in the last few hours on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being DF6PW (562km).

UPDATE 1825z: 38 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX in the last half day including 5 Germans.

UPDATE  2040z: Soon be time to go QRT. In all today 48 different stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

Why? - NOT amateur radio

Earlier today this photo from 2012 popped up. It was taken at our old house.

Neither my wife nor I can remember why I should be holding what looks like a young long tailed tit. OK it was 7 years ago, but you'd think something would be triggered!

Sunspots - Saturday July 20th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Rainbow Lorikeets - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, our younger grandson is in Australia seeing his Australian grandparents. He is mad on rainbow lorikeets. As the photo shows, he is in his element!

Moon landing - NOT amateur radio

Like most people of a certain age, I can remember precisely where I was when Man first landed on the Moon 50 years ago tomorrow. In some ways it feels like yesterday, although it was before I had started work.

And to think how little computing power they had! Looking back, these were very very brave men. It seems amazing that we have not been back to the moon since 1972.

Old radio amateur

This morning I had a visit from an old work colleague (now 94). It must be 30 years since we last met. Eric was first interested in amateur radio in 1937!! He was a D-day veteran who was recently on TV.

In the photo that I am holding he met the Prince of Wales, who could soon be our next king. Eric is a very modest person. He came out with his daughter, who is also like her dad. She was great.

Eric is as sharp as ever mentally.

Emu in garden? - NOT amateur radio

Certainly last year, we encountered this strange sight in the next village: 2 emus in a garden with the chickens! I guess the owners wanted the eggs. They were there for several years, although I have not checked this year.

6m FT8

In the last 6 hours 19 stations in 6 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX. There is some Es to Sweden and southern Europe.

UPDATE 1458z: Now 41 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Most were Europeans via Es, but my best was KP4EIT (6834km) in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.

UPDATE 1750z: 54 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. A very brief CQ was spotted in Sweden.

Sunspots - Friday July 19th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN is still 0. A=7 and K=1.

Wisdom - NOT amateur radio

Honestly, with my hand on my heart, I have not met anybody outside of the USA that has a good word to say about President Trump. Within the USA he may be liked, but outside he is very disliked.

What never fails to amaze me is why so many Americans voted for him. He comes over as an idiotic bigot. I am not saying he is, but one can be forgiven for thinking he is. I heard his pronunciation of Namibia recently. Surely the president of the most powerful nation on the planet cannot be this ignorant?

So tell me, oh wise one, exactly where is Nambia?

Apples - NOT amateur radio

We have had a decent summer. It has been moderately sunny, but not the unbearable heat we had last year. The apples on the trees are ripening as are the plums.  The photo shows the apples in the lane leading up to "our" windmill.

Rally

Sunday 21 JULY : FINNINGLEY ARS RALLY

The Hurst Communications Centre, Belton Road , Sandtoft, Doncaster DN8 5SX. Doors open 10am. Free parking. Massive indoor / outdoor traders area with major traders and club stalls from microwave components to QRP kits. Hot food and drinks all day. Admission £3. Contact Kevin G3AAF on 07831 614640 or email Kevin.Avery@tunstall.com.

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

Brittany circus - NOT amateur radio

As some may recall, my wife and I spent a few days with our French "outlaws" in northern Brittany. These are our son's French in-laws. We had a lovely few days there.

On one of our trips we passed this circus complete with strange animals.

6m FT8

It is 0825z. I am about to go on 6m FT8. At first it will probably be RX only although I might try TX later.

Dangerous storms seem a very long way away.

UPDATE 0840z: As there was no Es evident here, I called CQ. No QSOs resulted but reports from 12 stations with my best DX report coming from G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. All reports were from Gs. Still using the V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 1107z: Now 10 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Interestingly just a couple of Finns copied by Es. Seems to re-enforce my view that more northerly stations seem to dominate later in the Es season.

UPDATE 1512z: 22 stations spotted including 3 which are probably Es, all in a NE direction.

UPDATE 1843z: Now 31 stations in 4 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.  All of these are G or NE Europe.

Sunspots - Thursday July 18th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN still zero. A=7 and K=1. Still the pits!

YouTube puzzle

Today I had an email from someone who could not access a YouTube video of mine referenced in my recent RSGB RadCom article. When I first tried it said "video unavailable". I tried again typing the link in the article and all was fine. It said the video had had 240 views.

The person tried 3 times again without success. So I tried again, this time as my wife with her ID on her iPad, typing in the precise link in the RadCom article. No problems except it now said 2416 views!

So, I am totally baffled why the views seem to differ so much and why there should be access issues. By the way, I checked the video was definitely "public" and not "private" or "unlisted". All very odd.

2m FT8

About 25 minutes ago I switched from 6m FT8 to 2m FT8. My 2m FT8 CQ call was spotted by 12 stations in 4 countries with the best DX being a spot by GI6ATZ (479km) near Belfast. Antenna is still the big-wheel omni.

On RX 5 stations so far spotted with best DX being DO9JF (560km) in the Saar area of Germany.

2m FT8 RX in the last 
few hours to 1924z.

UPDATE 1924z: 48 stations in 6 countries spotted in the last 6 hours on 2m FT8 RX and 19 stations spotted my 2m FT8 TX CQ. 2 QSOs resulted. At the moment I am RX only.

UPDATE 2107z: Now 50 stations in 6 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX today with best DX spotted DJ6AG (689km). Soon be time to go QRT and unplug things.

UPDATE 2120z: Now QRT.

Es to northern Europe

In an earlier post I mentioned that more northerly stations seemed to be more predominant later in the Es season. This is based on nothing scientific, but 6m FT8 RX results today are predominantly from northern Europe.

If this observation is true I have absolutely no idea why. Regarding E layer propagation, I am sure there is a lot still to learn, especially regarding "real DX", by which I mean really long distances outside Europe such as to Japan, the Caribbean or North America. 

In my view multi-hop Es does not fit these "real DX" cases. I may be wrong.

Moorhen - NOT amateur radio

We visit nearby Anglesey Abbey most months. This moorhen was on the mill leet.

New release of WSJT-X with FT4

According to Southgate News there is new release of this free software that includes FT4. I shall have to download it as I was waiting for the fully released version.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/new-wsjt-x-with-ft4-released.htm

6m FT8

Although it is only 0850z, quite a bit of Es on 6m. As I suggested in an earlier post, more northerly stations seem more abundant.  Best DX on 6m FT8 RX is LA1PHA (1704km).

UPDATE 1215z: So far today 73 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

Getting older - NOT amateur radio

In December I am 71 years old. In some ways the teenage, carefree, days feel like just yesterday, although they were a long time ago.

I am aware of my age and that I can no longer do some of the things I once could. They say, "live in the moment", but that is sometimes hard to do. On the whole, I have had a good life. Yes, like everyone, there have been good times and bad.

All I can advise is do what you can. Milk life like there is no tomorrow. Be kind to people and consider how they feel whether 8 or 80.

FT-991A web page

I have owned the FT-991A for a few weeks now, so have created a webpage. As time goes by, I hope to add more stuff.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ft991a

Sunspots - Wednesday July 17th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=7 and K=1.

Hedge trimming time - NOT amateur radio

It is fair to say I am knackered! This year seemed far harder than last.

This morning, I trimmed the front laurel hedge, although I have still to do the far side and sweep up all the cuttings. Usually I do it once or twice a year. Although I have a cordless hedge-cutter, I find the mains powered one better for this job.

70cm threat?

Many do not realise it, but parts of the 70cm amateur band are shared with other services. Already there are some transceivers (licence free) that operate at low power at 70cm.

Southgate News has a piece about adding a transceiver module to a smartphone that gives communications at longer ranges than wi-fi . It operates at ISM frequencies at 433 and 915MHz.

The photo shows a typical 433MHz LORA module. There are plenty on the internet. The one on the Southgate link was 100mW.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/adding-lora-long-range-radio-to-smartphones-and-connected-devices.htm

UK pound losing value - NOT amateur radio

Perhaps this is to be expected with all the uncertainty over BREXIT, but the UK pound is losing value against major currencies.

My view is Boris Johnson will be elected leader of the Conservative Party and UK Prime Minister. He will try to get better terms from the EU and fail. There will be a vote of no-confidence in the government, which will be lost. There will be a general election with a coalition between Labour and the Lib-Dems. Another referendum will be held and we will vote to stay in the EU. Of course I could be very wrong!

Garden flowers - NOT amateur radio

From the sound of it, my brother in Devon has had far less rain than us. His lawns are already brown, whereas ours are still largely green. The photo shows the flowers on our patio earlier.

Rant time - NOT amateur radio

Recently my wife bought some granola from a local shop. Despite a good look we could see NOTHING about recycling. There was lots about birds and bees on the pack. In this day and age this is stupid and inexcusable.

In my view all supermarkets should tell their suppliers to make all packages compostable or recyclable or no business. They have the power and should use it.

6m FT8

In the last 3 hours 4 stations spotted on 6m FT8 this morning with best DX being YO7YM (1927km).

UPDATE 1032z: Widespread Es on 6m FT8 RX today with 72 stations spotted right across Europe.

UPDATE 1925z: Now 102 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with best DX LA8ORF (2009km).

Sunspots - Tuesday July 16th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

In Australia - NOT amateur radio

One of my sons is with his family staying with the Australian grandparents.

The photo shows one of our grandsons with the local birdlife.

I think you will agree that it is a happy, colourful picture.

DXCC countries

According to Southgate News there are 213 active countries. I am not an active DXCC chaser, but I am probably at about 150 DXCC countries worked mostly with QRP.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/dxcc-report-1507.htm

Giddy, exhausted, fog - NOT amateur radio

Many times I have tried to explain just how I feel.

Outwardly I look fine. Inside it is a constant struggle with near continuous giddiness and exhaustion and living in a kind of fog. What few realise is just appearing "normal" takes vast amounts of energy. My voice is poor and just doing ordinary things is now hard. Eating food and drinking I am desperately trying not to spill things or choke.

Although I still drive, I no longer enjoy it as the mental concentration is immense.

Whereas at one time I felt as if I was getting better, I no longer think this is the case. Many are far worse than me. To use a Yorkshire phrase "mustn't grumble". However, life is tough.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke

Facebook issues? - NOT amateur radio

Now, this could just be me! Recently using Windows 10 Edge I seem to get Facebook notifications at the top of the page, but when I click them, to see what they are, nothing (any longer) happens. In the past  I clicked and could see everything. Intentionally, nothing has been changed. It is possible that accidentally something has been clicked "off" when it should be "on".

Am I alone or have others noticed this? With Android, I see no such issues.

Also, I seem unable to post to Facebook from Windows 10 Edge, but all works fine with Firefox.

Cricket - NOT amateur radio

OK, cricket does not normally "grab" me. Yesterday, the BBC website had over 40 million hits for the final day of the cricket world cup. I was one of them. To say it was the most exciting day in British sports history is perhaps no exaggeration. The last few balls were like nothing else I had ever experienced.  England beat New Zealand, but it was so very close.

I was unaware it was live on terrestrial TV on Channel 4. Next year I believe the BBC is showing live cricket again after a break of many years. I hope the profile of cricket rises as a result of yesterday's game.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/48986939

2m super DX

Southgate News passes on some news of a blog post by EI7GL about some quite astonishing 2m DX QSOs.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/july/144-mhz-cape-verde-islands-to-italy.htm