BREXIT rabbits? - NOT amateur radio

Unless there is a metaphorical rabbit about to be pulled out of a hat, I think the UK Prime Minister is about to see the total annihilation of the Conservative Party and a General Election. At the moment I think a BREXIT deal seems unlikely.

We are in totally uncharted waters in the UK and no-one knows what the next few weeks will bring.

The Yaesu FT7 HF transceiver

This was the first HF rig I bought, back in 1979. It was 10W on all the then HF bands. With it I worked all over the world on 10m QRP SSB using simple antennas (CB half wave vertical or wire dipoles). It was a very good radio.

It was never used mobile. These days more bands are possible in about a fifth of the size. It was sold to a friend in Cambridge many years ago.

It had a very quiet (non-synthesised) VFO. As I recall it only covered parts of 10m. The later FT7B had more power and full 10m coverage. This is the best rig I have ever owned.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ft7 .

10m FT8 on the indoor loop

For a change, I am trying the small magnetic loop (mounted on the back of the rig) on 10m FT8. Initially I called CQ but now I am RX only. So far, no spots, although I am not too surprised.

UPDATE 1225z: Still no spots on RX or TX.

Sunspots - Thursday October 10th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=2. Still bouncing along the bottom of the cycle.

2m FT8 RX - the last day (and night)

For most of the last day, I have been monitoring 2m FT8 RX. 28 stations spotted in 5 countries in the last 24 hours..

BREXIT non-deal - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the rest of the world must look at the UK as a right bunch of idiots. It seems highly improbable we will get a deal in the next few days and most must look on us as a bunch of dimwits.  It is hardly surprising as we look like a bunch of turkeys voting for Christmas.

Yes, we want the EU to reform and, yes, the EU is terrified of the institution falling apart if others see us getting a good deal. At the moment I see both the UK Parliament and the UK people deeply split over BREXIT. Healing these wounds could take years. UK politics feels fractured.

At one time we would have compromised. This seems very unlikely.

RSGB Convention

11-13 OCTOBER : RSGB CONVENTION

Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ.

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

2m FT8

Since returning home, I have been on 2m FT8 calling CQ initially (10W to the big-wheel omni).

4 stations spotted me (no QSOs) with best DX being a spot by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall.

On 2m FT8 RX just 1 G station spotted.

UPDATE 1542z: Now 11 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8  this afternoon.

UPDATE 2018z: Now 26 stations in 5 countries spotted this afternoon and early evening on 2m FT8 RX.

Thetford - NOT amateur radio

Thetford is about 24 miles away from where we live. It is a mix of old sites, like Thetford Priory shown in the photo, and 1960s houses and shops, a result of Thetford being a London overspill town.

We liked it, although many of the shops are "to let" or charity shops. It felt more like a Sunday than a busy week day.

In 20 years' time what will our high streets look like?

472kHz WSPR overnight

Another good night. Every time I have been on 472kHz WSPR recently (10mW ERP) my QRPP has been spotted up in Norway. Last night it was spotted by 2 stations in Norway.

Stations spotting my 10mW 

472kHz WSPR overnight

Sunspots - Wednesday October 9th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A =5 and K=3.

Best DX yet on 70cm SSB in the UKAC

Despite using 10W SSB to the 2m big-wheel, I still managed to reach the Isle of Wight this evening. This is my best DX yet in the RSGB cumulative contest on 70cm.

The map shows the 5 QSOs this evening. I was only on for less than an hour because of my poor voice.

Brennan BB1 radio+ - NOT amateur radio

To me, this looks like a killer device. It allows you to collect loads of audio and access internet radio stations. It even has a TFT screen so you can watch YouTube videos. It looks good too. Prices look competitive too.

See https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/newbrennan

Plonker

Yesterday, I went on the 2m East Cambs net. One regular had said he could not make it, but G3TFX, local to me was on. He was 52 rather than the usual 59+. Later he said he had a chat with G7LEU. Richard was puzzled why I was so weak. He wondered if I was running milliwatts.

Later I found out why! Although I had connected the antenna adaptor (PL259 to BNC) I forgot to connect the antenna! So G3TFX was 52 even without an antenna!

Next time I shall try to remember the antenna.

Church flowers - NOT amateur radio

We must have a dedicated band of helpers at our local church putting out the flowers. These were the flowers in one window on our walk yesterday.

Good 472kHz WSPR session again

In the last session, spots from 14 stations received, many of these being multiple times. In some cases it is the same station  using different receivers, but I have been spotted in Norway by Jan LA3EQ (769km) on every recent occasion! Yet again, I was copied far more often than I received others, despite the noise floor here being low. This suggests fewer stations are TXing at the moment.

472kHz WSPR spots received in the last session using 10mW ERP 

(at most) and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1458z: I have been on 472kHz WSPR all day. G1GKN (99km) has been a consistent signal on RX all day. G3YPP (105km) has been spotting me all day. in North Norfolk.

UPDATE 1639z: So far 22 stations have spotted my QRPP signal on 472kHz WSPR. Best DX was 2 spots by LA8AV/1 (1035km).

Sunspots - Tuesday October 8th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=2.

Metaphysics - NOT amateur radio

As we get older, I guess it is natural to think of our finality. My own death could be later today or in 30 years' time. It is hard to think of simply not being.

If we look on ourselves as just evolved and successful animals why should we have anything after we die? The simple truth is not one of us knows.

There seems little doubt that the religions of the world are all struggles to find meaning in our lives. As I have said many times, there is so very much that we do not, indeed cannot, understand.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics

Norwich Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

We love Norwich and go there quite often on the train from Ely.

Norwich Cathedral is one of the finest in England. It is Norman (nearly 1000 years old) and many of the stones used to build it came all the way from Normandy in France by boat. The photo shows one of the fine windows.

HF conditions

At the moment the higher HF bands are not in good shape. There is DX there sometimes, but it is not as easy to find as at the sunspot maximum. At the moment we are at solar minimum and it will be a few years before bands like 10m really spring back into life.

The video shows how good 10m can be in case you have forgotten! This was recorded in 2012.

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

Walk around the village - NOT amateur radio

Most days we try to do a short walk.

According to my phone, we have walked 2.68 miles today. On the walk we bumped in to several friends and the rain held of.

We are home again.

Good session on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight was a good session for me on 472kHz WSPR. Running (at most) 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I was spotted by quite a few stations (see photo). Notice that LA3EQ (769km) copied me multiple times!

472kHz WSPR TX last evening 

and overnight (10mW ERP)

472kHz WSPR RX last evening and overnight

UPDATE 1928z: A couple of spots by stations in the Netherlands this evening, but nothing yet from Norway. I am not sure if LA3EQ is on tonight. As last night, as many stations are spotting me (actually more) than I am spotting others. It suggests my ERP is a bit higher, but measurements suggest not. Perhaps more stations have better RX set-ups?

Sunspots - Monday October 7th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR

I seem to have better optimised my matching transformer with the S/N being 1dB better on G1GKN who is like a beacon with me. I have been spotted by a couple of new UK stations in the last few hours and it is still daylight.

UPDATE 1843z: Already my 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, maybe less!) has been spotted in Norway 3 times and once in The Netherlands.

Miracle Antennas

It is some years since I last used my Miracle Whip. In fact, I am not even sure where it is! These days there are commercial alternatives as the original inventor became a SK in 2012. Now, please do not expect miracles from any of these. As I have said many times, a 56 inch whip can only be as good as a 56 inch whip, but with a counterpoise or ground they can work reasonably well on the higher HF bands. In their favour, they are small and convenient.

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

472kHz ERP

Despite having redone the calculations, I still cannot get a sensible figure.

All my sums seem to give me figures well below 10mW ERP, even if I assume the effective loop area is much bigger than I expected.

Now, it is entirely possible that I have made an error, but if the ERP is greater than 10mW I shall be very surprised. Perhaps I should take another look tomorrow.

ON4KST chat

This is a useful resource for arranging skeds and seeing what is happening on various bands. As often happens, I forgot my password so requested a new one. Nothing received.

So I tried re-registering. Again nothing received. I checked the SPAM folder - nothing.

Crap. I give up.

472kHz WSPR - no TX

For reasons I do not understand, it appears that my WSJT-X software decided to disable TX on 472kHz WSPR. I think this may have been the case for several hours. I manually enabled it again a few minutes ago. No reports resulted though!

G1GKN on 472kHz WSPR

G1GKN seems to be always copied. I am intrigued why the S/N is better now than earlier. It could be for several reasons. Has my noise floor dropped? I don't think so. Has the path loss dropped? I don't think so. Is he running more ERP? Not according to the WSPR database. Mystery.

New Beofeng 10W handie

My friend Steve G1KQH has sent me a link for a new 10W Beofeng handheld transceiver. How do they do it for the price?

See https://www.banggood.com/Baofeng-UV-9R-Plus-10W-Upgrade-Version-Two-Way-Radio-VHF-UHF-Walkie-Talkie-for-CB-Ham-AU-Plug-p-1402512.html?p=1T122389680562017027&custlinkid=588363&ID=43101&cur_warehouse=CN

Recalculating 472kHz ERP

Yesterday I said I would recalculate the ERP of my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground at 474kHz. This is proving much harder to work out, not helped by living in a continual "brain fog" since my 2013 stroke. Even simple tasks, whether physical or mental, are now so much harder.

I seem to be coming up with silly figures (much less than 10mW ERP) and these depend on some assumptions about the effective area of the loop in the ground, which are an educated guess. Either the effective loop is much bigger than I expect or the ERP is far less than 10mW!! A recalculation is needed.

472kHz FT8? and storm risks

At the moment, I have not had any interest in a 472kHz FT8 QSO attempt, so I shall remain on 472kHz WSPR unless I hear from anyone.

At the moment, the UK storm risks here look low.

I realise that my QRPP 472kHz WSPR signal has not been spotted since 0744z this morning.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk

Sunspots - Sunday October 6th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Spotted in Norway on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight LA3EQ (769km) spotted my signal on 472kHz WSPR 3 times. This is the first time this autumn. Very pleased! At -30dB S/N I only just made it! Jan must have a very low noise level.

As usual, still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I shall work out the ERP later, but it is low milliwatts.

UPDATE 1000z: 7 stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX in the last day, including a couple of new stations.

472kHz FT8 QSO anyone?

If anyone would like to give this a try, I am happy to try 472kHz FT8 this Sunday. Unless anyone can tell me different, I shall use 474.2kHz USB dial as my setting frequency and transmit in the few kilohertz HF of that, as for other bands.

Please contact me at rogerlapthorn (at) gmail.com if you want to give this a try. FT8 is about 10dB worse than WSPR so I may copy you, but you may not copy me!

HF FT8

There is no doubt that FT8 is changing our bands.

Many are saddened that there are fewer casual chats these days, so our bands sound quieter. This has been especially noticeable on 6m, where many have deserted SSB and CW for FT8.

FT8 is a weak signal mode that does not lend itself to chats. An advantage of FT8 is that it works with weak signals (not as good as WSPR, but better than SSB and CW), occupies only 50Hz, all activity is concentrated within a few kilohertz and lots of people are monitoring.

So, if a band opens only briefly, it is more likely to be spotted. Using PSKreporter maps it is possible to see where your signal is reaching. Unlike WSPR, transmissions are only 15 seconds long. It is useful for quick QSOs. I think we has still to fully exploit this mode on HF.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hf-ft8

Return to 472kHz WSPR

After quite a break, I am back on 472kHz WSPR TX (very low ERP) and RX.

I wound a new matching transformer (shown in photo) in the hope of squeezing a tiny bit more ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I will calculate the ERP tomorrow, but I don't think it is greater. The coil has more turns on the secondary, but I think the tapping point was not far off before.

My own signal has been copied by a couple of stations and G1GKN (99km) has been copied here a few times. I shall leave it on this evening and possibly overnight.

472kHz WSPR so far this evening

It would be good to try FT8 on 472kHz (about 10dB worse than WSPR), but I am not sure if people use FT8 on MF. Years ago I had some JT9 QSOs on MF.

UPDATE 1852z: Best DX so far on 472kHz WSPR RX is LA3EQ (769km) running 20mW ERP.

UPDATE 2108z: A few new stations spotted this evening, that I did not see last season: LA4NJ (800km) and DL1HWK (816km). I don't think these stations were active last season,

Cavenham Heath - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went for a walk at Cavenham Heath. The heather was well past its best, but we saw several stone curlews. These birds migrate shortly. None were that close sadly.

On the way we saw this fungus, but we saw fewer than the last time when we went in August.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/stone-curlew/

High Street shops - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that shopping is changing. Many High Street stores have closed and they are replaced by charity shops, coffee shops or empty shops. More and more people prefer the convenience of shopping online. One finds what one wants and it is delivered next day to your home.

Yes, rents may be too high and the online retailers usually have a price advantage.

It is anyone's guess how the High Street will look in 20 years. It seems that retailers who adapt may survive. Those that don't adapt face a bleak future. It is not just shops: many other things will change in the coming years.

2m FT8

Since just before breakfast I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far today, 21 stations in 5 countries spotted.

UPDATE 1447z: After a break when we went out for a walk I went back on 2m FT8 calling CQ (10W). 24 stations spotted me and a couple of QSOs resulted. 34 stations in 7 countries spotted here today on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1648z: Now 46 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.