UK Rallies

The following UK rallies are occurring this weekend:

Saturday 1 FEBRUARY : BARRY ARS TABLE TOP RALLY

The Wilton Lounge, Sully Sports & Leisure Club, South Road, Sully CF64 5SP. Doors open 10am to 2pm. Entry £2 under 18s free, single pitch £10, traders £25 (tables included). There will be 2nd hand radio, computer and electronics and there is a close unloading point for traders and ample parking. Catering and a bar will be available. Nigel, GW1CUQ, gw1cuq@gmail.com.


Sunday 2 FEBRUARY : SOUTH ESSEX ARS 36th CANVEY RADIO & ELECTRONICS RALLY

Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 9QS. Talk in on 145.550MHz. Free car parking and easy level ground floor access to two large halls. Doors open at 10am, disabled visitors 9.45am. Admission is £3, children under 10 free. Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available, as well as bacon butties. There will be radio, computing and electronics traders. More details from Tony, G0JYI, via tony@tonystreet.net.


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

Sunspots - Friday January 31st 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11.  A=12 and K=2.

At the moment, it looks like we have just passed the solar minimum, although we will need several more months to be sure. It will be interesting to see what my favourite solar website has to say in a few days time.

Return to 160m FT8

Crowded 160m FT8!

Trying to find a space to call CQ on 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground this evening was hard even though most FT8 signals are just 50Hz wide. I have never, ever, seen it so busy (see first photo).

My 10W FT8 CQ resulted in no QSOs, but was spotted by 21 stations throughout western Europe (see second photo).

Spots of my 10W FT8 160m CQ just now

Best DX on 160m FT8 RX so far is RV0AR (5577km).

UPDATE 2210z: The first North American spotted was WU1ITU (4862km) at 2142z.

481THz beacon

It is some years since I designed my optical gear. This is a photo of my beacon TX which was copied well over the horizon.

Other bands with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Just for fun yesterday, I tried (not very hard) to use my earth-electrode "antenna" on 40m and 30m FT8. Using the auto-ATU in the FT991A I tried to get a good match. On both 40m and 30m the SWR was too high, so it failed to even try! On 40m FT8 RX it was still seeing plenty of spots even so.

At some point I must try the unun in my x80 to load up the coax to my big-wheel antenna. With the auto ATU in the FT991A it may match on some bands.

G3TFX yesterday

Richard lives in the same village and often pops in.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

My wife made this collage yesterday when she went to her U3AC course in the city. It is beautiful and all too easy to take it for granted. The bikes in the bottom photo are typical of Cambridge.

160m FT8 overnight

Overnight I returned to 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It was an average session with just under 600 stations spotted with just 5 North Americans, 1 Caribbean and no South Americans.  Best DX spotted was KV4FZ (6762km).

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX

Sunspots - Thursday January 30th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=9 and K=2.

Wayback machine - old internet sites

It is possible to find many old websites from the past that are old and long gone by looking on the Wayback Machine that archives and takes a snapshot of many closed websites. For example, today I viewed one of my websites created 23 years ago (www.lapr.demon.co.uk). I think my first ever website was created in 1994 using Compuserve. I shall have to see if I can find it!

A tip: keep a record of the URL of your old websites. Many of my old ones I can't remember, so I cannot do a search!

Crystal sets

It is some years now since I last played with crystal sets. If you have never tried these I urge you to have a go. These are powered entirely by the received signals, so no batteries or power source of any kind is needed.

Being envelope detectors, they are only really suitable for AM, although I have detected SSB and CW signals on mine in the past. There are even designs for band 2 FM using high-Q circuits and slope detection!

In the past, I have copied all over the world on a short wave crystal set. These were genuine receptions from the originating countries and not from relays nearer home. I have copied several amateur signals on 160 and 80m too.

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

See also https://crystalradio.net/crystalplans/index.shtml

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

This Friday, the UK will no longer be in the EU. It has been a member for 47 years, after being famously blocked by General de Gaulle in 1963.  We eventually joined in the 1970s.  It will be a difficult year ahead with trade negotiations with the EU and other countries.

I have mixed feelings. There is a lot wrong with the EU and I feel the EU will be much weaker without the UK. On the whole, I favoured staying in the EU and trying to get change from within.

Having left, it is up to the UK to forge its place in the world. I hope we maintain close trading ties with the EU. That was why we joined in the first place. Federal Europe was never, as far as I know, ever in our thinking.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51287430

Linear time? - NOT amateur radio

We always assume that time is linear going from the past into the future. But what if time is an illusion? One thing is certain: we know so little about so much. It is entirely possible that in our future we will come to a different conclusion about many things. Think how our world view changed with Einstein and later quantum physics.

New houses - NOT amateur radio

It seems that every nook and cranny in our Cambridgeshire village is being used for "fill-in" houses. At the moment, houses are not selling well, but that does not stop developers keen to make a quick profit.

SSTV from ISS?

Southgate News reports that there is expected to be SSTV from the International Space Station on Jan 30/31st.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/january/slow-scan-tv-from-iss-january-30-31.htm#.XjFNtfKTLnE

80m FT8 overnight

What strikes me is how similar results were to 160m FT8 recently. As before, I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Overall, 769 stations spotted since yesterday afternoon.

80m FT8 RX here overnight

UPDATE 1322z: After remaining on 80m FT8 I was surprised to see a recent CQ (10W) was spotted by 6 stations with best DX spot being by LA7DFA (1311km). Earlier, I called a G station and enjoyed a solid 80m FT8 QSO. I am pleasantly surprised how well the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is performing on 80m FT8.

Cambridgeshire's most inspiring teacher - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago my wife was named in the local media as a candidate for most legendary teacher.

She enjoyed her time as a teacher and judging by all the pupils who stop her when shopping years later, she certainly made a lasting impression.

I am proud of her. There have been some very kind comments made about her.

Ferrite rod transmitting antennas.

This has appeared before, but I think it is worth repeating.

Ferrite rods can be used on TX as long as the ferrite does not saturate. This means low power.  I like to think of the high permeability as a "shrinking of space".  Indeed this is how I visualise ferrites work on RX.

Being a loop, they can be very narrowband, but will work when frequency is fixed such as with WSPR or FT8.

I have no idea what the "gain" is, nor have I any idea of the ferrite material that I used.  It is some years since these experiments were carried out.  The results astounded me.

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

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeability_(electromagnetism)

Sunspots - Wednesday January 29th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11.  A=5 and K=3.

80m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Just for a change I am trying 80m FT8.

At this frequency some may argue that as much energy is radiated by the wire running along the garden fence as is radiated by the "loop in the ground". I cannot be sure.

Anyway, it certainly works. I had to use my FT991A auto-ATU to get a low SWR and I am still limiting power to 10W so my PSU is well within its ratings (20A max).

So far this afternoon, my CQs have been spotted across Europe and I have spotted 77 stations on FT8 RX with best DX R4IK (3218km).

UPDATE 1938z: So far this evening plenty of EU stations spotting my 10W. On 80m FT8 RX 298 stations spotted so far.

Stations spotting my 10W FT8 TX so far

UPDATE 2047z: Now 359 stations spotted today on 80m FT8 RX.

80m FT8 RX so far today

How to call kingfishers in Assam - NOT amateur radio

You may enjoy this video. In the UK just seeing a kingfisher is a treat these days!

House plants - NOT amateur radio

My wife is very keen on house plants and we usually have several out at one time. We have had some cyclamen out for months (see photo).

10m operation

10m is one of my favourite HF bands. At the moment it not too good (mind you Es in the spring/summer months is good at any part of the sunspot cycle) but in a few years it will again be one of our very best HF bands. I suspect 10m FT8 will be transformative.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_op

6m FT8

At about 1300z, I QSYed to 6m FT8. Although I called CQ at first (10W to the V2000 vertical) no spots yet on TX or RX.

UPDATE 1420z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is IZ8IBB (1677km).

Good night on 160m FT8 RX

Overnight with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 602 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with plenty of North Americans.

160m FT8 RX overnight 

Sunspots - Tuesday January 28th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=1.

160m FT8

This evening (with a break at 2000z for the East Cambridgeshire 2m net) I am on 160m FT8. My 10W CQ was spotted by 72 stations right across Europe (see photo).

6m FT8

I recently changed to 6m FT8 from 160m. As yet, just G3XDV (45km) spotting me and no spots of others apart from G3XDV.

Cookies warnings - NOT amateur radio

Recent EU laws have made it necessary to ask users permission before installing cookies. Personally I could not care less, but get very annoyed with all the pop-up messages asking my permission.  Like many, I rarely read these and just click "OK". In my view, this stupidity gone mad. You may like to think about these Chrome and Firefox extensions:

https://www.i-dont-care-about-cookies.eu/

I think it is fine, but caveat emptor.

New 134GHz record

Persssonally, I found optical comms easier than microwaves as all the testgear and kit could be easily home made. According to Southgate News a new mm record has been set in Germany. They must be keen!

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/january/new-iaru-region-1-record-on-134-ghz.htm#.Xi7uK_KTLnE

160m FT8 overnight

At the moment I am having trouble accessing the PSKreporter database, so I cannot check the stations spotted overnight. It is now 0722z.

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX overnight 

UPDATE 0908z:  It is working now. 17 North Americans, 4 Caribbeans and 1 South American spotted. Just 280 stations spotted.

Sunspots - Monday January 27th 2020

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 18. A=4 and K=0.

Back on 160m FT8

As 6m was useless, I decided to swap to 160m FT8. There is still a contest that explains the general scarcity of FT8 signals on the band.  So far, just signals. from Denmark and Germany, although I suspect this will change after dark. On TX just 1 spot by a G station.

As usual, I am running 10W into the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. When the contest ends (presumably at 2400z) it will be interesting to see if FT8 activity picks up. Quite possibly those in the contest will want a break!

UPDATE 1625z:  Now it is getting dark, more Europeans are being spotted on 160m FT8. Currently, 11 stations spotted so far. My own 10W CQs have been copied by 5 stations in 4 countries so far.

QO-100 (Es'hail-2) Satellite

Every few weeks I check activity in the narrow-band transponder section of this geosynchronous  satellite. The last time I looked (just now) was at 1525z on a Sunday afternoon in Europe. The impression is that activity is increasing. This is just an impression based on a quick look at the webSDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall, UK

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

That new coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

It is still too early to tell how dangerous this is. Certainly with air travel all over the world, it can spread very quickly. With long incubation periods when people are healthy, but capable of spreading the disease, it could spread very widely, very quickly. There is always the danger of mutation.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51254523

Brain overload? - NOT amateur radio

This may just be old age or another effect of my 2013 stroke. Driving has become much harder in the last year. When going 45mph it feels like 65mph. Also, I find I am always looking out for things that could happen, like drivers pulling out and not seeing me.

It is almost as if my brain is now more like someone with autism that has too much to process. My wife thinks this is all in the mind. She may be right. Certainly driving is tiring and stressful. Even with someone else driving I am still in brain overload.

6m FT8

A little while ago I QSYed from 160m FT8 to 6m FT8, calling CQ initially. It is now 1145z. Just 1 spot by G3XDV (45km) of my CQ (10W to the vertical omni V2000) and no QSOs.

On 6m FT8 RX just G0PQO (50km) spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1445z: So far today 3 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with best DX IK8DYD (1638km). On 6m FT8 TX just 2 spots by G stations,

How do they do it?

An old friend of mine, Andy G4FZE, sent me a link to this video on YouTube. Originally it came from EEVblog.  This is an Australian UHF CB set.  The estimated BOM cost is $5 US. How do they do it?

Daphne - NOT amateur radio

These plants can have a wonderful scent. The Daphne Mezerium was one of my day's favourites.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/daphne/growing-guide

Sunspots - Sunday January 26th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 14. A=3 and K=0.