9 Jul 2014

University of Liverpool on-line courses

Very many years ago (1967-1970) I was an undergraduate student studying Electronics at the University of Liverpool.  Since those days, the Department has become heavily involved with on-line learning as reported by the Southgate Amateur Radio News page. This course could suit someone needing a grounding in electronics. I think there is some (easy-ish) maths. To do the honours degree course we had to do maths to degree level. I found this very hard.

Proving how small the world is, one of our close friends in the village is the brother of my personal tutor at university. The brother is now a visiting professor at Liverpool. I believe my old tutor still works at the university as an emeritus professor.

A new Massive Open On-line Course (MOOC) covers Analogue/Digital Electronics, AC/DC Circuits, Electromechanics and an introduction to C programming.
Over the last few months here at Liverpool we have been putting together a MOOC (Massive Open On-line Course) which introduces aspects of electrical engineering. The course starts in September, but you can sign up now. It's free and there are no gimmicks.

The link to the MOOC info is here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/electrify
Any ideas on how to make this course better are welcome.

Matt O’Rourke
MOOC developer
Liverpool University On-line Electrical Engineering Course

9H5G on 6m WSPR

Most of the day I've been out, with rigs and antennas disconnected. Since getting home again just after 1520z, I've been on 6m WSPR and see I've been spotted by 9H5G (2116km) by Es.  I am amazed this is just a tiny bit further than Morocco from here. Also spotting me is local G4IKZ (18km).

Early morning on 10m WSPR

Overnight, I was on 10m rather than 6m hoping to catch any early morning and overnight activity. FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted very early at 0554z  on Reunion Island in the southern Indian Ocean. My QRP WSPR signal has (so far) been spotted on Es by Scandinavian stations.

Sunspot count today is 209 (good) with blackouts and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". The early morning appearance of FR1GZ proves there is N-S F2 propagation around on 10m. This remains my favourite band. Of course, with high sunspot numbers and stable HF conditions it is a very good band. In the quiet years things get MUCH harder on 10m.

There was also GDX around on 10m with G8JNJ/A (184km) and G6NHU (78km) spotted during the night.

In the last few minutes, IK1WVQ has been spotted.

8 Jul 2014

70cm contest

Having missed VHF NFD at the weekend (I forgot and we had a visitor) I went on the 70cm UK activity contest from home this evening with 5W and the hand-rotated 5 el beam. Conditions were very flat but best DX was 183km. After 10 QSOs I had to stop because of my voice was so poor.
70cm - stations worked with 5W and 5 el

VC1T copied in the UK on 2m

If you can access the ARRL pages see http://www.arrl.org/news/view/brendan-quest-team-s-2-meter-signal-copied-in-the-uk .

G4SWX copied the Canadian group VC1T for 4 hours, but was unable to complete a 2-way QSO. The Canadian's ERP was around 150kW from a beam 100 foot long.  The mode was FSK441 and this was on July 6th 2014. A 2m 2-way terrestrial QSO will happen across the Atlantic sometime, maybe this summer?

My thanks again to Steve G1KQH for this news. 

Ultimate 3 kit build

I thought my hands and eyes were good enough to make a start on this kit, which I have only just unpacked, having had it for months. I was waiting until I was less clumsy. When built, this will make a really useful WSPR beacon.

The packing is wrong as I had asked for a GPS module, which is missing, but there is a surplus relay board in the box.  I was very careful unpacking the kit. and have left in packets those parts not yet needed. Some are anti-static.

Sadly, my eyes and hands are not really good enough: I started on the 10m LPF PCB and, frankly, this was a real struggle both for my eyes and hands. Tomorrow I shall test this with my generator and 50 ohm load.

Two people have very kindly offered their help building the kit. I fear I shall have to admit defeat and ask them to help me. This is a great pity as I was so hoping I'd be fit enough to build this. Sadly, this seems unlikely any time soon.  My stroke is taking its toll on my abilities. WSPR is OK, but I am struggling with building still.  Talking in tonight's contest will be hard.

6m WSPR and 70cm UKAC

So far today, 6m WSPR is running to form: most spots are from local and semi-locals, a smattering of Es (but nothing like the Es on 10m) and no "super-DX" to be seen here. If I QSY back down to 10m I am almost guaranteed S.American F2 propagation, but "sod's law" says I'll miss a stronking great big opening to the Caribbean on 6m. I am bound to do the wrong thing! For now , I plan to stay on 6m. We'll see.

This evening is the 70cm UK activity contest. I plan to operate for the first hour or so, as long as my voice holds - I am not good at SSB contests because of my stroke damaged voice - it is really hard work. About 10 QSOs is my very limit. At least I can WSPR on 6m at the same time as I use different rigs and antennas (both FT817s). WSPR saves my voice.

Another Pixie

Yet another variation on the Pixie arrived by email today from Sverre Holm in Norway who has LM386 mods to reduce BCI, provide mute and add sidetone.

See http://la3za.blogspot.no/2003/04/using-pin-7-of-lm386-to-reduce-bci-and.html .

This looks a very useful mod to this simplest of circuits. Sverre also added a much wider tuning range that helps to get contacts. Low power does not seem to be the main handicap.

6m WSPR

After a very brief spell on 10m WSPR before 0808z, I QSYed back to 6m WSPR  very early today. 10m was very busy with Es coming through from right across Europe.

On 6m, in the early morning, a couple of Germans were spotting my 1W ERP WSPR signal, but since then just locals and semi-locals.

7 Jul 2014

10m tomorrow?

Tomorrow morning, I think I am going to take a look on 10m WSPR rather than 6m. I may go on to 6m lunchtime onwards. 6m (apart from some Es, GDX and locals) seems pretty quiet.   Later in the day there is still a chance of some super-DX across the Atlantic, but I'm not holding my breath!

Polyakov Pixie

Peter DL3PB has sent details of his version of the Pixie transceiver. He claims no broadcast breakthrough by using this configuration and lots of QSOs.
Peter DL2PB's Polyakov Pixie

6m - past the best?

I am beginning to think that 6m is now past its best both for Es opportunities and, of course, for F2 propagation. Almost zero Es on 6m in the last few days, mainly locals and a little GDX. I may give it a few more days before QSYing back down to 10m where both Es and F2 DX are more plentiful.

10m conditions should be good for N-S F2. Sunspot count is 256 (high) and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to be "normal".

If anything, solar activity has staged a bit of a comeback lately, but this may be just a blip.

UPDATE 1545z: As if to persuade me to stay on 6m, CN8LI (2113km) was spotted at 1450z.

UPDATE 1810z:  No more Es here since CN8LI at 1450z. One blog reader tells me that I should try JT65 as there is more activity. JT9-1 worked well for me on MF with international 2-way QSOs with very low mW ERP. I think JT65 is more commonly used on 6m?

Smart Meters

More news via Steve G1KQH.  Thanks Steve - again:
Subject: Energy industry unveils £85m plan to tout smart meter benefits | News | Marketing Week
Get Green Go Smart!




Coming your way soon to interfere with your Ham kit




They are also not saying how many meter readers will lose their jobs?

See also:
http://stopsmartmeters.org.uk/
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/do-i-have-to-accept-a-smart-meter

6m - quiet overnight, now some GDX

6m remained quiet here overnight with just local reports but at 0728z I was spotted by G8JNJ/A (184km) weakly. This is the first GDX spot of the day.   Later, at 0834z, M0EMM (192km)  was decoding me at -20dB with what seems to be aircraft Doppler (-3Hz)

No WSPR spots of others yet but reasonable signals about 1 minute long seen (MS or aircraft?). Maybe JT65 would be better with a 1 minute decode period? Some of these shorter bursts are actually at strengths JT65 would have no trouble with. JT65 is usually a few dB worse than WSPR but is a proper 2-way comms mode, whereas WSPR is really a beacon mode.

Yesterday my WSPR software crashed so I reset the clock and restarted the software this morning to be sure all was OK.

My TX periodicity is now much lower (around 10% TX) so I am listening far more than transmitting. No stations copied though for very many hours!

UPDATE 1051z: M0EMM (192km) copied at -27dB S/N at 0940z. This is my first WSPR spot since yesterday.  No Es here (yet) today.  M0EMM is the station I have been seeing for hours (judging be frequency) but with TX periods less than 2 mins (MS pings?).

UPDATE 1235z: M0EMM spotted again here at 1224z. Still no 6m Es here today.

6 Jul 2014

Pixie and Micro 80

These little QRP transceivers first made an appearance some 20 odd years ago. They are extremely simple transceivers that use the TX PA as the RX mixer to save parts.

I built a Micro 80 some years ago and my best QSO was around 300km.  Biggest issue (for me) was broadcast breakthrough from strong broadcasters just above the 80m band. Variations included the Pixie 2 which added some refinements at the expense of more parts. Kits are available, but the circuits are so simple it is not work paying over the odds for these. The Micro 80 uses all discrete components whereas the Pixie and Pixie 2 use an LM386 for the RX audio.

If you build one, be prepared to fight for contacts. It is not the TX power that is the problem: it is the receiver that is the limitation.Given good conditions and little broadcast breakthrough, these rigs work.

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

The same basic schematic will work on any HF band with changes to the output filter. Watch out for chirp on the higher HF bands: don't be tempted to try to pull the crystal too much, especially on the higher HF bands.

6m - quiet so far today

So far today it has been very quiet on 6m with just locals copied. No Es seen here yet today on 6m.

Sunspot count today is very high at 213 and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal". Conditions on 10m should be good for F2 N-S propagation, although expect blackouts.

UPDATE 1505z:  still no Es on 6m here today.

6m transatlantic

Looking on the internet, the better equipped stations measure the number of  transatlantic 6m QSOs each year in hundreds (to Spain). With my very modest 6m set-up I am still pleased to have worked just a single USA station on Es CW back in 2007.

I am still surprised not to have caught 6m Es transatlantic on WSPR as I've been monitoring 24/7 more or less (with occasional breaks) since late April. I know there have been transatlantic Es openings on other modes, so it may have been down to a lack of WSPR activity. I''ll continue monitoring and TXing through July, but will probably QSY to 10m after that. I am still hopeful.

WSPR software closed itself down yesterday PM (Win 8.1)

Some time between 1440z and 2124z yesterday, my WSPR software decided to close down, so all reports in that period were lost. I think the PC decided to update Windows 8.1 software.  I should have noticed it had closed sooner, so I blame myself and no-one else. I like to leave updates running so I get the latest Windows updates as soon as I can. WSPR closing when updates come in seems a common issue with Win 8.1.

Since 2124z yesterday only locals and GDX on 6m, no Es here.

5 Jul 2014

6m - no super-DX overnight, CN8LI "pipe" open again

Overnight, no super-DX seen here I'm sorry to report, but spots have been exchanged between CN8LI (2113km) and me 11 times already starting at 1134z. It is now 1335z as I write. This path seems to be an Es regular. I have no idea why this path seems to be open so well and so often.

Just  realised I'd had the power shown wrongly - forgot to change from 33dBm (10m) to 30dBm (6m). Now rightly shown as 1W ERP on 6m.

Also spotted this morning was HB9FGQ (very strongly). OH6GKW spotted me.

In addition, G0OQK seems to be always there at 98km.

UPDATE 1532z: No further spots of CN8LI since lunchtime. Maybe the Es will reappear teatime?

4 Jul 2014

6m WSPR - CN8LI (2113km) yet again (and super-DX?)

Since turning 6m WSPR back on again, CN8LI is again a decent signal here and my 1W ERP is good with him. Ten spots all together to 1622z. The "pipe" between us is there yet again!

Still no sign of super-DX on 6m WSPR though. There are several active stations in the USA towards the east coast (W2, W3, W4, W0, W8, W9 areas) and today is July 4th a public holiday in the USA. Put WSPR on 6m then go have a BBQ? If on a beam, make sure it is firing towards Europe! Vertical omni's are OK too.

At the last count, there were 8 stations in the USA that might be copied if the 6m band opens including 2 N2s which would be the closest.  Please may today be the day!

Plenty of GDX with several calls not seen in the logs before on 6m.

FG5LA is spotting W8AC (3380km) at 1602z, so there is hope!

UPDATE 2034z:  14 spots exchanged with CN8LI  with the latest spot at 1836z. And most of the day I was on 10m! No super-DX seen on 6m from here and, although I'll leave the kit running overnight, I'd be surprised if we now see transatlantic DX tonight. Plenty of GDX still with G0OQK at 98km as best DX.

K3NAL (5930km) - 10m WSPR

As K3NAL has just been spotted here on 10m WSPR at 1444z, I have at , 1455z, decided to QSY back up to 6m, ever hopeful of some stateside 6m DX! This is E-W propagation so almost certainly multi-hop Es, not F2.

At some point I must get lucky and see some multi-hop Es on 6m. Will today be the day? Who knows.

X108 20W transceiver

G1KQH informs me this Chinese transceiver is available for an introductory prce of £399.99. Personally I think this is MORE than I would expect. To me it still looks like a "back shed" design. I notice this supplier has sold out.

See http://www.sinotel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=183&zenid=oi6qsdgfla6p73q0c5vhs40kj3 .

This is an introductory price for the basic version without TCXO and noise blanker. The FT817ND is now available for well below £500 with cash back offers and, to my mind, is a well proven MF-UHF design.

The X108 claims " minimalist industrial design". Read NO industrial design in my book! Still waiting for the Chinese "killer" radio to out-smart the Japanese. This, in my opinion, is not it.

CX2ABP (11127km ) - 10m WSPR

It had to happen sometime today.  CX2ABP (5W) was spotted on 10m WSPR today at 1326z. I suspect there will be more spots later. This is N-S F2 propagation.

T61AA (6940km) - 10m WSPR

Several spots of T61AA on 10m WSPR today (Ross was actually in Mogadishu, Africa and not Afghanistan but is using the same callsign - very confusing!). I assume it is F2 propagation but it could be multi-hop Es I suppose. No South Americans copied (or copying me) as yet.

EA6GF - why 50W?

For some reason EA6GF is using 10m WSPR and running 50W. This is FAR too much power for this beaconing mode.  I hope he soon realises that WSPR stand for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporting" and just a few watts is more than enough.

It rather goes against the grain to run such high power. As an example FR1GZ was good copy earlier running 5W. People frequently run just uWs.

Turn the power down please OM EA6GF!! Nothing is proved using such high power in this mode - save your power bill and have more fun!

Best man coming to stay

Every year our best man (Pete) comes down from The Wirral to stay with us for a few days. He enjoys the bookshops in Cambridge. My wife and I will have been married 43 years on July 24th having got married in 1971. Pete is a perfect guest: he mucks in and helps. Like all good friends, we just pick up where we left off and it seems like a few days since he was last with us. He last came in November when I was still in hospital. I was so ill then I cannot remember him visiting me.

Pete was a deputy headmaster and a historian. He is very good company.

10m - WSPR Es and F2 this morning

After another night with just GDX on 6m WSPR I QSYed down to 10m this morning. There is widespread Es (both  ways) on 10m (I , SM, EA6, LB9 etc. but also FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted by F2 propagation at 0952z,1128z and 1144z..

Sunspot count is a high 179 with blackouts with "normal" 20-30MHz propagation forecast. It is clearly good enough for N-S F2 propagation - I expect S.America will be within reach later.

3 Jul 2014

6m - CN8LI pipe again

CN8LI (2113km) WSPR spots of my 1W ERP today
The 6m "pipe" to Morocco seems to be open again this evening with plenty of good propagation both ways.  Above are just the spots of my 1W ERP signal in Morocco to 1922z.  Plenty in the other direction too.

UPDATE 2030z:  Now 8 reports this evening from CN8LI.

UPDATE 2040z:  In addition to the Es today, there is plenty of GDX around.
Spots by me of CN8LI this evening (so far) - 10 spots!

6m - 4X1RF - even more WSPR spots!

So far today, up to 1718z, 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my 1W ERP no less than 8 times today. He has spotted me on many other days already - this is no "sporadic" reception: it happens time and time again.  I find it quite remarkable that my QRP is so well, and consistently, being reported on a VHF band from such a distance. The experts tell me it is Es, but how many hops?

 
4X1RF 6m spots today to 1718z.

6m - good Es day

On and off today there has been Es to/from many parts of Europe on 6m. This morning (apart from 4X1RF - Asia, assumed to be Es?) the band was widely open to Scandinavia and Italy. Since lunch, German and Russian stations have also spotted my 1W ERP.  In all, a good day on 6m Es so far. I am still waiting for some "super DX" on WSPR i.e.transatlantic.

6m F2 this autumn?

Speculating about the chances of any F2 openings on 6m this autumn. I guess the chances are slim as the solar activity is now on a downwards path, although those lucky enough to be nearer to equator could catch some TEP.  I think it will be very unlikely that we in the UK will catch any. CN8 to FR, VK to JA etc maybe.

Sunspot count today is 180 (high) with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal".

See http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=EU&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N .

6m - WSPR spots from 4X1RF (3519km) yet again

My 6m 1W ERP WSPR signals are yet again being spotted in Israel.

I think this is now 5 days this season he has spotted me at this incredible distance. In all I must have had around 20 spots if not more from him?  The considered wisdom is this is Es, but I do sometimes wonder what the propagation mechanism is. The lack of stations at intermediate distances may be because few are active on WSPR, but it "feels" like a single long hop, not unlike F2. My station and antenna are basic.

People who know better than me tell me it is not F2. Whatever, I am very pleased to have my QRP station being spotted so often in Israel.

 Today, starting at 0704z,  he has spotted me 6 times already by 0846z.
6m spots by 4X1RF (1W ERP here) to 0830z today
Most Es spots seem to be from Scandinavia currently, just 1 from Italy.

UPDATE 0942z:   Just Scandinavian Es for the last hour here.

UPDATE 1530z:  Another spot from Israel of my QRP 6m signal at 1314z. That makes it 7 just today!

2 Jul 2014

6m - CN8LI still spotting me on WSPR

CN8LI (2113km) regularly spots my 1W ERP on 6m WSPR and is still copying me at 2028z.  I have the feeling this will not be the last spot today. Yet again my report from him was excellent at -13dB S/N. I continue to be surprised how regular these spots are and how strong. Usual strengths suggest much lower power would still be copyable.

In totally the other direction OH7AI (2000km) is also spotting my 1W ERP signal at a much weaker -23dB S/N.

UPDATE 2055z:   CN8LI is still spotting me at 2052z.  G0OQK (98km) is also spotting me at -24dB S/N at the same time.

6m - afternoon Es

All afternoon, OH7AI and OH5MD have been consistent signals on 6m WSPR. I have the sense that, if 6m is to open for "super-DX" at all on WSPR, we are going to see it in the next few days. The band has already opened across the Atlantic on SSB/CW several times but, as far as I know, the only WSPR transatlantic was a report by CN8LI of KC1AWS (5607km) on May 30th at 1700z. PE4BAS worked Puerto Rico the other evening with 5W and a V2000 on 6m with JT65 mode proving that high power is not a prerequisite. WSPR should be better than JT65.

FT817 drift on 6m

G0LRD compared spots of his signal from G4IKZ and from me and noticed greater drift on my reports than from Nick G4IKZ. I think Nick uses a K3 with GPS disciplined reference.

Although I have a loaned 0.5ppm TCXO fitted (thanks to Bob G3WKW). the issue may be drift as the rig cools going from TX to RX. There is definitely Doppler shift (and multiple traces) on most of the GDX  signals I copy, much of the apparent drift may, in reality, be in my rig. 0.5ppm is still 25Hz at 50MHz .

10m rigs

http://images.nevadaradio.co.uk/large/banners/Liberty-bannerV3.jpg
For WSPR, 5W or less is quite enough on 10m, even with my "compromise" 3 band PAR antenna. In the quiet years ahead, a bit more power would be helpful on SSB, AM, CW and FM.

I am now getting very tempted to buy a Lincoln President II (version 3) which can run up to 31W pep on SSB. Probably it would run far less most of the time. Nevada have reduced their price by £10 to £249.95, I hope that includes free delivery for cash.

This is a dedicated 10m radio, although it can also cover CB bands with a simple (but illegal) internal wire cut.  If I bought one, I would only use it on 10m only: I have no interest in CB.  I think the latest mods turn this into a good rig. On my original Lincoln President - sold years ago - some impressive DX was worked in quieter years even from the car on SSB. 

Yes, it is a glorified CB rig, but with some very useful features for amateur use and about half the price of the lowest cost amateur radio transceivers. There are other contenders too but these seem to have fewer useful features.

As my main interest (outside the 6m Es season) is 10m, this may be a wise buy.

6m - an excellent WSPR start today

PA0O (440km) is coming in well today, I suspect by Es rather than tropo, although skip would have to be very short, suggesting good 2m Es?

4X1RF (3519km) had already spotted my 1W ERP signal twice by 0828z, incredibly early. His spots remain my best DX reports this Es season. This is the 4th day he has copied me. I am assuming it is multi-hop Es, but it is a long way to Israel!

On HF 20-30MHz propagation is "good" and sunspot count 154 (high).

IK1WVQ is very strong on 6m this morning  at +10dB S/N.

UPDATE 1048z:  GM4FVM  (428km) has been spotted (and is spotting me) several times this morning. Also spotted was HB9TJM (764km).

UPDATE 1100z:  EA4UC (1349km) also spotting me. GM4FVM is quite strong currently (-13 to -15dB S/N).

UPDATE 1155z:  SQ9SIM (1325km) being spotted via 6m Es now. A good day on 6m.Fingers crossed for some "super DX" later?

UPDATE 1300z:  Just increased the TX cycle from 5% to 17% ,so I am on TX more than earlier.  The Es seems to have gone rather quiet at present.

1 Jul 2014

6m - Es this evening

No super-DX seen, with the best DX this evening being a spot from OH7AI  at exactly 2000km at 2000z. I am still hopeful of transatlantic multi-hop Es but had no luck as yet. Still using 1W ERP from a vertical V2000 antenna. This is being written at nearly 2200z.

2m UK Activity Contest - July 1st

This evening, with a VERY strained voice, I took part in the 2m July 1st UKAC contest from home, working 10 stations in a little over an hour before I had to stop. I was running 5W from the FT817ND to a hand rotated 3 el beam. Best DX was 240km up to the North York Moors. I heard IO95 (Northumberland) and Wales and other squares, but my voice was too poor to carry on past 2036z. Had I been fitter, I'd probably have turned the beam south and worked more squares and stations. Contests are hard for me at present. My voice is so poor.
2m stations worked tonight - 5W 3el

6m -WSPR - GDX this morning, Es this afternoon

Apart from local G4IKZ (18km), G8JNJ/A (184km), G4NRG (58km), all copied me overnight or this morning. I spotted M0EMM (192km, IO82sq   four times since 2232z last night. There was drift/Doppler of up to -4Hz suggesting planes were involved in this long across-G path.

Sunspot count today is 124 with 20-30MHz propagation described as "good".

UPDATE 1116z:   No 6m Es here yet today.

UPDATE 1257z:   Es to/from CN8LI (2113km) all of 7 times so far since 1200z.

UPDATE 1700z:  Es to YO3IRZ (2078km), I and GM this afternoon on 6m. Still no sign here of any "super DX" from across the Atlantic.

UPDATE 1950z:   OZ and SQ9 spotted on 6m WSPR Es since tea. Otherwise GDX only.