8 Feb 2015

Stroke update

I went for more blood tests last week.  Results should be back late this week.

I still have trouble speaking, swallowing thin liquids, feel drunk when walking and I tire easily with any physical activity. Although I am still mending it is taking much longer than I was expecting. To be honest, I am frustrated at the slow progress. My wife and I want the old "me" back.

472kHz WSPR puzzle

Last night and overnight more stations copied me than I copied. Since 1030z today I have copied lots of WSPR stations on 472kHz but no-one has copied me!

About 20 minutes ago I re-set the clock to internet time and changed frequency about 20Hz lower. I also closed and re-opened the WSPR software. Still I am copying plenty but no-one has so far copied me still since 1030z.

The 5mW ERP TX to the earth-electrodes will remain on overnight.

I checked frequencies and power into the ground loop.  All looks the same as yesterday. Odd.

UPDATE 2237z:  Panic over: G6AVK (78km) is copying me at -20dB S/N.

Wellbrook RX loop review

See http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/review-wellbrook-ala1530s-loop-antenna.html .

Some stations have splashed out on this RX only loop in an attempt to overcome man made noise sources. This is a review of one person's results with this 1m diameter loop. Like many, this Australian was well satisfied.  In Australia it is even more expensive as the shipping costs from the UK are high.

I have wondered about the LF loop as a possible RX only antenna for 136 and 472kHz.  I believe the loop is balanced and being a loop, it has directivity. It has to be positioned some distance for any TX antenna and ideally rotated.

Digital repeaters

As I have mentioned before, I am a rare repeater user, partly because my voice is so poor currently and I don't find operating through repeaters that satisfying. Each to his/her own and if this helps you enjoy the hobby go ahead!

At the moment it is far from clear which form of digital repeater will win: there are several competing digital standards and all have their advocates. For now I shall sit back and wait. A bit like the video standards war in the 1980s, the best system may not win. Let's see. Up to now I have only used FM repeaters.

When I do use voice I use SSB, FM and AM. All modes have their places on our bands. SSB is good on the crowded HF bands, FM useful for nets on VHF, and AM rigs simple to build and there is space on all bands from 10m upwards for all analogue voice modes. A well designed AM rig should occupy less than 6kHz, far less most FM transmissions on our bands. 10m AM, just above 29MHz, is a great mode. I have worked quite a few stateside stations on 10m AM. And I have only used QRP AM.  Let no-one tell you AM is a dead mode!

USA 10m WSPR spots and MF today

The first USA station to copy my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR beacon on 10m today was K3ZV (5692km) at 1214z. I have been spotted by lots of USA stations all afternoon on 10m.

UPDATE 2015z:   The last 10m USA WSPR spot today was K3EA (5657km) at 1846z

Whilst on 100% TX on 10m (500mW) I am still active on 472kHz (630m) WSPR (5mW ERP) and the earth-electrodes on both RX and TX. Unlike yesterday, I have mainly been spotting others today.  These are some of the MF spots today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday Feb 8th 2015

Sunspot number is much the same as yesterday at 80 today although 10m is expected to be "good", which is better than yesterday when the forecast was only "fair".

UPDATE 1050z:   Best 10m DX report (this morning so far) of my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW beacon by Jay W5OLF is 4X1RF (3519km) although I have had quite a few spots from European and Russian stations this morning on 10m.

7 Feb 2015

472kHz WSPR today

I am still active on 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"  My best DX reports today has been from PA0RDT (243km) and G8HUH (250km).  On RX my best spot so far is of PA0A (417km).

Interestingly today more stations were copying me than I copied on MF. Although the FT817 is a little deaf on 472kHz, it has not stopped me copying most active stations. I do sometimes wonder if a few more dBs of front end gain (with good large signal handling) would allow me to receive any more MF stations?

UPDATE Feb 8th 1053z:   My best 472kHz DX report overnight with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" was by PA00 at 440km. G8HUH (250km) has spotted me very many times today.

FT817 sensitivity

Today I checked the sensitivities of my FT817 and FT817ND using a loaned signal generator. Although about 10dB deaf at 472kHz (expected) both were easily able to copy down to -127dBm on CW on all bands to 70cms. -127dBm is as low as the generator would go.  I could have added a 10dB attenuator, but did not.  I also managed easy access of GB3PY and GB3OV 70cms repeaters at the 500mW level into the V2000 vertical.  My conclusion is things are OK at my end and I wonder if G6ALB has some additional cable loss at 70cms at his end (water in the feeder?).  My antenna has been up for about 2 years whereas his has been up for around 20 years.

A pity we don't have an 8m (40MHz) band.

An amateur band at 40MHz would be really useful as I suspect the F2 MUF has been in this region several times in the last few years. There are a very few beacons around 40MHz (UK and Denmark only I believe) but wouldn't it be good to have even 100kHz around this frequency? Sadly it is very unlikely, but I would happily lose 100kHz at the top of 10m in exchange.   It would also be a very useful Es band.

Somehow I can't see this happening, more is the pity.  The world of radio science would really benefit. This would have been so much more useful than 146-147MHz recently released to UK amateurs by NoV.  I know a handful of UK amateurs are trying narrowband DTV but the 2m band is mainly Japanese "black boxes" and is mostly white noise in most areas.

Radio Shack going?

Radio Shack is a familiar name in the USA, but maybe not for much longer? This news from Steve G1KQH yet again. I hope you can access the link as sometimes ARRL links can only be seen by ARRL members.
Is this the end of Tandy’s original owner? 



73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Looking at some of the range claims by Radio Shack for their handhelds I expect they get lots of returns from very disappointed customers.    I am sure that these ranges are achievable from hill and clifftop, ideal,  locations, but such ideal conditions are rare.  In the UK and the rest of the EC  such claimed ranges would be illegal. Much more realistic would be ranges of 0.5 to 2 miles at best, and often far less.  Caveat emptor!

10m WSPR USA spots today

Although I have been copied much further today, my first report from the USA was from KZ8C (6290km) at 1258z. This is quite a lot later than yesterday.

UPDATE 1356z:   Although I am being spotted in the USA, early indications are that there are fewer USA stations spotting me than yesterday.  Of course, it may be that some stations who were using WSPR yesterday have chosen other modes today.

UPDATE 2030z:  The last spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by WG2Z (5600km) at 1954z, which is quite late.

More VK (really long distance) reports on 10m WSPR today

My little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in Australia 3 times today already, and conditions are meant to be just "fair"! VK6XT spotted me a couple of times this morning (again) but the best was VK5MR (16144km) at 1230z.

It never fails to amaze me that this tiny little stand-alone 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR mode beacon is copyable in a shack on the other side of the planet. I have now been copied at this range many times.

Reports from YV5ESN (7294km) in South America seem almost local, HI.  USA stations really do seem like locals now!

4X1RF on 10m

4X1RF (3519km) was spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon early today at 0854z.

UPDATE 1425z:   4X1RF has spotted by 500mW 10m WSPR beacon no less than 30 times so far today.

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 7th 2015

Sunspot number today is 71 and 10m propagation forecast to be "fair". It sounds quite similar to yesterday. So far only G4IKZ spotting me, and now 4X1RF.

UPDATE 1354z:  With the 10m band open (even for me using 500mW WSPR) to North and South America and Australia, it seems much better than a "fair" day. 

6 Feb 2015

40m Pixie from AliExpress

From my bank statement I see my 40m Pixie kit from China, that has shipped, cost a little over £7. This includes all parts including crystal and PCB. At this price it would be hard to buy the individual parts. I very much want to build this as it will be the first amateur radio construction here in a very long time.   It is sufficiently simple and low cost that I should manage it, even if I am a little clumsy still with the soldering iron.

 No doubt Andrew G6ALB (3km) will help with a first test.

Not amateur radio again

Today we visited the next village, Swaffham Prior, 3km west of here, home to G6ALB where there are 2 churches and 2 windmills. Andrew G6ALB and I are testing low cost AM modules on 70cm. As yet these tests have only been partially successful. Tomorrow I need to check the sensitivity of my receivers.

After our visit, I have updated our blog http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ where you can follow our visits around East Anglia.

UK National Grid status link

Again, from Steve G1KQH, a link that may well be of interest to UK readers:
Did I send you this one Roger?


73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Many times we hear that closing old and polluting power stations is putting us at risk of power blackouts. Check the electricity capacity yourself.

In the left hand corner you can also check for France.

USA 10m WSPR spots today

Lots of USA stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today. The first USA station to spot me today was KC1AWS (5308km) at 1150z. The openings to the US A are starting earlier now.

UPDATE 1845z:  KD6RF (7547km) at 1834z is the last USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon currently. I think it is unlikely I'll be spotted by others in the USA tonight, but we'll see.

UPDATE 2040z:  The spot at 1834z by KD6RF did prove to be the last today from the USA. Still, at nearly 6 and 3/4 hours this was a decent opening.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today has fallen back to 86. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".

So far this morning VK6XT (14719km) is my best DX report on 10m WSPR with my 500mW WSPR beacon at 1024z. Considering the "fair" 10m forecast, this is pretty good.

5 Feb 2015

CB to ham

From Steve G7VFY:
Good use for old CB's.
There is a Yahoo group, CB to ham.


Stephen Walters
G7VFY

10m USA WSPR spots - Feb 5th 2015

The first USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today was WG2Z (5600km) at 1246z. Although open yet again across the north Atlantic - it has been open most afternoons now for months - today only feels "average" today on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1722z:   At the moment KC1AWS (5308km) was the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m beacon at 1714z.  It is still quite early, so other stations may still copy me in the USA later.

UPDATE 1830z:   I am still being spotted by USA stations. The latest spot was by KC1AWS at 1826z but there are others too. 10m is still open transatlantic.

UPDATE 2100z:  The last USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today was W8QYT (5798km) at 1838z tonight. Time to go QRT on 10m WSPR.

Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

See https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/radio-equipment-directive-proposal .

Quite soon this new directive will apply in Europe including the UK. Many low cost modules may cost a little more as receivers will need to be more carefully designed to meet RED requirements. It is likely that more stringent RX parameters will have to be met. I wonder if some of the very low module costs are as a result of the dumping of old stock? This could well impact super-regen receivers that are sensitive, but not very selective. Although fine in some markets this type of receiver is less than ideal in a very busy ISM band where they could easily be blocked.  Listening around 433.92MHz recently, very many ISM devices could be copied.  One of my old colleagues is involved in international committees working on RED.

The "internet of things" means very many devices will include radios in future, such as a basic internet terminal in washing machines or RFID tags.

Sunspots and 10m propagation - Feb 5th 2015

Sunspot number today is 85. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".  So far today, just LZ1OI (2153km) and local G4IKZ (18km) copying my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon this morning.  No further DX as yet, although I expect 10m to open to the USA after lunch.

UPDATE 1045z:  Just been spotted on 10m by 4X1RF (3519km).

UPDATE 1114z:  4X1RF has spotted me 3 times so far today.

UPDATE 1214z: 4X1RF (3519km) has, so far, spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 6 times this morning. No sign, as yet, of spots from stations in the USA.

4 Feb 2015

Yet more transceiver modules!

A search on eBay has thrown up lots of useful RF transceiver modules, not as low cost as the AM ones found by G6ALB, but nonetheless very low cost and suitable for local communications, Some are 100mW and some 500mW or 1W.  The ones I saw were data units, but these should be suitable for speech  with simple mods. I am unclear how some of these are programmed to the correct frequency. There is usually a choice of either VHF or UHF and I think some are essentially FM.

Put  "UHF transceiver module eBay" into Google to see what comes up. Or try "VHF" instead of UHF. I was amazed how low cost these were.

USA WSPR spots on 10m today

The last spot from the USA of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was WG2Z (5600km) at 1836z. There was an isolated spot by EA6ZL (1485km) at 1944z. This may have been Es.  The first USA spot today was also WG2Z (5600km) at 1220z.

UPDATE 2012z:   I am still active on 10m and MF.

UPDATE 2105z:  On 10m just being spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) since 1944z. I am still active on 10m and MF. 

Another blog to follow - NOT amateur radio

Today we went out to Eye and Thornham Parva in east Suffolk.  We ate at Beard's Deli Cafe in Eye. We have a blog to record our East Anglian Church visits. Although mainly for our own records (otherwise we'll forget!) it is a public blog, so you are invited to join my wife and I "virtually" and add comments if you wish.  We hope to visit several churches each week.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/  .

Some of the loveliest and oldest churches in the world are in our part of England (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire). Even if you have no religious interest they are of historic interest. I find it amazing that so many were built so long ago when the population was 2-3 million only in the whole country. These churches were very important in medieval times.

More useful modules

Yet again, I am indebted to Steve G1KQH for the following:
Low cost AM modules yesterday, now the Dorji today.. Its just never ending what next comes along, I can’t keep up any longer going to have a funny turn! 
73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Sunspot number and 10m propagation - Feb 4th 2015

Sunspot number today is 112 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". No great 10m DX this morning (Europeans and near Asia only) but the band did again open to the USA after lunch.

3 Feb 2015

472kHz WSPR

No new stations spotting me or being spotted, today.  My best report was from G3WCB (101km) and my best DX on RX is again DK7FC (669km).  I am still using the earth-electrodes and 5mW ERP.

2m UKAC tonight

If I have my dates right, tonight is the February 2m leg of the RSGB's UK Activity Contest.  My 3 el beam is still not rotatable - it is fixed aiming SW, so I may use this and my halo instead for about 1 hour. The feeder to the halo is only RG58 so the loss is much greater than when on the beam which has fairly low loss coax.

Stations worked with  less than 5W to a halo on 2m
UPDATE 2135z:  I stayed on 2m for 1 hour before I had to stop because of my poor voice. 5 stations were worked with best DX  G3MEH (84km). I used just the halo antenna with the high cable loss. Best DX heard was in IN99 and JO33 squares. As I was running real QRP and a halo for an hour only,  it was not a bad effort. I wonder if I should replace the halo and feeder with a better cable and better omni antenna such as a big wheel? Gain would be a little down on the small beam, but better than the halo. Many stations are worked in contests off the main beam.  Only one station worked this evening was /P. Several more stations would have been workable such as G2XV and G4CLA.

10m USA WSPR spots

WG2Z (5600km) spotted me first today at 1250z. There are lots of USA stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon this afternoon.

UPDATE 1812z:   For now, it looks like K9AN (6505km) was the last USA spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. As this was over an hour ago I suspect this was the last, but I'll have to wait another hour or so to be sure.

UPDATE 1900zK9AN (6505km) was the last station in the USA to spot me today at 1704z.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has dropped to 117 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".  I restarted WSPR on 630m and 10m a few minutes ago but only local G4IKZ spotting me on 10m so far.

2 Feb 2015

70cm AM test with low cost modules

This evening I listened for G6ALB on 70cm. Andrew is 3km from me. We both have V2000 vertical co-linear antennas. He was using a very low cost SAW locked TX module, which produced as much FM as AM when modulated with an electret mic. The biggest problem was Andrew's low power and low level of modulation.  He needs more mic gain, more TX power (10dB more?) and some pre-emphasis on the audio. TX power today was very low milliwatts. From 433.925MHz up to at least 433.990MHz a lot of squeaks and whistles could be heard, presumably from more local ISM devices. I was receiving G6ALB using an FT817 at about RS41 on FM and weaker on AM. This very initial test produced results that were expected. To use a super-regen module on RX (the intention is a very simple AM voice transceiver) will require G6ALB to be considerably stronger than on these first tests.

10m USA spots

10m has been open across the Atlantic since lunchtime. First USA station to copy my 500mW WSPR today was K4RCG (5995km) at 1316z.

FR4OZ (9733km) on Reunion Is was copying me a couple of times around lunch on 10m WSPR, as was ET/G8DYK (5931km). 10m certainly seems in pretty decent shape. In addition to other N.American stations, lots of Europeans have been spotting me today.   It certainly feels like 500mW on WSPR to a very modest antenna is like 100W plus on SSB!

UPDATE 2000z:  I am sorry for the SPAM comment, which has now been removed.  Similar SPAM posts will be removed, without exception, as soon as spotted.

UPDATE 2140z:  Now QRT on all bands. The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today was AB4QS (7087km) at 1736z.

10m to South America

YV5ESN (7294km) has been copying my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon a couple of times since lunch. This is the first time I've been seen in Venezuela I believe on this mode.

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 2nd 2015

Sunspot number today is 132 and 10m propagation expected to be "fair". So far today, conditions on 10m have seemed pretty reasonable.

1 Feb 2015

Going QRT on 6m and 10m WSPR

After a totally useless afternoon and evening on 6m WSPR, I am going QRT. I am going QRT on 10m  as well. Plenty of activity on 10m, but 6m was yet again a total dead loss.

10m USA spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon

I  am being spotted by lots of USA stations on 10m today. Th first was K4RCG (5995km) at 1316z. Today looks like a typically good day on 10m WSPR at this time in the solar cycle. As I have said before, in a few years time we'll look back on these days with envy, hardly believing them possible! At the time of writing this (1452z) the 10m band is "humming" nicely with plentiful USA stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1815z:  The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was WB1FIG (5304km) at 1734z. This was probably the last spot by a USA station on 10m today. Official sunset in Cambridge today was at 1646z. The days are lengthening again by more than 3minutes a day.

Australia again on 10m WSPR with 500mW

VK6XT (14719km) was spotting my 10m QRP WPR beacon this morning at 1138z. As well as this report, there were quite a few new reporters active this morning from Asia and Europe. Conditions do seem good on 10m. ET/G8DYK (5931km) is again spotting me on 10m WSPR in Africa.

I am slightly tempted to try 6m again in the hope of getting some winter Es-F2 or TEP. Probably will be a waste of time?

At the present time I am also RX and TX on 630m using the earth-electrodes, but only spotting, and being spotted, by the same old stations!

Sunspots Feb 1st 2015 and 10m

Sunspot number today is a respectable 153 and 10m propagation is expected to be "good".