Withe the reception of OK2RO (1282km) several times so far today, I can be pretty confident we are now in the 10m European Es season. Several spots in the last few days might have been Es, but I was not totally sure. It means we can be pretty confident of Es most days until September. Just occasionally this may give us paths further afield than Europe, but these will be much rarer.
So far, no Es yet seen on 6m WSPR.
UPDATE 1233z: With the weekend and better 10m prospects I see there are more people active on 10m WSPR today. Last time I looked there were 70 users on 10m WSPR according to WSPRnet. By contrast there are only 19 WSPR users worldwide on 6m WSPR.
25 Apr 2015
PCs at bargain prices
Steve G1KQH has done it yet again! This time he has found some bargain price PCs.
I think we should get one for a spare Roger, £169 after cash back..73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Good start on 10m today
As well as locals G4IKZ and G4KPX, I see that my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was being spotted by EA8BVP (2986km) yet again, and by SA5, SM and CT1 stations today. This is probably F2 propagation, and some Es I guess.
UPDATE 1005z: No Es on 6m, so far.
UPDATE 1005z: No Es on 6m, so far.
Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 25th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back to 79 (K=0) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "fair".
UPDATE 0630z: I notice that KZ8C also spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon last evening. So there were actually 2 USA 10m WSPR stations who spotted me, not 1 as I had previously thought.
UPDATE 0630z: I notice that KZ8C also spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon last evening. So there were actually 2 USA 10m WSPR stations who spotted me, not 1 as I had previously thought.
24 Apr 2015
10m USA WSPR spots - horrah!
K9AN (6505km) was the first 10m USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon today at 1504z. I guess the undisturbed conditions today really helped.
z
UPDATE 1850z: Certainly up to now, the 2 spots this afternoon by K9AN appear to be "it", with no further USA spots since then.
UPDATE 1906z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me several times again today.
UPDATE 2030z: Late opening to Italy suggests Es.
UPDATE 2120z: As late as 2116z K9AN (6505km) was still spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. K9AN must have a very good station (low angle antenna?) but I am surprised only K9AN was copying me in the USA. I would have expected other spots from other USA stations once the band opened. I shall leave the gear running to see how late this opening lasts.
UPDATE 2204z: Tbe last USA spot seems to have been by K9AN about 30 minutes ago. Only the one USA station spotting me lots of times - odd.
z
UPDATE 1850z: Certainly up to now, the 2 spots this afternoon by K9AN appear to be "it", with no further USA spots since then.
UPDATE 1906z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me several times again today.
UPDATE 2030z: Late opening to Italy suggests Es.
UPDATE 2120z: As late as 2116z K9AN (6505km) was still spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. K9AN must have a very good station (low angle antenna?) but I am surprised only K9AN was copying me in the USA. I would have expected other spots from other USA stations once the band opened. I shall leave the gear running to see how late this opening lasts.
UPDATE 2204z: Tbe last USA spot seems to have been by K9AN about 30 minutes ago. Only the one USA station spotting me lots of times - odd.
East Anglian Churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio
Today we visited Sutton, near Ely and I have updated the East Anglian Churches Blog.
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
6m WSPR and aircraft
M0YOU (116km) has been spotted on 6m again this morning. He has also spotted me. On his signals are very clear signs of aircraft reflections with multiple traces visible. I think much of the GDX I am seeing on 10m upwards is due to aircraft. This mode seems good for at least 200km, but is transitory. Sometimes a badly Doppler shifted signal can be very strong but not decode. There are software programs to predict when aircraft will help. Many microwave DXers use such software.
Sunspots and 10m propagation - Fri April 24th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back to 110 (K=1) and 10m propagation is forecast to be "fair". With undisturbed conditions even "fair" 10m conditions could result in some decent 10m DX.
UPDATE 1105z: So far on 10m WSPR, my 500mW has only been spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) and G4CUI (172km) , the latter presumably by tropo and aircraft reflections. No DX yet, but it is still early in the day.
UPDATE 1105z: So far on 10m WSPR, my 500mW has only been spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) and G4CUI (172km) , the latter presumably by tropo and aircraft reflections. No DX yet, but it is still early in the day.
23 Apr 2015
Inter-G DX (GDX)
When there are stations active both 6m and 10m seem to support GDX by a combination of tropo and aircraft reflection out to about 200km. It needs planes in the right places but today's results bear testimony to this. This evening G4CUI (172km) has spotted me many times on 10m. I am using just 500mW on 10m WSPR and 1W on 6m. Sometimes the RX traces show multiple paths and Doppler suggesting that aircraft reflection is involved.
Looking at new PCs
No, I don't really need one! This was me killing time waiting for the XYL in our local Cambridge branch of John Lewis. It is a very nice store and they always have long guarantees on TVs and PCs.
Concert reminder (Saturday evening) - NOT amateur radio
A reminder that the concert shown on the attached poster will be held this Saturday evening (April 25th) starting at 7.30pm. Tickets may be bought on the door. It is excellent music in a great venue (West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge).
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
6m WSPR yesterday (and today)
It seems I was only using an ERP of around 250mW on 6m WSPR yesterday as I had forgotten to reset the power on my FT817. I wonder if this is why I had so few spots? Today it is set correctly.
UPDATE 0922z: Being spotted quite well by G8XWR (150km) this morning on 6m WSPR and also spotting him. Not sure if this is pure tropo or there is some help from aircraft reflections. Probably the latter.
UPDATE 1202z: Still plenty of spots from G8XWR (I have spotted him twice too) but no spots of anyone else on 6m. Maybe, just maybe, things will live up with some 6m Es, although there has been no sign as yet of this on 10m. Normally Es is seen first on 10m, then 6m.
UPDATE 1504z: No sign, so far, of any other stations on 6m.
 |
| 6m WSPR spots so far this morning |
UPDATE 1202z: Still plenty of spots from G8XWR (I have spotted him twice too) but no spots of anyone else on 6m. Maybe, just maybe, things will live up with some 6m Es, although there has been no sign as yet of this on 10m. Normally Es is seen first on 10m, then 6m.
UPDATE 1504z: No sign, so far, of any other stations on 6m.
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs April 23rd 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back to 134 (K=4) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". I am not expecting great things on 10m WSPR today although I have often been surprised.
UPDATE 0916z: Local G4IKZ (18km) is the only station spotting my 500mW so far this morning on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1053z: Still just the spots from local G4IKZ on 10m, with nothing resembling DX spotting me. Ho hum. I hope the band livens up later.
UPDATE 1434z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me several times in the last hour but nothing further afield, so far, today.
UPDATE 1730z: We may have had some 10m Es propagation as CT1 and EA1 stations have been spotting me over teatime. It is possible that Es in this direction can link up with higher MUFs further south.
UPDATE 0916z: Local G4IKZ (18km) is the only station spotting my 500mW so far this morning on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1053z: Still just the spots from local G4IKZ on 10m, with nothing resembling DX spotting me. Ho hum. I hope the band livens up later.
UPDATE 1434z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me several times in the last hour but nothing further afield, so far, today.
UPDATE 1730z: We may have had some 10m Es propagation as CT1 and EA1 stations have been spotting me over teatime. It is possible that Es in this direction can link up with higher MUFs further south.
22 Apr 2015
No USA on 10m WSPR yet again
EA8BVP (2986km) has been regularly spotting me, but again a day with no spots from the USA on 10m, despite good conditions. I guess conditions have changed with the season.
Falkland Is spot on 10m WSPR
Although there have, so far, been no 10m WSPR USA spots, I was spotted by VP8ALJ (12724km) at 1612z at -25dB S/N. This is my best DX spot for several days. This station is in GD18 square which is the Falkland Is. At this time of the year N-S paths tend to be better on 10m than E-W. I am still using 500mW from my WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR beacon to my Par end fed antenna.
UPDATE 2152z: Time to go QRT on 6m and 10m. A better day on 6m (all G's), but again no USA spots on 10m.
UPDATE 2152z: Time to go QRT on 6m and 10m. A better day on 6m (all G's), but again no USA spots on 10m.
6m spots - M0YOU and 2E0BMG
At 0952z this morning I was able to spot M0YOU (116km) at a massive -8dB S/N on 6m WSPR. At this distance I suspect there must have been some aircraft reflections involved as the signals look too strong for pure tropo.
UPDATE 1750z: I noticed that I spotted 2E0BMG (62km) oon 6m WSPR mid afternoon. At -23dB S/N not too strong but copied. This was probably tropo.
UPDATE 2100z: M0MVB (30km) has been exchanging 6m WSPR spots with me for hours this evening.
UPDATE 1750z: I noticed that I spotted 2E0BMG (62km) oon 6m WSPR mid afternoon. At -23dB S/N not too strong but copied. This was probably tropo.
UPDATE 2100z: M0MVB (30km) has been exchanging 6m WSPR spots with me for hours this evening.
Others - NOT amateur radio
Time and again I have to remind myself that we have very little idea
what really goes on in the lives of other people. On the outside all may
appear fine, but inside they are living a real hell.
One of our neighbours, we found out only last week, has breast cancer and her daughter had post natal depression badly. Both are so worrying. We sometimes have to pinch ourselves and remind ourselves not to judge other people as we really cannot know all their inner worries. We must never, ever judge anyone. Accept them as humans like us with weaknesses and worries, as well as joy.
I so wish that everyone could be happy, but the human condition is we have joy and sadness. Overall, we have to love everyone as ourselves and be kind to everyone. Everyone is a mixture of happiness and sadness: they are all vulnerable, just like us.
One of our neighbours, we found out only last week, has breast cancer and her daughter had post natal depression badly. Both are so worrying. We sometimes have to pinch ourselves and remind ourselves not to judge other people as we really cannot know all their inner worries. We must never, ever judge anyone. Accept them as humans like us with weaknesses and worries, as well as joy.
I so wish that everyone could be happy, but the human condition is we have joy and sadness. Overall, we have to love everyone as ourselves and be kind to everyone. Everyone is a mixture of happiness and sadness: they are all vulnerable, just like us.
Sunspots and 10m - April 22nd 2015
Things look promising with a sunspot number of 153 (K=2) and 10m propagation expected to be "good". So far just G4IKZ (18km) but it is very early.
UPDATE 0912z: Still just G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR. No DX yet but I am hopeful.
UPDATE 1100z: Still just Nick G4IKZ spotting me on 10m WSPR. Another disappointing day so far. Maybe there will be some Es to liven thing up? I now have grave doubts there will be any USA spots later.
UPDATE 0912z: Still just G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR. No DX yet but I am hopeful.
UPDATE 1100z: Still just Nick G4IKZ spotting me on 10m WSPR. Another disappointing day so far. Maybe there will be some Es to liven thing up? I now have grave doubts there will be any USA spots later.
21 Apr 2015
Optical testing - too easy?
Before dark, I tried TXing from one side of the house to the other reflecting my 481THz optical beacon off the windmill. Even by ear in 600 ohm phones the signal was very clear and very easy to find. This was only about 100m path length, but I wanted to check the gear still worked as it is a long time since I used it. Not sure what to try next as I still feel very wobbly on my feet and tire easily. At least I know my homebrew optical gear all works still.
10m USA - none today again?
Although I have again had plenty of reports from G4IKZ and EA8BVP (2986km) to my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon, it looks like there will be no DX reports and no USA reports again today on 10m WSPR. We seem to be moving more towards summertime 10m conditions.
UPDATE 1734z: So far EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 25 times today since 1400z but a total absence of spots from stations in the USA.
UPDATE 1852z: So far EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 31 times this afternoon, but still no spots from across the Atlantic.
UPDATE 1906z: WSPRnet is currently showing 51 stations active on 10m WSPR. There are probably more who have not spotted or been spotted in the last 10 minutes. I guess it is just propagation that is against us.
UPDATE 1914z: I see 10m propagation has been downgraded from "good" to "fair". Well, here it has been poor!
UPDATE 1734z: So far EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 25 times today since 1400z but a total absence of spots from stations in the USA.
UPDATE 1852z: So far EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 31 times this afternoon, but still no spots from across the Atlantic.
UPDATE 1906z: WSPRnet is currently showing 51 stations active on 10m WSPR. There are probably more who have not spotted or been spotted in the last 10 minutes. I guess it is just propagation that is against us.
UPDATE 1914z: I see 10m propagation has been downgraded from "good" to "fair". Well, here it has been poor!
Next field test - optical?
After my very disappointing results on VLF earth-mode yesterday - I must get to the bottom of why results were quite so bad - I think my next test will be at the other end of the spectrum. We have a windmill very close so I may try bouncing optical signals off this to test my optical gear is working still. It is a long time since I have done any optical experiments.This will not be too far initially, more a test of the gear before venturing any distance.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 21st 2015
Sunspot number is still high at 125 (K=3) today. 10m propagation is expected to be "good" although I have not been spotted by really DX stations for some days. Up to now (it is currently 1042z) I have been spotted on 10m by G4IKZ (18km) only with no DX reports at all on 10m, using my 500mW WSPR beacon.
UPDATE 1052z: Only 42 stations shown as active worldwide on 10m WSPR according to WSPRnet. 10m activity is lower than it was and this is not helping.
UPDATE 1052z: Only 42 stations shown as active worldwide on 10m WSPR according to WSPRnet. 10m activity is lower than it was and this is not helping.
20 Apr 2015
USA - no luck on 10m today
10m WSPR was a dead loss today with not a single spot on 10m WSPR all day from stations in the USA. EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me very many times.
UPDATE 2125z: Time to go QRT. Tomorrow remind me to switch on the mains lead to the PSU!
UPDATE 2125z: Time to go QRT. Tomorrow remind me to switch on the mains lead to the PSU!
VLF field test - a total failure!
Well, I did my first VLF earth-mode field test today since my brain bleed in Sept 2013. Sadly, it was a total failure. I am at a loss to explain the results.
I put the 5W, 8.976kHz, beacon on into the same earth electrodes used successfully on 472kHz (best DX on TX over 1000km) and went about 1.6km to a car park where I always had strong signals using a tuned loop on RX and earth-electrodes on TX from the old QTH in the same village. Nothing at all copied today - absolutely nothing. I waited in case I was in a pause between QRSS3 callsign transmissions, but no absolutely nothing at all. Not even the tiniest hint of a signal.
So I parked in the road about 0.3km from the home QTH and again nothing at all. At this point we drove home. What a dismal failure this was turning out to be. I am sure it is telling me something but I cannot work it out. Sure enough, everything was still working at the TX end. I am using one remote ground and the mains ground at the shack end, exactly as for 472kHz. I did check this mains ground was grounded to real ground.
Whatever utilities assistance I was getting before at the old QTH is not the same at this newer QTH. All very very odd. I was expecting to see something. In the past I received transmissions from the old QTH at the new QTH (about 0.3km away) using just an E-field probe on the car. From the old QTH I spanned 6km!
In summary, this VLF test was a total failure. I am at loss to explain things. Not only that, but the work has left me very exhausted. My brain is still foggy, but the results today were not due to any mistakes with the HW gear or PC Spectran settings.
I am not having much success today.
 |
| Tuned VLF loop |
 |
| Deploying the VLF loop (Burwell in the background) |
 |
| Checking Spectran on the PC - nothing ! |
In summary, this VLF test was a total failure. I am at loss to explain things. Not only that, but the work has left me very exhausted. My brain is still foggy, but the results today were not due to any mistakes with the HW gear or PC Spectran settings.
I am not having much success today.
Confirmed - yes I am stupid!
After receiving no spots at all on 10m since yesterday afternoon I just realised one possible reason: although my 10m WSPR beacon was on, the mains switch (on the wall) was OFF!! So since sometime yesterday afternoon I had been syncing to internet time with no power at all on the WSPR beacon! I have now turned the PSU on (at the mains) and resync'ed to internet time. Hopefully I might be spotted now.
Talk about stupid. Sometimes I amaze myself. How could I be quite so daft?
UPDATE 1304z: Now receiving spots from G4IKZ (18km) again. It will take about 15-20 minutes to stabilise as the PA warms. I wonder what I missed this morning? I shall never know. Just been spotted by EA8BVP (2986km). Both EA8BVP and G4IKZ gave me good reports.
UPDATE 1404z: Just EA8BVP and G4IKZ spotting so far. At least I know the beacon is now actually ON and working! Oh I am so stupid at times!
UPDATE 1650z: Still just G4IKZ and EA8BVP spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR so far this afternoon. No "real DX" DX as yet.
Talk about stupid. Sometimes I amaze myself. How could I be quite so daft?
UPDATE 1304z: Now receiving spots from G4IKZ (18km) again. It will take about 15-20 minutes to stabilise as the PA warms. I wonder what I missed this morning? I shall never know. Just been spotted by EA8BVP (2986km). Both EA8BVP and G4IKZ gave me good reports.
UPDATE 1404z: Just EA8BVP and G4IKZ spotting so far. At least I know the beacon is now actually ON and working! Oh I am so stupid at times!
UPDATE 1650z: Still just G4IKZ and EA8BVP spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR so far this afternoon. No "real DX" DX as yet.
UK General Election - NOT amateur radio
A reminder than the UK General Election, which is only a few weeks
away, is "first past the post" so if you are just one vote behind you
lose everything. In the European elections I voted Green, but fear this
will be a wasted vote in a "first past the post" contest. Tactical
voting will be needed.
For example, in my constituency Labour really have no chance of winning as they only got 6.5% of the vote last time. The Lib Dems (currently in coalition with the majority Conservative government) have a real chance of winning - they came a good second last time - especially as we have UKIP nowadays and the Conservatives could lose some votes to them. The most probable outcome is a Conservative win again in this constituency.
Nationally, the outcome is almost certainly another coalition government as the polls show Labour and Conservatives neck and neck nationally. UKIP support nationally is fading, although I always suspected this would be the case.
For example, in my constituency Labour really have no chance of winning as they only got 6.5% of the vote last time. The Lib Dems (currently in coalition with the majority Conservative government) have a real chance of winning - they came a good second last time - especially as we have UKIP nowadays and the Conservatives could lose some votes to them. The most probable outcome is a Conservative win again in this constituency.
Nationally, the outcome is almost certainly another coalition government as the polls show Labour and Conservatives neck and neck nationally. UKIP support nationally is fading, although I always suspected this would be the case.
Sunspots and 10m propagation - Mon April 20th 2015
Sunspot number climbed further to 142 today (K=3) and 10m propagation is again forecast to be "good". Results yesterday on 10m were very disappointing with no DX spots at all. Today, sunspot number is higher still but conditions are a little more disturbed. I am not expecting much, if any, DX on 10m today, but hope to be nicely surprised.
UPDATE 0844z: So far today on 10m WSPR my 500mW beacon has been spotted by no-one at all! Even G4IKZ (18km) who regularly spots me must be beaming away from me and is not spotting me, assuming he is on. It is early yet though and there might be some single hop F2 stations in range active later.
UPDATE 1050z: Still no spots at all on 10m so far today. I am quite disappointed as, with a decent sunspot number and a decent 10m propagation forecast, better things were expected. I guess it is still early though. G4IKZ (18km) is not shown as being active according to WSPRnet, although he could be on but has not spotted anyone in the last 10 minutes. When I last looked there were 41 active 10m WSPR stations worldwide - fewer than a few months ago, but not too bad. Some of these would be single hop F2 away from me. I guess the propagation is just not there.
UPDATE 0844z: So far today on 10m WSPR my 500mW beacon has been spotted by no-one at all! Even G4IKZ (18km) who regularly spots me must be beaming away from me and is not spotting me, assuming he is on. It is early yet though and there might be some single hop F2 stations in range active later.
UPDATE 1050z: Still no spots at all on 10m so far today. I am quite disappointed as, with a decent sunspot number and a decent 10m propagation forecast, better things were expected. I guess it is still early though. G4IKZ (18km) is not shown as being active according to WSPRnet, although he could be on but has not spotted anyone in the last 10 minutes. When I last looked there were 41 active 10m WSPR stations worldwide - fewer than a few months ago, but not too bad. Some of these would be single hop F2 away from me. I guess the propagation is just not there.
19 Apr 2015
Brain dead or just stupid? - NOT amateur radio
See Remove Katie Hopkins as a Sun newspaper columnist.
This woman is writing total rubbish about poor and very desperate people trying to reach Europe in flimsy boats from Libya. Many are fleeing wars or strife. Many have payed thousands for the trip and thousands have drowned. The sooner this woman is stopped the better, press freedom or not. If she reported the facts, all well and good. As it is, she is writing to make money on the back of these poor desperate people. This is so very wrong.
The petition is being signed by very many people - in fact I have never seen one signed so fast!
The Sun is a popular UK daily newspaper. Some recommend it to wrap fish and chips.
Please sign and share on your social media.
This woman is writing total rubbish about poor and very desperate people trying to reach Europe in flimsy boats from Libya. Many are fleeing wars or strife. Many have payed thousands for the trip and thousands have drowned. The sooner this woman is stopped the better, press freedom or not. If she reported the facts, all well and good. As it is, she is writing to make money on the back of these poor desperate people. This is so very wrong.
The petition is being signed by very many people - in fact I have never seen one signed so fast!
The Sun is a popular UK daily newspaper. Some recommend it to wrap fish and chips.
Please sign and share on your social media.
No 10m USA spots of me today
I was both surprised and disappointed that, as of now at least, I have received no USA 10m WSPR spots today. With high sunspot numbers, not very disturbed conditions and a "good" forecast for 10m, I thought I might have some success today. Although using a better antenna, G4IKZ was spotting Brazilians on 10m WSPR earlier. At present I need a separate RX to listen on 10m as I tend to TX 100% but randomise TX frequency.
UPDATE 1926z: Still no USA stations, so I think I may have lost their reports until the autumn, although some might be able to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon by multi-hop Es over the summer. If the USA stations were going to spot me (as they did daily for months and months) today was probably the best chance in several weeks. It is several hours since G4IKZ has spotted me. I think Nick must be pointing his Moxon beam south?
UPDATE 2018z: Still no spots by USA 10m stations. In fact no DX at all all day long on 10m! Soon be time to go QRT on 10m . I have already gone QRT on 630m (472kHz) as I have connected the earth-electrodes to my VLF beacon in readiness for the test tomorrow.
UPDATE 2155z: I decided to leave my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon running through the night. Judging by results today, I am only likely to get G spots off aircraft or locally.
UPDATE 1926z: Still no USA stations, so I think I may have lost their reports until the autumn, although some might be able to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon by multi-hop Es over the summer. If the USA stations were going to spot me (as they did daily for months and months) today was probably the best chance in several weeks. It is several hours since G4IKZ has spotted me. I think Nick must be pointing his Moxon beam south?
UPDATE 2018z: Still no spots by USA 10m stations. In fact no DX at all all day long on 10m! Soon be time to go QRT on 10m . I have already gone QRT on 630m (472kHz) as I have connected the earth-electrodes to my VLF beacon in readiness for the test tomorrow.
UPDATE 2155z: I decided to leave my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon running through the night. Judging by results today, I am only likely to get G spots off aircraft or locally.
VLF field test tomorrow
Today I adjusted the turns ratio on my 8.976kHz VLF QRSS3 and 10wpm CW 5W beacon to better match my earth electrodes. At this QTH they look much greater than 50 ohms, which I measured at the "old" QTH and optimised for.
On the way I managed to blow up a TDA2003 IC, which I had to replace. The whole exercise was far more exhausting than I was expecting. It seems that after about 10-15 minutes of physical or mental effort I am done in. Before my cerebellum brain bleed everything today would have been trivial. Now trivial tasks feel like climbing mountains! Although I can see progress in my recovery there is still a long way to go. One of my aims (among many) is to be able to resume field tests as before, but time will tell if I am really up to this: it is quite hard when your brain is still foggy a lot of the time. Oddly, when sitting down at home or when driving things are fine. It is when I do something requiring real physical or mental effort that I get tired. I guess the radio work today was hard as I had not done this sort of thing for some time.
Anyway, the good news is that I hope to do a VLF field test tomorrow. Everything is ready and tested. It will not be until late afternoon as both my wife and I are busy before then. The XYL will be there at the test site if I get really tired. Setting up the gear will be especially tiring in my current state. The test site is not too far from home. I have soak tested the TX and it should be fine on QRSS3 using my loop and Spectran at the RX end. I shall report results tomorrow. This will be my first VLF field test in over 18 months. How I have looked forward to this. If the loop is successful I may try the E-field probe.
On the way I managed to blow up a TDA2003 IC, which I had to replace. The whole exercise was far more exhausting than I was expecting. It seems that after about 10-15 minutes of physical or mental effort I am done in. Before my cerebellum brain bleed everything today would have been trivial. Now trivial tasks feel like climbing mountains! Although I can see progress in my recovery there is still a long way to go. One of my aims (among many) is to be able to resume field tests as before, but time will tell if I am really up to this: it is quite hard when your brain is still foggy a lot of the time. Oddly, when sitting down at home or when driving things are fine. It is when I do something requiring real physical or mental effort that I get tired. I guess the radio work today was hard as I had not done this sort of thing for some time.
Anyway, the good news is that I hope to do a VLF field test tomorrow. Everything is ready and tested. It will not be until late afternoon as both my wife and I are busy before then. The XYL will be there at the test site if I get really tired. Setting up the gear will be especially tiring in my current state. The test site is not too far from home. I have soak tested the TX and it should be fine on QRSS3 using my loop and Spectran at the RX end. I shall report results tomorrow. This will be my first VLF field test in over 18 months. How I have looked forward to this. If the loop is successful I may try the E-field probe.
Heathkit
My first introduction to radio was an "Electronics Workshop" kit by Heathkit. If memory serves me correctly this was my Christmas present in Dec 1961. It used a few transistors and othttps://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8her parts with spring contacts and wires to configure each circuit. No soldering was needed.
That Christmas I did my first Medium Wave DXing with one of the circuits and I was very exited to receive stations in the Middle East and Russia. Other circuits included a very low power transmitter for MW. This used the crystal earpiece as the microphone. As I recall, it got to the next room in the house. This was the kick-off I needed.
Years later I owned a Heathkit HW8 QRP HF CW rig. It worked very well indeed and I worked some decent DX with it. It is such a pity Heathkit is no more as they made some really good kits.
I guess the nearest these days is Elecraft. Sadly Elecraft products are expensive in the UK: good radios, but far too much. As an example for the price of one KX3 kit (better RX I know, but covering fewer bands) one can buy 2 FT817NDs ready built with a 2 year warranty. And I think we are paying too much for the FT817ND here in the UK! If the KX3 is fully loaded with mic, ATU, 2m etc, then it is very expensive. The prices are as they are because punters are prepared to pay.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathkit .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8 .
That Christmas I did my first Medium Wave DXing with one of the circuits and I was very exited to receive stations in the Middle East and Russia. Other circuits included a very low power transmitter for MW. This used the crystal earpiece as the microphone. As I recall, it got to the next room in the house. This was the kick-off I needed.
I guess the nearest these days is Elecraft. Sadly Elecraft products are expensive in the UK: good radios, but far too much. As an example for the price of one KX3 kit (better RX I know, but covering fewer bands) one can buy 2 FT817NDs ready built with a 2 year warranty. And I think we are paying too much for the FT817ND here in the UK! If the KX3 is fully loaded with mic, ATU, 2m etc, then it is very expensive. The prices are as they are because punters are prepared to pay.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathkit .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/hw8 .
Sunspots and 10m propagation - Sunday April 19th 2015
Sunspot number has climbed to 114 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to be "good" which is the first time for weeks.
This morning my 500mW 10m WSPR is being copied by locals G4IKZ (18km) and G4KPX (14km) but no DX stations yet. I am very hopeful that USA stations will spot me later on 10m WSPR and was hopeful of some decent 10m DX reports this morning too.
UPDATE 1227z: I was surprised and disappointed to get no DX spots at all on 10m WSPR this morning. Although I still hope for some USA spot later, I am beginning to doubt this. Is it just getting too late in the spring, or have people gone down a few bands?
UPDATE 1320z: Still only locals spotting me on 10m WSPR - very disappointing
This morning my 500mW 10m WSPR is being copied by locals G4IKZ (18km) and G4KPX (14km) but no DX stations yet. I am very hopeful that USA stations will spot me later on 10m WSPR and was hopeful of some decent 10m DX reports this morning too.
UPDATE 1227z: I was surprised and disappointed to get no DX spots at all on 10m WSPR this morning. Although I still hope for some USA spot later, I am beginning to doubt this. Is it just getting too late in the spring, or have people gone down a few bands?
UPDATE 1320z: Still only locals spotting me on 10m WSPR - very disappointing
18 Apr 2015
Churches blog - NOT amateur radio
A few weeks ago we visited St Botolph's church in Cambridge. I have just updated the East Anglian Church blog.
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
USA 10m WSPR spots
As I write this at 1835z, there is still no sign of any USA spots.
EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 34 times so far today but, so far at least, very quiet across the Atlantic.
The band may still open briefly allowing my 500mW WSPR to be spotted over there, but the later it gets the less the chances are of my signal being heard.
UPDATE 2024z: Well, yet again, I was wrong! No USA stations spotted me on 10m WSPR today.
EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me 34 times so far today but, so far at least, very quiet across the Atlantic.
The band may still open briefly allowing my 500mW WSPR to be spotted over there, but the later it gets the less the chances are of my signal being heard.
UPDATE 2024z: Well, yet again, I was wrong! No USA stations spotted me on 10m WSPR today.
Soldering iron mended - and NON amateur radio DIY
I am quite pleased with myself, for once.
Although I still get tired, I seem to be less profoundly tired than I was. Today I managed to remove the plug on a spare 24V Weller soldering iron tool that I found and attach it to the base/24V supply. I checked it works - it does. So I currently have 2 working soldering irons.
Also, I managed my first (minor) DIY job by repairing a trellis support on our bungalow front wall. I also raked out some dead moss from the front lawn ready to re-seed the patches. In the past, these would have been trivial tasks, but now they are major steps on my oh so slow road to recovery.
Recovery from my cerebellum brain bleed (Sept 2013) is very slow, but I am slowly getting a little better.
Although I still get tired, I seem to be less profoundly tired than I was. Today I managed to remove the plug on a spare 24V Weller soldering iron tool that I found and attach it to the base/24V supply. I checked it works - it does. So I currently have 2 working soldering irons.
Also, I managed my first (minor) DIY job by repairing a trellis support on our bungalow front wall. I also raked out some dead moss from the front lawn ready to re-seed the patches. In the past, these would have been trivial tasks, but now they are major steps on my oh so slow road to recovery.
Recovery from my cerebellum brain bleed (Sept 2013) is very slow, but I am slowly getting a little better.
Hendricks Kits
These days, with dirt cheap kits from China often with free airmail, it is sometimes a wonder that any USA or UK kit companies exit at all. One of these I have mentioned before is Hendrick Kits, which always has a good selection on their website. These are best value if you live in the USA. Several kits are shown as "retired" which I guess means they did not sell well or they had problems with reproducibility. One favourite is the derivative of the BitX SSB design from Ashlan Farhan in India. This uses easily obtainable parts and has been a well proven design. Hendricks sell versions for 20m or 17m.
See http://www.qrpkits.com/bitx20a.html .
It looks like they have just moved so there might we a little delay until early May.
The power out, around 10W, should ensure plenty of contacts. These 2 bands are usually good even when the sun is quiet, so make a good choice. You have to choose either 20m or 17m SSB. I am sure Western kit companies would really value our business. "Use it or lose it", is a phrase often used about bands. In this case it apples to amateur radio kit suppliers. If we don't buy from them they will close their doors and cease trading. I am as guilty as anyone having recently bought a 40m Pixie kit from China.
From the Hendricks Kit website:
See http://www.qrpkits.com/bitx20a.html .
It looks like they have just moved so there might we a little delay until early May.
The power out, around 10W, should ensure plenty of contacts. These 2 bands are usually good even when the sun is quiet, so make a good choice. You have to choose either 20m or 17m SSB. I am sure Western kit companies would really value our business. "Use it or lose it", is a phrase often used about bands. In this case it apples to amateur radio kit suppliers. If we don't buy from them they will close their doors and cease trading. I am as guilty as anyone having recently bought a 40m Pixie kit from China.
From the Hendricks Kit website:
"The BitX20A and BitX17A are complete SSB kits with board, all parts, digital display and custom powder coated and punched case that is based on the BitX20 that was designed by Ashlan Farhan. The original version was built ugly construction, and you had to source all the parts. I discovered the BitX20 site on Yahoo in 2007, and decided that the BitX20 would be a neat kit for Hendricks QRP Kits. The problem was that it did not have a pcb. A team of Dan Tayloe, Jim Kortge and Arv Evans have worked countless hours making sure that the pcb version was stable and would meet United States F.C.C. Specs. We had to go through several revisions to get it right, and we are happy with the result, even though it took a long time. Some things just take time. The kit includes a commercial quality plated through, silkscreened, solder masked board, and all board mounted parts, plus the polyvaricon tuning capacitor, digital dial, custom powder coated and punched case, knobs and controls. Everything you need to build the kit is provided.The BitX looks a nice, useful radio. For a beginner it is just about all you need to get started.
I encourage you to check out the BitX20 users group on Yahoo. They have agreed to provide support for the kits. There are hundreds of messages on there about the history and development of this kit. Our kit puts out about 10 watts, features dual IRF510's as finals in a push-pull arrangement. The schematic is available at the Bitx20 site on Yahoo. Cost of the kit is $180.00 plus shipping and handling."
472kHz daytime
G3WCB (101km) has been spotting my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrodes most of the morning. My last spot from The Netherlands was at 0528z by PA0RDT although I was spotting PA3ABK/2 at 0552z. When conditions are better I can usually be copied by Dutch stations at almost at any time night or day.
Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 18th 2015
Sunspot number has risen to a very respectable 92 (K=2), but 10m propagation remains "fair" only. I have the feeling I could get spots from the USA later this afternoon. So far this morning, lots of spots from locals G4IKZ (18km) and G4KPX (14km) and a few spots from UA4UK (2814km). No other DX yet spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1256z: This morning it was mainly locals spotting me, but RA6WF (3628km) spotting me a few time was, like UA4UK (2814km), most probably single hop F2 propagation. I am still expecting a brief 10m USA opening later. No earth shattering 10m DX this morning on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1500z: 16 spots (so far) on 10m WSPR spots this afternoon by EA8BVP (2986km) and at lunchtime by EA1FAQ (1249km). The EA1 is almost certainly Es judging by the time and distance, although I suspect the EA8 is single hop F2 propagation. I am still hopeful of a few USA spots later.
UPDATE 1256z: This morning it was mainly locals spotting me, but RA6WF (3628km) spotting me a few time was, like UA4UK (2814km), most probably single hop F2 propagation. I am still expecting a brief 10m USA opening later. No earth shattering 10m DX this morning on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1500z: 16 spots (so far) on 10m WSPR spots this afternoon by EA8BVP (2986km) and at lunchtime by EA1FAQ (1249km). The EA1 is almost certainly Es judging by the time and distance, although I suspect the EA8 is single hop F2 propagation. I am still hopeful of a few USA spots later.
17 Apr 2015
Sporadic-E (Es)
We are now on the verge of the summer Es season in Europe and the USA, so 50MHz should be good out to about 2000km. Occasionally much further is possible, allowing Asian, South American, Caribbean and North American stations to work Europe.
There is a good explanation of sporadic-E on the UKSMG website. See http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm . If you are not familiar with this mode then I suggest you read it.
Es is great fun and just 1W ERP of SSB is enough to work most of Europe, and even beyond, from the UK. Openings on 70MHz are less common and even less so on 144MHz. There are even more Es openings on 28MHz. If you have a big, high beam and high power it will help, but Es signals are often strong and I have not found QRP is much of a handicap on 50MHz Es. Yes, if you are after tropo or MS DX then I am sure the bigger ERP would be useful, but far less so with Es.
Personally I hope there is far more use made of WSPR this Es season. WSPR allows short openings to be seen: it requires plenty of active stations though. The temptation is to abandon the quieter bands and move downwards. Before leaving 50MHz, think just how much your presence on WSPR could mean. By staying around and sending or looking for WSPR signals you would be really contributing to radio research.
There is a good explanation of sporadic-E on the UKSMG website. See http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm . If you are not familiar with this mode then I suggest you read it.
Es is great fun and just 1W ERP of SSB is enough to work most of Europe, and even beyond, from the UK. Openings on 70MHz are less common and even less so on 144MHz. There are even more Es openings on 28MHz. If you have a big, high beam and high power it will help, but Es signals are often strong and I have not found QRP is much of a handicap on 50MHz Es. Yes, if you are after tropo or MS DX then I am sure the bigger ERP would be useful, but far less so with Es.
Personally I hope there is far more use made of WSPR this Es season. WSPR allows short openings to be seen: it requires plenty of active stations though. The temptation is to abandon the quieter bands and move downwards. Before leaving 50MHz, think just how much your presence on WSPR could mean. By staying around and sending or looking for WSPR signals you would be really contributing to radio research.
Field work?
My tiredness is still a problem but I am getting closer to restarting field work at VLF. I bought a new soldering iron and have found a replacement bit for my old Weller iron (it needs a plug removing before I can use it though) so I should be able to match my 5W earth-mode VLF beacon to the earth-electrodes at this QTH. This will then allow me to do a trip to my first location to see if I can copy the signal. I hope to do all this in the next few days. It may need my XYL to help, but I am sure she will not mind! You may recall, I tested the RX side with Spectran in the lounge a few weeks ago and could copy the earth-electrode VLF beacon (running QRSS3 into a dummy load) using an E-field probe.
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