11 Jan 2016

G0VQH and 472kHz RX

Jenny tells me she uses orthogonal loops and an active antenna on 472kHz located at the far end of her garden, which must be quiet electrically.  It certainly works very well as she decodes far more than I do on 472kHz RX. If my health permits, I must try an active RX antenna on the band.

10m Es

There was wintertime Es about today on 10m WSPR with spots (lots) of my 500mW WSPR beacon from Germany and Hungary. At the time of writing, 1540z, there have been no DX spots and nothing at all on 6m.

UPDATE 1556z:  I think there are definitely fewer stations on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR, so the value of going on this mode diminishes. It needs a decent number updating to WSPRnet to get the real value from the mode. It is a pity there are not more people on WSPR. JT65 and JT9-1 really are 2-way modes and need me to be actually in the shack.  SSB is hard work for me at present and even CW requires my brain to work overtime! As I said before, I propose to use 2-way digital modes far more this year.

UPDATE 1756z:  HA4ULB (1456km) is still spotting me on 10m. I have also been spotted in Italy: classic wintertime Es.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Jan 11th 2016

Solar flux is 108 and sunspot number 73 (K=3). 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor". Currently I am active on 10m and 6m WSPR.

10 Jan 2016

QRP

More from Oleg..

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
thanks all visitor of this week QRP Rendez-Vous:
UA1CEX,  IK2ECC,  DF2OU,  DF5SF, UR0ET, RV3GM, OH6NPV, UA1ASB, DK7LX,
OH5LP, TF/RA1M/mm, R1OA, SM5MEK, UA1ADF, IW2CEC, EA3BDE, OM6TC, ON7FR,
GU3TUX,  UR0MM, RV3UV, RC4A, UA1CEG, UA1AFT, RV3DSA/0, UR7VT, PA0WDW,
UA4NE,  G3VBS,  UA3DLD,  UI8CM,  RA7RA,  DL4EPM, Z35M, SM7RYR, EW1CY,
RU3NJC,  OM2GM,  R4NX,  F6DIZ,  S51NP,  RX3AFQ, ER5AX, OK1TPI, RU3XR,
SA7BOA, EA1AOQ, ON6KZ, F6FAI
Congrafts OH5LP, RV3DSA, EW1CY - they became Frequenters!
See the full Frequenters and Visitors list -
www.club72.su (72 Net in menu)
Thanks to all for comments, see soapbox here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Welcome  all  QRP  operators  to  round  tables  "QRP Rendez-Vous" in
Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  Saturdays  at 9 UTC on 14060 +/- QRM, QRL, VXO
(use RIT to find out XTAL stn's) Alternative 10116 kc if big contest.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"




"Dear Club 72 members and friends,

keep this week QRP Rendez-Vous schedule:
Tuesday,  Thursday,  Saturday at 9 UTC on 14060 (alternative 10116 if
contest) +/- QRM, QRL, VXO. Use RIT to give a chance XTAL operators.
Theme of this week - WEATHER in your location. Add WX info in reports,
please.
All comments, reports, pictures appreciate to my e-mail "mr72".
All details here - www.club72.su

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

472kHz compromise antennas

Looking at nearby G0VQH's list of WSPR stations successfully decoded on 472kHz WSPR it is clear Jenny is copying far more stations than me. Even with my preamp in circuit and maximum sensitivity I am simply not copying, at all, some stations. I think it is time I tried an E-field probe on this band on RX. It is a combination of antenna (in)efficiency and directivity I think that is stopping me copying more on MF now.  I'm not sure what Jenny is using on MF but it clearly works well.

No JT9-1 TX today

We got home late after lunch so I did not get a chance to go on 20m JT9-1 TX. Tomorrow I am out much of the day on my U3AC course, so it may be Tuesday before I get another chance. For now, I have gone back to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

East Anglian Churches - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited a couple of Suffolk churches and I have updated the East Anglian Churches Blog with one of them - Denston in Suffolk. Although small, it is a gem.

More JT9-1 on 20m TX later

At the moment I am on RX only on 20m JT9-1 but I hope to get back on TX later today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 10th 2016

Solar flux is 106, sunspot number 84 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor" today.  I am not expecting great things of 10m today.

9 Jan 2016

Back on MF

As I don't have to be in the shack for WSPR (I can monitor in the lounge, or even in bed!) I have returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR.  It takes a few seconds to pop in the shack if anything is amiss.  I am able to use a different PC in the lounge and my iPod Touch in bed.

UPDATE 1846z:  Nice no see I was spotted by a new reporter this evening M0TAZ (79km). DK7FC (669km) has been spotted as usual.

JT9-1 20m QSO

Photo thanks to Bas.
I had my first JT9-1 QSO of the year on 20m a little while ago working SM3HHI (1376km) with 2.5W from the FT817 and using the new baby shack PC running WSJT-X V1.6. It looks like this should be a good mode with my poor voice.  With this software it is very straightforward. QSOs take about 6 minutes to call CQ, exchange grids and reports and the confirmations.

UPDATE 1202z:  As interesting as the QSO, I see from PSK reporter that I was being received all over Europe.

UPDATE 1638z:  We have had visitors all afternoon, so I have not been TXing.  A couple of stations were lost (OK and RA9) on 20m JT9-1 just after lunch. These stations replied to my CQ but were lost before the QSOs could be finished.

UPDATE 1646z:  I left the 20m JT9-1 running on RX all afternoon. I see that I spotted N2LD (5645km) and OD5PY (3466km).

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Jan 9th 2016

Solar flux today is 109 and sunspot number 80 (K=2). 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor".

8 Jan 2016

10m WSPR earlier today

EA8/DK5HH (2951km) spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1202z today. I think this was single hop F2 propagation. Although not super-DX, it does show that there is still life on 10m. WSPR is ideal for "smoking out" short transient 10m openings.

Anglesey Abbey NT - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey - Jan 8th 2016
We visit the extensive grounds at nearby Anglesey Abbey, owned by the National Trust, most months.  There is always something to see whatever the season.  Everything is early this year because it has been so mild down here. Many snowdrops are out, some daffodils are already dying and lots of other flowers are in bloom.  The photo shows one of the lawns in winter with bare trees. The weather is expected to be much colder next week.

China

It seems odd to me that the Chinese haven't taken the amateur radio market by storm already. When the Chinese do wake up I think ICOM, Yaesu and Kenwood will struggle. It would not surprise me if at least one goes bankrupt. They are "swimming against the tide". China is currently a low cost assembly area and even Apple take advantage of this.  So far, the Chinese products we have seen have not been a match for the Japanese, but surely this will change? Volumes are not the issue as some variants are made in decent numbers. No, the Japanese amateur manufacturers need to wake up fast or they will go under.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 8th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number 29 (K=2). 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" so I am not hopeful of decent results on 10m today.  We are definitely seeing the effects of falling solar activity sadly, although at times 10m is good so never give up on the band. This is exactly where WSPR is useful. At present I am active on 10m WSPR and 630m WSPR.

7 Jan 2016

472kHz WSPR

I am back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR (5mW ERP 20%, RX 80%) and will remain on overnight.

UPDATE 1004z 8.1.16:  No surprises overnight.

20m WSPR and JT9-1

As I was busy with other things all morning I was active on 20m WSPR. We are out most of the afternoon so JT9-1 may have to wait until I have more time in the shack.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Jan 7th 2016

Solar flux is 101 today and the sunspot number 38 (K=3). 10m is expected to remain "poor" again today.

Presently I am on 20m WSPR using the new shack PC running WSJT-X V1.6 and the Par end fed 3 bander, which is low on 20m. Already VKs have spotted me.

6 Jan 2016

New shack PC

I have just fired up a new shack PC (Asus X205ta) which has an 11.6 inch screen and runs Windows 10. After a few set-up issues (nothing major) it runs WSJT-X V1.6 very well. I have the feeling this little PC will serve my needs well.

It has a SSD and runs very fast and without a fan. For additional local storage I bought a 64GB micro-SD card although I have very little need for storage on this PC.  It comes with 2 years of free 500GB cloud storage and a year of MS Office 365. It was a bargain from Tesco Direct. Currently it is running WSPR on 630m using WSJT-X V1.6.

ICOM IC7300 - still made in Japan

It looks from the pictures on the MLS site that this new radio is still made in Japan although the fan on the back says "Made in China". One wonders when one of the big Japanese manufacturers will design in Japan but make the radios in China? This would certainly be less expensive. At some point, the high Japanese manufacturing costs will bankrupt one of the big three. It is a case of who jumps first.

With decent volumes of the same design, the manufacture of Japanese designed radios in China makes some sense. Just wait until we see a quality amateur radio product both designed and made in China. It will happen. Then Kenwood, ICOM and Yaesu will be seriously undercut and worried. Why do so many products say "Made in China"? Manufacturing costs are much lower than Japan.

See www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-icom-base-station-radio/icom/icom-ic-7300-hf-50-70mhz-transceiver-deposit-pd-6016.php

This image is located on the MLS website and not on this blog.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Jan 6th 2016

Solar flux has fallen to 95 and sunspot number is 29 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". It would be a pleasant surprise if 10m was any good today. I shall switch on my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon shortly.

5 Jan 2016

144MHz January UKAC

Stations worked tonight with 5W and big-wheel omni antenna
This evening was the first leg of the UKAC 144MHz RSGB activity contest.  In the limited time on-air I made 7 QSOs with 5W SSB and the big-wheel horizontal omni antenna. I was only on for just over 1 hour because of my poor voice. Several of the usual locals were absent tonight, so no JO02 stations worked. Best DX was G0VVE who was on the far side of London at 123km. Heard, but not worked, were F stations in IO10 and IN99 squares. Several Gs in the north were also heard. A lot more stations would have been worked had I stopped around longer.

More on the IC7300

There is a little more on this new ICOM radio on the MLS website. Deliveries are expected "in early 2016" with a UK (initial?) price of "under £1000". I shall wait.

See www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-icom-base-station-radio/icom/icom-ic-7300-hf-50-70mhz-transceiver-deposit-pd-6016.php

Tax return online. Is there a calculation error? - NOT amateur radio

I have just completed my UK tax return online, but I think there is an error with the calculation algorithm when working out interest on bank and building society accounts. I need to double check but I am pretty sure I am being over-charged. If I am right then millions may be owed to people. As I said, I need to check, but I shall certainly write if I am correct. Also, yet again, I got caught by the stupid part asking if you have any other comments to make. It said I had 1 error but would not tell me where the error was. Whoever designed the form needs the sack or re-educating. Surely in this day and age we can expect a free-form form that you can just write in? Surely this is not too much to ask?

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Jan 5th 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number 60 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". As yet, I am not active on any band. I expect to be on 10m WSPR later, although we are out later so JT65 and JT9-1 may have to wait until Wednesday. I may be on 630m WSPR later.

4 Jan 2016

Christmas over - NOT amateur radio

The "official" end of Christmas is January 6th, but with all the grandchildren gone home we decided to take down the tree, cards and decorations today.  For a few days the house looks bare.

JT65 and JT9-1 on hold

As it took much longer than I expected to (nearly) complete my tax return, it will now be tomorrow that I will get on JT65 and JT9-1. Apparently I owe the Inland Revenue much more than I thought.  I am sure I must have made a mistake. My XYL says look at the form again tomorrow when my head is clearer. She is dead right.

A night away - NOT amateur radio

This last weekend we drove up to Barnsley, Yorkshire, staying one night away, to help one of the relatives of Lis (bottom LHS of photo) celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary.  It was my furthermost drive since my stroke. The weather driving back was appalling. I now think I should be able to drive to Devon in May with a stop with friends on the way there and back. I miss Devon.  The get-together was a good chance for Lis to see relatives she has not seen for many years and to revisit old haunts.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

So the FTSE 100 share index has opened the year well down and is currently some 2.62% down on the day. I wonder where it will be in Jan 2017?

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Jan 4th 2016

Solar flux is 102 and the sunspot number is 52 (K=0). 10m propagation is again forecast to be "poor" today.

UPDATE 1338z:  10m WSPR has been dead here with no a single spot all day, so far.  At the moment I am just active on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1846z:  No 10m WSPR spots of my signal all day.

3 Jan 2016

JT65 and JT9-1

Tomorrow, all being well, I shall make a start on 2-way QRP QSOs in 2016 using these digital modes with WSJT-X V1.6.  Probably I'll start on 20m.  Up to now we seem to have been busy with grandchildren over the holidays, or away. Apart from doing my tax return online (a job I love not one bit - the hardest thing is finding all the documents), I think we have a fairly free week.

QRP Newsletter

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
see the QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report and comments on the Club 72 blog
page here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors of the week:
UA4NU,  ON6KZ,  DF5SF,  UR5EFD, G4VUX, UA1CEG, RV3GM, UA1ADF, OH6NPV, YO2IS,  IK2RMZ,  UR7VT,  EW1CY, HB9DAX, OH5LP, SM7RYR, UR3VZ, IZ3GHP, 9A0QRP, RZ4NWA, UA1CEX, RU3NJC, UA1ASB, UR0ET, OK1DQP, MM0CIN, DJ0PM, OH3GZ, RU3ZL
IK2RMZ  entered  in  the honor QRP rendezvous "frequenters" list. See
full  "frequenters"  and  "visitors"  lists  on  the  Club  72 page -
www.club72.su
Remind QRP "rendez-vous" schedule:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 9 UTC on 14060 (alternative 10116 if
Contests) +/- QRM, QRL, VXO. Your comments and results are appreciated
to "mr72" e-mail. please.
Thanks ALL for activity and comments!

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"
=== In QRP We Trust! ===

630m WSPR and 10m WSPR

I am again spotting plenty on 630m (472kHz) WSPR although no-one has yet spotted my 5mW ERP on that band today. No luck on 10m WSPR, although I was very very later getting on the band. I only started up just before it was dark here. I left 10m too late.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 3rd 2016

For the last 24 hours we were away visiting relatives in Yorkshire, so I had no chance to update the blogs. In the gloom and rain we are now home again and I am currently on 10m WSPR and 630m WSPR.

Solar flux today is 100, sunspot number 52 (K=2) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor". I am not expecting much on 10m WSPR today.

2 Jan 2016

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Jan 2nd 2016

Solar flux is 97 and sunspot number 40 (K=3). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" today.

1 Jan 2016

Low 472kHz WSPR activity on TX in Europe

Although WSPRnet shows 64 active stations on 472kHz WSPR,  just 8 of us are transmitting on 472kHz WSPR in Europe! This is a very low number. I do wish more were active.

UPDATE 1948z:  EA5DOM (1525km) is now the best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX here this evening. I am still using the "barefoot" FT817 without an external preamp and with the earth-electrode "antenna". At this QTH I am blessed with a very low man-made noise level. On TX the ERP remains close to 5mW (20%).

Sunspots and 10m - Fri Jan 1st 2016

Solar flux is 95 today and sunspot number has fallen to 18 (K=3).  10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" again. With such a low sunspot number and K=3, I was pleased to be copied in South America this morning on 10m at 1132z. I somehow doubt we'll see the USA on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1922z:  FY5KE (7110km) was the only station to spot me all day on 10m WSPR all day.  I have now gone QRT on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR and am active on 630m (472kHz) WSPR with 3 stations already spotted (best DX on 472kHz RX is DJ0ABR (983km).

UPDATE 1927z:  Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX is DH5RAE (995km).

10m and 6m WSPR

It is New Year's Day and I am active on 10m and 6m WSPR at present.

UPDATE 1315z:   G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted several times already on 6m (he was also copied earlier on 630m) and FY5KE (7110km) spotted me on 10m WSPR.  A promising start to the new year.

2016 - A Happy New Year!

So, the new year is with us. A time for new beginnings and new hopes. May I wish  every reader of this blog, where ever you live on this small, shared, planet of ours, a very happy and peaceful 2016. I hope we can all enjoy 2016 in peace and goodwill.

My main ambition is to make the most of life: it is a precious gift.

Amateur radio wise, I think I shall try to work 2-way QRP QSOs  on JT65 and JT9-1 on HF and maybe some PSK31. I shall continue with WSPR when not able look for 2-way QSOs.

So I really hope you have a great 2016 whatever your situation. We must grab life with both hands.