Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 12th 2016

Solar flux is 113 today. Sunspot number is rising and is 42 today (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes now, having QSYed from MF, which I was on last night.

VHF conditions up?

We normally hold an East Cambridgeshire net at 1900z Mondays on 144.575MHz FM. If the channel is busy we move down 25kHz or further.  This evening it was busy so we moved down to 144.550MHz FM. G4CPE (Luton) was a "smooth noise" signal with me working G3KKD.  Next week we will be back on 144.575MHz FM all being well.

630m WSPR this evening

So far this evening my best RX report was to spot DL6TY (629km) and the best DX on TX (5mW ERP) was a spot by PA7EY (306km). Nothing further yet.

QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" is active now. Everyone can take a part in any April day before May 1'st.
See full QRP "Rendez-Vous" weekly report here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Visitors  of last week: IT9QAU, ON6KZ, UA1ADF, DK3WX, DL4AH, G0SVX, OM6TC, UI8CM,  RU3NJC,  RV3GM,  R1OA, UR0ET, OH6NPV, UR7VT, UA1CEG/p, F6HFX, UA0SBQ, Z35M, DD4EA, UA1ASB, RA1CK, HB9DAX, RC6R, ON5EG, EA7JUK,DK2QX, DK9LO/m
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists - www.club72.su
See  all  QRP  operators  on  "rendezvous",  see  schedule  on Club 72
web-page.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

QSYed from 630m to 10m WSPR

After a rather disappointing night on 630m (with no great DX on TX), I QSYed to 10m WSPR at around 0900z.

10m WSPR disappointment

Just spots from local G0VQH (15km) today. Jenny is south of me and was mayor of Cambridge at one time.  No DX seen at all on 10m WSPR here. In all, disappointing.

Wimpole Hall - NOT amateur radio

"It will be quiet today", said my wife. Famous last words!  Wimpole Hall (National Trust) was heaving today! It was "Lambing Day" and most schools were still on holiday. We walked to Home Farm and then had a sandwich at the cafe near the entrance.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon April 11th 2016

Solar flux is 114 today (quite decent). Sunspot number is 26 (K=0) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". As conditions are not disturbed and the solar flux is quite good today, we could see some interesting 10m conditions today.

Alone again - NOT amateur radio

We are on our own again as the "London" grandchildren returned home late afternoon. Having had a stroke 2.5 years ago I find having them fun, but tiring. As the saying goes, "good to see them come and good to see them go".

WRC 2015 final agreements

See http://www.itu.int/pub/R-ACT-WRC.12-2015 .

I do hope that OFCOM and the whole of CEPT allocates a full 100kHz rather than the 15kHz agreed at the ITU WRC 2015 to the amateur service at 5MHz.

Of course this would mean OFCOM making a real decision, so this is unlikely.

Back on 630m WSPR after 10m WSPR today

10m WSPR was disappointing today here with just G spots. Already, 630m (472kHz) WSPR is better with lots of spots already both given and received.

UPDATE 2020z:  This evening looks good. Already spotting EA5DOM (1525km) and being spotted in The Netherlands on 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP. Will I be copied in Norway again overnight on 472kHz WSPR?

Church blog updated - NOT amateur radio

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

The church blog has now been updated to include the redundant St Peter's Church in Cambridge. I have still to add a photo of the font.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun April 10th 2016

Solar flux is 106 today. Sunspot number is 29, just up on yesterday, and K=3. The forecast for 10m remains "poor" today. I am not expecting great things on 10m today.

St Peter's Church, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This redundant church in Cambridge was visited yesterday. It was open. It is located just north of the Folk Museum. I'll do a write-up for the church blog next week. Nice place - small but holy.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 9th 2016

As we have had little grandchildren staying here (on their own) , amateur radio has taken a back seat, although I have been on 10m WSPR most of the day.

Solar flux has risen to 105 today and sunspot number is 27 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

10m WSPR today

10m WSPR was disappointing today with just spots by G stations all day. With slightly better solar conditions and a weekend I was expecting better. 10m is a band of surprises. Today the surprises were of the wrong sort!

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

As we have our "London" grandchildren here for a few days, amateur radio has taken a back seat. They are still very little.

This afternoon we went into Cambridge by car and the "Park and Ride" bus.  The photo shows one of them at the Cambridge Folk Museum.

MF this evening

I have been active on 472kHz WSPR since early evening. So far results have been mediocre - see below. I shall be staying on overnight.

OFCOM Updates - NOT amateur radio

See stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/wireless-telegraphy-fees-notice-2016/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Wireless-telegraphy-fees-notice&utm_term=Wireless Telegraphy Act Fees  DTT multiplex White space  Mobile licence products for details of some changes made by OFCOM.

UK Rallies

I have been notified of these UK rallies:

Sunday 10 APRIL : NARSA EXHIBITION (Blackpool Rally) organised by Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association, Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. The venue has car parking as well as disabled facilities. There will be a talk-in station and Morse proficiency tests are also available. Highlights include trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups, and an RSGB bookstand. There is a licensed bar and catering facilities. More information from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608 or by email to dwilson@btinternet.com. www.narsa.org.uk

Sunday 10 APRIL : 32nd YEOVIL QRP CONVENTION
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA Doors open 9.30am, admission £3. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and club stalls, plus a programme of talks. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & RSARS. Contact Bob Harris, by email to wjh069@gmail.com. [http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention].

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

Sunspots and 10m - Fri April 8th 2016

Solar flux is 93 today (rising) and the sunspot number is 26 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor". Today could be another disappointing day?

Late start on 10m WSPR today

As we have grandchildren with us, I was late starting 10m WSPR today. I eventually started just before lunchtime.

Google changes to blog address - NOT amateur radio

To get to my blogs you may have to change the URL. See the following from Google:

Coming in late April!
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://.blogspot.com. Existing links and bookmarks to your blogs will continue to work. As part of this change, the HTTPS Availability setting will disappear, and your blogs will always have an HTTPS version.

10m short-skip

It looks like the Es season is nearly here on 10m. Today there was just one spot from OE6PWD (1232km). These are the spots so far.

RSGB and the EMC Committee

See http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/electromagnetic-compatibility-committee/ .

Having just read the latest minutes, my negative views on OFCOM have been re-enforced. They seem to want to do very little about real EMC issues. I quote:

"JR reported that Ofcom had said that the WTA s54 Regulations, consulted on a year ago, would be published very soon. Although very welcome, if they only covered a narrow definition of “apparatus” in EMCD terms, that would leave a major hole in their scope. We would need to examine them carefully and consider how to respond. Ofcom were to have an article about the Regulations in RadCom. Ofcom said they were setting three conditions to act under the Regs. 

1. Harmful interference needed to be demonstrated; 
2.  All reasonable steps had to be taken to reduce/alleviate the interference at the receiver; 
3. There had to be a realistic prospect of an outcome. "

Full marks to the RSGB for continuing to challenge OFCOM.

OFCOM bureaucrats - do your jobs or go! There is zero space these days for quangos that do not add value. I have heard the arguments in support of OFCOM, but in all recent dealings with them I have not been at all impressed. Yes, they may bleat "lack of resources", but fewer bureaucrats and more engineers in the field would be a good start.

The virtues of QRP

As you know only too well, I love QRP.  No TVI, no noisy fans, low electricity bills, etc.. Yes there are times when more power helps - this I do understand. However, most contacts at QRP levels are fun, and this is something that I enjoy.

Our hobby is such that it can be enjoyed in many different ways: if you chose to run 1kW and a beam and rag-chew, that is fine by me. If you like satellites that is fine too. All I am saying is QRP is fun. Two-way QRP is even more rewarding, especially if some of the gear is home made. I like 472kHz as my transverter was designed and built by me. Details are on my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk .

Over the years I have managed well over 100 DXCC countries with QRP SSB. Others have worked far more countries than me. I hope this does not sound boastful: it is intended to encourage others.  Even in the worst years of solar cycles N--S paths are sometimes workable with QRP SSB on 10m.

If you think high power is necessary, may I invite you to turn the power down to 5W?  You may be surprised by what you can still work, even with SSB.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs April 7th 2016

Solar flux is 88 but sunspot number is just 13 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation is yet again "poor". I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes.

UPDATE 1135z:  No spots, as yet, on 10m WSPR today.

Best ever TX DX (5mW ERP) on 472kHz WSPR from this QTH

Last night, I was spotted by LA9IY (1393km) for my best ever TX DX from this QTH on 472kHz WSPR . In all, 10 different stations received me last night on 472kHz WSPR. As usual, I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Performance amazes me.

Yet again, this proves you do not need lots of power or big antennas on this band. Simple works. QRP rules!

AM and AM Modulation

Someone suggested I put this on my blog, so here goes with a brief introduction.

My favorite method is series modulation using a transistor as the "modulation" stage. The modulated RF stage is set so the stage voltage is close to half rail. With modulation the voltage swings to close to full rail (4 times the power). This stage is followed by a linear amplifier to bring the power up to that required.  I used this in my Fredbox and Sixbox rigs without a linear. If I ever do a simple Tenbox AM rig I'd add a linear RF stage.

See Fredbox .
See Sixbox .

Don't forget that if you click on a picture or schematic on my website a larger version is usually available.

AM rigs are simple to build. I am truly surprised that these have gone out of favour in recent times. Surplus PMR AM rigs can often be found for almost nothing.  Back in the 1950s and 1960s AM was the predominant mode on HF and VHF.

There is plenty of space for AM on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. A decent AM rig should only occupy 6kHz or less of bandwidth.

D-star Cubesat

Southgate Amateur Radio News has a report today of a D-star transponder on a Cubesat. I ahve to admit that I am not "turned on" by these digital modes. It seems to me we are in for a standards war in the coming years. I am happy to sit this one out until the punters decide on one. System fusion, C4FM, D-star, DMR?? Others? Who cares!

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/dstar_satellite_to_launch_from_kourou.htm#.VwTc_L6LWzk.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed April 6th 2016

Solar flux is 83 today. Sunspot number is 27 today (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor". After yesterday, I am not expecting much on 10m, but I might get a surprise!

QRT on 630m WSPR and now back on 10m WSPR

After a relatively quiet night on 630m WSPR during which I was copied by several different Dutch stations, I have now returned to 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 0945z:  No 10m WSPR spots as yet.

UPDATE 1558z:  Still not a single 10m WSPR spot here all day.

Back on 630m (472kHz) WSPR

Since around 1900z I have been active on 630m WSPR. There have been lots of spots given and received. It would not entirely surprise me if my 5mW ERP signal is spotted in Norway again tonight.  LA8AV is quite strong here tonight.

OFCOM updates

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/ .

OFCOM updates, if you care to read.

Concert - NOT amateur radio

My wife's concert was last Saturday and she spent part of this morning erasing pencil marks from the many scores borrowed by inter library loan.

She now has a break until the autumn when they start rehearsals again for the 2017 concert which is Elijah by Mendelssohn.

The next concert will be at the West Road Concert Hall. which is an excellent venue in Cambridge. It is where the university music school is located.

The 2016 concert was good and enjoyed by the very full audience who attended.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 5th 2016

Solar flux was 82 and sunspot number 23 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" today.

UPDATE 0915z:   No 10m spots so far, although this is expected as it is still very early.

UPDATE 0942z:  G4CUI (172km), to the west of Sheffield,  has been spotted on 10m WSPR.  He is often spotted here.

UPDATE 1256z:  G4CUI spotted again, but no DX on 10m.

2m UKAC tonight

A reminder that the 2m leg of the RSGB's UK activity contest is tonight at 1900z for 2.5 hours. I shall be on with 5W QRP and the big-wheel omni. I seem to be able to work out to about 200km, although I usually only stay on for an hour or less because of my poor voice. 8-10 QSOs and I'm done in!

UPDATE 2025z:  After 8 QSOs I was done in.  So I stopped after 50 minutes on air.  Best DX was the South Coast with G4RUL/P (172km).

2m QSOs tonight with 5W SSB and big-wheel in 50 minutes

630m overnight and back on 10m WSPR

Quite a few spots on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight,but no great DX either way (i.e. spots given or received). Best DX on TX were spots from PA land (306km). I did spot LA on RX (1035km) but he did not spot me last night.

I have now gone QRT on MF and started up the 10m WSPR for the day.

Another low cost rig from Yaesu?

See http://www.qrpblog.com/2016/04/yaesu-ft-891-new-hf50mhz-transceiver.html .

The date of this was April 1st, so this may be a wind-up. If it is, like me, you have been fooled!

YO9IRF/M0HRH reports on his blog about on the Yaesu FT891. As reported, if true, it is a mobile-sized rig covering HF-50MHz.

As I said, this could be a wind-up. Caveat Emptor. It was also picked up by Amateur Radio Weekly, so if a joke, they were fooled too!

They claim this is not an April Fool wind-up. I hope this is correct.The FCC data does look genuine enough.  If a hoax it is a very complex one. The question is, if genuine, will it be available in Europe and at what price?

50W red LEDs cheap on eBay

Bernie G4HJW recently posted to the UK Nanowave Yahoo about some powerful red LEDs that he bought from China for just £2.80. A couple of these are more powerful than the 10mm LEDs that I used in non line of night tests (when I was fitter) but even without any lenses!  It would seem these would be ideal for optical tests. 50W is a lot of power. This was Bernie's post. I trust he won't mind me sharing it with you all:

"Morning all - This might be of general interest:

I recently bought a couple of 50W red LEDs from China, which I thought I might use in a wide-angle initial set-up lantern for portable use. They were very cheap (£2.80), so I also expected there would be dead segments, which there were, but there was a bigger surprise waiting to show itself.

During this weeks UK uwave group net, Martyn G3UKV asked me how wide the spectrum was, so out came my trusty secondary school Spectroscope. Instead of the expected relatively narrow response, there was noticeable output right through to yellow plus a weakish narrow line at the violet end. This should have been an obvious clue, of course, but it was only later when I was telling Stuart G8CYW (sorry about all the name dropping..) that he suggested  that the LEDs might be fluorescent driven devices, just like the white lighting LEDs all seem to be these days. He was correct, as the following picture shows:

http://www.earf.co.uk/uvred.JPG

Note that in pealing back some of the fluorescent gell, all but one of the individual 1W UV leds have been destroyed. Not obvious from the picture is that these LEDs are embedded in an initial clear silicon rubber prior to the red fluorescent layer being applied. From supplier ebay pictures, it is now clear that the same UV driven devices are available in all colours, leading to the question - does this produce an overall increase in efficiency, or is there simply a significant cost saving in just fabricting UV LEDs?.

I've yet to measure the response time of the fluorescent material.

Bernie
G4HJW"

Working with simple optical gear was one of my great pleasures, so I very much hope I can do this again. Optical gear is easier than microwaves. All my kit was home designed and built and the test gear simplicity itself.  For details of my optical work see http://www.g3xbm.co.uk  . G4HJW and others know far more than me in this area. I consider myself very much a novice in this area.