Solar Activity

Just a reminder that http://www.solen.info/solar/ has lots of data on solar activity. Usually there is an update early in the month showing the sunspot activity. It is worth seeing the trends.

Winter - NOT amateur radio

Today is December 1st. How time flies. It seems no time since summer and the evenings (not the mornings) start to get lighter here from December 18th. The UK Met Office assumes winter starts today and it certainly feels like winter here!

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday December 1st 2016

Remember, the slow decline in solar activity is an average, but today the solar activity seems higher. Solar flux is 83 and sunspot number 75. A=3 and K=1. Today might be a "not too bad" day on 10m, assuming there are some people on the band!

10m JT65

At around 0940z, I returned to 10m JT65 having spent the evening and overnight on 630m WSPR where the best DX on 5mW ERP TX was DL-SWL (701km). As yet, no 10m spots given or received.

UPDATE 1120z: Still no spots on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1938z: SQ7W (908km) in southern Sweden spotted me at teatime. Es? No South Americans, which surprised me.

UPDATE 2042z:  HC5K was spotted earlier but this was not uploaded to PSK reporter maps for some reason. So I did spot South America after all. I have now moved to 630m WSPR (5mW ERP).

QSY from 10m JT65 to 630m WSPR

After failing to see 10m JT65 spots, given or received, from South America today (I was surprised) I had to be content with 2E0CIT (94km) in South London!

I QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR some hours ago. Best spot of my 5mW ERP on MF is again DL-SWL several times (701km).

ISWL Callsigns

Southgate News has details of ISWL callsigns in December. Anyone know how many members ISWL has now? I left a few years ago.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/iswl_callsigns_for_december.htm#.WD8M24XXL4g

Frosty Garden - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been glorious with bright sunshine and little wind, but it has been (and still is) cold. We have had night-time frosts, which have been slow to clear.

The photo shows the slow to clear frost in the back garden. You can see where the sun has reached! The bird bath has been frozen solid for days.

Does all this suggest a cold winter ahead? Met Office winter runs from Dec 1st (tomorrow). To me, December, January and February are winter months and March 1st seems like spring again. So, I agree with the Met Office.

See http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ .

Sunspots and 10m

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 43. K=2. I hope we see some 10m DX later.

UPDATE 1725z: The K index has dropped to zero.

10m JT65

Around breakfast time I returned to 10m JT65. After a quiet spell, there is short skip around with several stations in Europe spotting me. Is this the start of the small Dec/Jan Es peak? OK it is late November!

I am being widely spotted and I have spotted EU7FBB (1931km) in Belarus.

UPDATE 1656z: No further spots since the Europeans earlier. If I am going to catch South America on 10m JT65 then the next hour will be the best chance. After about 1830z, I think any chances will be gone.

More spots on 472kHz WSPR

Last night PA7EY (306km) spotted me bringing the total number of unique stations spotting my 5mW ERP to 11. I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 for the day.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

About 30 minutes ago I went QRT on 10m JT65 (after a fruitless day) and returned to MF WSPR (5mW ERP).

PA0A (417km) and G3KEV (232km) have been copied even though I have an S8 noise floor caused by the SMPSU for my laptop.

So far, M0FMT (51km) and M0XDK (80km) have again spotted me. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna".

UPDATE 2020z: G8LCO (58km) spotted me at 2008z.

UPDATE 2050z: PA0RDT (243km) has already spotted me. This is my best DX so far this evening on MF.

UPDATE 2100z: G8HUH (250km) and PA3ANG (391km) have spotted me. These are early DX spots.

UPDATE 2108z: PA0A (417km) has just spotted my 5mW ERP.  Best DX so far this evening. Conditions seem to be "up" on MF.

472kHz spots in the first few days this autumn

Sweet peas in the garden still - NOT amateur radio

It is almost December and we have had a few frosts but there are at least 4 sweet pea flowers to cut in the garden! This is very late. We also have clematis in flower.

OFCOM annual plan

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/proposed-annual-plan-2017-18?utm_source=updates&utm_campaign=proposed-annual-plan-2017-18&utm_medium=email

OFCOM has published its draft annual plan for consultation.

"Ofcom exists to make communications markets work for everyone. 

To achieve this, we are proposing three main goals: to promote competition and ensure that markets work effectively for consumers; to secure standards and improve quality; and to protect consumers from harm. Our proposed Annual Plan highlights some of the key work areas that we will seek to deliver in order to meet these goals, across the UK and its nations, in 2017/18. We also outline our broader ongoing work to support these goals, and how we will work for consumers across the UK’s nations.

We will publish our final Annual Plan for 2017/18 in March 2017. The final Plan will take into account responses from stakeholders to the proposed Plan. The closing date for consultation responses to our proposed Annual Plan is 7 February 2017."

Blah,blah,blah, blah........ QUANGOese talk? Cynic, me?

When the BBC wanted to interview OFCOM at breakfast time, no-one was available. I doubt they start work before 9am.

Some think I am being too harsh on OFCOM. Indeed they are, arguably, better than authorities in many other countries. I am only reflecting what I have directly experienced. I was not impressed. This was a few years ago and things may have changed. I certainly hope so.

10m JT65

At around 1045z I went QRT on 630m WSPR and activated my 10m JT65 station and checked PC sync to internet time.

UPDATE 1910z: It looks like no 10m JT65 spots today, sadly. Soon be time to QSY back to MF.

472kHz so far this autumn

So far this autumn (I've only been back on in the last few days) my 5mW ERP 630m WSPR has been spotted by 8 different stations with DL-SWL at 701km being the best DX so far. I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, which is far from optimum.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday November 29th 2016

Solar flux is 88 today and the sunspot number 44. K=1. Conditions look promising for this part of the solar cycle. I shall QSY to 10m JT65 shortly.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

At some point in the future I intend to JT9-1 beacon on 472kHz. Some years ago, at the old QTH, I worked a couple of countries on 472kHz JT9-1. I have not tried this mode on this band at the current QTH.  For now, I have gone back to 472kHz (630m) WSPR.

UPDATE 2100z:  Since going back on MF I noticed an S8 RX noise floor. Last year it was S1-2. This turns out to be the SMPSU that charges my laptop battery. The laptop was new.  It means I will have to disconnect the charger when wanting to seriously listen on 472kHz.

UPDATE 2200z: M0FMT, M0XDK and G8LCO have spotted me all evening. Best DX so far is M0XDK (80km).

Radio silence

According to the BBC there is a place in West Virginia, USA that has strict laws in place so radio does not disturb sensitive listening posts nearby. One of these is searching for extra-terrestrial life "out there". In some ways I find it amazing we have not found any signs of intelligent life, or indeed any life, despite 50 years of looking.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38098945 .

Driving - NOT amateur radio

For the last 2 years I have been driving again after my stroke. It is not as easy. I'd say it feels like 5x the effort it once was. Driving at night is too stressful. I am tired/exhausted after driving.

I am aware I drive slower: it is as if everything is 10mph faster than it was. When doing 40mph it feels like 50mph and 60mph feels like 70mph.

Probably this is a combination of my brain and getting older.

4m (70MHz) operations

The 4m band is now widely available in Europe and in a few places worldwide. I have not tried the band from this QTH, well not yet. There is now the IC7300 which includes 4m in the European version. With 50W and a simple antenna, most of the UK should be reachable on CW or digital modes and a lot of the UK on SSB.

There is a new Greenland 4m beacon OX4M on the air from HQ90AL on 70.047MHz (25W) into a dipole radiating North/South sending  PI4 + CW + carrier.

Years ago I remember working Greenland with QRP SSB on a whip antenna from my garden using the FT817 on 15m. This new beacon should be ideal in the Es season.

See www.70mhz.org .

Incidentally, I see that Southgate News has a report on WIA's attempts to get a 4m band in Australia.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/quest-for-australian-70-mhz-ham-radio-band.htm#.WDwwZ4XXLIU . 

Remember, you heard it here last 😉 .

Now on 10m JT65

With a solar flux over 80, sunspot number not too bad for this part of the cycle and relatively undisturbed conditions, I  am hopeful for 10m JT65 today. I returned to 10m JT65 about 10 minutes ago.

UPDATE 1045z:  No spots, as yet, on 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1235z: Still no spots. Disappointing. It looks like there is no skip into Europe again. The 10m band has opened to South America (F2 or TEP?) around 1700-1800z for the last couple of days. I hope this happens today.

UPDATE 1835z:  Another day with no 10m JT65 spots here. Soon be time to move to MF WSPR.

472kHz overnight

Not quite as good as the first night this autumn on the band. I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 but should be back on MF this evening.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday November 28th 2016

Solar flux is 82 today and the sunspot number 31. K=2. Time I QSYed to 10m JT65!

Birthday Roses - NOT amateur radio

One of our sons bought my wife some roses for her birthday, which she put on the breakfast table in the kitchen.

Back on MF this evening and overnight

Just over an hour ago I went QRT on 10m JT65 (2W) and fired up my 630m WSPR station (5mW ERP). So far M0XDK (80km) is the most distant station to spot me on MF.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

WQR Report (November 27, 2016)
Visitors  of  the week: US3EN, OH6NPV, SM7RYR, UA1CEG, SM2BYW, UR0ET,
UR5EFD,  OK2PDY,  RU3NJC,  IK5SRD,  F6CLH, RV3GM, R1CAF, G4MLW, R1OA,
UA1ADF,  RA7RA,  EA5EQ,  EA6BB,  G3XJS, R7KFX, OM2MSS, DK1HW, US5ERQ,
ON6NL, UA0SBQ, DK7LX
Congrats!
SM2BYW,  G4MLW  became  Honor  Frequenters  (regular visitors) of the
"rendezvous"
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club72.su web-page
Comments...
read full WQR Report on the blog page - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
See you all QRP operators on the next "rendezvous" QRP round tables!
Thanks!

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to have 4 grandchildren aged 4-9. This weekend they all came to help celebrate my wife's birthday. Having them is tiring, but lovely. Here they are enjoying themselves.

They all make themselves at home. The kitchen floor gets well fed too!

Are people deserting 10m?

Although there have been several openings from the UK to South America on 10m JT65 in the last week, I am beginning to think people are leaving the band and choosing lower bands on which to operate. This is a pity as it is rare for 10m not to open somewhere each week. It is not like the peaks of the solar cycle and the DX is certainly harder to find, but it is there on most days if you choose weak signal modes.

It you just want to chat, use lower bands or even Skype on the internet. If you want a challenge stick with 10m and switch to weak signal modes.

Return to 10m JT65

As we had visitors I was not on 10m JT65 early this morning. I hope to turn things on soon.

UPDATE 1130z: Restarted on 10m JT65 about 20 minutes ago, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1340z: Still no spots on 10m JT65 as yet. I shall stay on until tonight.

UPDATE 1532z: Still no 10m JT65 spots. Unless things soon change, this will go down as a bad 10m day. There are still several hours yet. At least, JT65 beaconing in the background is easy and any openings are likely to be caught. When it is dark, I shall switch to 472kHz (630m), although it was quite late yesterday that I caught the South American stations on 10m JT65, so I had better wait until after 1800z.

UPDATE 1846z: It was worth the wait! PY2RTY (9574km) spotted on 10m JT65 at 1758z. I'm staying on for a little while longer but will then QSY to 630m (MF).

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday November 27th 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number 13. K=3.

Fidel Castro dies - NOT amateur radio

OK, I was no great fan of this Cuban leader and I admit to being terrified in the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.  However, a great deal has come to light since then of the terrible acts committed by the USA in their attempts to overthrow him and other left-wing regimes in Central and South America.

More than ever, I am convinced we get fed what the media wants us to hear. This includes the BBC sadly.

It remains to be seen how Mr Trump views Cuba. Let's hope Cuba becomes a more open society, but that it retains all that is good.

UPDATE 2007z:  Mr Trump called him "a brutal dictator" allegedly. Funny how he managed to stop corruption and the worst American influences in Cuba. He was no saint, but "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Mr Trump?

G4ILO referrals

Although Julian died some time ago his blog, and inspiration, live on. To this day, I still get people coming here having first been to Julian's blog.

If you don't know G4ILO's story, he battled with an incurable brain tumour for some time, living longer than expected. Sadly, it got him in the end. RIP.

See http://blog.g4ilo.com/ .

10m JT65

At breakfast I returned to 10m JT65 (2W), but no spots so far. Hopefully there will be some today.

UPDATE 1240z: Still no 10m JT65 spots so far today.

UPDATE 2002z:  A couple of South Americans spotted this evening on 10m JT65. I had to go QRT quite early because we have family staying. Had I been able to stay on longer then others might have been copied.

Good first night on 472kHz WSPR

Unique stations spotting me on 472kHz WSPR

Last evening and overnight I returned to 472kHz WSPR for the first time this autumn. DL-SWL (701km) managed to spot my 5mW QRP from the earth-electrode "antenna". 6 unique stations spotted me in 3 countries in 6 QTH squares. I spotted 5 unique stations. Not a bad start.

I am wondering about JT9-1 and JT65 on MF. Does anyone know if these modes are much used on 472kHz?

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday November 26th 2016

Solar flux is 80 today, a little higher than of late. Sunspot number is 12 and K=2. Today could be slightly promising on 10m JT65, slightly. Maybe South America later?

472kHz (630m) WSPR - using WSJT-X V1.6

I have returned to 472kHz WSPR tonight with about 5mW ERP. Several spots already including some new people that I don't recall from previous seasons. I am again using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1938z: G3KEV (232km) is the best DX on 630m WSPR RX so far this evening.

UPDATE 2040z: DK7FC (669km) is now the best DX on 630m WSPR RX this evening. Stefan is always a good signal on MF.

RSGB making some changes to VHF contests in 2017

I was recently emailed telling me of some changes to the rules next year. See http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/information/vhfcc-2016survey-output.pdf for more details.

Major changes (written by the RSGB VHF contest committee) are as follows: 

• We will introduce a series of awards for the leading stations aged 18 or under to encourage more young operators to try, and hopefully stay with contesting 
• We are increasing the power limits for the two sections of the Backpackers contests from 3W and 10W to 5W and 25W 
• We are introducing new short low power FM contests aimed at newcomers on 4m, 2m and 70cm which will run in the hour prior to the UKAC events (1900 – 2000) on those bands 
• We are re-introducing the 2m diameter limitation for dish and backfire antennas in the Restricted and Low Power section of the 23cm UKAC contests 
• We are introducing separate Local and National club sections to the UKAC Club Competitions defined in a similar way to the successful 80m CC sections.  
• The 4m UKAC contests will move to occur every 3rd THURSDAY of the month to allow them to happen every month, and the 4m Cumulatives will be removed from the calendar 
• The 6m UKAC contests will move to occur every 2nd THURSDAY to separate them from the SHF events 
• In VHF NFD it will be possible for stations in both the Mix and Match and Restricted sections to operate on up to five bands, but have only their best 4 bands count 
• With the aim of increasing weekend activity, we are introducing a new Club section to the VHF Championship for weekend contests. In this section, the scores from every individual entry to a contest from a club’s members will count towards an overall score for the club.

More on Black Friday "bargains"

If you really, really must have a certain rig then the Black Friday deals are maybe worth it, but I am struck by the deals on offer for rigs that have been replaced by better, or more recent, models. I'm thinking of the IC7100, IC7000, FT991 and similar. I guess these are not selling so well and it is a good chance to clear the shelves.

If you have always wanted one of these go grab a slight bargain but don't be conned. The dealers want to rid themselves of old stock primarily and want you to visit their stores.

Cynic, me?

Back on 472kHz WSPR tonight?

In the last hour I reconnected my earth-electrode "antenna", so in theory I could be back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR this evening. It remains to be seen as I have to check wiring and match first. We have family staying this weekend, so next week is more realistic.

It takes something like this, which would have been so simple in the past, to make me realise how pathetic I have become. After just a few minutes I was exhausted. In the past this would have been a trivial task. It seems like 20-30 minutes and I am "done in" these days. For 3 years now I have felt sick, giddy and exhausted when doing anything physical or mental on my feet. Don't get old and don't have a stroke!

Windmill in sunshine - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago the windmill next door was wet with very dark clouds. Today, it is cold and bright. I even managed to cut our grass. Our sweet peas are still flowering despite some frosts. The wind looks to be from the east.