Market fruit and veg - NOT amateur radio

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Market Day and lots of fresh fruit and veg on sale. Excellent. Bury is an "old fashioned" sort of place, but excellent for shopping. Great market still with some great bargains e.g. 3 magazines for £2.50 on one stall and they are only a few weeks old too.

Yesterday on 6m JT65

Yesterday was a good day on 6m JT65.

Stations were spotted in North America, South America and the Caribbean. I have dismissed the Indonesian spot as a pirate unless I am proved wrong.

At the moment, I am on 6m JT65 in beacon mode with 1W ERP. There is plentiful Es on 6m with spots (RX and TX) all across Europe.

UPDATE 1315z: Now RX only on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1750z: Enabled 6m JT65 TX a few minutes ago.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday June 21st 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 34. A=3 and K=1. Although there is 10m and 6m Es, it is some while since I noted 10m F2 here, although my 10m antenna is not great.

ICOM and Yaesu UK Prices

The IC7300 from ICOM retails at just under £1200 in the UK. The Yaesu FT891 retails for about half this at just under £600. OK, I know they are different radios, but both are 100W HF and 6m radios and the RX of the IC7300 has a much simpler SDR architecture.

Although I accept I may be wrong, these are my conclusions:

• The IC7300 sells at a price people are prepared to pay and dealers are keeping the price as high they dare for as long as they can. It almost looks like the price is fixed between dealers. I am not saying it is, but it looks like this. Normally by now one has started to drop price, but this has not happened. The true price should be far less.
• Yaesu sells the FT891 at just under £600 to tempt buyers. They may be trying to buy market share. I note a new model Yaesu 2m/70cm handi sells for £129.

Looking at this, I'd guess that ICOM will be around for a while. Yaesu may decide this is not a market to remain in for too much longer? As I said, I could be totally wrong. Personally I hope both stay in the amateur market for a long time.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday June 20th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is 26. A=5 and K=1.

This year has flown by! It is hard to believe we are so close to the longest day and soon nights will start to lengthen.

Lots of Es about on 10m and 6m.

10m WSPR TX

As usual, I am active on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). Lots of Es spots. 30 unique spots in the last 12 hours.

6m JT65 real DX - real and fictional?

Just spotted K1TOL (5082km) in Maine, USA on 6m JT65.  I am sure this is true having worked this well equipped station some years ago on 6m CW.

Also, I spotted (supposedly) yet another Indonesian on 6m JT65. I have lost count of the number of Indonesians on 6m JT65. Unless proved otherwise, I think these are false decodes or pirates.

UPDATE 1600z: WP2B (6804km) in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean was spotted earlier. Judging by others who also spotted him, I think he is genuine.

UPDATE 2055z: PV8DX (7830km) in northern Brazil is the latest 6m JT65 DX earlier this evening.

10m WSPR TX

As the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was looking lonely, I decided to turn it on earlier this afternoon. So far, Es spots in northern Spain and Austria on 10m WSPR.

Another hot day ahead - NOT amateur radio

This is a surprise! For a second day in a row, we had breakfast in the garden. It is already hot. For us in the UK this is exceptional. Even in the shade it was warm even at 8.30am. My wife as just been for a walk and says it is very hot.

Just 6m JT65 today

At the moment, 10m WSPR is proving too easy! Most days, my 500mW is spotted across Europe, so today I am just on 6m JT65 transceive.

Sunspots and 10m - Monday June 19th 2017

Solar flux is 74 and sunspot number 27. A=10 and K=2. There is already Es about.

QRP and QRP Club

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (June, 18, 2017)
First  of  all  I  thank  all  Reporters  (Journalists) for comments,
pictures  and reports. Personally thanks my new reporters Peter G3JFS
and  Wim  PA0WDW, also Victor RU3NJC reported from hospital (wish you
fast recovery, Victor)!
Visitors of the week: UR7VT, US5ERQ, DK1HW, RV3GM, ON6WJ, UF6V/UA1CEX,
UR5FA,  G3XJS,  TF/RA1M, RU3NJC, 4X1KS, OH6NPV, UR0ET, G4HOM, SP9NLI,
R4NX,  PA0WDW,  OH6NW,  SV2BBK, UA1CEG, UR5EFD, EA2EFI, ON6KZ, G3JFS,
DL7MA, RX3PR/p, LA8BCA/p
Congrats!
RX3PR and LA8BCA became Frequenters (regular visitors)
New visitors - 4X1KS, SP9NLI, OH6NW - you are welcome!
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 web page.
Some comments and picture...
see full version of the WQR Report with comments and pictures -
http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

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.

Geostationary amateur satellites

We are used to geostationary satellites which carry TV signals from a fixed point: aim the dish in the right place in the sky and that is it. By contrast, amateur satellites are in a low and moving orbit, so they only stay in range for a short time and they have to be tracked in the sky.

All this could change next year when 2 satellites (containing amateur radio transponders) are placed in geosynchronous orbits. Aim your antennas once and fix them in place. A lot can go wrong - date slippage, failure on launch, failure to reach the right place in space, equipment failure etc. If these all go to plan, amateur radio could be quite different in a few years' time.

As we are approaching a period of very poor HF conditions, these satellites could be a godsend. One is aimed to give good coverage over the Americas. The other covers Europe, Middle East and Africa mainly.

Old FT817

Looking through some old photo albums, I spotted me with an FT817 in the garden dated 2001. This means I first bought the FT817 at least 16 years ago. I was probably working OX (Greenland) at the time, with 2.5W and a telescopic whip on SSB. It seems amazing that it has been around all that time with effectively no competition.

Another thing that struck me was how young and thin we looked back then!

10m WSPR

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) with my WSPR beacon. Plenty of Es spots from across Europe today.

UPDATE 1314z: 20 unique spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1640z: 59 unique spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR in the last day (34 in last 12 hours).

UPDATE 2008z: 52 unique 10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon in last 12 hours - a good day. Going QRT shortly on 10m.

House martins (birds) - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I saw my first house martins this year in the UK. This is much later than usual, so I wonder if numbers are down? These were in a nearby village. I've seen none in our village this year.

There seem to be plenty of swifts  - there were about 20 feeding overhead last evening - but house martins and swallows seem to be fewer this year. This may be a localised thing, but I notice numbers seem down.

Anyone know the facts?

Hot and sunny - NOT amateur radio

Something unusual has appeared in the UK skies. I think it is called "the sun". 😊

Actually it has been hot now for several days. Today we even had breakfast in the garden. For us in the UK this is a rare treat. Summer time, the temperature is often pleasantly warm at 18-22 deg C, but it has been HOT in recent days. Even sitting in the shade at breakfast felt warm and comfortable.

This robin (see photo) preferred the fat balls to the mealworms (eventually).

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday June 18th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 28. A=15 and K=2. There is Es about on both 10m and 6m, but I have see no evidence here of F layer propagation on 10m for several days.

6m JT65

My 1W ERP 6m JT65 has been widely spotted today throughout Europe. At the moment, I am RX only on 6m.  Some stations are working the Far East. I am unsure of the propagation, but this looks different from the breakfast paths to Japan.

UPDATE 1315z: Best DX today on 6mJT65 RX is VR2XMT (9537km) in Hong Kong. He is being widely spotted around the globe, so I think this is genuine.

UPDATE 2015z: Absolutely loads of 6m JT65 spots given and received today. Best DX on TX was Iceland and the Canaries. Think I'll stay on longer, hoping for some real DX reports!

10m WSPR

Today 10m WSPR is nothing like yesterday. Although I have been spotted in Germany and by a local, 10m is nowhere near as good as Friday here. There is Es, but not like yesterday.

Another Indonesian on 6m JT65?

Today, out of the blue, I (supposedly) spotted 7A4TOI (13582km) in Indonesia at 1145z on 6m JT65. Although this could be genuine, I am pretty sure this station is a pirate somewhere in Europe. It would be great if this was a true 6m spot.

UPDATE 1933z: The Caribbean and South America now being spotted on 6m JT65. I think these are genuine!

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 17th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 28. A=24 and K=4. 10m? Maybe Es but F layer doubtful, especially with K=4.

UPDATE 0915z: No sign of Es on 10m or 6m here yet.

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday I had spotted lots of Japanese stations by now on 6m JT65. Today my only spots so far on 6m JT65 have been G stations. No Es yet on the band here.

UPDATE 1330z: Some Es now on 6m JT65.

Long long 6m JT65 paths - what mode?

The very long paths on 6m JT65 are intriguing me. The common wisdom is these are "multi-hop sporadic E". Sorry, but I just don't believe it.

Some paths may be multi-hop Es sometimes (e.g. to Israel) but I think we are seeing some other sort of E layer propagation, maybe some sort of chordal hop? The Far East spots may be due to mesospheric cloud ionisation?

Some of the very long 6m paths may be pirates, but the Japanese spots are genuine and have occurred several times already in the last few weeks.

I am no propagation expert, but would love to hear from experts who might really know what is going on.

We are in 2017 and there are still unsolved mysteries.

What amazes me is there appears to be no-one trying to span Europe to Japan on higher VHF bands or even microwaves. This path opens every year at this time on 6m and should be possible at higher frequencies especially with big antennas and high power such as stations equipped for 23cm EME. Suitably equipped stations know where to beam, know when, know the best times. So? If you are suitably equipped set up some skeds!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent  .

International QRP Day - June 17th

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

just remind in June 17 is International QRP Day. Keep activity on QRP
freq's  and  don't  forget about QRP Rendez-Vous on 9.00 UTC at 14060
kHz.

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.

10m WSPR

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) as well as 6m JT65 transceive (1W ERP).

Sunspots and 10m - Friday June 16th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today. Sunspot number is 28 today. A=4 and K=2. 10m? Well there is plenty of Es on 10m and 6m, but no F layer propagation noted here.

Rallies this weekend

17 JUNE 2017 : SOUTH LANCS ARC SUMMER RALLY
Bickershaw Village Community Club, Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, Wigan WN2 5TE There is car parking on site at this venue. Doors open 9am for the public and 7.30am for traders. Entry is £2.50. There are a limited number of pitches available. There will be a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site. To book call Jason, G0IZR on 01942 735 828.

18 JUNE 2017 : 30th NEWBURY RADIO RALLY
Newbury Showground, next to Jcn 13 of M4, Berkshire. There is free parking on site and entry is £2.50 or £12.30 for those in the car boot area. There will be a display area of an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and societies. There is on site catering and disabled facilities. Open to sellers at 8am for set up and to the public from 9am. Advance bookings (with discount) can be made via www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp

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

13 Japanese stations spotted today on 6m JT65

This is the best day so far this season on 6m JT65 with 13 (thirteen) different Japanese stations spotted around breakfast time today. Interesting that none at all was from Tokyo or its suburbs. Sadly, no spots of me from Japan.

I am amazed how easily I am spotting these with my poor setup here.

At the moment, I am still on 6m JT65 in beacon mode sending "B G3XBM JO02" near the top of the JT65 sub-section.

UPDATE 0932z: as well as all the Japanese spots on 6m JT65 I notice 7A7YYZ (13582km) was spotted early on 6m JT65. If genuine, this is long way on a VHF band. I have spotted different Indonesians several times, and find it hard to think they are all pirates. There were so many Japanese that I am sure Far East 6m propagation is genuine.

Gilbert and Sullivan - NOT amateur radio

Every year, about this time, we attend a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan (Victorian comic opera) in a barn in a local village. This is an amateur cast but the performance is always first class. This year they did "Princess Ida", a work with which I was not familiar.

Sibling reunion - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have hosted our annual "sibling reunion" in which my wife's brothers and their wives join us. Each year, we take it in turns to act as hosts. The photo shows us in our garden earlier.

Top Band Loft Antenna

Some years ago, at the old QTH, I was looking for an easy 160m antenna, mainly for local use and WSPR. This antenna was the result. It exceeded all expectations.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/160m_loft_ant

4el 70cm yagi

Some years ago I hastily made this small yagi to use portable on 70cms. The pole is just cheap PVC pipe and the yagi made from old coat hangers. It worked well and I still have it, although it has not been used for some time.yagi,70cm

10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 transceive

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX only (500mW) and 6m JT65 (1W ERP) transceive. Already there is good European Es on both bands.

UPDATE 1305z: Yet again 4X1RF (3518km) has spotted me on 6m JT65. He has done so for many seasons now.

UPDATE 1518z: I spotted a station in Kuwait earlier on 6m JT65 - 9K2GS (4641km) and supposedly S65GBD (10734km) in Singapore. I have grave doubts about this last one.

UPDATE 1630z: First Caribbean station spotted on 6m JT65 this season. WP4JCF (6830km) in Puerto Rico copied.

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday June 15th 2017

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1. 10m? Lots of Es around already.

Greenland on 6m JT65

OX3LX (2570km) copied me on 6m JT65 earlier this evening. As far as I remember this is the first tine I have reached Greenland on 6m.

I remember working Greenland from the garden with 2.5W SSB and a whip antenna on 10m some years ago. I am pretty sure both these were Es.

UPDATE 0754 June 15th 2017: He spotted me again late yesterday.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday June 14th 2017

Solar flux is 73 and the sunspot number 11. A=8 and K=1.

70cm UKAC missed

This RSGB 70cm activity contest was last night, but I had to give it a miss as we had visitors. Usually my far from ideal antenna and 5W SSB reaches the Midlands (over 100km). I use a 2m halo fed with lossy coax on 70cm. I am amazed how well this works on 70cm. Match is good, but I have no idea of the radiation pattern.

6m JT65 super DX?

Once again, I spotted a station in Indonesia on 6m JT65. 7A5FHZ (11934km) was spotted very early. I am suspicious as this is a very long way on 6m and the signal was very strong. There were quite a few Es spots around Europe.

UPDATE 1700z: The same Indonesian station was spotted at lunchtime - suspicious? I am highly doubtful.

Old charabang - NOT amateur radio

We had some visitors who arrived at our local museum in this old coach. This is it parked outside the windmill.

The word charabanc is from French 'char-bancs', meaning a carriage with benches, so I read.

Our home is on the left in the picture.