North Norfolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

Norfolk is one of the most rural and unspoilt counties in the UK. Today we drove up there and back 167 miles in all.

Our favourite place to eat in Norfolk is The Old Reading Room at Kelling, which is run by real locals. "We don't do change in Norfolk", one of them said. This is a place not "up itself". Food is low cost, simple and just great. Surrounded by second hand books in the longest sale in history,"all books half marked price". I think the signs are so old they have faded. 😊

UK Rallies this weekend

6 AUGUST 2017 : 28th KING'S LYNN ARC GREAT EASTERN RADIO RALLY
Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4DZ. Car parking on site is free and talk in will be provided on 145.550MHz. Doors open at 9am, with admission £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio pitches outside as well as tables inside. On site Catering will be available. Details from Ted, G4OZG on 01553 768 701, 0794 683 8656 or email g4ozg@raynet-uk.net www.klarc.org.uk

6 AUGUST 2017 : LORN RADIO RALLY
Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8QN Doors open at 10.30am and entry is £2. There will be trade stands (tables are free but a raffle prize appreciated) as well as a Bring & Buy. There will be a raffle drawn at 1.30pm. Catering is available on site. Details, by email, to lornradioclub@gmail.com

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

New Weather App (free) - NOT amateur radio

Those who know me know that I have little faith in the UK weather forecasts from the Met Office. Quite often the local forecast for now is wrong! There is a new (free) app that might be useful. My thanks go to Richard Fusniak for bringing this to my attention.

See http://www.anglia.ac.uk/news/app-can-help-banish-those-barbecue-blues .

Sunspots - Friday July 4th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number 13. A=12 and K=4.

6m MSK144 - what frequency to use?

The "old" 6m MSK144 frequency (still used by some) was 50.280MHz but in the latest WSJT v1.8 this is now 50.360MHz. I have been monitoring the "new" frequency since just before breakfast, but nothing spotted so far.

I am beginning to think many who I'd have copied on the "old" frequency have not yet moved. With the Perseid meteor shower I was hoping to catch some activity. Maybe I turned on too late. Even so I would have spotted a few stations by aircraft reflection by now.

UPDATE 1855z: Well, I was monitoring 50.360MHz MSK144 RX all day until just now and not a single spot all day.  I have now swapped to 6m FT8 RX and already spotted a station in Kent.

472kHz band

In the autumn and winter, this is one of my favourite bands.

For several seasons now I have been on 472kHz WSPR transceive with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Despite the very low ERP (around 5mW!) it has been spotted well over 1000km away several times. My transverter which appeared in QST magazine about a year ago produces 10-15W, so with a decent antenna it could do well.

As far as I know, the USA is still awaiting access to this band. This is a fascinating band, well suited to WSPR.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472khz_tvtr

6m FT8 - plenty of Es

All morning, I have been on 6m FT8 RX. There is plenty of activity and plenty of Es from all over Europe. The take-up of this new digital mode is nothing short of phenomenal. It seems that this is being adopted as the successor to JT65. It takes less bandwidth and it takes far less time to complete a QSO.

UPDATE 1550z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX, so far, is SV1DH (2432km). There was a lot of 6m Es earlier.

UPDATE 1920z: There has been no Es lately on 6m FT8. The last was EB1DWF (1215km) at 1741z. I am still on 6m FT8 RX.

OFCOM annual communications market report

OFCOM as released its annual report on the communications market.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/818C622B3FCCEACB2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

DXing with crystal sets

OK, a confession: it is a long time since I last listened with a shortwave crystal set.

One thing is certain: at the right time it is possible to hear true worldwide DX, and not via relays.

These days there are fewer English language SW broadcasters and it is much tougher. We are also in a period of declining solar activity, so fewer HF bands are open and these stay open for less time. Nonetheless, crystal sets are easy to make and require no power. DXing with crystal sets is a fun activity.

One of my many planned projects is a multi-band crystal set capable of covering from VLF to VHF. It may never get made, but this would be fun.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/crystalset .

Perseid Meteor Shower

See http://spaceweather.com/ which writes:

"This week, Earth is entering a stream of debris from huge comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Specks of dusty debris hitting the top of Earth's atmosphere at 110,000 mph are burning up in the night sky, producing a spray of shooting stars from the constellation Perseus."

Wicken windmill - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Wicken where this windmill is. There is another at Wicken Fen which used to pump water. I think this one ground corn for flour.

Sunspots - Thursday August 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot count is 12.  A=5 and K=1.

Return to 6m FT8

Actually, I was going to go on 6m MSK144 RX, but the frequencies recommended in WSJT-X v1.8 are not those I expected, so I have returned to FT8 instead. I see that M1BXF (14km) copied my brief CQ, but mostly I am RX only.

UPDATE 1925z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX this evening is G8AQP (123km). This is probably aircraft reflection, although it could be tropo.

UPDATE 2035z: G3YDY (65km) is the latest on 6m FT8 RX. I think I'm too late for Es.

UPDATE 2118z:  Although I have spotted no new stations in the last hour, I think I'll remain on 6m FT8 RX overnight.

Near Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This morning we enjoyed a walk near Wicken Fen. Fenland skies are large and, in their own way, beautiful.

The walk was longer than I thought. These days I find it harder to judge distances and speeds.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We got a surprise visit from some old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds some years ago. They just turned up in their camper van. They stayed for a cup of tea and came back for lunch the next day. The photo was taken as they left. It was good to see them.

Where I was born - NOT amateur radio

It is fun to say I was born in a grand stately home, but I was! After WW2 Flete House was a nursing home. In another age, I would have been born in a very modest place.

I am pretty sure I've posted this before, but it is fun to pretend I was born of nobility. 😏

20m FT8 RX overnight

Well, as an experiment I stayed on 20m FT8 overnight. There is a big take-up in the USA and Europe of this new mode. I lost count of the USA stations spotted using 20m FT8, but it was at least 21. In the other direction Kuwait and all over Europe were spotted. There is little doubt this will become the de facto digital mode for QSOs, especially on 20m.

It is a pity there is not a WSPR mode with a shorter period, maybe 30 secs. Several brief openings are missed on WSPR and WSPR is an ideal beaconing mode.

UPDATE 1708z: JA1BOQ (9484km) is currently the best DX on 20m FT8 RX.

2m UKAC activity contest last night

Last night was the August 2m UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB.  Best DX was 182km, although I was on for less than an hour with just 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna.

As before, if I had been able to stay on longer, I'd have worked several more squares and stations. Sadly, my stroke affected voice said, "stop".

Stations worked last night in the contest.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 73 today and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=1.

Visits - NOT amateur radio

Even without the regular trawling by our Eastern European "friends", visits to this blog are way up. All I hope is that the content is enjoyed. I enjoy doing it, as it does not involve my poor voice. Usually, the content is pretty mixed. Mostly, but not exclusively, it is amateur radio related.

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

So, the swifts have nearly gone until next year. I heard some screaming this morning and saw one this evening, but already they are moving south to warmer climes.

Most swifts have gone by mid-August although swallows are often seen much later.

With swifts you just realise they are no longer here. Sad, but they will be back. To me, the screaming swifts are a mark of an English summer.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/s/swift/ .

10m FT8

As of about 15 minutes ago, I am now on 10m FT8. After a brief period on TX, I am now on RX only. Sadly, no spots given or received so far.

UPDATE 1848z: Just M1CVJ (327km) spotted so far. This is too near for Es and too far for tropo, so could be aircraft reflection? This station is in North Devon in IO71 square.

QRT - storm risk

The latest weather forecast show the greatest storm risk here is now 1300-1400z, so I have decided to go QRT and disconnect everything including rigs, PC, antennas and mains plugs. I may be back on later after the storm risk has passed. Already, the wind is blowing. Bad weather is coming.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

UPDATE 1524z: So, the storms never came and there are no storms forecast. Shortly I shall reconnect things and start TXing again.

OFCOM monthly update - August 2017

Every month OFCOM produces an update.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/CF2593BB1808A8092540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Whistlers at VLF

As an undergraduate (a long time ago!) I did a project on whistlers, which are natural VLF noises produced as a result of VLF emissions being dispersed along magnetic field lines. I nearly did a PhD studying these. There are lots of different natural sounds at VLF. Whistlers are just one type. Tweeks are far more common. I recall going out to quiet parts of Wales to make recordings, although tweeks could even be heard in the centre of Liverpool after the manmade noises subsided late at night.

See https://soundcloud.com/nasa/whistler-waves2 . Eerie noises and not manmade.

Trump - NOT amateur radio

Apologies to all my readers in the USA who voted for him, but personally I find your current president sad. Maybe many in the world are misjudging him?

Allegedly, he has now sacked his latest media chief after a few days in the job.  How can we in the rest of the world take your president seriously? It is about time he acted as a president. This is my personal view and others may well disagree, which is your perfect right.

Sending tweets, claiming lots of the news is fake and sacking people after a few days in office does not sound like a leader of the western world. "You're fired" belongs in a TV show, not in the White House.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40782299 .

Sale again? - NOT amateur radio

Yet again, Alibris UK is having a sale. Nobody in their right mind would buy at the full price as nearly every week (every week?) they seem to have a sale.

Kentwell Hall - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we visited Kentwell Hall, which is a fine moated Tudor house just outside Long Melford, Suffolk. Years ago, my wife took kids there on school trips when she was a teacher.

20m FT8

At the moment I am on 20m RX. After a brief period in which I called CQ and was heard in GI, I have reverted to RX only for now. I have spotted several Europeans including European Russia.

20m FT8 early

UPDATE 0835z:  Lots of Europeans seem to be on 20m FT8. Later I'll try TX again on  20m FT8. I need to check the storm maps first and do some shopping as we have friends for lunch. They are very easy going. Once, they were coming for tea at 4.30pm. They arrived at 10.30pm! They never change and I like them as they are. The map shows the stations received this morning on 20m FT8.

UPDATE 1610z: As the storm was a non-event, I have reconnected everything on 20m FT8. I was TXing for a few minutes (calling CQ) and was copied in Southern Europe, but have now reverted to RX only on 20m. Plenty of Europeans spotted.

20m FT8 RX last few hours

UPDATE 2136z: For the last few hours I have been on 20m FT8 RX. Plenty of stations, even with my low, poor 20m antenna.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 1st 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=0.

Now QRT

About 15 minutes ago I went QRT on all bands and disconnected everything. Storms permitting, I plan to be on 20m FT8 around breakfast time tomorrow.

The Bull - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Kentwell Hall near Long Melford, Suffolk, UK. We ate at a pub called "The Bull" in Long Melford. The pub, which opened about 1450 (quite old!) was excellent is all respects. Good service, good food, good prices, friendly, old. Recommended. We had ham, egg, peas and chips for £5.99 each. Although we did not have one, desserts were just £2.99 each with a decent choice.

20m FT8 tomorrow?

Tomorrow there is some thunder expected here in the afternoon. I may try FT8 on 20m tomorrow in the morning. I may adopt the auto sequencing system to see how this works. I can probably only manage a few hours before I have to disconnect everything to avoid the storm risk.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en .

Lack of personal touch - NOT amateur radio

Recently I have been playing ping pong with emails to and from my energy supplier. I keep saying "no reply wanted or expected" only to get yet another reply! Judging by the names, this comes from an automated call centre in India. Much of the letter appears to be computer generated, with maybe a small bit of human intervention, complete with spelling mistakes. I have nothing against call centres in India and wish these good people all the best.

What I really dislike is the lack of real human touch. Years ago you could ring your local bank. Now you get a call centre thousands of miles away and you are just a sort code and account number: they really don't know or care who you are.

Grumpy old man, me? Yes.

Regen 40m and 80m RX

A nice simple RX built by NG9D is demonstrated on YouTube.

10m WSPR

So far, 2 unique spots this morning early. It is now only 0825z, so this is probably good this early. Both look like Es (GMs).

UPDATE 1935z:  6 unique spots of my little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. Not as good as yesterday.

6m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX. 5 stations copied this morning so far: all Gs by tropo or aircraft reflections probably. The 15 second TX period must help on paths that open only briefly.

I have a question. With FT8, does the auto QSO automatically sequence through the whole QSO or just auto respond to the first CQ answer received and then leave the rest to the operator?

UPDATE 1820z: Best DX on 6m FT8 RX today is K7BV (6360km) in FM04 square (N.Carolina) at 1653z at -15dB S/N. Judging by where he was being spotted, I am pretty sure this is genuine too. This seems a great mode.

Sunspots - Monday July 31st 2017

Solar flux remains at 69 (poor) and the sunspot number 11. A=4 and K=1.

6m FT8

In the end I decided to download the beta version of WSJT-x V1.8 which includes FT8. I have taken a look on 50.313MHz and copied a few stations by Es and a G in IO91 calling CQ. Although I called him, he did not respond. There is always tomorrow.

UPDATE 2110z: G4NBS (14km) was my first FT8 QSO on 6m. Well on any band!  I am not sure the PSK Reporter Map upload is working properly. Several stations have been reported, but none appear to show.

UPDATE 2118z: Well it helps if you look on the right band! Doh! All is well.

Hedge trimming - NOT amateur radio

Our hedge in the front grows fast. I cut it about 2 months ago and it has grown about 6 inches since then. So, today it got a haircut! The worst part is picking up the leaves afterwards.