Optimism in the future of our hobby

Southgate News has a very positive video on the future of our hobby. This was a video made at a recent YOTA event.

The secret seems to be to embrace future technology.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/october/the-future-of-amateur-radio-video.htm#.WdyVOrpFzIU

OFCOM and Inmarsat

Today OFCOM announced it is granting Inmarsat a licence.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/87725B5F14AB5C622540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

Many times I have mentioned that we live right next door to a 200 year old, fully restored, 4 sail windmill. This is an unusual shot taken looking up at the sails. The sails turn when the local museum is open.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 10th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number remains zero. A=3 and K=0.

Any decent 10m conditions certainly won't be because of the "high" sunspot number, HI.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

630m WSPR RX overnight

Probably my most successful night this autumn with several stations that are new this season. I ran the PC on battery power to reduce the noise floor to about S7. G0MRF, G0NBD and DK2DB are all new this autumn I think.

Why did you vote for him? - NOT amateur radio

So President Trump in the USA is proving his credentials on the world stage leading with vision (NOT). Sorry, but my view is he is a menace.  He seems more interested in short-term votes than the future of the world, including the USA.  Dust bowl? I see no dust.

Others are free to disagree, but surely with all those recent strong hurricanes he must realise climate change is real and not a Chinese hoax? Sadly, many voted for him.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41556342 .

Before "Mr Anonymous" (name withheld) starts a rant, this is my view.  Others are free to agree or disagree, but please give us your name.

630m WSPR RX

This evening I QSYed to 630m WSPR RX earlier. Same stations (again) with best DX LA8AV (1035km) again.

With luck, and a steady hand, I should be back on 630m TX again quite soon, although I am not sure what "antenna" to try. See previous post.

"Get out that soldering iron"

After posting a photo on Facebook of some bread rolls I made yesterday (see photo) a friend has urged me, "to get out my soldering iron" again. Well, tomorrow or later this week, I might just try.

My 630m transverter needs some attention, so I might try this first. I am told there are more people listening than transmitting on 630m WSPR and I have not yet, this season, been on 630m TX. I might give 630m FT8 TX a go too.

See http://www.iamintothis.com/2012/02/friday-food-lust-ham-cheese-chive-bread.html .

Sunspots - Monday October 9th 2017

Solar flux is 75 and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=1.

10m (and 630m) FT8

This mode has still not been officially released yet, but it is already very popular. Last night I copied the tail end of what was probably the world's first 630m FT8 QSO between G6AVK and G3KEV. G3KEV was very strong.

Although I have only been on 10m for maybe 20 minutes, I have already spotted IZ8IEV (1646km) at -17dB S/N. Now he is +2dB S/N. Also spotted was a PD0. This latter one could be aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1335z: First Brazilian spotted on 10m FT8 today was PY5IP (9888km). Sunspot number is zero today.

UPDATE 1348z: Now VP8LP (12772km) in the Falkland Is spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1804z: No further South Americans today on 10m FT8, but still plenty of DX ...and the sunspot number is zero! This mode really is good.

630m WSPR RX overnight

11 unique spots yesterday evening and overnight, but only PA0ONO (287km) a new call.

Wicken Fen Windmill - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a 2.4 mile walk at Wicken Fen. For me, this is a long walk these days!   Sadly, I find long walks tiring these days.   Wicken feels wild.

This windmill used to pump water.

I was hoping to catch some very late swallows, but saw none. A few little egrets, but no swallows. Most swallows have now flown to warmer weather in Africa. An odd few may still be around, but most have more sense!

Spain - NOT amateur radio

As if Europe did not have enough problems!

What with BREXIT, Greece, the Euro and migrants, Europe is having a hard time.

Now Spain risks a break-up with Catalonia voting to break away. Whether this actually happens remains to be seen, but Spain is damaged. There are shades of General Franco surfacing again.

I just hope some sensible compromise is reached. If Catalonia goes, surely the Basques will seek to break away too? That would be the end of Spain as we know it.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Country_(greater_region)
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain

10m FT8 - best day this autumn?

Today looks like it will be the best day this autumn on 10m FT8. Already most of Europe copied. Also Armenia, Israel, Qatar, Mali, South Africa, Angola, Reunion, Mauritius and Brazil. And that is just up to now.

This evening many more South American countries are likely to be copied.

UPDATE 1436z: Now 4 South Americans spotted plus Canary Is on 10m FT8. I see there is an rc2 version now, which is up to 4dB more sensitive! I'll have to try this. At the moment I am still using rc1.

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

UPDATE 1645z:  Distance chart for 10m FT8 today, showing how many stations spotted at a given distance.

UPDATE 1940z: Well, there can be absolutely no doubt that today was the very best on 10m FT8 this autumn with loads of South Americans spotted this evening. Now QSYing to 630m WSPR.

10m F2?

At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX and there is some evidence of F2 propagation with spots of Israel and Armenia. Best DX so far this morning is EK6RSC (3586km).

UPDATE 1216:  Best DX spot on 10m FT8 today is FR5FC (9743km).

UPDATE 1245z: Now South Africa and South America being spotted here on 10m FT8.

Moorhens - NOT amateur radio

We spotted a couple of moorhens on the mill leat at Anglesey Abbey last week. These are quite common. We usually see some.

Sunspots - Sunday October 8th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=2.

630m WSPR RX last evening

Last night, I went QRT on 630m WSPR at bedtime. No greater DX than EA4GHB (1300km) spotted by the time I went QRT. 8 unique spots last evening on 630m WSPR. Average.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX (eventually)

After a couple of attempts to leave 10m FT8 (which has been brilliant this evening), I have now eventually QSYed to 630m WSPR. Nothing yet spotted on 630m WSPR RX tonight.

UPDATE 2008z:  DJ0ABR (983km) is the first MF station spotted this evening.

UPDATE 2120z: This evening Netherlands, Germany and Spain spotted so far with best DX EA4GHB (1300km).

10m FT8 or 630m WSPR?

Some time ago I was about to QSY to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. When I checked the 10m FT8 sub-band was filled with South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. When I checked a few moments ago there were still plenty of South Americans, so I stayed on 10m. Later, I will probably switch to 630m WSPR RX.

10m FT8 tonight

Well, after a very average day, 10m came into its own this evening with lots of South Americans spotted on 10m FT8. I assume this is TEP. Certainly 10m FT8 has been amazing lately.

Life "on the edge" - NOT amateur radio

Often, I find it hard to explain to others just how I feel inside having had a stroke 4 years ago. Outwardly I look well and "normal".

And yet I feel giddy when on my feet all the time and I get tired very quickly. The best way I can describe life is "on the edge". My voice is very poor and I find verbal communications hard these days.

In many ways I am lucky. Inside though I still feel well below "normal".

I am not looking for sympathy, but I do feel frustrated and quite understand how hard it must be for others with hidden disabilities. People may be suffering inside when you don't realise.

Autumn cyclamen - NOT amateur radio

Autumn cyclamen at Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. Photo taken by my wife. At every time of the year there is something to enjoy there. Dahlias are nearing their end and in a few months the first daffodils will be out.

Low cost miniature UHF handhelds

Slowly, but surely, the Chinese are conquering the world by stealth.

You can buy 2 very low cost miniature UHF transceivers from China for £22.82 with free airmail shipping to the UK. Two! These give you 400-470MHz coverage and a Band 2 FM receiver! How do they do it and make money? How can any western or Japanese supplier hope to compete? There are even lower cost transceivers if these are too expensive!

See https://www.gearbest.com/walkie-talkies/pp_775273.html?currency=GBP&vip=2674264&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKyzvdne1gIVa6btCh37pwkvEAEYASAEEgK2VPD_BwE

5GHz band

I gather there are low cost modules for this band that can be used in ATV and WBFM amateur links. I see from Southgate News that OFCOM wants to allocate part of this band to broadband fixed wireless access.

Although I am sure we could co-exist, is this another example of the "thin end of the wedge" in the UK?  Amateur radio has no power and no money, whereas there is money in broadband fixed wireless access. Sadly, it seems that money talks.

10m FT8 RX

Since shortly after breakfast time, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. Unlike yesterday, not a single spot so far. In fact I just checked all settings in case I had made a mistake - locked to internet time, right antenna, set to right band on rig and PC, correct mode - all look fine.

UPDATE 1150z: GM4FVM (428km) has now been spotted. Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1230z: Now spotted 6 countries on 10m FT8 with best DX SU7JG (3527km).

Yesterday evening on MF WSPR RX

Last night I did not stay on 630m WSPR RX overnight. Instead, I was just on last evening. Nonetheless, I spotted all the main players seen overnight previously. In all, not a bad session.

In all, 20 different stations spotted here on 630m WSPR RX over the last 2 weeks.

Sunspots - Saturday October 7th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 22.  A=9 and K=1.

Back to the Stone Age next? - NOT amateur radio

Well, I freely admit that I do not have all the facts, but to an outsider living in the UK Donald's latest policy on birth control seems another backward step in the "land of the free". What never fails to amaze me is just how many American's supported him in the last election: to my mind this is more disturbing than Trump.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41528526 .

Something for the weekend

As usual, MLS, a major UK dealer, has some special discounts. With the cashback the FT891 is £554.95. So, why is the IC7300 so expensive? Because we pay at these silly prices. Blame us.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-pc-302.php

Silver birch seeds - NOT amateur radio

We have a large silver birch tree in our garden. At this time of year we get seeds everywhere! Yesterday, I swept up 5 dustbins full of seeds.

Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

A lovely spot at Anglesey Abbey yesterday with Lode Water Mill at one end and this bridge at the other.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just one G spotted G00YQ (177km) in the Hull area. No "real" DX.

UPDATE 1010z: 10 unique spots so far, with best DX Israel at 3575km.

UPDATE 1522z: 7 South Americans on 10m FT8 RX so far. Again, the best DX is LU way down south. - LU8XAF (13413km).

UPDATE 1820z: Well, I was about to QSY to 630m WSPR when I noticed that there were loads of South Americas still coming through on 10m FT8. So, I'll QSY to 630m WSPR later.

Sunspots - Friday October 6th 2017

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number is 26.  A=7 and K=3.

A good MF night

Last night I was on 630m WSPR RX. After some mysteries with the charger on my PC, I was on through the night with the PC running on its internal battery. This lasted until after 0500z, so most of the session. I am now on 10m FT8 RX with the PC battery charging. Noise does not seem to be an issue on 10m.

In all. 13 unique MF spots with a couple of stations new for this season.

QSY to MF WSPR RX

At about 2025z I switched to 630m WSPR RX from 10m FT8 RX. The rig and PC will be monitoring through the night once again. If previous nights are typical, I can expect to spot the same stations again! Every morning, I hope to see some new ones, but I am always disappointed.

UPDATE 2105:  No spots yet received on MF. I suspected my rig and PC settings, but all looks fine. By now, I was expecting several Europeans to be coming through. Another check is in order. Or are more giving up on MF WSPR?

UPDATE 2128z: Well, I do not understand it. Turning off the PC's charger resulted in spots, yet I have been getting plenty of spots with this on on previous nights. The noise floor drops about 4 S points with the charger off and the noise floor did seem a bit higher than previous nights. It is almost as if there is a threshold above which decodes do not occur. Puzzling. Anyway, I am monitoring with the PC on its internal battery. This should be OK until breakfast or just before. I have seen one new one this season PA0MLC (394km).

UK pound against major currencies - NOT amateur radio

Today, the UK pound has lost value against all the major world currencies. This may be because of the Prime Minister's speech yesterday and the feeling that we are a bit rudderless. It looks like we are due for a leadership contest in the governing Conservative Party or even another General Election.

10m dead?

So far today, these are what I have spotted here on 10m FT8 with my indifferent antenna. Hardly a dead band! I think much is TEP.

UPDATE 2018z: LU2XP (13308km) was the best DX spotted here today on 10m FT8 along with several other South Americans.

Toadflax - NOT amateur radio

This was growing wild just a few metres from our bungalow. It must have flowered very recently as I'd not seen it before today.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10295/Linaria-vulgaris/Details