Catalans declare independence from Spain - NOT amateur radio

Although I have not yet checked the Euro, the declaration of independence from Spain of Catalonia is likely to spark a crisis. Catalonia now, Basques later?

Spain is in deep trouble.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116 .

FT8 - the "new" digital mode?

So far, I have used FT8 on 630m, 10m and 6m. It is very quickly becoming the de facto digital mode allowing quick exchanges of basic QSO data whilst still using very little spectrum. It is not really a mode for chatting.  It seems to have transformed 10m. Spots on 10m have amazed me.

Complete QSOs can be completed in a very short time. As far as I know, unless things have changed in the last few days, it is still a "release candidate" rather than a formal release. At the moment I am still using rc2 although rc3 is available.

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

Proper food (pasties) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Norwich with our son and grandson. We went by train. I was pleased to see real food (pasties) on sale in the station!

6m FT8 RX

After a period on 10m FT8, I have switched to 6m FT8 for a change this morning. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1312z: Best DX today on 6m FT8 is EA2DLX (1025km) in northern Spain.

Sunspots - Friday October 27th 2017

Solar flux is 76 today. Sunspot number is 23. A=20 and K=1.

Sunspots - Thursday October 26th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 24. A=24 and K=4.

10m FT8 RX - Thursday, October 26th 2017

Well, there is little doubt that FT8 has transformed 10m. Looking at the map of spots for today on 10m, you could be excused for thinking this was sunspot maximum rather than way on the downward slope to the next minimum. Best DX today was VK8NSB (13800km) in Northern Territory, Australia.

OFCOM and spectrum at 3.6GHz

OFCOM has issued a statement about 3.6GHz spectrum.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/C2AD8437ED18A39A2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Trinity College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Living very close to Cambridge, it is very easy to take some wonderful places for granted. This is a picture of the entrance to Trinity College. There is a proctor in the photo complete with bowler hat (bottom left in the shadows). As a local we get free entry into the colleges, which some cross the world to see. With bus passes these are totally free. What a privilege.

630m transformer

When I moved to the "new" QTH 4 years ago I found I needed a step-up transformer to match my 630m transverter to the earth-electrode "antenna". For this I used my traditional method - try it and see what works.

An auto-transformer was wound on a 3C90 42mm toroid core (at least I think that is what it was). It worked and seems to give a decent match.

Of late, I have used the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna as a Marconi, tuned against ground with a ferrite rod ATU. So far, best DX is Norway (769km) with 31 unique spots of my 10mW ERP.

10m FT8

Amazing again!  Already loads of Europeans copied and 5 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX when the sunspot count is low. FT8 - pure magic! This proves it is often a lack of activity rather than conditions on 10m. With FT8 all users are in a narrow slot, which helps.

UPDATE 1746z: 65 countries spotted in the last week on 10m FT8. No North Americans today so far.

10m FT8 RX today - dead?

UPDATE 2138z:  I've been on 630m WSPR for some hours now. When I left 10m FT8, there were still loads of South Americans coming through. And to think 10m is meant to be "dead".

Sunspots - Wednesday October 25th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 23. A=18 and K=4.

Late night on 10m FT8 RX

For a change, I decided not to switch to 630m WSPR, but stick instead on 10m FT8 RX. I shall be on overnight, so that I am on very early in the morning. XE1XJB (8919km) in Mexico was spotted quite late.

OFCOM and mobile radio repeaters

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/76988C81CE021D152540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

10m FT8

So far today only 3 continents on 10m FT8. Best 10m FT8 DX, so far, is F5MYK/MM (9767km) near Mauritius.

UPDATE 1712z: With 16 unique stations spotted in North America today and loads in South America, today is again a great day on 10m FT8, proving that a lack of activity on 10m is often the problem rather than poor conditions.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 24th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 23. A=6 and K=2.

Overnight on 630m WSPR

In the last day my 10mW ERP was spotted by 12 unique stations and I spotted 12 unique stations.  In all, 31 unique stations have spotted my QRPP over the last two weeks.

CQWW SSB Contest

A reminder that the BIG one is next weekend. Before my stroke I used to fill pages of my logbooks with 10m SSB contest exchanges. Nowadays my voice is not too good, so I tend to be on far less. This is a good chance to work new countries. I have yet to send in an entry!

Best days for QRP tends to be Sunday as most "big guns" have worked lots by then and are scraping around for points.

See https://www.cqww.com/

630m WSPR transceive

Currently, I am on 630m WSPR transceive. I shall be on this evening and overnight with 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 1846z:  A new one tonight: M0NKA (154km) in IO92ak spotted my QRPP signal.

SAQ VLF transmission tomorrow?

It looks like there is a VLF CW transmission on 17.2kHz tomorrow.

See http://alexander.n.se/seek-you-for-peace/?lang=en

OFCOM and licence exempt wideband devices

OFCOM and licence exempt shot range wideband devices:

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/1EF53AF183CB51C82540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Overnight on 630m WSPR transceive

Overnight I was again on 630m (10mW ERP, 20%). In all, I was spotted by 11 unique stations and I spotted 15 uniques with IW4DXW (1190km) my best DX and G3KEV the strongest.

Sunspots - Monday October 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 76 and sunspot number 13. A=6 and K=2.

10m FT8 RX - Monday Oct 23rd 2017

I have been on 10m FT8 RX most of the morning and, yet again, it is good with best DX being VK9VKL (11970km) on Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Other spots this morning include all over Europe and 3B8CW (9751km) on Mauritius. I expect we will see South Africa and South America later.

UPDATE 1044z: ZS2ZA (9895km) now being spotted here. FT8 really is magic.

UPDATE 1625z: Yet again, 6 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today, with hardly any sunspots.

UPDATE 1658z: About 5 minutes ago, I went QRT on 10m. Now I am on 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20% TX).

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, at the moment, amateur radio is having to take a back seat as we have 3 (of our 4) grandchildren staying together with one of our sons. We love having them, but these days I get tired.

10m conditions - don't believe what others say!

Someone once said, "10m is absolutely dead!", to which I reply, "really?" These were the stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 today. The sunspot count is 11. Previous days have been even better and the sunspot number zero. Never give up on 10m. My recommendation is try FT8 instead.

UPDATE 2046z:  Quite a few hours ago I switched to 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20% TX) but after another very successful day on 10m FT8 RX.  Another day with 6 continents spotted including loads of South Americas, but just one 1 North American. I  am convinced FT8 is doing great things: many stations are active in a small window, so chances of being spotted go up.

Mugabe loses WHO role - NOT amateur radio

Unsurprisingly, there was widespread condemnation of the World Health Organisation making Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe their goodwill ambassador. This appointment has now been revoked.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41713919 .

Terahertz bands

Southgate News reports on a SARL report about terahertz amateur radio. Whilst a dedicated bunch have explored optical and infra-red frequencies few have tried the bands above 100GHz. I guess the reason is gear and test-gear are difficult. At optical frequencies, I found gear and test-gear easy. Apparently terahertz spectrum is being allocated at the 2019 WRC. This was news to me.

My apologies for referring to tetrahertz frequencies earlier. Now corrected. Shades of my work life long ago!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/october/the-terahertz-spectrum.htm#.Wex7krpFzIU .

10m FT8 (late!)

Rather later than usual, I have switched to 10m FT8 RX. My first impression is that there is a lot of activity on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1036z: Lots of activity again on 10m FT8. Best DX so far on 10m FT8 RX is YB0MWM (11711km) in Western Java, Indonesia.

UPDATE 1100z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX spotted now VK9VKL (11970km) on Christmas Island.

UPDATE 1508z: Several stations in South Africa and South America and one in Canada this afternoon. Best DX spotted her this afternoon on 10m FT8 is LU3HTS (11258km) to the west of Cordoba.

Devon - NOT amateur radio

Whilst looking through some old photos, I cam across this one of South Devon where I was born and brought up. God's own country!

630m WSPR overnight

Last night I was on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). I was spotted by 12 unique stations with best DX a spot by LA3EQ (769km) and I spotted 13 unique stations.

Sunspots - Sunday October 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 78 and there are sunspots! Sunspot number is 11. A=10 and K=3.

FCC and outmoded regulations

Southgate News reports that the FCC is continuing with the removal of outmoded regulations.

"eliminating unnecessary rule provisions, and making the agency as efficient and effective as possible"

Well, that should be pretty easy.

Does this mean they might be quicker in future releasing LF and MF amateur bands? You have to admit that they are definitely not fast! They are the laughing stock of the rest of the world.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/october/fcc-scraps-telegraph-regulations.htm#.WeuujbpFzIU

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

For the next few days we have 3 of our 4 grandchildren staying with us. The picture shows them having tea together in our kitchen.  The wine is not theirs!

Now on 630m WSPR

For the last 20 minutes or so, I have been on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%)   Quite decent conditions.

Driving and mobile phones - NOT amateur radio

Whilst driving along yesterday I narrowly missed being hit by a car driven by a young girl who seemed to be texting.

My son's 28 year old brother-in-law was struck by a car several weeks ago. He has a brain injury, many broken bones and is still unconscious in an Australian hospital. He is fighting for his life. At the time he was a pedestrian crossing on green. The driver (busy on her phone I think) went through a red light and just ploughed him down. His family, his girlfriend and her will be affected for life.

So, PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE AWAY WHEN DRIVING. People can wait. Concentrate on driving!!

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight, my 10mW ERP was copied by 8 unique stations. In turn, I copied 9 unique 630m WSPR stations here with best DX DH5RAE (995km). No LAs last night sadly.

10m FT8 RX

Well I thought yesterday was good on 10m FT8 RX, but today has started even better. Already, Indonesia, Namibia, Thailand and lots besides copied. Amazing. Again the sunspot number is zero.

UPDATE 0948z:  Best 10m FT8 RX DX today is VK6HV (13600km) in Australia. No sunspots!

UPDATE 1152z: Yes today 10m FT8 is even better than yesterday! PV8DC (7830km) in the north of Brazil was spotted at 1132z.

Sunspots - Saturday October 21st 2017

Solar flux is 75 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=8 and K=2.

630m this evening

After a great day on 10m FT8 RX, I returned to 630m WSPR transceive earlier this evening.

As on previous nights more people are spotting me than I am spotting. Either this tells me my RX is deaf (true) or my TX ERP is competing with many others transmitting on 630m WSPR.

Sadly, it is the former as I know my FT817 RX is deaf on 630m and I could do more to reduce the noise floor. Signals need to be quite reasonable to "beat" my noise floor. Last year the noise floor was much lower - I was lucky.