8 Dec 2017

10m FT8 RX

Yesterday, I stopped on 630m all day. Today, for the daytime, I am again on 10m FT8 RX. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1126z: Still no 10m FT8 spots here today.

UPDATE 1745z: IZ2DMV (982km) in N.Italy spotted as well as one G.

Sunspots - Friday December 8th 2017

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 11. A=10 and K=2.

630m WSPR continues to amaze me

Last night, I was again on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Yet again LA2XPA/2 (1310km) copied my signal twice. One report was -19dB S/N. Given a quiet noise floor this implies he could have copied me even if I was running less than 1mW ERP. And all this with my totally poor antenna!

On RX, all over western Europe copied again, including 2 EAs.

If you think 630m is hard, please, think again.

7 Dec 2017

Visit by old work colleague

Today an old work colleague called in. He has been retired for about a year now.  It was good to see him. I think the last time we met was just around the time he retired. He was a very good "natural" engineer. I am sure he is greatly missed.

He is very much into tracking amateur balloons.

MSF closedown

This appeared on the RSGB LF reflector today:

"The MSF 60 kHz time and frequency signal broadcast from Anthorn
Radio Station will be shut down on Thursday 14 December from 10:00 to 14:00 UTC."

Coffee - NOT amateur radio

If time permits, I buy a coffee and bread roll at Pret a Manger in Cambridge on the way to my weekly lectures on Samuel Pepys. At £1.59 total this is excellent value.

I hate having to queue for coffee as it is being prepared. If you want this fine, but Pret always has low cost filter coffee on tap. The latter is fine for me.

Southgate News 10m Report

This confuses me.

Many of the reporters are in W, PY, VK etc so I have no idea from this report what is being worked or heard from the UK. As a simple list of DX on the band it is meaningless.

If this was a list of what was being heard or worked from the UK, it would be far more useful. I know my 10m setup is not the best, but reading this report, you might think there is more there than in reality. Certainly on 10m FT8 lately it has been dire. Most days I monitor 10m.

See http://southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2017/december/dec-07.htm#.Wikilkx2v4g

OFCOM and fixed wireless spectrum

OFCOM today published a paper following its consultation.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/108594/Fixed-Wireless-Spectrum-Strategy.pdf

630m WSPR last night and this morning

At the moment, I am still on 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%). Last night I was spotted by 14 unique stations using my "compromise" vertical with LA2XPA/2 (1310km) as the best DX and I copied 14 uniques.

UPDATE 1352z: I decided to stay on 630m WSPR all day. At times, G0VQH has been getting me very strongly.

Sunspots - Thursday December 7th 2017

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 13.  A=16 and K=3.

6 Dec 2017

472kHz WSPR last night

EA5DOM (1525km) was spotted 18 times last night using the earth-electrode antenna, even though the direction was not optimised. On TX, with less than 10mW ERP WSPR. I was spotted by 9 unique stations (all G). Overall, I think the compromise vertical is slightly better than the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz, although the earth-electrode "antenna" is surprisingly effective.

On 472kHz it was hard to see a noise peak around breakfast time with the earth-electrode "antenna". I guess it is back to the compromise vertical on 472kHz tonight to see if this is the same. My theory is this is an E-field antenna, whereas the earth-electrode "antenna" is more like an H-field antenna.

A few years ago the external noise on 472kHz was very low (less than S2). Nowadays it is S7.

Car Tax - NOT amateur radio

Through the post today I received a car-tax reminder. I went online and completed the form. It was very easy. As my car is a recent clean diesel, 12 months cost me nothing! They even send you an email to confirm you've paid - in my case nothing at all!

The fuel averages 60 miles per gallon, even motoring locally. Diesels get a bad press, but recent ones are pretty good. These days I guess we do less than 8000 miles a year- probably 5000 miles a year?

10m FT8 RX

Although I have been active since breakfast, nothing yet spotted on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1410z: 4 stations in 3 EU countries spotted so far on 10m FT8 today. Best DX is 9A7JCY (1426km).

UPDATE 1615z: No further 10m spots, so time to QSY to 630m WSPR.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 6th 2017

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number remains zero. A=29 and K=4.

5 Dec 2017

472kHz WSPR

This evening and overnight I am on 472kHz WSPR using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground to see how it compares with the compromise Marconi. The latter is very poor being just the coax outer to my 2m big-wheel. It is only 4m at the highest point and much if the run is just 0.5m above ground.

OFCOM monthly report

Every month, OFCOM do a monthly report. This is December's.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/BAC33FFB2B8DFF022540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

2m activity contest this evening

The monthly 2m UKAC was this evening. 12 contacts made in 45 minutes before my voice screamed stop! If I was able to stay on longer I am sure my 5W to my  big-wheel omni would have allowed me to work a lot more. In all, good fun.

ARRL 10m Contest - this weekend

Southgate News reminds us that the ARRL 10m contest is this weekend. With declining solar conditions, 10m is much harder than a few years ago. It's funny how dead bands come to life in a contest!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/the-arrl-10-metre-contest.htm#.WiaB8kx2v4g .

Sunspots - Tuesday December 5th 2017

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=11 and K=3.

136kHz noise

As an experiment I used my earth-electrode "antenna" on 136kHz RX last night. My attempts were hindered by very few active stations within range until 2E0ILY (209km) came on. There was a strong station on OPERA early, but I was unable to ID this station as I caught it way through the transmission. I suspect this was G3XDY.

One interesting thing was the noise floor and S/N of 2E0ILY through until now. If anything he was stronger on the earth-electrode "antenna". Noise seemed to peak around breakfast time, perhaps as locals turned on their appliances before setting off to work?

Nothing was IDed on OPERA on 136kHz last night.

I suppose tonight I shall try 472kHz WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

4 Dec 2017

Seaside Winter - NOT amateur radio

This picture was taken a few years ago and shows where I came from in Devon. We have proof that our ancestors lived hereabouts in the 1400s.

Overnight on 630m WSPR

My 10mW ERP was spotted by 12 unique stations with GM0UDL (659km) my best DX. I spotted  15 uniques with best DX EA5DOM (1525km).

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been monitoring 10m FT8 RX, but only one station copied today M0XRD (91km).  I have the feeling this is going to be a very quiet day.

Sunspots - Monday December 4th 2017

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=2 and K=2.

3 Dec 2017

Advent Candles - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon, after a break of several years, we attended a candlelit Advent Carol Service in the next village. The village has 2 churches in the same churchyard.

The service was spread over both churches. One was warm. The second was freezing!

10m FT8 RX

A few minutes ago, I switched to 10m FT8 RX for the day. Nothing spotted as yet.

UPDATE 1905z: No 10m FT8 RX spots all day.

136kHz WSPR RX overnight

Last night, just 2E0ILY (209km) spotted on 136kHz WSPR. His signal is pretty consistent at -17 to -21dB S/N using my poor antenna and deaf receiver.

Sunspots - Sunday December 3rd 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number again zero. A=4 and K=0.

2 Dec 2017

136kHz WSPR RX

As it is now dark, I have decided to QSY to 136kHz (USB dial) WSPR RX. As you know, my antenna is poor and my RX deaf on 136kHz and I am unable to TX on that band currently.

UPDATE 2140z: There is only a single station shown active in Europe on 136kHz WSPR TX this evening, so my chances of spotting anyone are low. At the moment no spots. I shall be on RX overnight. You never know!

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

The windmill right next door has appeared on this blog several times.

It is about 200 years old, fully restored and grinds corn occasionally. We see this every day when enjoying breakfast.

They tend to have the sails turning when the local museum is open.

630m WSPR overnight

In all, my 10mW ERP was spotted by 8 unique stations with my most distant spot by LA2XPA (1310km) again. I spotted 11 uniques in 6 countries on 630m overnight. Not a bad night considering my setup!

Sunspots - Saturday December 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 70, but the sunspot number is zero. A=8 and K=0.

I see that http://www.solen.info/solar/ has been updated with November's solar data. Solar flux and sunspot number's were way down.

10m FT8 RX

Following my usual pattern, I have been on 10m FT8 RX since breakfast. A couple of EUs spotted so far, but nothing else yet.  SP5XMU (1401km) is currently the best DX.

UPDATE 1010z: 8 stations in 5 EU countries spotted so far.

UPDATE 1312z: 20 EU stations spotted so far. Not a bad haul so far today.

1 Dec 2017

365project - NOT amateur radio

For some years now I have done something called "365project". Don't confuse this with Microsoft. The idea is to take a picture every day of the year. If you want total privacy it costs $19.99 a year. Otherwise it is free. Some use it to show how good they are at photography, whereas I just take photos as a sort of visual diary. Few of my shots are great artistic works! Google it.

630m WSPR

Since teatime I have been on 630m WSPR again (10mW ERP, 20%). So far 5 unique stations have spotted me with best DX a spot by PA0DRT (243km). On RX I have only spotted 1 unique station DH5RAE (995km).

Slowly declining solar activity

In the next few days, there will be a report on solar activity in the last month and past years. Although we get blips, the trend is slowly downwards for the next few years. Last month there were quite a few spotless days.

"As of April 2017 the strength and trend of the southern polar field hints at a cycle 25 with a magnitude close to that of cycle 24. " -  according to the website below.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

PSK Reporter Maps - more issues?

All morning, I have been on 10m FT8.  PSK Reporter Maps initially showed I had spotted 1 G and 2 PAs. When I last looked, one of the PAs was not there! I changed the times out to 24 hours, but still this station was not there any more. PSK Reporter Maps seem less reliable than I thought.

Trial by media? - NOT amateur radio

Like many, I am bored by media coverage of the sexual proclivities of our politicians. If they are guilty of a crime then the law will mete justice. At the moment we seem to have trials by media, with papers out to gain readership and profits by sharing dirt in public.

Throughout history what goes on behind closed doors is the business of the persons concerned only. The exception is if a crime is committed in which case justice should be left to a court of law.  Mud sticks. Media justice is wrong.

Overnight on 136kHz WSPR RX

Despite my very poor system on 136kHz WSPR (poor antenna and deaf receiver) I managed to copy a couple of UK stations. To be honest it was amazing that anyone was copied.

Sunspots - Friday December 1st 2017

Solar flux is 71 and sunspot number is 11. A=11 and K=3/