Hackers back?

In the last hour blog numbers have more than doubled quite suddenly. I am sure this is not radio hams on the USA west coast waking up! It would be good to believe this was true, but sadly I think not, HI.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX

As I was unable to find out why I have no power on 630m (yet), I am on 630m WSPR RX only. At some point I shall turn off my PC battery charger in the hope of reducing my noise floor on that band.

UPDATE 1955z:  I have been on PC battery power for some while now (about 40 minutes) and already 7 unique stations spotted. The RX noise floor must be lower as more stations are being copied. Still using the coax to my 2m antenna as the antenna on RX via a ferrite rod ATU on the bench (see picture).

UPDATE 2010z: PC charger back on, so that I can run the PC on battery power overnight. So S/N of received signals should degrade whist the charger is on if this noise is limiting what I can spot.

UPDATE 2125z: Still using the PC on mains with the battery charger. On battery power (on the PC) spots of LA8AV are between -12 and -19dB S/N. With the PC on mains power with the charger running it is about 10dB worse, although with QSB it is hard to be precise.

UPDATE 2135z: Just started the PC on its battery power again. If the noise floor has dropped again LA8AV S/N should improve again.  Indeed his S/N is about 10dB better!

UPDATE 2206z: PC back on mains and PC battery is charging. In about an hour I shall be switching the PC to its battery power. This should last for several hours. Battery is currently 94% charged. Well I am on mains power and the PC battery is charging. LA8AV is still in the teens S/N. Ah, there goes another theory then.....

10m FT8 RX

Much later than usual, I went to 10m FT8 RX. So far the only station copied is PG0DX (411km).

Deep pockets?

If you have money to burn (not me!) you might want to consider the ICOM IC7610. According to Southgate News these are now selling. There is little doubt this is a "good" radio, but it is far more than I choose to spend. Even the IC7300 at under half the price I consider too much.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/ic-7610-hf-50mhz-sdr-transceiver-has-landed.htm#.WlYbx0x2v4g

Diesel cars - NOT amateur radio

A year ago I bought a low mileage diesel car which was about a year old. Fuel consumption is low and a year's road tax (just renewed) was nothing.

There seems to be a backlash against diesel cars, but as far as I am aware recent diesels are low emission, clean and efficient.

Until electric cars have a range of 300 miles plus, I am put off electric. Yes, in the end they will be better for the planet, but battery technology still has a way to go.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We have three of these magic plants. Just how do they grow so tall so fast and produce such magnificent flowers?

472kHz - the mystery continues

You may recall I had no power (at all) on 472kHz. Well, my hopes were raised when I noticed the shack PC wanted yet another Windows update. It only did one a day ago!

Well, although mod and power are OK from the FT817, there is still absolutely nothing from the transverter at 474kHz. If the PA MOSFET had blown I still would have expected a very weak 472kHz signal, so I still think it is something stupidly simple.

My problem is that since my stroke I have been living in a kind of fog, so even simple tasks are now hard. I need to look again when my mind is clear and I am not tired.

Normal blog visits - NOT amateur radio

Well, visits to the blog this morning seem "normal", with numbers way down on the last few days. Perhaps the hackers and bots have finally decided there is nothing here worth hacking? Back to the usual stuff!

Sunspots - Wednesday January 10th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 13. A=9 and K=2.

Ely riverside - NOT amateur radio

As reported a few days ago, we went for a walk by the river in Ely. It was the last time we had any sun. The photo shows the River Ouse into which the River Cam flows.

Return to 472kHz WSPR, but zero power?

For a last try, I returned to 472kHz WSPR. Although I am copying stations I seem to have no power. Perhaps I am doing something silly? This is probably true!

UPDATE 2150z: I still cannot see what is wrong. I shall have to check things out tomorrow.

70cm activity contest tonight

At 8pm UK clock time is the first 70cm activity contest of the year organised by the RSGB (UKAC). Although the contest runs for 2.5 hours I usually manage far less because of my poor voice and set-up.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2018&contest=70cmsukac

After about 25 minutes I had to go QRT. Best DX worked was G4CLA (106km).

Popularity - NOT amateur radio

Well, some enjoy this blog but I am not stupid.

According to the statistics I have already had about 40 times the normal number of visits today! This is either a mistake or bots looking to do something malicious. 

Unlike previous occasions most "visits" are from the USA and not Eastern Europe. So far, no harm done, but it pays to be vigilant.

OFCOM latest

Every month Ofcom publishes its "Communications Monthly" which updates us on what it is doing. The latest is December 2017.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/84E6FA313BB717BF2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

20m FT8 RX

For a change, I am on 20m FT8 RX using the coax to my 2m antenna via an ATU. Lots of stations being copied!

Initially I was getting nothing on PSK Reporter Maps. After a Windows Update all was well.

UPDATE 1055z:  Best DX so far is RU7T (3118km).

UPDATE 1140z: It is just too easy on 20m FT8 - I have lost count of all the Europeans and Russians copied. I shall leave it running during today to see what else comes in from outside Europe.

UPDATE 1237z:  First stateside station spotted was WW1WW (5184km) just before noon.

UPDATE 1818z:  Best DX so far is WB3JSW (5914km). Also spotted was TR8CA (5820km) in Gabon, W.Africa.

Disappointment on 630m WSPR

There is a distinct lack of TXing stations on this band on WSPR in Europe. Last night there were hardly any active TXing Europeans on 630m WSPR. My own 10mW ERP WSPR was copied by just 3 unique stations. I spotted just 4 uniques. I am seriously thinking of abandoning the band. OK my noise floor (S7) does not help, but there are fewer stations.  It is some time since new stations were spotted and the band is losing its appeal to me.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 9th 2018

Solar flux is 69 again today and the sunspot number 13. A=9 and K=4.

Return to 630m WSPR

At about 2008z I returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far I have been spotted by 3 G stations, but no others yet spotted here above my S7 noise floor.

Tribal Knowledge - test gear

My thanks to Steve G1KQH for this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jmiL14CeQBWNY30eDuRdng1WlUpMDwVtPzy_MSFm0CQ/edit

Heathkit Twoer and Sixer transceivers

If, like me, you are rather old you may remember the Heathkit Twoer, Sixer and similar rigs. These were 5W AM transceivers covering either 10m, 6m or 2m. I think there was also one covering 11m for the early USA CB market.

These were single channel transmitters with a super-regen RX. Although I coveted one, the nearest I got was owning a manual!

In its day, it opened up the VHF bands to the masses, long before SSB and FM. I liked the style then and do so even now. To be honest, today they would struggle, as there is not much AM on VHF and the bandwidth of the RX would be too wide for serious use.

In 1966 it sold for £26 in the UK! On the second-hand market good ones command a good price, no doubt bought by nostalgic old timers!

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

Local museum - NOT amateur radio

Our local Burwell museum (one of the best in the UK) can be chosen as the charity, so it gets some money when one purchases Co-op goods with a Co-op card here in the UK. You get money back for yourself as well as benefitting a local charity of your choice. The Co-op has some keen prices too.

See https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/14610?_ga=2.248622607.92229215.1515413139-1524151408.1508532784

Bots again - NOT amateur radio

Well, according to my stats I have already had 21 times the normal daily blog visits! Yesterday it was about 5 times normal. Either this is just an error or I am being targeted by bots with bad intent. If you spot anything odd, please let me know. Should this blog disappear you'll know why.

UPDATE 1145z: Blog seems normal so far. Most visits are from the USA and not Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1330z: Blog visits WAY, WAY above normal.

Sunspots - Monday January 8th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=1.

6m MSK144

Since just before breakfast, I have been monitoring 50.280MHz MSK144. So far today, nothing spotted.

UPDATE 1148z:  Just G0GGG (210km) spotted so far today on 6m.

630m WSPR overnight

Average. 10 uniques spotted my 10mW ERP and I spotted 6. Those that spotted me were all Gs.

Bots - NOT amateur radio

Funny how blog numbers have gone back to normal again at the very same time visits from Romania have taken a nosedive. Need I say more?

If you see any unusual postings, especially comments on postings, let me know right away, so I can check and if necessary remove. As far as possible I try to ensure all links are safe.

UPDATE 2144z: Blog numbers have risen sharply again, as have visits from Ukraine. Suspicious?

Return to 630m WSPR

As is my normal pattern, I have returned to 630m WSPR for this evening and overnight (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far my best TX DX is M0NKA (154km). Although drift is reducing, the crystal in my transverter is still settling. It usually settles within 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1815z:  G0LUJ (266km) is currently the best TX DX.

Ely - NOT amateur radio

As the weather was sunny and bright (if cold) we decided to go to Ely for a walk. The photo shows the cathedral from the river.

Bye, bye Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we put away the Christmas things. Time seems to fly by!  It seems no time since Christmas 2016. As always, the grandchildren love it.

EME on TV?

According to Southgate News the next Michael Portillo "Great British Rail Journeys" may include a piece recorded at Goonhilly Downs showing him operating 5.6GHz EME under supervision.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/bbc-tv-to-show-michael-portillo-moonbounce.htm#.WlIA00x2vIU .

10m FT8 today

Today, I am back on 10m FT8 RX. So far just 2E0XXO (120km) spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: So far, the best DX on 10m FT8 RX is DM1FL (495km).

UPDATE 1625z: 5 uniques in 2 countries so far today.

630m WSPR overnight

As usual, I went on 630m WSPR last night with my 10mW ERP. In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations and I spotted 6. Unusually, all the stations that spotted me were Gs.

Best DX on RX was (again) LA8AV (1035km) up in Norway. He must have a good set-up as he always beats my S7 noise floor.

Sunspots - Sunday January 7th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=0.

630m WSPR

Rather later than usual (2145z) I have QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) from 6m MSK144. I have spotted a couple of stations, although no-one has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 2220z: So far 7 unique stations have spotted me with the best DX being G0LUJ (266km).

Free French Mag

The December 2017 edition of the French Radio mag Radio-REF is available as a free download.

See http://www.r-e-f.org/images/201712_INTERACTIF.pdf .

Real time HF predictions

A reminder that almost real time HF predictions are available at http://www.convectiveweather.co.uk/ionosphere/graphs.php?type=live . Earlier today the MUF for 3000km contacts was just above 22MHz.

The USA in 2018 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment President Trump is openly rubbishing a new book just out. In the meantime the US government has to agree its priorities for the year ahead.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42589860 .

UPDATE 1422z:  President Trump has tweeted, allegedly, that he is "a very stable genius".

Spider's Web - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this morning it was misty and frosty, although nothing like the very cold snap in the east of the USA.

My wife took this photo of a spider's web from one of the trees in our front garden. It was covered in frozen dew and quite beautiful.

Each season brings something of beauty and winter is no exception.

6m MSK144

Daytime today I am on 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz.  Any signals received will be by random MS, aircraft reflection or tropo. So far, just GM3NKG (474km) spotted strongly. Remember this sort of path can be bridged at any time in the solar cycle on 6m.

UPDATE 1216z:  No further spots, as yet, on 6m MSK144 RX today.

UPDATE 1322z: Further spots - from Belgium and NE England - on 6m MSK144 today. These were both very strong.

UPDATE 1352z: M1BXF (14km) spotted. He is very local and very strong, HI.

UPDATE 1552z: 6 uniques in 4 countries so far spotted on 6m MSK144 today.

UPDATE 2144z: Overall today 7 uniques in 5 countries spotted on 50.280MHz MSK144. I noticed an SM which did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps.

Last night on 630m WSPR

A better night. 9 unique stations spotted and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 9 unique stations.