Sunspots - Wednesday February 6th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1.

2m UKAC activity contest

Just 5 stations worked last night on 2m SSB with the best DX G4CLA (105km). F, ON and GD heard, but not worked. A station in IO90 was lost. As before, running 5W to the omni antenna.

Stations worked on 2m SSB last evening in the UKAC

Dayton - advanced warning

This is (I think) the biggest amateur gathering in the world.

For your diaries the dates are May 17-19th 2019. This is often the venue when the major companies announce new products. Sometimes the products are very early models. You can imagine the development departments at ICOM, Yaesu and others working overtime to meet the dates! Fail by a few days and I can see sackings.

I have never been there, and probably never will,  but can imagine it is quite something.

Granddaughter - NOT amateur radio

Last weekend we visited one of our sons and family.

This is one of our granddaughters with her cartoon drawings. She loves reading and drawing.

So, HOW do they do it?

Recently, I looked on Amazon and saw 2 rechargeable 446MHz handsets with base chargers for just £20.39 a pair with free earphones and free delivery. That is just over £10 each with free rechargeable battery, charger and earpiece for a UHF handheld. I did not look, but there are probably less expensive ones available. These probably retune to 70cms.>

When I started designing UHF portables in the 1970s, I seem to recall they retailed at about £700 each without the chargers and earphones. I know that the level of integration must be far higher nowadays, but I am amazed anyone is able to make profits at these prices and sent them half way around the world for free!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07M68Q7YM/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07M68Q7YM&pd_rd_w=yfquf&pf_rd_p=454d2892-a6d1-488a-b5c1-57058b38bc92&pd_rd_wg=SgLOd&pf_rd_r=JAD48SBY9377XPHQHBVJ&pd_rd_r=eba820a8-294f-11e9-a4d6-bbce9bcb58e6

OFCOM - latest

OFCOM has updated it Communications Monthly for January 2019.

See https://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/8AF8E03C104BEE0A2540EF23F30FEDED/952AB8F022CBFC94BA4AF9908B8D85ED

6m digital frequencies in Europe?

During the Es season last year, I was on 6m FT8 a great deal. Since then and "out of season" I have been on 2m, 10m and 160m FT8 mainly and 630m WSPR in the main.

For a change, I might try 6m tomorrow, but I was wondering what the best mode and frequency to try in the quieter months. I guess the best I can hope for is some random MS and aircraft reflections with some chance of tropo.

If you know where I should look on 6m and on what mode, please let me know as soon as possible. Please note EU/UK not North America, which might be different.

2m FT8 today

It is just 1054z, but already 15 stations in 5 countries have been spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DL6BF (479km). As far as I know these are flat conditions.

Stations spotted here on 2m FT8 RX today so far (to 1312z).

UPDATE 1542z: 45 stations in 7 countries with best DX on 2m FT8 RX F6APE (551km).

2m FT8 RX yesterday

2m FT8 never fails to amaze me.

Even with just a big-wheel omni antenna (about 3dB gain horizontal) I was able to copy 64 stations on 2m FT8 RX yesterday in 7 countries with best DX over 800km. Some are aircraft reflections, but many are tropo.

Even calling CQ with 2.5W I get spotted every time at great range. Most of these are tropo. What was once impossible is possible.

Even this morning I am spotting a station in Germany!

Sunspots - Tuesday February 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 0. A=7 and K=3.

Dalham - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we did a short walk at Dalham, a village not too far from us. It is a delightful village with many fine cottages. Years ago, many would have been poor hovels for farm workers. These days they are probably very well equipped and very expensive.

New radio?

My Christmas present was a new radio, although I have still not bought one! Main candidates are the IC7300, the FT991A or the FT450D. In my mind the FT818 is suitable, but is really only an FT817 dressed up a bit.  As my voice is poor most of the use would be on FT8. The FT450D is far less expensive. I could almost certainly buy an SDR with this as well.

In my operating, it is unlikely to be run at more than 10W. Sadly, the IC7300S, which is the low power version, in not available outside of Japan. People tell me the IC7300 is a great radio, but I am in no great hurry. For my sort of operating any of those listed would probably do.

If you want to offer any suggestions please feel free. BTW, I have already seen the eHam reviews.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on BREXIT are, we can all agree on one thing. We are entering uncharted waters and the water is rough. The rest of the world must look on us as plain stupid. Only time will tell how things pan out. In the short-term at least, signs are not good.

MLS Yaesu cashback

Every week I get an email from MLS as part of their "Something for the weekend" promotion. This weekend they are telling us about the cashback on certain Yaesu products. I expect other UK dealers are offering similar.

OFCOM latest

OFCOM today told us of a rule change affecting digital broadcasters and that current 700MHz users can apply for financial help to move to different frequencies as this band is being vacated and reallocated here in the UK.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/support-pmse-equipment-owners

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

As this is right next door to us, we get rather possessive! At this time of year when the museum and mill are closed, volunteers are busy with maintenance work. That is why there is filler on the mill side. I expect before the season starts at Easter, the windmill will get a coat of paint.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

2m FT8

For a change, I am on 2m FT8 (2.5W to the big wheel omni antenna). I called CQ but was spotted only by GW4BVE (237km).

Maybe there are fewer stations on 2m FT8 and the bubble has burst? On RX no stations yet spotted. OK, it is a weekday and many will be at work. However, the last time I checked there was plenty of 2m FT8 activity.

UPDATE 1135z: Perhaps I spoke too soon about 2m FT8! Already 11 stations spotted with best DX on 2m FT8 RX DL6BF (479km).

UPDATE 2012z: 52 stations in 6 countries so far spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DK1FG (815km). A recent call to another station (I was using 2.5W) was unanswered but was spotted by 7 stations including GI6ATZ (479km) near Belfast.

Stations spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX

472kHz WSPR overnight

An average night with best DX on TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was PA0O (440km). A couple of other PAs copied me too. On RX best DX was LA2XPA (1310km). In all, 8 stations spotted me and I spotted 9.

Stations that spotted me overnight

Stations that I spotted overnight

Sunspots Monday February 4th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=0

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Most nights I go on either 1.84MHz FT8 RX or 472kHz WSPR TX (20% 10mW ERP, with 80% RX). In both cases, the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is used. Tonight (well this evening) it is the turn of 472kHz WSPR. I have yet to decide on the overnight period as most DX is spotted on 472kHz well before midnight, whereas transatlantic 160m DX usually come in after midnight. So, I may QSY to 160m FT8 RX at bedtime. G8LCO (58km) has already spotted my 472kHz WSPR transmission, even though it has yet to settle.

UPDATE 1636z: G1GKN (99km) is a good signal again on 472kHz WSPR RX.

UPDATE 2042z: LA2XPA (1310km) is the best DX so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR RX. With my 10mW ERP my best DX on TX is PA3ABK (306km).

10m FT8

Since about 5 minutes ago, I have been on 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W) and since then I have been on RX only.  Guess what? No spots!

UPDATE 1546z: So far today, just a single 10m FT8 RX spot.: G0OYQ (177km) in Humberside.

Wasted boxes - NOT amateur radio

According to a recent Facebook post there are 900000000 wasted boxes on consumer products every year in the USA alone. The example is toothpaste which comes in a tube, which is then put in a box, which is just thrown away. What a stupid waste! We need to force companies away from wasted packaging. In Iceland toothpaste does not come in boxes. If they can, so can we.

Perhaps we should all start by leaving the unnecessary packaging in the supermarkets?

"Going away" - NOT amateur radio

No doubt like many, I got an email yesterday to tell me Google+ was "going away" and that I needed to archive any data I wanted before Feb 9th. Yet another example of things getting worse, not better, with time. I have to admit, I have not used Google+ for years.

Why don't they just be honest and say Google+ was a failure? Sorry, I have little time for this "marketing speak". Please, tell us the truth, as we are grown ups and are not stupid.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

We still have several weeks of winter, but daffodils in flower promise spring and new life. These were in Dalham, a delightful village not far from here, where we did a walk earlier today.

Our village - NOT amateur radio

This is a house in our village. We nearly bought the house next door many years ago. Instead we stayed put in the same house for 38 years!

160m FT8 RX overnight

A good period. In all, 21 North Americans, 2 Caribbeans and 1 South American spotted with best DX on 160m FT8 a spot of HK3W (8507km).

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 with 

the earth-electrode "antenna2" in the ground

UPDATE 1254z: DL7AU (927km) was recently spotted in broad daylight on 160m FT8 RX.

Cat - NOT amateur radio

One of the reasons we visited our and family in London yesterday was to see their cat, bought as a kitten a few months ago.

She is now growing fast and is very playful as the photo shows.

Sunspots - Sunday February 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=17 and K=3.

160m FT8

After the afternoon with our son and family in London, I am now on 160m FT8 RX for the evening and overnight periods. Even in just a few minutes, all over Europe spotted.

UPDATE  2235z:  Best DX so far n 160m FT8 RX is RU9F (3511km).

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

In all, 6 stations spotted my 10mW ERP with the best being a spot by PA0O (440km). I spotted 12 stations in 5 countries including 5 Germans and a couple of Norwegians .

Past the worst?

The latest solar data has been published. This source seems to think we are moving beyond the solar minimum.

Sunspots - Saturday February 2nd 2019

Solar flux is 71 today and the SSN 0. A=17 and K=3. Bouncing along the solar minimum?

472kHz WSPR

For a change, I have gone back on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). Already a couple of spots with best DX on TX G0MRF (139km) even though the transverter has not yet settled fully.

UPDATE 2125z: Still just a couple of spots of me, but 10 spots, so far, of others with best DX being LA2XPA (1310km).

UPDATE 2225z: Now 4 stations have spotted my QRPP with best DX a spot by PA3ABK (306km).

China-USA trade war - NOT amateur radio

Reports indicate that a trade war between the USA and China may be ending. At least that is one less mess for President Trump to clear up. What about Israel, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Mexico to name just a few? Midas touch? Hardly.

My advice (which I am certain will be ignored!) is engage brain, listen to experts, then tweet if you really think this adds value. Otherwise, please, just shut up. Most in the world look on in wonder.

Cambridge in winter - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday (I think) Cambridge is a lot quieter at this time of the year. There are still visitors, but fewer. In many ways this is a good time to visit the city.

The photo shows Trinity Street looking towards St John's College. The world famous Bridge of Sighs is about 200m away on the left.

Heffers, on the right, is the biggest bookshop in Cambridge. When I first came to Cambridge in 1970, there were Heffers shops in several places around the town.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_Sighs_(Cambridge)

10m FT8 RX

Although monitoring 10m FT8 RX since breakfast, only a couple of UK stations spotted with G4HZW (212km) the best DX so far on 10m today.

UPDATE 1444z: Still just those 2 UK spots today.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Quite a decent night with 18 North Americans and 1 Caribbean stations spotted overnight. Best DX was K6NR (8616km) on the west coast of the USA. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted here last 

night on 160m FT8 RX.

More OFCOM consultations

OFCOM is consulting again, this time on wireless technology.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/spectrum-management/supporting-role-wireless-innovation-uk-industry

Solar numbers

In a while, I shall check the solar data for January to see if there are any updates on the size and dates of the solar minimum and the next peak. This data is usually available quite early in the month.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Friday February 1st 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.