Dad's benches - NOT amateur radio

My father died in 1987.

He retired from his job on the local water board in South Devon at 60 and then led a team of young people working for the National Trust mending the coastal footpaths. He loved his work and when he died the National Trust erected a couple of benches with plaques in his honour.

In WW2 he was a flight engineer in a Pathfinder squadron. Later I realised, too late, just how brave he must have been. He hated the war and the thought of killing innocent people. He rarely wanted to speak of those dark days. My biggest regret now is not being able to speak with him about how he felt.

Overnight on 160m FT8 RX

In a word "good".

21 North Americans spotted and 2 South Americans with HK3PJ (8482km) as best DX. In all, 515 stations spotted here on the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground in the last day on 160m FT8.

160m FT8 RX spots here in the last 24 hours

Sunspots - Saturday March 23rd 2019

Solar flux is 80, which is the highest it has been for ages and the SSN 27. A=1 and K=0

160m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes I have been on 160m FT8 RX. Already, 90 stations spotted with best DX UB9XT (3147km).

UPDATE 2006z: Now 175 stations spotted with best DX 4F6FO (3964km).

UPDATE 2234z: Now 324 stations spotted this evening on 160m FT8 RX with the best DX spotted being R0SR (6425km) in Asiatic Russia.

160m FT8 RX this evening

BREXIT blues - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK I expect, like me, you are sick and tired of BREXIT and the apparent inability of our elected MPs to agree on anything. A petition on the UK Government website calling for Article 50 to be scrapped is reported to have over 3 million signatures already. Experts think it very unlikely this is due to bots. Most votes are genuine.

No, most people in the UK and EU are appalled by our apparent lack of ability to agree on anything. There is no doubt that leaving the EU has terminally affected UK politics. A radical re-alignment of UK political parties seems highly likely in the next 10-20 years. I have little doubt that the EU will miss us, assuming we do leave.

BREXIT is going to have far reaching consequences. In the end, I am sure the UK will be fine, whether inside or outside the EU, but these next few years could be difficult as things change.

Cambridge Market - NOT amateur radio

These flowers were on sale in Cambridge Market on Wednesday. Next door was a stall selling sweets.

10m FT8

With the better solar numbers today, just maybe we'll see more promising conditions on 10m, maybe. At about 0945z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX. After 30 minutes, no spots.

UPDATE 1320z: Just local G4AWP (19km) spotted on 10m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1405z: So far today just a couple of local  UK stations G4AWP and M0PWL (25km) spotted. No DX, not even a European! A brief CQ (2.5W) a short while ago resulted in no spots.

UPDATE  1430z: IZ4GWE (1224km) spotted.

UPDATE 1511z: G0OYQ (177km) now spotted.

UPDATE 1626z: A total of 5 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. 4 were English with 1 Italian.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Poor to average.

In all, I spotted just 8 stations and 6 stations spotted my 10mW ERP. It is going "off the boil".

472kHz WSPR overnight here

Sunspots - Friday March 22nd 2019

Are we through the minimum? It looks like it!

Solar flux is 79 and the sunspot number 49 (yes 49!!!). A=2 and K=0. These are the best figures for a very long time!

Let the big climb begin. Please.

472kHz WSPR

Since just after 1900z I have been on 472kHz WSPR with my usual 10mW ERP (20% TX, 80% RX) from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far 3 stations have spotted me with best spot being by PA0O (440km). So far, not a bad evening.

10m FT8

Although I called CQ (2.5W) late this morning, I got no 10m FT8 TX reports. On 10m FT8 RX, just one G spot. So far, dire!

160m FT8 RX overnight

160m FT8 RX was monitored overnight. It was a good night.  In all, 22 North Americans and 1 Caribbean station were copied with best DX spotted being KI5BLU (7636km).

160m FT8 RX overnight

Sunspots - Thursday March 21st 2019

Solar flux is 73 and the sunspot number 28. A=5 and K=1. This is the best solar flux and SSN for some time. Fingers crossed!

Rallies

Sunday 24 MARCH : HAMZILLA RADIO FEST AND ELECTRONICS FAIR - hosted by Dover Amateur Radio Club

Discovery Science Park, Gateway House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF. Open 10am to 4pm. Online ticket entrance £3.00; Limited early bird tickets £5.00. Tables £10.00. Online purchase/bookings now available. Attractions: Bring-and-Buy Sale, Catering, Lectures/Seminars, RSGB Bookstall, Special Interest Groups, Trade Stands, Guest speakers, Digital village, Demos. Icom, SDRPlay and many more exhibitors. RSGB examinations will be held at event - visit website for more details, or email: club@darc.online. Disabled Facilities. 1000s free parking. Contact Aaron Coote, M0IER on 0771 465 4267, M0IERDX@gmail.com www.hamzilla.uk.


Sunday 24 MARCH : CALLINGTON RADIO RALLY

Callington Town Hall, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7BD. Doors open 10am - 1pm and admittance is £2. There will be a Bring & Buy (10% commission) and trade stands. Catering available on site. Ample free parking in the adjacent carpark. Rally organised jointly by the Devon & Cornwall Repeater Group and Callington Amateur Radio Society (CARS). More information and bookings from Roger 2E0RPH on 07854 088882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com.



Sunday 24 MARCH : CAUSEWAY COAST GLENS ARC RADIO RALLY

Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim BT57 8QG. Doors open from 11am. Admittance is £3. More details from stephen769@talktalk.net.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

160m FT8 RX

For the last few hours I have, again, been on 160m FT8 RX.  Yet again loads of Europeans (150 so far this evening) with best DX RW4PU (3362km).

Stations spotted this evening, so far, on 160m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2222z: Bedtime!  So far this evening 192 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX spot on 160m FT8 RX is RV0AR (5577km) in Asiatic Russia.  Nothing yet from North America.

Oscar 100 (geosynchronous satellite) commercial gear

At the moment, most users of this successful geosynchronous satellite transponder are using semi homebrew kit. This often consists of a PLL locked LNB, an ex satellite TV dish and an SDR at the IF, together with an upconverter, which is often based on 2.4GHz wi-fi parts and amplifiers.

As news of its successful deployment spreads, it is likely that more dedicated commercial gear will become available. I wonder who will be first to offer a complete "solution in a box"? I guess someone will combine an upconverter at the right SSB power with a phase locked LNB down-converting to 432MHz. After all, this is far cheaper than an HF beam and tower. With an expected lifetime of 15 years or more, this will appeal to many DXers.

Flowers on the approach to Kings - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year the flowers on the Backs (of colleges) in Cambridge, UK look their best. The ones in the photo are on the approach to Kings.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Well, the rest of the world must be looking at the UK in utter disbelief thinking how can they make such a mess of leaving the EU. Have they completely lost it?

Like many in the UK, I am rapidly losing the will to live over BREXIT. On one thing we all agree: this is NOT how you do things. Mrs May, the UK Prime Minister, has handled this badly.

Sticking with 2m FT8

Today, I have decided to stick with 2m FT8 RX. So far today, 18 stations in 6 countries already spotted in just the last 3 hours! There is no doubt that FT8 has completely transformed 2m for me: unheard of DX is always within range. When I call CQ (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) I always seem to be spotted at great range. Propagation is often ordinary "flat band"  tropo, with some aircraft reflections at times. I am pretty convinced much is tropo and not aircraft reflections as every time I call CQ with real QRP I get spotted in Cornwall or Northern Ireland.

UPDATE 1510z: 21 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX so far today with the best DX being DK1FG (815km).

UPDATE 1632z: 45 stations in 7 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted here in last 12 hours on 

2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna.

Sunspots - Wedesday March 20th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 13. A=3 and K=1.

2m FT8

This mode never fails to amaze me.

With 2.5W to the big-wheel omni I get spotted at distances I could only dream about on SSB. Not only that, but my poor voice can have a rest. OK, QSOs tend to be basic exchanges and FT8 is not a mode for long chats. Nonetheless, for a QRP station like mine, it is a game changer.

A brief CQ (2.5W to the omni) earlier was spotted by 9 stations with best DX a spot by GI6ATZ (478km). Already a station in Germany has been spotted on 2m FT8 RX. The Hepburn tropo forecast seems to indicate that conditions are flat.

Stations that spotted my 2.5W 2m FT8 CQ just now.

UPDATE 2255z: Bedtime!  In all, 23 stations in 6 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.

Stations spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

We are meant to be leaving the EU next week. Yet UK politicians are behaving like a bunch of school children squabbling over a piece of chocolate. Whatever your views we have made a right mess of leaving. No wonder the EU officials are frustrated.

What I fail to understand (2 years after the referendum) is why we did not agree before we triggered Article 50 what we could all agree on! The UK Prime Minister, Mrs May, seems to be very stubborn. Surely she must realise that her deal will only get approved as people are totally fed up and see us delaying BREXIT for possibly years.

The last straw will be a bribe for the DUP (more money for Ulster?) if they support her deal. Sorry, but the last 2 years has destroyed my faith in our representatives in the UK parliament. They are all, it would appear, like pigs in a trough. Whatever happened to consensus?  Bring back the stocks and let us throw rotten tomatoes at them.

Gearbest data breach?

An old work colleague has reported that users of Gearbest are at risk of a data breach. As far as I know, I used PayPal. Even so, they have my other details on file.

See https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/18/gearbest_data_breach_1_5m_customers_affected/

Alboran Island - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I mentioned the Alboran Sea. This was completely unknown to me, so today I went looking more closely at this area. It turns out the Soviets tried to occupy Alboran Island back in the 1960s prompting the Spanish to station a garrison there.  There is a page about this small, remote islet.

See http://www.evs-islands.com/2008/02/isla-alboran-sp-isolated-mediterranean.html  .

10m FT8

For a couple of hours I have been calling CQ on 10m FT8 (2.5W). Unfortunately not a single report! On 10m FT8 RX 2 stations spotted so far. One was a G and one an MU. No great DX. These could have been tropo or aircraft reflections. There was another G spotted, which did not get uploaded to PSKreporter.

UPDATE 1638z: Still just 3 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Judging by the strength of PD1DL (328km), I suspect this was aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1926z: I eventually went QRT on 10m at about 1900z. When I went QRT 5 stations had been spotted here.

Red Legged Partridge - NOT amateur radio

We often see these around and there were 2 in our back garden earlier. You cannot deny that these are good looking birds.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Poor!

472kHz WSPR overnight

This was probably the worst night this season with no new spots through the night that I had not already spotted in the evening. Likewise all the spots of my 10mW ERP were received before bedtime.

2m activity contest (UKAC) March 2019

The results of the March 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB have been published. I entered the Low Power section (AL) and my position has risen. Contests are not my thing, and I run very low power and omni antennas. Nonetheless, this is a very friendly affair and there is no compulsion to submit a score. Because of my poor voice I rarely stop on very long.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/readcal.pl

Oscar 100 - still not very busy

OK, it is still early days, but I am surprised that Oscar 100, the geosynchronous amateur satellite, is still not busy. I know some are still getting their gear set up, but by now I was expecting dozens of stations to be fighting for space. A casual listen on Monday afternoon and there were maybe 5 QSOs on SSB at most. Like many, I listen on the Goonhilly web SDR.

The advantages over other amateur satellites are the fixed dishes and wide coverage. It seems to work really well. And, of course, the DX is available day and night and totally independent of the solar cycle. Once aligned on the satellite it just works.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Human consciousness - NOT amateur radio

This is a big question. As far as I know, science has not yet answered it.

One of the greatest mysteries in the world is human consciousness. What makes us sentient beings? What is it that makes us able to contemplate our very existence? Can other animals, albeit differently, be sentient beings? What happens when we die and have no body?

As I have said many times before, it is a brave person that claims to have answers. We live in a universe where we are aware of a few dimensions. There may be other dimensions and indeed other universes that our small brains are simply incapable of understanding. When we die we may simply cease to exist and be as we were for ever before. Perhaps something of us survives death in some form. Maybe time itself is an illusion. Maybe space is an illusion.

One day science may be able to answer some of these questions, which all religions have tried to answer. For now, I remain puzzled.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 19th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 13. A=3 and K=1. Are we seeing the first tentative indications of cycle 25? The spots reappeared quite quickly after disappearing.

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

Since about 2030z, I have been on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP 20%, 80% RX). At the moment I cannot access the WSPRnet database, so I have no idea how things are going.

UPDATE 2230z: So far this evening, 3 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP with the best being PA0EHG (296km). My best DX on RX is (again) LA2XPA (1310km). So far this evening, 7 stations spotted here.

Solar flux

On average, solar flux has been improving since last July. OK, we are still very much in the doldrums and the sunspot count is still poor, but does this point to the start of the next solar cycle? I am far from an expert. As I have said before, we may have to wait until the end of the year to discern any trends.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

Palagruza - NOT amateur radio

Photo credit: Kyknos own work

Small, remote, islands have always fascinated me. I was puzzled why Croatia seemed to go way out in the Adriatic, so I investigated further.

It turns out there is a very remote archipelago right out in the sea. There is a lighthouse, but otherwise it is uninhabited. Until today, I had no idea of its existence.

Now, here is a question. Where is the Alboran Sea? Until a few minutes ago I had no idea! It is not off Croatia.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palagruža
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboran_Island

10m FT8

After a brief CQ call (2.5W), I am now on 10m FT8 RX.  Local G4WSZ (12km) spotted my CQ and the only station spotted on 10m FT8 RX, so far, is PD1DL (328km).

UPDATE 1508z: Now G6XX (180km) spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1655z: No further 10m FT8 spots here today. Dire.

Bill G4PJ

An old editor of Practical Wireless contacted me yesterday about Bill G4PJ.  Bill, a SK for many years, lived in Salcombe, Devon and was my "elmer". He taught me a lot back in the 1960s. I even heard him 4 miles away on 160m AM on a crystal set!

He had a shack overlooking the water and his earth rod went straight into the sea! As a G8, my very first QSOs were from his shack under supervision. Back in the 1960s we could only use 70cms and higher if a G8.

I have very happy memories of those early days.

Topband overnight

In all, 10 North Americans spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX. So, perhaps 160m conditions are still good and the other night, when so few North Americans were copied, was a blip? In all, 302 stations spotted on 160m FT8 overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

160m FT8 RX spots here overnight

Sunspots - Monday March 18th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=12 and K=3. Still feels like sunspot minimum to me.

160m FT8 RX

For about 20 minutes now, I have been on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. As on previous evenings, there are lots of Europeans. Many are calling a 3B8, although I have not spotted this station. Best DX spotted here is RM4W (3365km).

The first photo shows the stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in the first 30 minutes. The second photo shows the spots at bedtime (2240z). As the second photo shows, again plenty of Europeans spotted again. The question is will there be North Americans during the night?

Crossing The Bar - NOT amateur radio

This may be morbid, but I very much hope this poem is read at my funeral. As many know, I came from Salcombe, Devon. You may have to click the photo to read the poem.