Rally

Sunday 26 MAY : DURHAM DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY

Bowburn Community Association, Durham Road, Bowburn, Co. Durham DH6 5AT. Doors open 10.10am to 2.30am with disabled visitors gaining access at 10am. Admittance is £2. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy as well as an RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering and a licensed bar is on site. Contact Michael Wright, G7TWX, 07826 924 1192, g7twx@mickwright.f9.co.uk.

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

2m FT8

Overnight, I remained on 2m FT8 RX.

This morning, so far (last 6 hours), 11 stations in 6 countries spotted so far.

UPDATE 1056z: Now 16 stations in 6 countries spotted this morning on 2m FT8 RX. Think I shall QSY to 6m shortly.

Sunspots - Thursday May 23rd 2019

Solar flux is a dire 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8

Shortly before 1900z, I switched to 2m FT8 RX. So far this evening 17 stations in 3 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

Chelsea Flower Show - NOT amateur radio

For our 70th birthdays, my brother-in-law bought us tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show.This is the most famous flower show in the UK. We went by train and tube. It was surprisingly busy. The flowers were amazing.

Not much missed

The ARRL does a daily roundup of the Dayton Hamvention. The last was on Sunday. I don't think I missed much.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/hamvention-2019-sunday-roundup .

Dayton Roundup

Southgate News has a link to photos of the Dayton Hamvention in the USA. Although still to check, I don't think I missed big announcements from the Japanese companies. The photos again confirm this is (mainly) a male hobby. I suspect that "old" men are less likely to attend. Of course, Elecraft made big play of their new K4 transceiver.

Sunspots - Wednesday may 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN still 0. A=4 and K=0.

OFCOM - zzzzz

Excuse me as I have a quick snooze.....

OFCOM has published some statutory instruments in connection with some spectrum actions. Such exciting stuff I nearly fell of my chair!! Maybe I should read this in Welsh?

6m FT8

A short while ago I moved from 2m to 6m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W to the vertical omni) initially. Although no QSOs resulted, I was spotted by 4 stations with the best spotting me being M0BEW (194km).

So far, only 7 G stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1748z: Clearly some Es this teatime with 108 stations now spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2129z: In the end 129 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX.

Portuguese blog updated - NOT amateur radio

As you may (or may not!) recall we spent 10 days on a tour in Portugal. Already we are confused about places and dates! On these holidays I try to keep a blog so in years to come we can look back. I have added a couple of photos today.

See https://port19postcards.blogspot.com/

2m FT8 RX

At the moment I am still on 2m FT8 RX, although I may try 6m FT8 later. So far today, just 6 stations spotted with best DX G0RQL (353km) in Devon.

UPDATE 1220z: So far today 15 stations spotted in 3 countries.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 21st 2019

Solar flux is just 67 today (poor) and the sunspot number 0. A=6 and K=1.

2m FT8

At about 1930z I QSYed to 2m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W to big-wheel omni) initially. Now I am RX only. Although no QSOs resulted from the CQ calls I was spotted by 10 stations with best DX GW0KAX (279km). On RX best DX spotted is PD0PVL (378km).

UPDATE 2122z: Now 11 stations in 3 countries spotted this evening on 2m FT8 RX.

Going backwards? - NOT amateur radio

Many things seem to get worse over time, not better.

We once had a bus every 30 minutes into Cambridge. It has been every hour now for several years. The store M&S in the UK used to be the place to buy underwear: quality was good. These days they are clearly made to a price and quality is poorer. My wife bought a coat and bag several years ago, but the replacements have fewer pockets.  We used to get vouchers from Tesco, but these have stopped. Every few months we used to get vouchers for a free coffee and cake from John Lewis, a well respected UK retailer. I just noticed the voucher is for a free cake when you buy a drink. I am sure many will not have noticed this change.

Now I know retailers are having a hard time, but this John Lewis change was sneaked in, hoping many would not notice. The coffee at John Lewis is expensive, so the voucher will not get used.

I can think of plenty of examples of things getting worse.

6m FT8

This morning I am again on 6m FT8. Initially I called CQ (2.5W to the omni vertical) with no QSOs resulting, although my best spot was by M0BEW (194km). On 6m FT8 RX my best DX is LA3DV (1022km).

UPDATE 1006z: Now 16 stations spotted in 2 countries so far today on 6m FT8 RX. Mostly Gs.

UPDATE 1250z: Now 27 stations in 7 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

160m FT8 RX

Overnight I was again on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  Plenty of Europeans spotted, but nothing from "across the pond". I spotted one station that was supposed to be in Iran, but I think this was a German station with the wrong QTH locator!

160m FT8 RX here overnight

Sunspots - Monday May 20th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number 0. It looks like the less active side of the sun has rotated to face us again. I guess we are unlikely to see more spots for a few weeks.  A=3 and K=3.

160m FT8

A few minutes ago I switched to 160m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Initially I called CQ (2.5W) whereas now I am RX only. So far, no spots given or received.

UPDATE 2000z: So far just 2 stations spotted. Best DX is SP2MEF (1297km).  End of season?

UPDATE 2027z: 14 stations spotted so far this evening. Now it is getting dark all Europe is coming through.

Still not much new at Dayton

Although I have not seen the final day summary, there would appear to be little new announced by the "big boys". Yes Elecraft announced the K4, but I have heard nothing from the traditional Japanese manufacturers.

Next year? Actually it would not entirely surprise me if at least one of these "pulls the plug" on amateur radio before May 2020.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/hamvention-2019-saturday-roundup

6m FT8

Because of my laziness, I remained on 6m FT8 RX overnight. If I remember I may try 160m FT8 RX tonight.

So far this morning, 22 stations in 5 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours with the best DX being OZ4ACK (881km).

UPDATE 1604z: 55 stations so far spotted in the last 12 hours on 6m FT8 with the best DX being YO8SSB (1874km).

UPDATE 1920z: Now 66 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX with best DX EA8TR (2989km).

UPDATE 1954z: A brief 2.5W CQ to the vertical omni antenna on 6m FT8 was spotted by 5 stations with best being EA7DL (1643km)

Oscar 100 - people losing interest?

One local amateur who put together 2.4GHz and 10GHz gear for Oscar 100 has now had enough fun and is instead converting it to a /P station for terrestrial activity sessions. I wonder if this is a trend?

People enjoy the challenge briefly, have a few weeks of fun, then say bye bye. By now I was expecting the satellite to be very busy, but it is not. As they say, "the journey is more important than the destination".

Perhaps for appliance operators it is too much of a challenge - you need to be keen to get a station together and a fat cheque book does not work.

Sunspots - Sunday May 19th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=5 and K=0.

Dayton Hamvention 2019. Few new products?

First reports from Dayton are disappointing with few new products announced. As the years progress, it would not surprise me if some Japanese companies leave the amateur radio market, or even go bust. In many countries  it is an "old mans" hobby with fewer buyers, so a diminishing market. Some are clearly struggling already.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/hamvention-2019-friday-roundup .

Post holiday blues - NOT amateur radio

Having just returned from a great holiday in Portugal we have the usual problems. Empty fridge, long grass, loads of washing and lots of post. To cap it all it is now raining and my 10m, 20m and 40m end-fed antenna has fallen down! Ho hum! I managed to cut the front lawn, but not the back.

Our holiday blog is at https://port19postcards.blogspot.com/

6m FT8

After a brief CQ (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni), I have been on FT8 RX most of the time. So far 38 reports in 8 countries on FT8 RX today with best DX LB7FA (1026km). On TX my best spot was by M0BEW (194km).

UPDATE 1517z: Now 44 stations spotted with EA8JK (3022km) as best DX spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2008z: Now 71 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Being back home, I tried 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode antenna in the ground) overnight. It definitely feels like the end of the season with very few stations spotting me and being spotted.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Sunspots - Saturday May 18th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number is 13. A=5 and K=1.

Back home and back on 472kHz WSPR

At about 2110z we arrived back home. I am back on 10mW ERP (20%) WSPR on 472kHz. A new station has appeared - G6ECH (227km). As yet, no spots of me.

Portugal castle - NOT amateur radio

Today is our last day in Portugal. We have seen some amazing sites and met some lovely people. Yesterday we visited Beja, which is supposed to have the highest tower in Portugal.

Sunspots - Friday May 17th 2019

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 13. A=6 and K=2.

Rally

Sunday 19 MAY : DUNSTABLE DOWNS NATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO CAR BOOT SALE

Stockwood Park, Luton LU1 4BQ. All the usual facilities. www.ddrcbootsale.org.

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

Portugal - NOT amateur radio

We get home tomorrow after a great trip. My wife made this collage, which sums up our trip quite well.

This has been a busy few days, but we have seen and learned a lot.

For days we have been looking for bee eaters. Today my wife and I saw 4!

Right wing extremists - NOT amateur radio

The upcoming European elections will be test for the far right parties in many EU countries. Although fairly centralist politically myself, there is no denying that politics in many countries is moving further right.

Many of those who vote right wing are disaffected people who think (falsely) that right wing parties will bring back halcyon days without immigrants and the EU.  In my view all EU nations have changed forever and people are being misguided.

The UK and USA have been integrating immigrant people for a very long time. It is important that people coming into a country learn the language and integrate. It is very unlikely those who do not try to fully integrate will feel welcomed.

If right wing parties do well in the EU elections the EU could change radically in the years ahead.

See https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48264638

Even lower!

Stefan DK7FC has been doing experiments at even lower frequencies! This was posted a few days ago. His attachment has NOT been included.

"Hello SLF freinds,

Just a note from a recent experiment at 270.1 Hz.
 
On sunday morning, 2019-05-12_10:34,+150m, i've done a carrier transmission on my ground loop antenna again. I did not expect more than, hopefully, a detectable spectrum peak in 57.6 km distance, i.e. at my tree site. The tree receiver site was listening and recording data using vlf-rx tools.
One E field antenna and two orthogonal loops were listening. The loops have been improved recently! They consist out of a single circular turn of 1.2 m diameter using 10mm diameter copper tube (about 25 mm^2). It is a closed loop, non-resonated, with an impedance matching transformer. This transformer previously had 1:100 turns. Now it (they) has 2:240 turns, i.e. two turns primary (out of 14mm^2, AWG6). This improved the sensitivity below 2 kHz significantly ( abt. 4...5 dB).
Furthermore the TX antenna length and angle has been improved, resulting in about +3 dB more signal strength on the RX site!

In a previous experiment at 270.1 Hz, some month ago, there was no result at all, not the weakest trace, despite excessive tweaking of all parameters. So the question was, will the improvements result in a detectable signal now?

Several things went wrong in that experiment. I forgot a bag containing important equipment such as the power supply for the netbook that generates the carrier signal. Also the output power was not as high as planned, just about 380 W, giving 2.2 A antenna current (I measured 64.7 V at 1 A DC). Anyway i managed to improvise so the experiment was started, but with some hours of delay which meant i higher QRN background level. Then, on the WLAN link to the tree, there were several interruptions of the stream (i'll move to 5 GHz very soon!). I even got some QRM from my battery charger for some short time periods (forgot to disable the charger remotely). So there were several factors that could have been improved or avoided. And the middle of May is not the ideal time anyway.

Well, 270.1 Hz, that's the 1110 km band! The far field begins at 177 km distance, i.e. i am clearly in the near field here. Thus, from a 'magnetic' TX antenna, we would expect that the signal is mainly detectable on the H field, i.e. the loop antennas.
The first interesting results is that this expection is actually confirmed. There is nothing detectable on the E field but the carrier S/N in the H fields is close to 10 dB in the first run. Mixing the H fields and tweaking the filters rises the carrier S/N to 10.7 dB, see attachment.

So far not really an undoubtly detection but it is a candidate for optimism! With a few less problems during the experiment there is a chance for 14 dB SNR. Also, there is quite much sideband QRM arround 300 Hz which makes 270 Hz a bit harder to work on.

73, Stefan"

Sunspots - Thursday May 16th 2019

Solar flux today is 73 and the sunspot number 13. A=6 and K=2.

Portugal Birds - NOT amateur radio

Bird spotting in Portugal continues. As well as masses of storks today I spotted cattle egrets and a grey shrike as well as lots I could not identify. I was hoping to spot a bee-eater, but no luck so far. I've seen them in Spain before, so was hoping to catch at least one here.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_bee-eater

Chapel of Bones - NOT amateur radio

This macabre but fascinating Chapel of Bones in Evora, Portugal is plastered with the skulls and bones of 5000 monks. It was created in the 17th century and aims to encourage people to contemplate their own mortality.

Dayton

17-19 MAY : DAYTON HAMVENTION

Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, Dayton, Ohio.

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

Little things please little minds! - NOT amateur radio

This sign, seen today in Portugal, amused me. I think it is actually to do with key cutting.