160m FT8 RX

Although I remained on 160m FT8 RX overnight, there were fewer EUs active than previously and no "real DX" on the band.

Electric Cars - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned a few days ago, my view is this is still not quite a mature technology. Once ranges are improved, I am still convinced there will be a "tipping point", although we are not there yet. Batteries based on lithium may not be the answer. Maybe we need a new technology that is truly green?

Sunspots - Wednesday June 5th 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number. A=4and K=1.

160m FT8 RX

Overnight, I shall be on 160m FT8 RX again. Now darkness has fallen Europeans are starting to come through, although it is unlikely stations "across the pond" will appear. Currently my best DX on 160m FT8 this evening is OM7DX (1325km). Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2137z: Now 21 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening with best DX R7PL (3468km) in Chechnya.

2m activity contest

This evening was the monthly 2m leg of the RSGB's activity contest(UKAC), that I missed last month as I was on holiday.

Again, my poor voice did not help and I could only stay on for about 50 minutes only. My 5W to the big-wheel omni netted me some decent QSOs as the map shows.

New radio

As the photo shows, I decided to pass on the IC7300 and FT991A and buy some modern gear instead. The picture shows me demonstrating it to a few old friends. 😉

Anglo-Saxons - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we took 2 of our young grandchildren to West Stow where there is a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village. The theme was Anglo-Saxon food.  Despite the looks on our grandson's face, he actually enjoyed it! We also ate in the café there and were served by very friendly staff. My wife said the fruit scone was one of the best she had ever had.

One of their drinks was dandelion coffee. We made some years ago and it was actually very good.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion_coffee

OFCOM monthly update

Every month OFCOM issues an update to its Communications Monthly. This summarises the main numbers that matter.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

We have the US president on a state visit to the UK giving his usual "helpful" advice. Without his help we are already in a mess with the ruling Conservatives and the main opposition Labour parties both deeply divided over the EU. Also the Conservatives are to elect a new leader and Prime Minister when Theresa May leaves soon.

Honestly, we are deeply divided over the EU and I see no easy answers. If I could hibernate I should do so for 10 years to see how this works out. If only the EU had been a little more flexible. With the rise of right wing parties maybe they will soon face a stark choice: modify how the EU works or face its break-up.

4m (70MHz)

It is many years since I went, briefly, on 70MHz with a homebrew QRP transverter and a wire dipole. Even with this some impressive inter-G DX was worked. The transverter featured in GQRP SPRAT. It is also on my website.  If I buy a new radio it is unlikely to include 70MHz.

See www.70mhz.org .

Sunspots - Tuesday June 4th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN still 0. A=4 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX overnight

Loads of Europeans spotted with best DX on 160m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground being CT3MD (2521km) on Madeira. Nothing from "across the pond". In all, 98 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX with this "antenna".

6m FT8

In the last few minutes I have been calling CQ at 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna. No QSOs resulted, but I was spotted by 3 stations with best DX M0BEW (194km). Now I am RX only on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 0947z: Now 13 stations in 3 countries spotted this morning on 6m FT8 RX with best DX SM7CAD (1140km), which was probably Es.

UPDATE 1535z: Now 44 stations in 12 countries spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX today. Some Es, but not great.

Photo-bomb - NOT amateur radio

This picture is superb. Not because it has any merit for photography skills, but I love the way our granddaughter just popped up!

This was totally spontaneous and I love that you can only see her eyes. We laughed and laughed.

160m FT8

For the last 30 minutes or so, I have been calling CQ on 160m FT8 with 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Not a single spot of me and no-one else yet spotted. Probably things will change after dark. At the moment I am RX only on 160m FT8.

The other night, as well as lot of Europeans on 160m FT8 RX I (supposedly) spotted a PY in Brazil. This could be genuine, but all spots of this station were in Europe. None in South America, none in the Caribbean, none in North America. I get the feeling this was someone in Eastern Europe playing little children's games.

UPDATE 1947z: Just 3 stations spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX with best DX OM5CM (1350km).

UPDATE 2130z: Now 32 stations in 12 countries so far spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

Oscar 100 web SDR down for maintenance

At the moment, I monitor activity on Oscar 100 by listening to the Goonhilly web SDR. This is down for maintenance until Thursday. This is quite a useful tool.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

UK dealers

This afternoon, I rang the main UK suppliers requesting the best price with free delivery for cash on a major amateur transceiver. I get the feeling they are being muzzled. Even with no trade-ins, no finance and upfront cash they do not seem to understand. More fool them for a sale lost. I can wait.

Why do UK amateur radio dealers remind me of insurance companies, who don't understand the value of loyal customers? It really infuriates me when premiums go up each year even though it is years and years since I last made a claim. You would think they would want to keep loyal customers. No, they depend on mugs being too lazy and just paying up. Personally, I think insurance companies are immoral sharks.

Internet - NOT amateur radio.

The Virgin Media man came earlier and thinks he has found a fault with the cabinet. At the moment, things seem to be working. We shall see.

UPDATE 1947z: Internet still working!

6m FT8

All morning I was on 6m FT8, initially calling CQ (2.5W), then RX only. For some reason (probably flaky internet) spots did not upload to PSKreporter. I have now reset things.

UPDATE 1515z: Now 36 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today. Recently, I spotted my old friend G3WKW (134km) calling CQ, but no replies sadly, despite calling him for several minutes. My QRP CQ was spotted locally by G4KPX (12km).

UPDATE 1815z: Now 49 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m FT8 RX today,

Sunspots - Monday June 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 69 today and the SSN 0. A=4 and  K=1.

That state visit - NOT amateur radio

This is my personal view and others are free to hold different views, but I have no desire to see the current US president afforded a state visit at OUR EXPENSE.

Kite - NOT amateur radio

On a walk today at Dalham we saw a kite (bird). At one time these would have been rare over here, but now they are quite common.

Solar minimum update

My usual source of data on the next solar cycle has been updated and still suggests that we have passed the solar minimum.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/

6m FT8

It looks like today was one of best days this season on 6m. As I said, the Internet is off most of the time so I have not been able to access PSKreporter or upload spots. I am now calling CQ.m

UPDATE 1847z: My CQ (2.5W) was spotted by several stations including some by Es.

UPDATE 1923z: PV8DX spotted. This is the first South American copied here this season on 6m.

No solar data again

Yet again we have had no Internet apart from 4G on the phone. As yet I have not been able to access solar data.

160m FT8 RX

This evening and overnight I am on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and there are plenty of Europeans to be spotted. At the moment 34 stations spotted with best DX 5B4AIF (3171km).

Electric Cars - NOT amateur radio

Most days now I see 1-2 electric cars. In other words they are not (yet) common. As the years go by I expect there will be far more. It is my view that we will have a "tipping point" when most of us will be driving electric cars and internal combustion care will seem "past it". At least one local amateur has bought an electric car recently, although unless you do mostly local journeys, I think the range is still too low.  The tipping point will come, in my view, when most trips can be done in a day without recharging i.e.the range is over 300 miles. OK, most journey's are far shorter, but the battery technology is still "not there".

6m FT8

Earlier I was on 6m FT8 TX and my QRP was copied by several stations. Although RX most of the day I am unable to upload spots to PSKreporter as the Internet via WiFi is off.

UPDATE 1840z: The Internet has been off much of the day.

472kHz WSPR overnight

We are really at the end of the season with just 3 stations spotted here and no one spotting me!

Solar data

At the moment I am having trouble with the Internet so am unable to get solar data. My only access is via 4G.

UPDATE 2000z: Internet back on, but flaky!  Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=0.

472kHz WSPR

Although the "season" is really well over, I decided to give 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX) with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground a go overnight. So far only G1GKN (99km) has been spotted.

FT4

Although release candidate versions of WSJT-X have been released including FT4, I think I shall now wait for the fully released version before installing. FT4 sounds like a useful Es mode with its shorter periods. It is not quite as sensitive, but with Es signals are often strong even with QRP.

See http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

8m Es QSOs

Southgate News relays EI7BL's blog about some exiting news of cross band Es QSOs on the new (in EI) 8m band.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/05/first-sporadic-e-crossband-contacts.html

Colourful Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Well, the centre of Cambridge is certainly entertaining! As well as the float in the photo we had buskers singing classical opera, which was very good (people applauded).

The downside is there are more homeless people now in the city. Some are definitely genuine (often with mental health issues) and some see Cambridge as a good hunting ground with plenty of visitors. These days we prefer to give directly to a homeless charity so we know the money will not be squandered on drugs.

No early 6m Es today

So far on 6m FT8 RX just a single station spotted HB9SJE (795km). Little sign yet of Es on the band.

UPDATE  1819z: Just 3 stations spotted all day today on 6m FT8 RX. Pathetic!

Sunspots - Friday May 31st 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=2.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Over the half-term holiday we have seen all 4 of our young grandchildren.

Today, our "London" grandchildren arrived for a few days. The photo shows them with my wife in our garden room.

Mess, but clean mess  😊

Currency oscillations - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the UK pound is up and down against major currencies. With BREXIT uncertainties and the likelihood of a new Prime Minister in the next month or so, this is hardly surprising. I guess the fact the UK pound has not tumbled dramatically is good news.

The UK must be the laughing stock of the world! How can we be so divided? I am struggling to see how rifts created in the last few years will be healed. Healed they must be.

Rally

Sunday 2 JUNE : SPALDING DARS ANNUAL RALLY

Holbeach Community Sports Academy, Pennyhill Lane, Holbeach PE12 7PR. Doors open at 9.30am and admittance is £3. The venue offers easy access from the A17, large area for boot traders and modern hall for indoor traders. There will be a Car Boot Sale, RSGB Book Stall, Special Interest Groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site and there will be a prize draw/raffle. Contact Graham Boor, G8NWC, 07754 619 701, rallysecretary@sdars.org.uk.

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

FT991A fan

Nobody gave me the answer I needed! Is the FT991A fan temperature controlled? Does it only come on when the rig gets hot? I think the IC7300 fan is always on when on TX. If I was to buy an FT991A it would mostly be used at QRP powers.