Good optical comms site

On my own main website is some information (now very dated!) about my own experiments with optical communications at 481THz (red light). I was mainly interested in over the horizon, weak signal modes.

I was quite amazed to clearly detect my optical beacon over the horizon when nothing was visible in the sky. There were no clouds so I assume this was clear air scattering off dust particles.  This was using QRSS3 and a PC to "see" the signal. My own experiments stopped shortly after my 2013 stroke. I did try one experiment out portable since, but I was too clumsy. I have not tried anything portable since 2014.

All the gear needed is quite simple to make and all the test gear needed easy to fabricate. I made a very weak signal source using a very very dim LED to test the receivers. This was mounted near the ceiling of a darkened room. With a good RX this should be received OK. If you cannot detect modulation on a very dim LED your RX is not good enough.

I still have all my optical kit. If anyone local wants to borrow it to carry on the experiments, I'd be very happy. They must be local as I will want the gear back.

Another good resource is http://www.modulatedlight.org/optical_comms/optical_index.html

6m FT8

Lots of short pings on my waterfall, which I guess could be Perseids MS pings.

So far just a couple of Gs spotted my 6m FT8 TX CQ call just now.

On 6m FT8 RX 10 spots so far (0855z) with best being EA1TF (1164km) in northern Spain.

UPDATE 0908z: A very recent CQ call got only G spots. On 6m FT8 RX 11 stations spotted with best DX being IS0AWZ (1598km).

UPDATE 1010z: Now 15 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX, proving that FT8 allows the Es season to be seen going in far longer than many assume on 6m.  As 6m FT8 is so easy, I may QSY to 2m FT8 or even 70cms FT8.

UPDATE 1745z: It looks like the Es opening(s) today are over. In all, 26 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Soon be time to try another band.

Sunspots - Thursday August 15th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Out to old neighbours - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon, we visited our old neighbours for a cup of tea, so everything was turned off and disconnected fearing a thunderstorm. Although the power went off for a few minutes, we had no storms locally, so I have reconnected my radio gear and PC.

Nora Quoirin - NOT amateur radio

My heart bleeds for this girl's family. She had learning difficulties and was on holiday in Malaysia when she disappeared from her room. She was found dead a mile away in dense jungle. At the time of writing they are carrying out a post mortem. The family must be in a living hell.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-49340903

6m FT8

At the moment I am on 6m FT8 (RX mainly), but may go QRT later if there is any storm risk. On 6m FT8 TX 7 spots, mostly Gs with best DX HB9CQK (819km). On RX 5 stations spotted with the best being F1HMR (977km).

UPDATE 1112z: Now 23 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX, presumably many are via Es.

UPDATE 1641z: Gear was disconnected this afternoon, but now reconnected. 3 spots (all Gs) and 7 spots on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1912z: A recent 6m FT8 TX CQ call was spotted by 5 G stations, but no QSOs resulted. In total, 53 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. As the Es seems to have stopped, I shall be going QRT shortly.

Thunder risk

We have a Met Office warning for possible thunderstorms later. At the moment I am on 6m FT8.

See https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?id=09df0131-989b-4f56-98fa-b14775c4344e&date=2019-08-14

Sunspots - Wednesday August 14th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the sunspot number still 0. A=7 and K=2. Still poor.

UPDATE 1915z:  Latest K=1.

70cm activity contest

After about 30 minutes I (well my voice!) had had enough. With 10W pep SSB 4 stations were worked with G4CLA (105km) as my best DX.  Antenna is just the 2m big-wheel omni.

6m FT8

Since returning from Norwich, I have been on 6m FT8. On RX, 44 stations spotted in about 1 hour. On TX, 12 stations spotted me (no QSOs) with best DX report being from EA5BB (1505km).

UPDATE 2032z: Earlier CQ calls on 6m FT8 were spotted by 25 stations with the best being SV1DH (2430km). 2 QSOs resulted. On 6m FT8 RX 112 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2045z: QRT.