Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds about 10 years ago.

They go home today and left us a lovely set of plants that they potted.

As old friends, we just pick up as if they had never left.

2m FT8 Saturday

Being a weekend, there may be a little more activity today than in the week when many are working.  As of 1010z 8 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX IK2OLD (976km) near Milan. Again using the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1233z:  So far today 13 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1819z: Now 59 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Saturday December 14th 2019

Solar flux is 69 (i.e. less than 70) and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Wallet - NOT amateur radio

It's funny what we have in our wallets The photo shows what was in my wallet this morning. All the usual stuff is there including a couple of credit cards.

2m FT8

At the moment I am still on 2m FT8, mainly RX. So far today, 3 stations spotted with best DX on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel antenna DJ9IE (515km).

UPDATE 1100z: A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied by 1 G only. On RX 6 stations in 3 countries spotted so far.

UPDATE 2115z: Now 31 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

So the Conservative party has decisively won the UK General Election. I cannot deny they won a big majority although I feel this is as much about stopping the paralysis over BREXIT as anything else. I now expect the leader of the opposition to leave soon. His left wing policies were not liked.

Sunspots - Friday December 13th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

4m website

Although I have not been on 4m for some years there are more and more rigs with 4m coverage and more countries than ever with 4m access. 

One place with lots of data is the 4m website. Assuming the price is sensible I expect to buy an IC-705.  In Europe, this rig covers 4m.  4m should be a useful band for inter-G contacts and Es in to Europe. On FT8 I would expect most of the UK to be within range at any time irrespective of conditions.

Solar doldrums

It is now some while since we saw sunspots, with none even with the more active region of the Sun swinging in to view. The solar flux has been in the low 70s, as far as I remember, for some weeks and it has not dipped in to the 60s for some time. This, at least, is slightly encouraging.

It very much looks to me as if we are right at the bottom of the solar minimum. Only time will tell. If we are at the bottom, we can expect improving conditions for the next few years. Let's hope so!

2m FT8

A few moments ago I QSYed to 2m FT8 calling CQ (2.5W) initially. Nothing yet copied on RX, but 3 spots on TX with the best being M0NPT (125km) in Nottingham. I am using the big-wheel omni antenna. It is a truly miserable day with rain.

UPDATE 1243z: 6 stations in 3 countries so far this morning on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2142z: In the last day 69 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

160m FT8 RX last night

160m FT8 spots overnight with the
earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Another amazing evening and overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with 496 stations in 5 continents spotted with best DX ZS1LS (9738km).

UPDATE 1102z: KV4FZ (6764km) spotted at 0922z. This looks classic greyline with the Caribbean in darkness. A VY2 was also copied on 160m FT8 RX this morning, but this did not reach PSKreporter for some reason.

Quakers - NOT amateur radio

Although I cannot confess to having a faith these days, I admit to being an agnostic, I have a great deal of time for the Quakers in the UK. They seem to be the one group working for equality and peace. Unlike some religious groups they believe in faith in action and think there is "something of God in everyone". Most (all?) believe in simple living. Their business ethics are based on honesty and justice, something we are lacking in the UK and many countries currently.

See https://www.quaker.org.uk/

OFCOM

OFCOM is consulting on some short range wireless devices operating in the 800 and 900MHz regions. See their website for further details.

UK election day, Dec 12th - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK, today is the day we vote in a General Election. For the first time in nearly 100 years this is being held in December with dark evenings. Many in the UK are bored with BREXIT and leaving the EU.

The election outcome is very unpredictable. If the ruling Conservatives win an outright majority, they will press ahead with their BREXIT deal. As likely is a hung parliament with minor parties holding the balance of power.

UPDATE 1104z: I have voted. Deciding where to put my cross was not easy.

Sunspots - Thursday December 12th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number still 0.  A=6 and K=1.

160m FT8 today

This evening and overnight, I think I'll stick with 160m QRP FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In the last 30 minutes already 23 stations have been spotted with best DX being RW0AR (5585km) in Asiatic Russia.
.
UPDATE 1900z: On 160m FT8 RX 144 stations spotted so far this afternoon. With 2.5W TX just 1 G spot so far. In the last day 773 different stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX. Quite staggering.

UPDATE 2017z: A 2.5W FT8 CQ just now was spotted by 4 stations in 3 countries (no QSOs) with best DX being a spot by DK1BN (540km). On 160m FT8 RX now 200n stations spotted in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 2045z: WU1ITU (4831km) in Maine,USA, is already coming though! 244 stations spotted here on 160m FT8 RX in the last 6 hours.

What IS a QSO?

Earlier I had an interesting email from a friend in the village about what was a QSO. To him, unless there was a 2-way voice contact it was not really a QSO. He did not like FT8 contacts because these could be done PC-PC without a human even being present. These days, using systems like Echolink, one can talk to handheld stations on the other side of the world.

His email got me thinking. I use FT8 mainly because I use QRP and my voice is poor these days. I can still use voice modes, but it is hard work both for me and those at the other end!

Having said that, I like being able to assess conditions with WSPR and FT8. These systems work with weak signals and are far better aids to seeing if a path is open than SSB or CW can ever be. For a start, using the internet databases, there are lots of people monitoring and they are all monitoring the same small chunks of spectrum. Last night, for example, there were 17 FT8 QSOs on 160m in just 2kHz of spectrum. Being weak signal modes, brief openings are caught. On 2m FT8 I can be consistently copied at great range with 2.5W to a simple omni antenna. On 2m QRP SSB I struggle to work over 200km. With FT8 double or more distance is possible with QRP irrespective of conditions.

To me, Echolink QSOs are not "real" QSOs as most of the way the internet is the bearer.

I guess all we can conclude is a QSO is different for different people. Old timers (like me?) still like DX contacts by "real" radio, whereas these days this is arguably unimportant. To me, the challenge is propagation. For some it is the joy of just talking to people.

Tax Returns - NOT amateur radio

About this time I get around to submitting a tax return to the UK's Inland Revenue. In the USA I think this is the IRS. I forgot my Government Gateway ID and spent about an hour going around in ever decreasing circles. You would think they would put this on last year's tax return! No, this is too obvious. In the end I found the old one and successfully logged in.

Next year I think I won't have to do a tax return although I expect I still will have to tell them about gift aid. Not everyone has to do a tax return. In the past it was necessary if you had income from shares or houses. I have neither.  I hate doing tax returns.

160m FT8 overnight

Amazing! Since turning on 160m FT8 RX early last night I have spotted 691 stations in 5 continents. On 160m FT8 TX I was spotted 13 stations in 5 countries with the best spot by DK2LO (650km) with 2.5W.  The earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground certainly works for me!

Stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using 

the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground

Sunspots - Wednesday December 11th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

160m FT8

For a change, I am trying 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. An FT8 CQ was spotted by no-one, but I was blown away by the high number of stations spotted on RX. There were so many! Best DX so far on 160m FT8 RX is UA4HBW (3300km) in Samara. In about 30 minutes 51 stations already spotted on 160m FT8 RX. Quite staggering.

Stations spotted on 160m
FT8 RX in first hour

UPDATE 1947z:  17 stations occupying just 2kHz of band! Best DX on 160m FT8 RX now R9GM (3499km) in Perm. 127 stations spotted already in the first hour on 160m FT8 RX.  A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ on 160m was spotted by 5 G stations with best being G0KTN (211km).

70cm activity contest tonight

Starting at 8pm UK clock time is the 70cm activity contest, held monthly. As I have no 70cm antennas up currently, I use the 2m big-wheel omni antenna 10W SSB. Despite this compromise set-up I often get over 100km despite being on for far less than 1 hour, because of my poor voice.

2m FT8

After a brief look in on our local 2m FM gateway, I have returned to 2m FT8 calling CQ just now with 2.5W to the big-wheel. 5 spots so far with the best report being by GD3YEO (384km) on the Isle of Man. On 2m FT8 RX no spots yet.

2m FT8 never fails to amaze me: if I worked the Isle of Man with QRP CW or SSB I would be flabbergasted. To do this regularly, irrespective of conditions with 2.5W and just the omni antenna is just mind-blowing.

UPDATE 1857z: A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ was spotted by a couple of stations.

Antipodial 2m DX

Not quite sure how he finds all this juicy news, but EI7GL's blog reports some remarkable 2m DX QSOs in Australia and New Zealand.

This is a good blog with lots of interesting stuff regularly.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-3000km-opening-on-144-mhz.html

Kitchen narcissi - NOT amateur radio

I thought it was last week, but on reflection it must have been the week before, my wife bought a bowl of narcissi for the kitchen table. Most are now in flower.

It is great fun seeing them develop when we eat breakfast. The heads are smaller than we expected, but they still are glorious.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) overnight

Although there were no stations in Norway spotting me, last night was quite a good session with 20 different stations spotting me on 472kHz WSPR despite me using the 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At the moment, the 472kHz WSPR is still on, although I may switch to 2m FT8 later.

Stations spotting my 472kHz 

10mW ERP WSPR overnight

UK winters - NOT amateur radio

Although we had a few flutters of snow on this day a couple of years ago, most winters in England are just dull. The photo show our local baker and butcher on a typical winter day.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 10th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR TX

For the first time in a while, I am back on 472kHz WSPR TX with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In the first few transmissions 7 stations spotted me in 2 countries, which is a promising start. No great DX as yet, but I'll leave it running overnight.

UPDATE 2125z: 12 unique spots so far.

UPDATE 2226z: 16 unique spots in 6 countries so far this evening.

AM QSO party - Jan 2020

Southgate News reports on an upcoming AM activity contest towards the end of January. On some bands there is plenty of space for AM. This concentrates on HF AM.  There is little doubt that SSB is a better DX mode and takes up less bandwidth, but there is still a place for AM.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/january-2020-am-qso-party-in-europe.htm#.Xe6ju-iTLnE

East Cambs 2m FM net

At 8pm local time on Mondays we hold a net on 144.575MHz FM vertical. We normally stay on for less than 30 minutes and the technical discussions are pretty basic. Anyone in the area is free to call in.

Later, I might try 630m (472kHz) WSPR TX.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken last April when the roses at nearby Anglesey Abbey had not quite come out. Now they have just about all gone. Come next summer, these beds will be a mass of colour.

OFCOM and shared spectrum licences

OFCOM is inviting applications from professional users for shared spectrum at microwave frequencies.  These are shared shortish range services, ideal for local area networks in, for example, farms and factories.

See their website for details.

2m FT8

It would appear there are few stations on 2m FT8 this morning. A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ has been widely spotted with best DX DF6PW (562km). On RX nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: Although just 2 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX, I have been spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with best DX spot being by EI2FG (565km).  One G QSO as a result of the CQ.

UPDATE 1435z: A recent 2m FT8 10W CQ was spotted by 10 stations in 5 countries.

UPDATE  1633z: A 2m FT8 CQ (10W to the big wheel) just now was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries. In the last day 36 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1851z: Now 38 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1938z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was spotted by 11 stations in 6 countries.

Sunspots - Monday December 9th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and and the SSN still 0.  A=3 and K=1.

Sunspots often return for a few days as the more active side of the sun faces us. As we have had a considerable period with no sunspots, I wonder if we are really at the very bottom of the cycle? If so, we can wait for the climb to soon start.  It may a while, but as they say, "the only way is up".  It certainly cannot get any worse!

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

As a child until university days, I lived in South Devon in an area called "The South Hams".  Arguably this is one of the best parts of England.  Even now, I still feel drawn. The photo shows Soar Mill Cove, which is a few miles from where I lived.

UK General Election, December 12th - NOT amateur radio

On December 12th 2019, the UK has a General Election.

The ruling government is campaigning mostly on BREXIT. The outcome is anyone's guess. The opinion polls show the ruling Conservatives consistently in front, but whether they get a clear majority is far from certain. A hung parliament might get us a softer EU exit eventually,  but many in the UK are now sick and tired of delay, with many wanting this over and done with. The trouble is all major parties promise a lot, but rarely deliver. The UK Prime Minister is not trusted by many.

With just a few days to go, I have no idea who to vote for and I am sure very many others are also confused.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49798197

IC-705

Many people are following the European and USA release of this new radio from ICOM with great interest. At the moment the price and availability are not known. The release date in Japan was April 2020 I believe.  I try to update my website as I get new data. Personally, I think they would be stupid to release this without at least the option of an internal auto-ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705

Austalian super-DX on 70cm

EI7GL reports that the 70cm record has been extended (2806km) in Australia. The contact was using FT8.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/12/australian-70cms-digital-record.html

2m FT8

In the last few hours 7 stations spotted in 3 countries on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being EI3KD (583km). Antenna is the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1219z:  21 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1415z:  29 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1455z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 2 ires.countries (no QSOs) with the best DX being G8WXV (277km).

UPDATE 1642z: Now 34 stations in 6 countries spotted.

UPDATE  1820z: A recent 10W 2m FT8 CQ was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries including Eire and Germany. Again, the antenna was the big-wheel omni.  No QSOs resulted though. On 2m FT8 RX 40 stations in 9 countries so far spotted today.

UPDATE 1950z: A recent CQ was spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries.

UPDATE 2038z: The map shows the stations spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX today.