Sunspots - Wednesday February 12th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=1.

70cm activity contest

Starting at 2000z is the RSGB organised activity contest on 70cm (UKAC). As my voice is poor, I use 10W and I have no suitable antennas (I use my 2m big-wheel omni) my time is usually well below an hour. Activity levels are far better than normal on 70cm SSB and there is no compulsion to submit a log. I usually do even though I rarely work a great many stations.

Overall, it is fun. To me, this is how contests should be.  Scoring is simple and there are multipliers for new grid squares.

UPDATE 2115z: Despite my QRP and 2m omni antenna, I managed 7 QSOs in this contest. No great DX worked, but great fun for about 40 minutes.

70cm SSB stations worked this evening

Fewer Far East visitors? - NOT amateur radio

Trinity College, Cambridge

At any time of the year, Cambridge has plenty of visitors from overseas. They come to see the historic college buildings, some of which date back centuries. It is all too easy to take them for granted. This year there are fewer Far East visitors, for obvious reasons. I suspect this year we will see a big hit in visitor numbers from the Far East.

160m FT8 RX

Using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. So far, 65 stations have been spotted. Best DX on 160m FT8 RX so far is R6FFB (3236km).

UPDATE  2137z: Been back on 160m FT8 RX for about 30 minutes. 188 stations spotted this evening so far. No North Americans yet.

17m FT8 RX today

As today is my course in Cambridge I decided to leave my tiny indoor loop antenna monitoring 17m FT8. The map shows the stations spotted so far.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 11th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number 0. I think the more active side is facing away from us. A=5 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR RX overnight

As you may remember, the PA in my transverter has been damaged, so I am on 472kHz RX only. Last night was very disappointing with just LA8AV and F1AFJ spotted here.

160m FT8

Since my temporary repair to my earth-electrode "antenna" I have been on 160m FT8 RX. So far 139 stations spotted with best 160m FT8 RX DX being RC9F (3515km) in Perm.

UPDATE 2200z: Earlier I tried looking on 1907kHz for Japanese stations, but none spotted. Now back on 1840kHz FT8. An earlier FT8 CQ (10W) was spotted across western Europe.

UPDATE 2226z: The first North American spotted was K1UO (4973km). 320 stations spotted so far this evening.

160m FT8 RX spots here this evening so far

Visit

This morning I had a visit from Chris M0PZC, who came to see my antennas and tap me for some information. Me?  The advice I could give him was limited, but probably holds good for many:

• Be prepared to fiddle to see what works for you.
• Don't believe the experts all the time. If you want the very best performance towers, beams and high power could help, but for much of the time compromises will do just fine.
• If wider bandwidths like SSB don't work for you because of local manmade noise use narrower bandwidth modes like FT8.
• On HF bands and 6m (probably 2m too) loft-space antennas and a few radials can work well. Get as much vertical wire up (a quarter wave electrically) as you can and coil this up to make a helical quarter wave if need be. Cut the length to get lowest SWR. Here I am thinking of loft antennas, but the same advice applies outside too.
• On 6m and 2m FT8 aircraft scatter, polarisation does not seem to matter.
• On 10m and 6m sporadic-E (Es) a few watts of SSB to almost any antenna (even a wire dipole indoors) will allow you to have European contacts.  Es is best May, June and July in the UK.
• On HF, I have rarely found polarisation matters.
• Go portable if all else fails.

On 160m SSB my noise level is S9, but with FT8 I have no issues at all on RX or TX.

My overall message is just have fun! Find out what is best for you by playing around. Amateur radio means different things to different people - just enjoy what gives you pleasure.

Snap!

Yesterday I reported that my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground suddenly stopped working. An inspection this morning revealed the issue: my wire had snapped.

I did an emergency repair and the SWR on 160m was back to normal. Sadly the output on 630m was still zero suggesting the output FET has been damaged. Until this can be repaired I shall have to restrict myself to RX only on this band.

20m FT8

As I have no working external antennas on HF at present (my 10m end-fed has a high SWR for some reason now), I am using the tiny magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill. Even on 20m FT8 TX the results continue to amaze me. Already this morning, lots of stations spotted me. For a loop just 40cm diameter with thin copper wire this is just flabbergasting. 

The map shows the stations spotting me (10W) this morning on 20m FT8 with the tiny loop.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had our old neighbours around. They lived next-door and were good people.

Oscar 100

As many will know, periodically, I take a peek at the webSDR at Goonhilly, Cornwall, to check activity on the narrowband transponder. This is just an impression and highly unscientific! My quick look yesterday evening in the UK suggests activity levels broadly similar to last time. There were about 9-10 active SSB stations.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Sunspots - Monday February 10th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Earth-electrode "antenna" damaged?

Suddenly on 630m, the antenna current meter read 0uA. A check on 160m showed high SWR too.  It looks to me like there is damage to the earth-electrode "antenna". Maybe the feed from the far earth may be broken. I shall have to check in the morning.

Return to 472kHz WSPR TX (less than 10mW ERP)

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I have returned to 472kHz WSPR TX.

As the ground is very wet following the storms, it is very likely the ERP is below 10mW and the size of the loop in the ground is smaller than usual. The antenna current measures lower. If the soil conductivity is higher the signal cannot spread out so much as the effective loop area is smaller.

So far, just 4 spots by G0VQH (15km).

UPDATE 1815z: Still just spots from Jenny G0VQH. May later I may get more spots?

UPDATE 1935z:  QRT. Is the earth-electrode "antenna" damaged?

What is enough?

OK, so if you are chasing that last remaining DXCC entity I can imagine a big beam on a high tower and plenty of power might help. However, recently I have been wondering what constitutes "enough" for mere mortals.

As you will probably have read in earlier blog posts, I use about 10W and often far less. On HF I have no external antennas, so have had to make do with a tiny magnetic loop antenna on 20m, 17m, and 15m. I am sure it would be better on higher bands, but these have seemed dead when I tried. On 630m, 160m and 80m, I have used the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. On 6m, 2m and 70cm I frequently use the V2000 omni vertical. On 2m and 70cm, I sometimes use the big-wheel horizontal omni. I have no beams on HF, VHF or UHF.

What the last few days have taught me is simple, compromise, antennas and low power are perfectly fine most of the time. Yes, I am sure more power and better antennas would give better results, but simple antennas and low power will give you lots of fun.

Storm Ciara - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, we have strong wind and rain as a result of Storm Ciara.  At this time of year, this is unusual. Strong winds are more common in October.

Gusts of wind up to 90mph are battering some parts of the UK. It is not as bad here, but I reckon the gusts are up to 60mph. At the moment trees and the like are OK.

20m FT8 again with the magnetic loop

As of a short while ago, I am on 20m FT8 with the small, indoor, magnetic loop and 10W. Already 3 spots of me, but no 2-way QSOs yet. I am still amazed how well this tiny loop works!

UPDATE 1340z: So far today, 16 spots of my 10W to the tiny, indoor, magnetic loop with best DX SM2UHF (2016km). A reminder that the loop is about 40cm across using 1mm copper wire and is just sat on the shack windowsill.

UPDATE 1456z: 19 people have spotted my 20m 10W FT8 to the tiny magnetic loop antenna so far today. On 20m FT8 RX, 143 stations spotted so far with best DX KF0RQ (7489km) in Colorado, USA.

2m FT8 using the big-wheel omni

At about 0900z I QSYed to 2m. Although no stations yet spotted and no QSOs resulted from my recent FT8 CQs, I was spotted by 8 stations in 2 countries with G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. As stated in an earlier post, I think I see DX by a mixture of "flat band tropo" and aircraft reflection. In the past I have received very similar numbers of stations with the vertical omni as with the horizontal.

UPDATE 0938z: Just 2 stations in 2 countries so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX. Best DX on2m FT8 RX is GD6ICR (397km).

UPDATE 0957z: 8 stations in 3 countries have spotted my CQs (10W to the big-wheel) so far on 2m FT8 today. Best DX is EI3KD (583km).

2m FT8 (10W) spots 

of me so far today

UPDATE 1224z: 19 stations in 4 countries have spotted me so far this morning. An M station called me shortly after I went back to RX only, so we missed a QSO. On 2m FT8 RX 16 spots in 4 countries so far.

Local landmark - NOT amateur radio

Our local church dates from Saxon times over 1000 years ago. It can be seen from miles around.

160m FT8 overnight

Not a bad night but not the best either.  728 stations spotted with North and South America in the log.

160m FT8 RX overnight 

Sunspots - Sunday February 9th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Ely cathedral - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we visited Ely Cathedral. It is very, very old. The photo shows the light inside.

160m FT8

Results with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground are very similar to previous evenings. So far, 40 stations spotted here and 6 spots of my 10W.

UPDATE 1808z:  So far this evening 22 stations have spotted me. On 160m FT8 RX, 149 spots so far this evening.
 2110

Spots on 160m FT8 RX this evening

UPDATE 2018z: 26 spots of my 10W FT8 CQ calls on 160m this evening. 362 spots on RX spots far this evening. Quite a few stations are working Japanese stations that I think TX higher up the band. I must find out where and monitor.

UPDATE 2028z:  Looks like the Japanese TX on 1907kHz which is where I am looking now. Maybe I am too late this evening? I shall monitor 1907kHz for a while before going back to 1840kHz.

UPDATE 2100z: Both JA5EXW and JH4UYB spotted on 1907kHz USB FT8, but neither appeared on PSKreporter. I am obviously looking in the right place. Tomorrow I must try earlier. A couple of EU stations are transmitting up there hoping to work Japanese without split.

UPDATE 2118z:  VO1HP (3744km) spotted at 2110z, which is quite early. 4S7AB (8678km) is currently the best DX spotted this evening.

Stations spotted so far this
evening on 160m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2140z: 418 stations spotted so far this evening on 160m FT8 RX. This excludes the Japanese stations.

20m FT8 with the magnetic loop

Just before 1130z I QSYed to 20m FT8 using the tiny magnetic loop antenna on the shack windowsill. Already 5 spots of my 10W FT8 CQ with best DX RO1M (2030km). On 20m FT8 RX 15 stations spotted, mostly in Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1348z:   Just measured the loop diameter - just 0.4m!! The wire is about 1mm diameter.  So far, 15 stations have spotted me with the magnetic loop (10W) with the best DX being a spot by K1GUY (3288 miles). Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1700z:  I have just QSYed to 160m FT8, but managed 31 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 CQs (no 2-way QSOs sadly) with the tiny magnetic loop.

Building

The photo shows me building in the back of the garage at the old QTH many years ago. These days building is hard.

Another good session on 160m FT8 RX overnight

Yet another good session on 160m FT8 RX overnight with 756 stations spotted including many in North America and 1 in South America.

UPDATE 1000z: Nothing in the last 2 hours! Definitely a nighttime DX band.

Spots on 160m FT8 RX overnight here 

Sunspots - Saturday February 8th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=15 and K=2.

160m FT8

The sun is still shining here. It will be dark in about 30 minutes' time.

I am now on 160m FT8 with 10W to the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground.  Already my CQ call has got spots from 13 stations across Europe and on 160m FT8 RX the best DX is RU8W (3643km) after about 30 minutes on the band.

UPDATE 1930z: After a CQ call session on 160m FT8 (10W) I got not a single spot! Investigation revealed that the connection to the earth-electrode "antenna" had fallen off!! Since reconnecting I am being widely spotted again. At the moment 23 spots received with the best spot being by OH2BUA (1833km).

Stations spotting me
on 160m FT8 (10W)

UPDATE 1957z: Already 33 stations have spotted my 10W FT8 on 160m. The earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground certainly works for me!

That magnetic loop on other bands

The magnetic loop
antenna

As you may remember, I have been experimenting with my tiny magnetic loop antenna on the shack windowsill. It is at most about 50cm diameter and the wire is not very thick. To my amazement, I am getting spots with about 10W on 20m FT8. It seems to match on most bands above 20m. If stuck for a "proper" antenna, I can always try this!

20m FT8 TX spots in 30
minutes on the tiny loop

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Ely Cathedral in the bright winter sunshine.

We went to the cathedral today to see the "Crowns and Gowns" exhibition. Needless to say, I chose not to go to the exhibition.

Like many high streets there plenty of coffee shops and charity shops and few independent shops left.

Green fingers? NOT amateur radio

My wife seems to have a way with orchids! The photo shows just one.

Best night ever on 472kHz WSPR

Overnight 32 stations spotted my 10mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR. Best DX was again a spot from Norway.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR TX overnight 

Sunspots - Friday February 7th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=15 and K=3.

New IC-705 video

Southgate News has a link to the IC-705 video in which Ray N9JA gives a detailed walk-through of this QRP radio which we hope will be on sale in the UK and EU later this year. It looks very much like the IC-7300 on the screen.

This is the most detailed video of this transceiver I have seen.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/february/icom-ic-705.htm#.Xjxk5I6TLnE

Coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

It is understandable that governments are being very cautious: at the moment there are no vaccines and it is not totally clear how it is spread. It could yet become a global pandemic. At the moment the death rate seems pretty low.

Several things are certain:

• As many things are now made in China, supplies will be disrupted. 
• Demand for oil is falling in China. 
• Cruises will become less popular. 
• The impact on the global economy could be massive.

A lot will depend on the next few weeks.

Another rally

Sunday 9 FEBRUARY : HARWELL RADIO AND ELECTRONICS RALLY

Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 8AY (3 miles from A34 Milton Interchange). Doors open 10am to 3pm, admittance £3 (under 12s free). Free car parking. Disabled parking and facilities. Talk in on 145.550MHz, using G3PIA. Local and national traders, Special Interest Groups and RSGB Bookstand. Home-made refreshments available all day. Details from  www.g3pia.net.

Return to 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

After an absence of several weeks, I have returned to 472kHz WSPR TX. My measured ERP is less than 10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  The output of the transverter is about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is pretty inefficient, although better than expected.

Even in daylight I was quite surprised to see 3 unique stations spotting me with best DX spots by G0MRF (139km).

All being well, I hope to stay on overnight.

UPDATE 1206z: So far today, 4 different stations have spotted my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR signal.

UPDATE 1835z: 17 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP so far (see table below).

160m FT8 overnight

With over 600 stations spotted overnight it was another good session on topband. Antenna is again the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Stations spotted on 160m
FT8 RX overnight