6 Mar 2020

FT8 popularity

Southgate News has a piece asking how long it takes to get DXCC using FT8.

In the piece they say that 80% of contacts are now on FT8. If true, and I do not know if this is, it means there is a huge drop in SSB use and far less chatting.

Although I enjoy FT8 as my voice is poor, I hope people still want to use other modes and chat. Without this, our hobby is much poorer.

Years ago people often chanced on amateur radio. Operators heard amateur AM transmissions and they were curious. FT8 needs special free software, so newcomers are very unlikely to chance upon it.

Britbox: crap? - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I signed up to this streaming service set up by ITV and the BBC.

Since then, I have found the website mostly unavailable. Not only that, but I cannot find out how to access it on my TV which I get via Virgin Media. Amazon Prime and Netflix are apps, which I can easily access.

So far, my impressions are not good. This should be easy and painless. It is not!

As soon as the website is accessible I am going to cancel.

20m FT8 on the tiny indoor loop

A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 using the only 20m antenna I have: the tiny indoor loop.

Plenty of stations coming in on RX including lots of Japanese stations with the best DX so far on 20m FT8 RX being JQ2QHQ (9526km).

On TX (10W) just one spot so far EU1SW (1799km).

UPDATE 1202z: 227 stations spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX with 5 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 TX with best being WW1WW (3255 miles).

Stations spotting my 10W FT8
TX to the tiny indoor loop today
UPDATE 1643z: Now 28 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 TX to the tiny indoor loop. On 20m FT8 RX 541 stations spotted.  Absolutely amazing!

UPDATE 1953z: 39 spots of my 10W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. On 20m FT8 RX 668 stations spotted. Now QRT on 20m.
Stations spotted on 20m FT8
RX with the tiny indoor loop

Cambridge colleges - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge is famous for the university colleges. Generally they have loads of money!

Red-legged partridges - NOT amateur radio

Red-legged partridges are quite common now near here. They can be quite tame. We often see them around.

Sunspots - Friday March 6th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

5 Mar 2020

Rallies

Saturday 7 MARCH : LAGAN VALLEY ARS RALLY

Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6AR. Doors open at 11am and entrance is £4. Dave Wilson, MOOBW, the RSGB President and Examination Quality Assurance Manager, will be in attendance to meet attendees and give a demonstration of the online exam system to anyone who wishes to see how it works. The RSGB Awards Manager, Bobby, MI0RYL will be there as will representatives from the RABIC.


Sunday 8 MARCH : CANCELLED

PENCOED ARC TABLE TOP SALE


Pencoed Rugby Club The Verlands, Felindre Road Pencoed CF35 5PB Due to unforseen circumstances the table-top sale has been cancelled.

Christening Font at Norwich Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

The Christening font here is unusual being a copper vessel that was at one time in a chocolate factory.

It is shown in the photo.

2m FT8

A few minutes ago I went QRT on 10m FT8 RX (no spots) and QSYed to 2m FT8. So far (2010z) 13 spots of my 8-10W the big-wheel omni in 3 countries  (G, GI and EI).

On 2m FT8 RX only 2 G spots so far.

UPDATE 2233z: 18 stations have spotted my 10W, but I have spotted only 3 Gs.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today we went by train to Norwich to meet with my wife's brother and his wife. We met in the cathedral.

The photo shows Pull's Ferry where stone from France used to build the cathedral came in. They built a special canal up to the cathedral (now not there) to move the stones to the cathedral from the River Wensom.

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

10m FT8 (mainly RX)

At the moment, and for much of the day, I am on 10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop. If I spot anyone at all I shall be pleased! At 10m, the loop should be more efficient, but will there be activity?

As Bas recently mentioned, especially on N-S paths there is still propagation on 10m. Have a go on 10m today!

Sunspots - Thursday March 5th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

4 Mar 2020

2m FT8

Have now QSYed to 2m FT8.  A couple of QSOs so far.

Stations spotting my 2m 10W
to the big-wheel this evening
UPDATE 2105z: So far this evening I have been spotted by 25 stations in 6 countries. Several 2-way QSOs with the 10W and big-wheel. The map shows stations spotting me this evening.

First cut - NOT amateur radio

First cut 
Today, I cut our grass for the first time this year. Intentionally, the cut was with the blades set high.

Still no sunspots

We had a few in January, but it has been spotless since. If we were after the minimum I should have expected to see a few by now. We live in hope! Solar flux is still very low. It would not surprise me to hear we are only now at the solar minimum.

Chocolate bars getting smaller? - NOT amateur radio

The common view, widely held, is that chocolate bars are getting smaller and that this is a clever marketing ploy: we cannot be sure they are really getting smaller or that they seem to get smaller as we grow up.

The truth is some have indeed got smaller, but some have actually got bigger!  Most seem to have shrunk in recent years.

See https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2015/11/13/Chocolate-bar-sizes-Historic-comparison-of-Hershey-s-and-Mars-bars#

See also https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-5128597/Graphics-reveal-chocolate-shrunk-size.html

Transatlantic on 472kHz WSPR

Jason, M1PRO, built my 472kHz transverter and reports on his blog that he was spotted in the USA last night.

2m FT8 activity contest this evening

Some East Europeans have started 2m and 70cm FT8 activity contests each month. I shall take part in the 2m session tonight.

See https://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/

17m FT8

At about 0905z I went on 17m FT8  with about 8W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Although no spots on RX, I have already been spotted by 2 stations on TX!!

UPDATE 1025z:  4 spots of me so far with best DX 5B60ALJ (3185km). 2 RX spots so far on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1040z:  6 spots of me so far this morning on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1132z: My tiny indoor loop continues to amaze me! So far this morning with 8-10W 17m FT8 this has been spotted by 8 stations right across the compass. On 17m FT8 RX 6 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1207z: 11 stations has so far today spotted my signal on 17m FT8 TX. Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1415z: 24 spots of me on 17m FT8 TX (10W) with best DX being a spot by KC5LT (4058 miles). All on the tiny indoor loop!

UPDATE 1534z: 35 spots of my 10W 17m FT8 today so far and 63 stations in 5 continents spotted here with the loop on 17m FT8 RX.

17m FT8 TX today
UPDATE 1810z: 40 spots of my 17m FT8 TX today. I am running 10W. Now QSYed to 2m FT8.

USA presidential elections

The money spent in the campaign strikes me as obscene. The amounts of money spent by these candidates is staggering. Talk of caring about the poor rings hollow with me.

To me it smacks of ego and power. In the USA you choose, but personally I find them all a poor choice whether Democratic or Republican.

It seems a general problem that we lack politicians who have good motives and are electable. I can think of very few people.  Everyone has dark secrets, but, tell me, who can you think would really make a good leader in any country? Sorry, but I bet you are struggling.

Sunspots - Wednesday March 4th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K =2.

3 Mar 2020

2m UKAC activity contest

2m SSB contacts this evening
Starting at 2000z is the March leg of the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. Because my voice is poor I usually manage an hour. This is about 40% of the time in the contest.  I use an omni big-wheel antenna and 5-10W.

Activity is usually high and, unlike many contests, this one is fun. Although I usually submit a log in the AL (low power) section there is no compulsion to do so and many just come on for fun.

UPDATE 2130z: With my poor voice this evening, it seemed very hard. I all 7 QSOs made with best DX G4RUL/P on the south coast.

Feline friend? - NOT amateur radio

On our walk around the village at the weekend, my wife managed this photo. Shortly afterwards the cat decided to run away. I think it was just checking me out!

Another loop

Jay, W5OLF sent me a photo of the loop antenna he has been using on 10m WSPR. The loop is quite small, but the wire diameter quite large, so it should be pretty efficient. For modes like WSPR, FT8 and PSK loops can be a good choice as they are small and narrowband.

OFCOM updates

As usual at the start of the month, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly. See the OFCOM website for details.

Expensive garden furniture - NOT amateur radio

This was on sale in Cambridge earlier. At not much less than £10k I don't think I shall be rushing out! It is a garden pod complete with padded seats.

15m FT8

A few moments ago, I switched to 15m FT8 after being QRT overnight. As of now (1000z) no spots given or received. I am using 2.5W from the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the windowsill again.

UPDATE 1645z: So far today 34 stations spotted on 15m FT8 with the best DX being ZS2EZ (9900km) in Eastern Cape. My 2.5W to the tiny loop was spotted by 5B60ALJ (3185km). Nobody has spotted me now since early afternoon.

UPDATE  1736z: Soon be time to go QRT on 15m.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A =5 and K=1.

2 Mar 2020

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

We went for a walk around the village today. The sky was spectacular.

Spring promises - NOT amateur radio

Everywhere we look now there are signs of spring. New buds on trees, blossom and, of course, as the photo shows, daffodils. According to the UK Met Office it is already spring.

15m FT8

About 5 minutes ago I went on 15m FT8 again. Guess what antenna? The tiny loop! No spots given or received yet. Using the FT817ND at 2.5W as yesterday.

UPDATE 1148z: No spots of me yet. 2 spots on RX so far with best DX OD5ZZ (3438km).

UPDATE 1403z: 14 stations spotted on RX so far. No TX spots.

UPDATE 1610z: 34 stations spotted and one European spotting my 2.5W.

UPDATE 2230z: Now QRT. Just a single TX spot. On 15m FT8 RX 48 stations spotted with best DX spotted being LU2DAJ (11212km).

My tiny indoor loop

As I have been asked about this, here are some details.

It has been used for 20m,17m and 15m. with powers up to just over 10W. It should work even better on 12m and 10m. This was a gift many years ago from the people who designed the Whizz Whip.  I have to admit that it works far better than I expected. As you know, it is tiny and just sits on the windowsill of the shack.

My main issue is getting a good match on the FT991A: if the SWR is too high the auto ATU just gives up, so my technique is to connect it first to the FT817ND on AM, tune initially for maximum noise, then tune the loop for lowest SWR then connect to the FT991A and engage auto-ATU. This seems to work just fine. Of course, with the FT817ND I just tune for lowest SWR. When tuned, the SWR is very low.

It looks like the match is made with a tapped toroid which is part of a tuned circuit. Being a loop, it is narrow band. With a thicker loop it could be even better, but even more sharply tuned.

Solar forecast page updated

My favourite website for solar forecasts was updated yesterday.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

Sunspots - Monday March 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0. A=8 and K=1. This is the first time solar flux has dipped below 70 in some time.

1 Mar 2020

What is the best HF band at the moment?

Some people ask what is the best HF band currently? I guess this depends on what you are after. In terms of the best daylight band I guess 20m or 17m. Later in the day, lower frequencies are better. 17m has the advantage of being less busy than 20m and the antennas are smaller. However, it will close to DX sooner than 20m.

If you have time and patience, 15m, 12m and 10m can open for DX far more often than people think, especially on N-S paths. Es can liven up 10m and 6m at any part of the solar cycle in May, June, July and August. Es openings can occur at any time but tend to be best in these months.

Update on Chromebooks - NOT amateur radio

It is about 3 months now since I bought an Asus C213N Chromebook.

So far, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this was a wise decision. So far everything I want to do I can do. It boots up almost instantly, the battery lasts all day. It is truly stunning.

For most things you can leave Windose way behind. I have still never used the Linux apps! No, this was a first class buy. Oh, and you can use it as a tablet, it has a touch screen and came with a 3 year "at home" guarantee!

Quantum entanglement - NOT amateur radio

It is a fact (I think) that Einstein had problems with quantum physics. Experiments have been done that prove quantum physics is real, if counter-intuitive. Very many years ago, I did a course in quantum theory at university. It was very mathematical and I struggled!

One thing I remembered (I think correctly) was that according to quantum mechanics everything can be described as a wave function that exists in all space and all time. What we experience as the "here and now" can be thought of as a wave that is most probable here and now. Indeed, tunnel diodes only work because of quantum mechanical tunnelling.

All this brings me to quantum entanglement in which entangled particles even at other ends of the universe instantly have a kind of affinity. Look up some videos on YouTube. On the face of it, this breaks the laws of relativity that says nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.

Does this mean teleportation might be possible? Apparently the Chinese have already done this with fundamental particles. In the future, who knows? One thing is certain: we really know and understand very little.

15m FT8

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 using the FT817ND at 2.5W with the tiny indoor loop antenna. This is TX and RX as I get no feedback issues with this rig. Of course running just 2.5W must help. So far no spots.

UPDATE 1050z: 35 stations spotted on RX and 1 QSO with a G station so far today on 15m FT8. No spots of my 15m 2.5W FT8 yet on PSKreporter.

UPDATE  1354z: 76 spots on 15m FT8 RX and a couple of European spots on TX, despite running 6dB less than on 17m FT8 yesterday. I guess the loop is more efficient as you go up in frequency.

UPDATE 2215z:  Now QRT. I went QRT about an hour ago.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

March 1st is the first day of spring according to the UK Met Office. The photo shows the daffodils on the way to the village church. Some parts of the church are over 1000 years old.

Sunspots - Sunday March 1st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=1.