Sunspots - Thursday December 10th 2020

Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 11. A=7 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 1930z. At 1925z I QSYed to 2m from 17m using the usual 2.5W and big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 2 stations have spotted me and nobody yet spotted on RX. 

UPDATE 1952z:  So far this evening I have been spotted by 4 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km).

MorseKeyer app

Just got this from Yuri UA9YRQ.

"I've recently released the MorseKeyer app and looking from radio amateurs who would like to use it. Here all the details about the app http://morsekeyer.com ".

Time - NOT amateur radio

Most of us think of time as going forward from the past to the future. We have memories of our lifetimes and ways, with book, internet and objects, to look back at things way before we were born. We take it for  granted that these memories have been forming since the day we were born.

However, this assumption could be wrong. Each day we could have new memories which we feel we have always had. Just like quantum mechanics turns our thinking on its head, so in 100 years from now we may find that time is just a man-made illusion.

4m in Iceland

Southgate News reports that Iceland has 2 years access to parts of the 4m band until December 2022. Iceland is definitely an Es hop from the UK. On 10m I have heard Icelandic stations at incredible strength indicating that the would have been workable with milliwatts.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/iceland-authorization-for-70=mhz-allocation-renewed.htm#.X9DoG2iTLrc

Fog - NOT amateur radio

Until yesterday, we have had mist and fog most days this week. Yesterday it cleared and we had glorious sunshine. It was cold and crisp, but at least it was sunny. For once this winter, our windmill next door looked splendid.

4m website

It is many years since I was on 4m.  More and more countries have access to the band, which is a far cry from how it was in the 1960s. Several commercial rigs now include 4m as standard making the band more accessible for "appliance operators". Some may argue this is a negative step!

Many of these countries are within Es range, meaning they can be worked with low power and simple antennas.

One of the best resources is https://70mhz.org/

17m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

Since about 0830z I have been on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill.  It is now 0842z.  So far today, according to PSKreporter, I have spotted 8 stations and nobody has yet spotted my QRP.

UPDATE 1226z:  76 stations spotted so far, but nobody has spotted me yet today on TX. 

UPDATE 1505z:  So far today 155 stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX, But just 1 spot of me by CU2GI (2575km) on QRP TX in the Azores.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 9th 2020

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 11. A=4 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Although I have been on 2m FT8 (2.5W and the big-wheel) for about an hour, no stations have been spotted, but I have been spotted by 4 stations with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km).

UPDATE 2143z: QRT.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Every month I take part briefly in the low power section of this activity contest organised by the RSGB. This evening activity levels seemed very low and I only stopped on for 35 minutes. I have since QSYed to 2m FT8. As I have no suitable antennas I again used my 144MHz big-wheel omni antenna. After just 3 contacts I gave up. The map shows the few contacts made.

Havanna Syndrome - NOT amateur radio

Some people in countries that are maybe considered "hostile" have come down with a mysterious illness. Southgate News relays some research on this. It could be directed microwaves.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/havanna-syndrome-could-be-directed-microwave-energy.htm#.X8_Q6GiTLrc

17m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Since about 1100z I have been on 17m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W. Already spotted by 4 stations at 1125z

UPDATE 1343z: 17 stations have spotted my QRP and 171 stations in 5 continents have been spotted here today on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny loop. The furthermost spotted here is VK2QV (1698km).

UPDATE 1922z: 18 stations have spotted me today on QRP TX and 237 stations spotted on RX today (see map).  QRT soon. 

December morning - NOT amateur radio

For several days now we have had mist or fog. Today the sun came out! 

Cold and crisp. 

Sunspots - Tuesday December 8th 2020

 Solar flux is 90 and the SSN 35. A=3 and K=1.

OFCOM and licence exemptions

OFCOM is consulting people about some proposed changes to the licencing of some short range devices. See the OFCOM website for more details.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is very cold and foggy outside, so I am hoping 2m tropo might be promising. At about 0855z (it is now 0905z) my 2m FT8 was turned on with the usual 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

So far this morning, 2 stations spotted and 2 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0925z: Already spotted by EI2FG (565km) as well as 7 others in 4 countries on 2m FT8 TX. Reports at this distance are usually very similar (--19 to -21dB S/N) suggesting some sort of scatter rather than tropo I think. 1 QSO so far.

UPDATE 1247z: So far today 12 stations in 5 countries have spotted my QRP on 2m FT8 TX z:   9 stations have been spotted here on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost being DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1644z:  18 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP TX.  22 stations spotted on RX and 2 QSOs today.

UPDATE 2130z:  QRT.

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo of a beach in the South Hams was on my Facebook page a few years ago. 

IC-705 desk stand

Several dealers are now selling a desk stand for the ICOM IC-705.  At about £20, this is expensive for a piece of plastic.

It would not surprise me if ICOM launches an IC-705A in a few years time, as the lack of a desk stand is one of the complaints I have seen. Some have also had issues with digital modes using a USB lead. It looks like some ferrite beads and/or isolation could be required in an IC-705A. 

In a couple of years there may be other shortcomings that come to light. 

I hope 4m TX will be added back as a firmware update soon. It would be good to see 630m TX supported without having to wideband the radio.

For the latest IC-705 eHam reviews see https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14776 .

 

Rishi Sunak - NOT amateur radio

I was disappointed to read yesterday that the UK chancellor is married to a billionaire. When someone is that wealthy it is hard to understand the problems of "the common man". This is a free country of course and you marry whoever you like. He has a difficult job. Just that wealth does not help.

Peter Alliss - NOT amateur radio

Many in the UK will recognise the voice of Peter Alliss, aged 89, who commentated on many golf games over many years. In the UK he was the voice of golf. He has died and will be greatly missed.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/55204070

Sunspots - Monday December 7th 2020

Solar flux is 91 and the SSN 25.  A=6 and K=0. Quite surprised how good the sunspot count is this soon after the minimum.

QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

As 17m FT8 was fading out, I have QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Just 1 local spot so far from G0LRD (26km). Nothing yet on RX. His grabber is useful.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

UPDATE 1650z:  5 stations spotted on RX. 8 stations have spotted me with the furthermost EI2FG (565km). See map for spots of me on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1846z:  So far today 11 stations in 5 countries have spotted me on QRP TX and I have spotted 11 stations in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2232z: 16 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.  QRT. 

Virtual concert - NOT amateur radio

Last night my wife took part in a virtual concert online. 

There we were people from all over the world. My wife had been practicing for weeks. It was set in virtual Vienna. 

Amazing what can be done .

17m FT8

As 10m FT8 was poor here, I QSYed to 17m FT8. Immediately stations were spotted.  It is now 1328z and 4 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the indoor loop on TX. On 17m FT8 RX 72 stations so far spotted.

UPDATE 1356z:  7 stations have spotted me so far.  On 17m FT8 RX 110 stations spotted here so far today (see map). At the moment, 17m seems far more lively than 10m despite the loop being far less efficient on that band compared with 10m.

UPDATE 1504z:  138 stations spotted on RX and 11 spots of me on TX (see 2nd map).

Misty - NOT amateur radio

This morning it's cold and misty. The sun is trying to break through, but has not yet succeeded. It is thoroughly miserable. All our snow went yesterday.

10m FT8 RX

At 1017z I QSYed to 10m FT8 RX with the indoor loop and the FT817ND. 

UPDATED 1040z:  Nothing spotted yet on 10m FT8. It is interesting how different 15m and 10m are. On 15m FT8 I had no problems spotting loads of stations, whereas, so far, nothing at all spotted on 10m FT8 here today. By now I would have expected to have spotted a few stations.

UPDATE 1217z:  Still nothing spotted. Reloaded and briefly on TX. May go to 17m FT8.

Religions - NOT amateur radio

My wife is just off to church. As a youngster I had quite a strong faith. These days I am agnostic. 

I find it hard to believe that the Christian faith is the one when there are so many other faiths in the world. If I had been born in India, Iran or Japan for example I would probably believed just as strongly in some other religion. 

I have said before that it is almost as if all religions are hints at a greater truth. They are all reflections of a belief that this life is not the whole story.

In all honesty, I just do not know. I try to live a kind life, am fully aware of my imperfections and accept (sort of) that death and endings are painful parts of life.

WSJT-X bug fixed?

Since changing to the latest release candidate version of WSJT-X it has been totally stable on FT8, whereas with V2.2.2 I often had issues with my USB SignaLink with no decodes and smeary waterfalls.  I use Windows 10 and I wonder if they did a bug fix?  The difference is very noticeable.

15m FT8 RX

At 0915z I switched on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the indoor loop. It is currently 0937z and so far 37 stations have already been spotted.

UPDATE 1007z:  83 stations spotted today so far on 15m FT8 RX. As 15m is looking so much like yesterday, maybe I should QSY to 10m FT8?

UPDATE 1030z: 99 stations spotted. Now QSYed to 10m.

Christmas cheer - NOT amateur radio

 

One of the shops in our village has a window display with a Christmas theme to cheer us all up.

Missed again! - CQWW SSB

Many years ago, I used to really enjoy this contest. Working on 10m SSB it was possible to work many stations. Since my voice was adversely affected by my stroke, it has been harder. It is even harder still if you do as I did and totally forgot it was on! 

The last weekend in October should have been in my diary. Mind you, on 10m with an indoor loop at this part of the solar cycle it would have been hard work. Maybe next year?

The rules for the 2020 contests (SSB and CW) are attached, even though these have passed.

https://www.cqww.com/rules.htm

Sunspots - Sunday December 6th 2020

Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 42.  A=5 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1845z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1852z.  Already 5 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2245z: 11 stations spotted me this evening with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). Now QRT.

BREXIT brinkmanship - NOT amateur radio

As I write (1030z Saturday) the head of the UK and EU are going to speak on the 'phone and as yet there is no BREXIT trade deal, even though to have one is in everyone's interest. 

I suspect there is brinkmanship on both sides. In these last few weeks, I think these children should throw away their toys and behave as grown-ups if this is possible. We all know that is what is best. 

Go on, get a mutually good deal that all can sell as a success.

UPDATE 1848z: Talks to continue on Sunday.

OFCOM Spectrum Management Strategy

You will be pleased to know that OFCOM is considering its strategy for the radio spectrum in the years ahead. It is navel gazing about the future. Sorry, "vision". See the OFCOM website.

15m FT8 RX

It is now 0950z. At about 0915z I turned on 15m FT8 RX.  So far today, 67 stations in Asia and Europe spotted. Still using the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the shack windowsill. 

I find it incredible that some stations are so strong. One Ukrainian station was +2dB S/N even with the tiny loop!

UPDATE 1005z:  So far today, 81 stations have been spotted on 15m FT8 RX. 

UPDATE 1128z:  134 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and FT817ND in 4 continents.

UPDATE 1453z:   256 stations in 6 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1838z: 317 stations spotted. Soon QSYing to 2m FT8.

Devon 8 years ago - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2012 in South Devon. 

Sunspots - Saturday December 5th 2020

Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 38. A=2 and K=0.

2m FT8 RX

15m seems quiet now, so I have QSYed.  Since about 1815z I have been on 2m FT8 RX. So far this evening, just 1 station in Belgium spotted.

UPDATE 1938z:  So far today, 4 stations spotted with furthermost spotted being G7RAU (461km).

UPDATE 1944z:  TX (2.5W to the big-wheel  omni antenna) turned on. 2 stations have spotted me so far.