5 Feb 2021

10m FT8

In a few moments I hope to turn on my 10m FT8 QRP gear using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 0950z.

UPDATE 1600z: Just a single spot on RX of an Italian and nobody has yet spotted me on TX.  In summary - poor! One PA was spotted, but not uploaded to PSKreporter for some reason.

Oscar 100 activity


Every few weeks I give an update on activity through the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100. I take a peek at the narrowband transponder by looking at the Goonhilly based web SDR. Today I looked at 0930z on a Friday morning. As there are fewer Europeans, there is probably less activity than at a weekend. Activity levels were quite low, but greater than I was expecting. There is still plenty room.

Southgate News reports on the first activity from Indonesia via the satellite.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/first-qo-100-satellite-contact-from-indonesia.htm#.YB0S0vGTLrc

Hare Park - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows some of the masses of snowdrops at Hare Park yesterday. At a guess I'd say there are over 1 million there. It is the best array of snowdrops  have ever seen.

Grand start - NOT amateur radio

Pretty sure this photo has been on before but I get amused telling my friends that I was born in a stately home! At the time this was a nursing home and we lived in a council house. 

Sunspots - Friday February 5th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

4 Feb 2021

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

 As 10m FT8 have been abysmal here today, I shall be QSYing to 2m FT8 shortly using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 2046z:  So far this evening I have been spotted on 2 FT8 QRP TX by 18 stations in 4 countries. Furthermost is EI2FG (565km). It seems every evening my 2m FT8 QRP TX reaches EI and GI. 5 stations spotted on RX and no QSOs.  ON6LEO (392km) has called me a few times, but we did not complete the QSO.

Kingsbridge - NOT amateur radio

Kingsbridge, Devon is where I lived in my teenage years. 

Kingsbridge is at the top of the estuary and Salcombe at the other end. 

Snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw plenty of snowdrops this morning. They are a sure sign of hope for better days ahead. 

According to the UK Met Office spring starts March 1st which is only a few weeks away.

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At about 1247z, I turned on 10m QRP FT8 with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1535z: No spots here all day. 

UPDATE 1807z:  No RX spots here today, but just a single spot of my QRP by M0NKR (27km).

UPDATE 1842z:  Just 1 late spot of EA5ASQ (1367km) on 10m FT8 RX. Overall today, pretty poor.

Collapsing White Cliffs of Dover on video - NOT amateur radio

One of the UK's icons are the "White Cliffs of Dover".  Apparently these are receding at about 12 inches a year because of erosion. They are made of chalk, hence the white.  A recent fall was captured on video. Quite spectacular footage.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-55931406

Hare Park Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge  earlier. 

The snowdrops here are stunning.  The grounds are only open at certain times of the year.

Early optical experiments

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 481THz optical beacon tests in daylight over a 1.6km line of sight path. Later I did much further at night "over the horizon". For the avoidance of doubt, that was 20dB S/N - so very strong. 

Sunspots - Thursday February 4th 2021

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=14 and K=3.

3 Feb 2021

FT991A versus FTDX10

About 18 months ago, I bought a Yaesu FT991A.  I thought about part-exchanging this for an ICOM IC-705 as a dedicated QRP man. 

Since then the 100W Yaesu FTDX10 has launched. This does not have 2m or 70cm, but does have 4m and an auto ATU. It is more expensive. For 2m and 70cm my FT817ND is probably fine.

Knowing my luck, just after I bought an FTDX10, they would launch a QRP version!

For now, I may just stick with what I have unless I get a very tempting offer.

Google storage - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I had a confusing message from Google saying that after June 2021 Google Photos is now included in my 15GB free allowance. Obviously, this is Google trying to get you to buy more storage.

What I am unclear about is this: usually I store my photos on Google Photos not in their original size but smaller (as Google allows) so the storage is totally free. My question is is this still free?

UPDATE 1450z: It seems that after June 2021 what is free will no longer be for future uploads when the total allowance exceeds 15GB. See https://support.google.com/photos/answer/10100180. To me this is a way to get you to buy more storage. Clever marketing. 😣

No 472kHz TX this season

For the first time in many years, I have not been on 472kHz WSPR TX this year. 

Although the real reason is laziness, I blame it on not replacing the wire used on my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

Although my transverter puts out about 12W into 50 ohms, my measured ERP is about 5-10mW only. Despite this, I was copied up in Norway most nights last season on WSPR.

Others who have built the transverter have had transatlantic WSPR spots on 472kHz (630m). This is one of the most simple ways of getting on 472kHz TX. My "antenna" might not be the greatest, but it does work and the neighbours, and XYL,  don't even know it is there! 

I have also used the earth-electrode "antenna" on 160m, 80m and 60m with success. It should also work on 2200m TX although I have not tried this.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 1016z. A few moments ago I went on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni. At the moment I am about +14dB S/N on G0LRD's grabber. 

So far, 7 stations have spotted me with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) on the Lizard. No QSOs yet. Nothing yet copied on RX. There are far more people monitoring than on TX. You are far more likely to be spotted than have a QSO. My technique is to call CQ and if anyone answers reply. I rarely hunt.

UPDATE 1055z:  6 stations (all G and GW) spotted on RX and 11 spots of my QRP TX. I am still puzzled by the propagation mechanism on these long paths: although this could be aircraft reflection (and some will indeed be), it seems to happen randomly, making this unlikely.

UPDATE 1348z:  18 spots of me on 2m FT8 QRP so far today.  I have to pinch myself to remind me that this is 2m VHF QRP with an ultra simple station. Every single day this is possible, not just in lifts.

UPDATE 1900z: 70 stations in 7 countries spotted. On TX 28 stations in 6 countries have spotted me. 1 QSO.

UPDATE 2235z: 167 stations spotted on 2m FT8 today. There was a contest on as were loads of stations! I counted 19 stations on at the same time in just 2kHz of band. As it was so crowded, I decided to stay RX only from 2000z. I have never seen the 2m FT8 slot so busy.

G0LRD 2m FT8 grabber

When monitoring my 2m FT8 signal on the grabber at G0LRD yesterday I noticed several times that the S/N was poor although mostly it was very strong. It turns out that David gets occasional local noise bursts that degrade the S/N.  This grabber is 26km away and very useful.

2m FT8 QRP last evening

The stations that spotted my 2.5W 2m FT8 to the big-wheel last evening are shown on the map. 

Village View - NOT amateur radio


This is a view across Spring Close meadows, Burwell, taken a few years ago. 

Online distance learning

Southgate News has details of an online training course leading to the full UK licence organised by the Bath club.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/online-distance-learning-course-for-full-exam.htm#.YBmj_fGTLrc

Sunspots - Wednesday February 3rd 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12.  A=16 and K=3.

2 Feb 2021

2m activity contest

Contacts this evening
on 2m QRP SSB
This contest called UKAC and organised by the RSGB starts at 2000z.  Unlike many contests, this is a very friendly one. Usually I run 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna and manage about an hour before my voice gives in! Activity levels are high. 

If nothing else, this is a chance to work a few new squares for 2021.

Tonight, activity levels were lower than I ever remember. After 3 QSOs, I gave up.

QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

 As, for me, 10m has been very quiet now for some hours, I propose to QSY to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. As the RSGB cumulative 2m contest is at 2000z, I shall have to use SSB for a while instead. 

UPDATE 1904z:  I QSYed to 2m FT8 at 1855z. So far this evening, 5 stations in 2 countries have spotted my QRP.

OFCOM updates

Every month, OFCOM updates its statistics in its "Communications Monthly". See the OFCOM website for details.

2012 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment it is very mild here unlike in 2012 when it was cold and frosty. 

The photo was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey on this day in 2012. 

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

About 30 minutes ago I turned on my 10m QRP using 2.5W from the FT817ND to the tiny indoor loop. In all honesty, I was not too hopeful. Already my QRP has been spotted by MM0ZBH (482km) and I have spotted 9 stations mostly in eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1303z: So far today, 11 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and just the single spot of my 2.5W QRP FT8 TX.

Just looking - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our son with his son looking at one of the oldest houses in the village. 

WSJT-X v2.3.0

Today the released version of WSJT-X V2.3.0 was made available. Previously just release candidates were available.

With Windows 10 I had all sorts of issues as it tried to block the download in case it harmed the PC. I said "keep" and "install anyway".  Only then could I go ahead.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 2nd 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=4.

1 Feb 2021

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1827z. A few moments ago I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 8 spots of my QRP TX and 2 stations spotted here on RX after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1910z:  15 stations have spotted me on TX and 8 stations spotted on RX.

Breaking ice - NOT amateur radio

Have you noticed how very young children love puddles? 

Even my 13 year old grandson still seems to like them, especially if icy. 

This was him yesterday on our walk. It was very muddy with the puddles icy.

17m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1420z. A few minutes ago I QSYed to 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far today, 43 stations spotted on RX, but no spots of my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1448z:  72 stations spotted so far on RX, but nobody has yet spotted my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1535z:  106 stations spotted so far on 17m FT8 RX and just one spot of my 2.5W on TX. I think one of the issues is being clobbered by co-channel stations running far more ERP. Although a channel appears clear here, it may not be.

Stations spotted on
17m FT8 RX today
UPDATE 1802z:  189 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX.  QSYing to 2m FT8 QRP shortly.

The EU and vaccines for Covid-19 - NOT amateur radio

There seems little doubt that the EU was very slow ordering vaccines. For example, they ordered AstraZeneca vaccines 3 months after the UK and have only now approved its use!  It seems the EU bureaucracy really slowed down the roll-out in Europe. 

This is one reason why so many voted to leave the EU in the UK. In my view, this was a "shot in the foot". The UK government is far from perfect, but on vaccines they got it right.

10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is now 1116z. For about 30 minutes I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet today.

UPDATE 1405z:  Just one station (a local) spotted on RX.  No spots on TX. QSYing to 17m FT8.

Operating from South Georgia and British areas in Antarctica

Until 2020, the Falkland Islands issued licences for these areas, but this stopped last year. This would affect DXpeditions to these South Atlantic areas.  There may be some clarity now. For some time you just had to self-declare competence and a VP8 call was yours!

See https://www.openfalklands.com/ofcom-update-on-vp8-amateur-radio-licences-in-british-antarctic-territory-south-georgia-and-south-sandwich-islands/

Ferrite rod TX antenna experiments in Italy

Riccardo IU1OPK has been doing some very successful tests with ferrite rod TX antennas. on 40m.  For many this may be an answer to compact antennas. We fully accept that a bigger antenna would be better, but these results are good. Below is an extract from the email he sent me. The photos show his arrangement.

"Today I tested the ferrite antenna with WSPR on 40m and it worked well, with power from 2 to 5 watt.
I changed a little bit the design and I found that with a “short circuit” of the upper coil the signals are much stronger... below my scheme and the wspr spots (up to 2600 km).
I attempted some FT8 QSOs with no results but I have been received looking on pskreport website, so even with FT8 some qso should be possible. 

My tests were done both indoor and on my balcony so no strange coupling is noticeable, the antenna was placed vertically, I think that it works like a loop antenna oriented horizontally (not a vertical loaded one since my upper end is grounded).
The “strange” good results around midday and early evening when the critical frequency was around 7 MHz seem confirming a sort of NVIS transmission (quite strong signals and local receivers).


Riccardo's 40m
spots on WSPR
Excellent work Riccardo. Well done.  At the frontier where radio amateurs should be.

Often it is best to ignore experts and just experiment to see what works. Often the so called experts do not know and are just spouting myths they were (wrongly) told years before.

 

Solar data

At the start of each month my favourite site for solar data is updated. We are now a year after the solar minimum and we are looking for indications for the solar cycle 25. In particular, we are looking for forecasts of how big (or small!) it might be. As the cycle progresses, we have a better idea.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

UPDATE 1550z: I see it has been updated already. See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png

Talent - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson is very talented. He is 11 years old. He is good at sports, art and now crocheting! He is also very good with people. He is not shy.

The photo shows some examples of his work.

Sunspots - Monday February 1st 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=1 and K=2.