Sunspots - Saturday February 20th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12. A=17 and K=3.

More grandson at Hare Park - NOT amateur radio

 

The collage shows more of our grandson at Hare Park, Chippenham, near Cambridge.

Carry cage for IC-705

MLS (and perhaps others) are advertising a carry cage for the ICOM IC-705 portable rig.  At £139.95 it seems expensive. It has a handle and may be ideal for those that want to use the IC-705 out portable. 

This was featured in the latest "something for the weekend" email.

20m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At about 1630z, I QSYed to 20m FT8 using the tiny indoor loop and 2.5W.  Up to this time I was on 2m FT8 QRP.  After 5 minutes, 17 stations spotted on RX, but nobody has yet spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1812z: 85 stations spotted on RX with just 1 station spotting my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 2115z: 148 stations spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me on TX since just before teatime. I shall be going QRT later.

Grandson - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of our grandchildren today at Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge. 

2m FT8 QRP scatter article

 One of my articles is in the latest RadCom magazine. It is about 2m scatter with simple QRP stations made possible by FT8. 

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

Probably I will go on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna after breakfast before trying an HF band later.

UPDATE 0719z: 2m FT8 QRP turned on.

UPDATE 0918z: 6 stations have spotted me today with the furthermost being DL0GX (461km).

Stations spotting my 2m
FT8 QRP so far today

UPDATE 1420z: 10 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP on TX and I have spotted  25 stations on RX.

Sunspots - Friday February 19th 2021

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 12 suggesting the more active side of the Sun has come into view. A=4 and K=1. Let us hope we see a few more sunspots in the days ahead. 

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At 1913z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 2 (local) stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2300z : QRT. As on previous evenings, lots of spots of my QRP with the furthermost being GI6ATZ (479km). 

Days without sunspots

Last month we had quite hopeful signs on the sunspot count for cycle 25. Currently we have had many days without spots. 

I see that Southgate News has some details of spotless days broken down by years. I have no idea what the current view is of the size of sunspot peak for cycle 25.

Spotless Days

Current Stretch: 14 days 

2021 total: 31 days (63%)

2020 total: 208 days (57%)

2019 total: 281 days (77%)

2018 total: 221 days (61%)

2017 total: 104 days (28%)

2016 total: 32 days (9%)

2015 total: 0 days (0%)

2014 total: 1 day (<1%)

2013 total: 0 days (0%)

2012 total: 0 days (0%)

2011 total: 2 days (<1%)

2010 total: 51 days (14%)

2009 total: 260 days (71%)

2008 total: 268 days (73%)

2007 total: 152 days (42%)

2006 total: 70 days (19%)

Walk yesterday - NOT amateur radio

The collage shows more of our walk yesterday. 

Just afterwards it rained! We just hit a gap when it was not dull and raining.

More on the walk yesterday - NOT amateur radio

On our walk yesterday we saw lots of snowdrops and aconites. 

15m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

Most of the morning I've been on 15m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W. So far, 5 stations have spotted me and 110 stations spotted on RX. 

Sunspots - Thursday February 18th 2021

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=2. 

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At 1900z I QSYed to 2m FT8 using the usual 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 5 stations have spotted me and I have spotted nobody.

UPDATE 1930z: 7 stations have spotted me so far and the furthermost is GI6ATZ (479km) again. I have spotted 2 stations.

UPDATE 2312z: QRT. 

Winter walk - NOT amateur radio

Every winter we go for a walk around Landwade, which is the smallest village in the county. 

The snowdrops are great as are the aconites.  Very few daffodils out.

Pancakes - NOT amateur radio

My wife had sugar and lemon on hers and I had savoury pancakes. 

They were delicious. The daffodils were past their best and were thrown out tonight.

Burwell church - NOT amateur radio

We have a fine old church in our village. It is currently closed. Parts of it are 1000 years old. From the top  of the tower the view is amazing. Years ago, I went regularly. My wife still attends, but not every week.

The video was made many years ago.

Antenna ideas

For many with small gardens or difficult neighbours, antennas can be a problem. The biggest antenna I have ever used is a CB halfwave. I have never used an HF beam. Despite this, I have worked QRP DXCC with 10W SSB. Most  times I have used just a low wire dipole.

One "antenna" I have found useful is the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This has proved very effective on VLF, LF and MF. Only last evening I was copying Italy on it on 630m and the night before there were lots of stateside stations spotted on 160m FT8. An advantage is the XYL and neighbours do know even notice it is there at all! 

Another possibility is to use the coax outer feeding maybe a VHF antenna via an ATU on the HF bands tuned against ground. Such antennas can be quite effective. OK against a beam on a tower this maybe an S-point or 2 down, but for the lack of neighbour hassle is a tall tower and big beam worth the fuss? This is a hobby after all. If you don't work DXCC entity 247 does it really matter? Get a life!!!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/earth-electrode-antennas .

Winter MF plans

Well, that was a non-happening! 

One of my plans for now was an E-field probe in a tree for 137kHz and 472kHz RX. We had the tree lopped, but the E-field probe is not up. I replaced my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, but my 472kHz transverter does not work, so I am restricted to 472kHz RX only.

Maybe next winter, I shall have more luck!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/winter .

10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

Since 0945z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet on RX or TX at 1047z.

UPDATE  1840z: No spots all day.

Trump friends - NOT amateur radio

Although ex-President Trump has gone from office, he still seems capable of turning on his (one time) friends. I am amazed that so many voted for him. To those of us outside the USA, he appears to hold grudges. 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56092781 .

Transformation - NOT amateur radio

Our local bank has been empty for several years. It is now being converted into commercial units. 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 17th 2021

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=15 and K=2. This month, the sunspot count has been dreadful. 

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

It is now 2030z. A few minutes ago I went on to 472kHz WSPR RX. So far G0MRF (139km) and DL1HWK (816km) copied.

UPDATE 2215z: 5 stations spotted this evening with the furthermost being IZ3QQG (1155km). Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

At 1845z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W (FT817ND) and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, just 1 spot of me by G4TRA (185km).

UPDATE 1858z: 2 stations spotted here on RX. 5 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 2007z: So far this evening I have been spotted by 6 stations as shown on the map. 2 QSOs this evening.

Old QTH

This aerial photo shows my old QTH. We moved from here about 300m. That was 7.5 years ago. My son lives in this house now. 

We now live next door to the windmill in probably the highest spot in the village.

SETI - NOT amateur radio

As far as I know, we have been searching the universe for almost 50 years via SETI (search for intelligent life) without success. Much of the decoding is done by volunteers using spare processing power on their PCs.

Based on the estimates of planets, I find this odd. As time goes by the means of looking have improved. By now, I would have expected to get some indications.

Maybe, we are looking in the wrong way? Maybe intelligent life self destructs? Maybe we really are alone? Maybe our whole understanding of the universe is wrong?

If ever we did find intelligent life elsewhere, it could have profound implications for humans.

See https://seti.org/

The FETer transceiver

Thinking of ultra-simple rigs, perhaps consider my FETer. I was surprised how well this worked.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

Pixies and Micro-80s

One of the fun parts of our hobby is seeing how simple gear can be made that is capable of contacts of several hundred miles or more. 

Examples are the Pixie and Micro-80 designs. Pixies can be bought as kits from China for a few pounds or euros. In the past, I have made versions for 80m and 40m, including homebrew and kits.

With these circuits, the main limitation is the RX. These are compromises using the PA device as the RX mixer. Often the sensitivity is a bit lacking and AM breakthrough can be a problem. The front end selectivity is barn-door and the audio filtering mainly one's ear! Nonetheless, many miles can be spanned. In terms of "bang per buck" they take some beating. 

The challenge is to find the best overall circuit which has a decent TX and RX.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/pixie

Old photo - NOT amateur radio

When my mother's house was being cleared some years ago, we came across this old photo which we had never seen before. 

It was on a metal plate and is hand tinted. It probably dates from the 1800s and is possibly of my great great grandmother.

15m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

It is now 0835z.  About 15 minutes ago I turned on my 15m FT8 QRP gear using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna on the shack windowsill.   Already I have spotted 8 stations on RX and I have been spotted by 3 on TX.

UPDATE 1835z:  Spotted by 11 stations on TX with the furthermost being EA8AXT (2996km).  265 stations have been spotted on RX with the furthermost YB2DX (12050km).  I continue to be amazed just how well this loop does considering how small and thin the wire is!

Spring coming - NOT amateur radio

All the seasons have their own beauty, but this winter has felt very long. At last there are signs of spring coming. 

The daffodils in the photo are under a tree in our close.  In a few days some will be in flower. Robins are on high branches singing out to mark their territories. The first daisy has been seen.

Spring is coming! With it, new hope and new life. In a few weeks winter will be gone.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 16th 2021

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=4.

8m beacon

At some point we will be allocated some frequencies at 40MHz.  In the coming Es seasons I can see many more applying for limited access to the band. These may be spot frequencies with limited power. Small first steps.

There is a beacon which may be worth checking in the Es season S50ZMS.  This is ideally placed for Es to EI and the UK.

472kHz tonight

Hopefully, my transverter works. I shall try later.

Whatever happens, I intend to be on 472kHz (630m) this evening. If the transverter works I shall go on TX. Otherwise RX only. 

In both cases, I shall be using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, that gave good results on 160m FT8.

UPDATE 2044z:  I tried my transverter again and still no sign of any 472kHz output, so I decided to go on 472kHz WSPR RX only. Just LA8AV (1012km) spotted so far. If I was fitter I might be able to fault find. With my health as it is, I think this is beyond me sadly.

UPDATE 2130z:  6 unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Furthermost is SM6NOC (1056km).

Oil prices up - NOT amateur radio

Before too long we will all be driving cars that are powered by non-polluting energy. We must also ensure that these energy types are also not produced from polluting sources and are sustainable. 

In the end there needs to be a breakthrough in battery technology and energy storage so that fuels like electricity produced by solar and wind can be stored.

For now, oil prices are a bellweather of the economy. Oil prices have doubled in the last few months and fuel at the pumps has gone up in price. I guess this suggests more optimism for the year ahead.

Covid-19 vaccines - NOT amateur radio

 At the moment, the UK is doing quite well on the vaccination of vulnerable people. I think we are 3rd in the world. Much of what we have done in the last year was poor and this is one area where we have done well.

As long as the rates of virus circulating in the world are high, there is a chance of importing a variant that spreads easily, is more deadly and evades vaccines. There is an adage "until the world is vaccinated we are all at risk".

I hope all the world is vaccinated soon.

15m FT8 QRP (Monday)

In a few moments I shall be turning on my 15m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. 

UPDATE 1112z:  15m FT8 gear now on. 13 stations already spotted on 15m FT8 RX and spotted by SV2BRA (2154km) on QRP 15m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1152z: 30 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX and 2 spots of my 2.5W to the indoor loop on TX with the furthermost RZ4HO (3291km).

UPDATE 1449z: 73 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8. 

Stations spotted
on 15m FT8 today

UPDATE 1803z: 95 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. 

Remarkable - the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8 RX

As reported last evening, 31 stations across Europe spotted my 2.5W FT8 to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on TX.

Overnight I left it connected on 160m FT8 RX. In all, 328 stations were spotted including very many in N. America as shown on the map. 

UPDATE 1024z: Apart from VE3PJ (5492km) at breakfast time (0722z), all spots now are UK on 160m FT8 RX.