Es season ending?

Today, there were just 2 unique spots here on 10m WSPR of my 500mW beacon, although I did much better on 6m FT8 RX. My feeling is the Es season is drawing to a close in the northern hemisphere, although there will still be DX there for those looking. Es occurs at any time of the year although in the UK and USA the best months are May, June and July.

I have worked Es 6m DX on QRP SSB in September and with newer digital modes quite brief openings can now be spotted. Never give up!

As we enter the "quiet sun" years E layer propagation becomes more important and may be the best hope of DX on 10m and higher bands.

For reasons I do not understand, there is a smaller Es peak around the end of December and early January. So, for those alert, there are plenty of opportunities for DX by E layer at any time of the year. OK, outside the peak months there may be long quiet periods, but stick with it and search out those brief openings!

Amateur VLF

Yesterday I had an enquiry about amateur VLF. I referred him to https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/ which has lots of data on what I did in the past. There are schematics of the receivers and transmitters I used as well as details from others. Most of my experiments were with "earth mode", although I also received several European amateur VLF stations by radiation. For receive you do not need a large antenna. Even on "earth mode" transmit the power and antenna requirements are quite modest.

A dead simple regen receiver

There are plenty of designs out there (try Googling "regen"). but I offer you this simple design with very few parts. It works. You may be surprised that something so simple can hear so much.

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

The 2m Fredbox

This was designed in 1974, when I was still "green behind the ears". It got rebuilt much later and still worked well.

The Sixbox came much later.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/fredbox .

Sixbox 6m AM QRP transceiver

As we slowly progress to "quiet sun" years, it is worth remembering that our VHF bands are useful for local QSOs. Some years ago I designed and built the Sixbox which was a very simple AM transceiver for 6m local communications. It should be easy to build and develop further - maybe with more power and a loudspeaker amp added. I am pretty sure this has been shown before.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/sixbox

How simple can you make a rig?

This is a question I asked myself a few years ago. Here I am talking about a complete transceiver. Inspired by a design from W2UW, I designed and built the FETer transceiver for 80m CW. It worked remarkably well.

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

Es past its best?

Although there has been Es about on 10m and 6m in recent days in Europe, it does not seem quite as good as a few weeks ago: openings seem later and smaller. This may be just a blip. In the past, I have seen 6m Es as late as September. In past years, I seem to get more northern spots later in the season.

It would be interesting to know what others think.

Certainly the earlier weeks were very good, although I remain to be convinced the longer distance openings were "sporadic" E. E layer maybe, but I am unconvinced by the conventional wisdom these are multi-hop Es. Some maybe, but the USA, South America, Japan and the Caribbean I feel sure are a different mechanism.

New Digital Mode from K1JT

Just got this from Bob G3WKW:
Steve (K9AN) and I have developed a potential new mode for WSJT-X. We're calling the mode "FT8" (Franke-Taylor design, 8-FSK modulation). FT8 is designed for situations like multi-hop Es where signals may be weak and fading, openings may be short, and you want fast completion of reliable, confirmable QSOs.

Important characteristics of FT8:

  - T/R sequence length: 15 s

  - Message length: 75 bits + 12-bit CRC

  - FEC code: LDPC(174,87)

  - Modulation: 8-FSK, keying rate = tone spacing = 5.86 Hz

  - Waveform: Continuous phase, constant envelope

  - Occupied bandwidth: 47 Hz

  - Synchronization: three 7x7 Costas arrays (start, middle, end of Tx)

  - Transmission duration: 79*2048/12000 = 13.48 s

  - Decoding threshold: -20 dB (perhaps -24 dB with AP decoding, TBD)

  - Operational behavior: similar to HF usage of JT9, JT65

  - Multi-decoder: finds and decodes all FT8 signals in passband

  - Auto-sequencing after manual start of QSO

*Comparison with slow modes JT9, JT65, QRA64:*  FT8 is a few dB less sensitive but allows completion of QSOs four times faster.  Bandwidth is greater than JT9, but about 1/4 of JT65A and less than 1/2 QRA64.

*Comparison with fast modes JT9E-H:*  FT8 is significantly more sensitive, has much smaller bandwidth, uses the vertical waterfall, and offers multi-decoding over the full displayed passband.

*Still to come, not yet implemented:*  We plan to implement signal subtraction, two-pass decoding, and use of "a priori" (already known) information as it accumulates during a QSO.

Three extra bits are available in the message payload, with uses yet tobe defined.  We  have in mind special message formats that might be used in contests, and the like.  Your considered suggestions for use of these bits are very welcome!

K1JT, K9AN, and G4WJS have conducted on-the-air tests of FT8 with excellent results.  We're now at a stage where tests under a wider range of conditions are desirable.  If you can build WSJT-X from source code revision r7750 or later, and would like to help, please do so and report your results to us!  Pre-built installation packages will be made available after further testing is completed.

Suggestions for FT8 setup and examples of use can be found in a screen shot posted here: http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/ft8.png

We look forward to receiving your feedback.

   -- 73, Joe, K1JT

It will help to have some initial frequency coordination among those
testing the new FT8 mode in WSJT-X v1.7.1.

To help get things started, we suggest using the following frequencies:

Band    MHz
-------------
 160   1.841
  80   3.579
  40   7.079
  30  10.141
  20  14.079
  17  18.105
  15  21.079
  12  24.920
  10  28.079
   6  50.313
   4  70.094
-------------

Most of these suggestions follow a simple guideline: add 3 kHz to the
commonly used JT65 dial frequency.

For 6 meters we suggest using 50.313, which should be consistent with
band plans in all IARU Regions.  (Six meter activity that's now on
50.276, world-wide, might be moved to 50.310.)

We are very much open to suggestions for changes in the above table.

   -- 73, Joe, K1JT

Friedrichshafen

This large German rally is really an international affair attracting visitors from all over Europe and beyond. As little new was announced at Dayton, USA by the big Japanese companies, it is unlikely we'll see anything new announced in Europe, but I have been wrong. It would be nice to be surprised.

As far as I know, it is the biggest rally in Europe. It is too far for me.

The rally is just a few weeks away.

See http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/ham-en/

137kHz E-field probe mag-mount RX antenna

Some years ago I did some tests (in the car) looking to see where I could copy my low uW ERP 137kHz signal from home. Results surprised me, even with my deaf FT817.  I gave up on the far side of Cambridge (approximately 24km) with S/N still respectable.

This is all that you need to receive on the LF bands.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/137efp.

ICOM and Yaesu UK Prices

The IC7300 from ICOM retails at just under £1200 in the UK. The Yaesu FT891 retails for about half this at just under £600. OK, I know they are different radios, but both are 100W HF and 6m radios and the RX of the IC7300 has a much simpler SDR architecture.

Although I accept I may be wrong, these are my conclusions:

• The IC7300 sells at a price people are prepared to pay and dealers are keeping the price as high they dare for as long as they can. It almost looks like the price is fixed between dealers. I am not saying it is, but it looks like this. Normally by now one has started to drop price, but this has not happened. The true price should be far less.
• Yaesu sells the FT891 at just under £600 to tempt buyers. They may be trying to buy market share. I note a new model Yaesu 2m/70cm handi sells for £129.

Looking at this, I'd guess that ICOM will be around for a while. Yaesu may decide this is not a market to remain in for too much longer? As I said, I could be totally wrong. Personally I hope both stay in the amateur market for a long time.

Low cost amateur radio

As many of you know I am a miser who does not like spending money on amateur radio. My ethos has always been to get the most for the least money. If I do spend real money, it is an investment that has to last years. My FT817 is almost 17 years old!

Perhaps this is one reason why I have always liked QRP: gear is low cost to make and every contact gives you a sense of pride, especially if home made. I hope you can take some inspiration from the various projects on my main website.

See http://www.g3xbm.co.uk . Drill down on each page to find all the various projects.

Broadband interference?

If you were thinking of complaining to OFCOM about broadband noise you may want to think again.

See http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2017/06/ofcom-finds-no-evidence-claims-interference-vdsl-broadband.html

The fact that our HF noise floor is gradually getting worse is of little concern to OFCOM. Only money matters sadly. In the UK the amateur radio service is unimportant.

First JAs this season on 6m JT65

Copied a couple of Japanese stations early this morning on 6m JT65, first this season - JA5FFJ (9453km) and JG3QZN (9388km). Openings on 6m to Japan from Europe happen at this time of year. One possibility is E layer ionisation by mesospheric clouds which form high up at this time of year in the north. See my web page on this at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent .  W was widely spotted throughout Europe by Es on 6m JT65 this morning (1W ERP).

I am sure there is more JT65 activity these days. It is better than CW. With PSK reporter maps (you need to check you WSJT-X v1.7 settings) you can see where you are reaching and the stations you are receiving.

A spot of a South American earlier on 6m JT65 was probably a pirate (unusual time), although it is just possible by Es.

IC7300 and a slow death?

Recently, Rob Sherwood gave an interesting video presentation on disruptive technology in our hobby. In it he quoted the number of ICOM IC7300 transceivers sold in the first year. If I recall correctly, 11000 (ish) were sold in year one. Apparently, this is good. If the IC7300 SDR based radio sold this number, I'd guess Yaesu and Kenwood sold far fewer of their units.

Incidentally, when I was involved in radio pager design in the late 1990s, we made this number in one day!

As we get older, we can expect the numbers to fall away. People die and fewer new rigs get sold. In the end the Japanese manufacturers will decide it is just not worth their while as the profit margins are too small. Expect progressively fewer new models as the years go forward.

OK, in some countries there are younger people entering the hobby, but certainly here in the UK amateur radio is an old mans hobby and in 20-30 years we'll be gone.

One thing we'll see is cost cutting. There will be a move to SDR technology, as this will allow good performance for less money.

Expect dealers to dwindle and there to be fewer radio magazines. The hobby will be quite different in 2040.

Once again, I am grateful to Southgate News for this link.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/june/disruptive-technologies.htm#.WTVAW7pFzIU .

CQ Japan on 6m JT65

It is that time of year when 6m opens from Europe to Japan on 6m. This morning I see that Spanish stations are calling JA on 6m JT65. This path opens every year on 6m around this time. The conventional view is this is multi-hop Es. Sorry, but I don't go for this. It may have something to do with E layer ionisation as a result of noctilucent clouds?

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent .

WSPR versus JT65

For the last couple of years I have been comparing WSPR versus JT65 on 10m and 6m. Theoretically, WSPR is a little better, but I seem to get much better results with JT65. Maybe it is because the TX period on JT65 is shorter, so transient openings are seen? Maybe there is more JT65 activity?

With my little 500mW 10m W5OLF WSPR beacon, I can be on 10m WSPR TX whilst using the shack PC and FT817 for 6m JT65. These use different antennas.

I really ought to try PSK31 too. Later!

UPDATE 1758z:  Today on 10m WSPR no spots at all. On 6m JT65 plenty of Es spots given and received. Best DX on 6m JT65 RX was 4X4DK (3582km).

"Real" DX on 6m

At the moment, F2 worldwide 6m DX is rare and we rely on Es to get decent ranges. Es tends to peak in the late spring and summer. "Real" DX, by which I mean ranges well in excess of normal Es ranges, seems to occur when Es is good, although I am not a great believer these are due to multi-hop Es. OK, some might be, but I think some of the distances suggest some kind of chordal hop Es. I am frequently wrong!

UK to Israel even with my poor antenna and lossy coax and QRP every summer for several years? Also, occasional reception at much greater ranges on 6m?

I'd be interested to hear your views, especially from real experts with far more knowledge than I'll ever have. These long distance Es paths have puzzled me for years. They do happen most seasons, if not all Es seasons.

6m JT65 - amazing conditions

Just spotted 7A4TOI (13582km) in Indonesia on 6m VHF!! This is the greatest distance I have ever received on a VHF band. Extraordinary long path - Es?  My own 1W ERP 6m JT65 signal was copied in Israel earlier by 4Z5ML (3571km).  Conditions on 6m seem extraordinary today.

UPDATE 1100z: At one time receiving Qatar and Asiatic Russia (5210km) would have seemed exceptional on 6m - both copied this morning on my poor antenna. Now I expect anything!

UPDATE 1600z: Today, 6m JT65 has been more like 20m with lots and lots of spots of my 1W ERP signal. I hope we see transatlantic DX this evening. It may not happen, but after today it is anyone's guess.

CQ-DATV

TV is one part of our hobby I have never tried. After all, it is hard to do everything! If you are interested in DATV, issues of CQ-DATV may be downloaded freely.

See http://cq-datv.mobi/48.php  for the latest issue.