Time lapse video of earth

A time lapse video of earth from space. This time lapse footage was taken by astronaut Don Pettit, I like it very much. Last night I was QRV on 40 meter. At day time I couldn’t make any contact on HF. But with the start of twilight 40 meter opens up. I worked with BPSK31 the following stations: S58X, PD2BJC, DL2ZJA, DM4ZPJ, IWØBAY, GM4CFS and DL/PA4ARP. Today it’s very rainy. They expect a lot of rain for the coming 24 hours. It looks like fall has started a month earlier.

On the higher HF bands was no contact possible at day time. Thank god, 40 meter is alright at night. I worked this evening with BPSK31 9A2TN on 20 meter, and on 40 meter: YO6AJI, GM7GAX, EW7KF, RN3KL and OK1AYF.

Hamsphere

I came across this web site. I was amazed how many well known radio amateurs had an account here. I saw a radio amateur from many years ago, in the early days we exchanged our CW experiments with our electronic new CW keyer. I moved out from that city and we have never met each other again. Now I saw his call sign by Hamsphere. He used it for one day. With low conditions and no problems with RF interferences, it could be a solution to talk to other hams. I am afraid that I am an old fashion ham, I like to make contact by real radio. I never used Echolink either, only once when I installed the software to try it out. Hamsphere is nothing more then VOIP, and faking you are transmitting.

Magnetic Field Lines

Nice picture of Magnetic Filed Lines of the sun. Today we are facing a low solar flux and no sunspots for 4 days. I was early this morning and worked on 40 meter with BPSK63 IZ5RYG Massimo from Marina Di Carrara, Italy.

Now it seems that vhfdx.info is down, since yesterday. Or do they have another URL?

40 meter is improving at night. We go slowly to fall and winter, so the best time for 40 and 80 meter. Tonight I worked the following stations on 40 meter with BPSK31: UR2MZ, DJ2GMS, UR4UDI, RA9OFZ 4867 km and F4IQT.

Reverse beacon activities

When there is not too much time for transmitting, I always can function as a reverse beacon station. This afternoon I tuned for JT65A on 20 meter. Best DX is so far UAØNL 8241 km and 9G6W from Ghana (Not every day to hear)4936 km. KE1AF 3490 km and NØOB 4444 km. With BPSK31 on 40 meter I worked: DK6OR, IK5GUU, R3FO, F1CGN and DL7VJA/QRP.

QRP SSB

On 40 meter I worked MJØCTR Andy from Jersey with SSB. Because of QRM and low condx I put up the power to 35 watts. Then I switched to 17 meter, also 35 watts and dipole and heard CT7/IW2NVT. I called a few times with SSB, but he didn't hear me. So I turned on the FT817 with the vertical and after one call he came back for me! So QRP works or my vertical. Hi. BTW, the qrz.com server seems to be down, since this morning.

Easy set up WSPR

Still I work with WSPR (and other digital modes) the easy way. No interface, I use my computer sound card. I have a audio cable connected from the headphone output of FT817 to the mic input of the computer. I place the FT817 microphone before a computer speaker, set the FT817 in VOX mode. And the set up is ready. Simple and ready to go. I set the PC volume as low as possible, just enough to activate the VOX. That's all. Now my WSPR beacon is on air. The software doing the rest. The K1JT WSPR software is free.

WSPR today on 10 meter sporadic E reflections, with just only 2 watts (FT817 & vertical)

As you see there are RTTY stations in the WSPR section of the band. But the WSPR software is capable to decode the WSPR signals.

Stations I have been reported.

Stations I received. Due to poor conditions (SF 77) I did not come further then Russia. About 2000 km. Though I heard Japan. He was running 10 watts.

WSPR results August 20

With 5 watt from the FT817 and HF vertical.

WSPR

My WSPR results for 20 meter between 16.00 and 17.10 h UTC A few stations between 6000 and 9000 km. I was reported in Japan, Reunion Island, India and Ohio, USA. I was using 5 watt and my antenna: HF vertical.

Es 10 meter

This afternoon I heard some stations on 10 meter with PSK31. I worked UR5ZVX and UR5SII. Tonight I heard IT9QAU/QRP with 5 watt and strong signals on 14.060 KHz. He was 599 here, I called him but he didn't come back for me.

New DXCC

There was some activity on 20 meter this evening. I heard YT3PL in QSO with HI3D, both 1 KW SSB, both a 4 element monoband yagi. My intention to call was suddenly gone.

But... I could work PJ2MI with JT65A on 20 meter, I was using 5 watt and the vertical. José was using 15 watt and a 3 element beam. It's a new DXCC for me, number 77. Distance 7837 km. JT65A is a nice mode for low power and QRP.

Up and downs

We don't have to be troubled about the up and downs of our sun (solar cycle). Finally it will go up. And when we'll wait long enough it goes down as well.

A CW contest: what an agitation, bustle and nervousness. The 20 meter band seems a busy tourist rose. Overcrowded, crashing, falling over each other, never a quiet place, even at 14.060 KHz. I've turned off the radio. we went to the beach. It was dark and the sky was beautiful. I saw a shooting star. My son (10) was paddling in the sea. ‘Do you see the Great Bear?’ I said to my son. ‘And do you see the optical double star Mizar and Alcor?’ It was told for generations, fathers to sons. Our dog ran around enthusiastically, back and forth. He did like the beach too. Monday is my day, leaving the madness of the contest weekend behind. DX is always elusive, just around the corner, in the noise. See you hopefully there.

Testing the Falcon for QRP

I have my HF antenna, the Falcon 250B directly connected to my FT817. Before that it was connected to a coaxial switch and autotuner. On 6 meter I had a very bad SWR, now direct is my SWR on 6 meter perfect. There is no tuner needed because I have a perfect SWR on all bands 1.3:1 or lower. My impression is that it works better now without a tuner in between. I will test the antenna with QRP and Falcon on all bands. My dipole is connected to my FT450 for 40 and 80 meter. This morning I was monitoring the CW part of the 20 meter band, while there was a contest going on. Especially stations from Asiatic Russia were very strong here. I heard: RG9A, UA9FGJ, UA9OG, A71EM, 4Z4DX, RL9AA, RWØCR, RA9AM, TK5MH, TA2/DL2JRM, ZC4LI, UPØL and K1LZ. All received on the FT817 and vertical. Today I must join my son because he has a tennis contest. No ham radio for the rest of the day. Have a nice Saturday. Well a quick one: I worked SP8ØPZK with 5 watt SSB on 20 meter.

WSPR on 10 meter

Roger G3XBM mailed me that he was active with WSPR on 10 meter. So I did also, hoping to get some stations by Meteor trails. As you see I was reported by Roger G3XBM, G3SUY and DL4NAX. Unfortunately, the WSPR program shuts down after 00.45 UTC, and when I woke up I saw that Registry Booster was active and noticed 37 errors. Could it be because it's Friday the 13th? I don't know really what the problem could be. It's a pity because it looks promising. It's not sure if it was Es or MS. But checking vhfdx.net, they didn't mention Es tonight. So I think meteor scatter was very likely.

Meteor scatter

Unfortunately, there was overcast so nothing to observe outside. No Perseids for me, so I turned on 6 meter (50.230 MHz) running WSJT with JT6M. I monitored the following stations: OK1MP, EA2ARD, G3XGS, GM6VXB/P, OE9ICI, G2GHN and OZ5AGQ. (See log) This morning I worked RX3MD Nick from Yaroslavl Russia. Conditions at the moment are a little bit disappointing though we have a number of 66 Sunspots. Maybe later today.

A screen shot of JT6M. With PSK31 on 20 meter I worked RV3FV Igor from Noginks, Russia with JT65A 5 watt on the vertical. I heard UX1BZ calling on 6 meter with CW. And yes, he heard me with 5 watt (FT817 and the vertical) that is 1905 km.

Perseid Meteor Shower

This year's Perseid meteor shower peaks on Aug. 12-13, and it promises to be one of the best displays of the year. If forecasters are correct, the shower should produce a peak display of at least 80 meteors per hours. (link) When the sky is clear and no clouds, go out there to see this spectacular sight. Best time to watch is in the early morning between 2 and 5 AM. If your station is suitable for Meteor scatter (Enough power >25 watts and horizontal polarized antennas) using FSK441 for 2 meter, you can make nice contacts. I wonder what WSPR can do on 10 meter or 6 meter. It would be a nice experiment, but I think WSPR activity on 10 meter is too low to make ionospheric scatter interesting. Tonight I see a gig in Paradiso, Amsterdam of The Animals with Eric Burdon. I like that sixties music. Oh Boy, they are getting old, and so do I. I am afraid I will have not too much sleep... Last night I worked on 40 meter with PSK31: DG8PD, RZ3DVP, SP3AXJ/3 and SP3JSD. On 80 meter: DL6ØDARC. This morning there was an opening on 15 meter. I worked RA9WJ with PSK31, distance 3320 km. Two hours later the band was closed again.
At 14.35 I worked OK1HAS Ludi from Hradek, Czech republic on 40 meter with CW. There was a lot of QSB on the signal and it was difficult to copy sometimes.

The Falcon 250B back in full length

Though the half Falcon did work, I put up the full length today. Yesterday I worked with the half version of the Falcon RA1QQ/1 with 5 watt (599) and 2143 km. But it will be better to use the full length. Sorry neighbours, just close your eyes. (they are with vacation) A good moment to put up the 7,13 meter. The weather was changing, more wind to come and it will rain later today, so I was up early to do the job. Last night I was listening with JT65A and received the following DX stations: ZS1LS, WD4LBR, R7AU, K1KS, ZS2ACP, HG9SM, ZS6ANZ AND CX4CR. (With a half Falcon) This morning I worked SP9GFI/P with CW and I heard SMØPJM on 14.060 KHz calling CQ.

The solar eruption of August 7th might affect Earth after all. Newly-arriving data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) show a CME heading our way with a significant Earth-directed component. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras when the cloud arrives on August 10th.

With PSK31 I worked IK2FTB/6 Alfredo from Corinaldo, Italy on 10 meter. On 14.060 KHz I worked HB9DAX Fred, a 2 way QRP QSO.

Surprising

Last night I made a QSO with UR5ZJV on 20 meter SSB with 5 watt, and my shortened HF vertical connected to my FT817. I got a 59 report. After me he made a QSO with a PD station and he got a 55 report. So he must be honest with giving reports. Other stations I worked: CT/F6HZF/P on 40 meter (BPSK31); PA7TWO on 20 meter with RTTY 10 watt; and OK1FHD on 40 meter CW. As you see I was giving different modes a try. At daytime I couldn't make any contact so I was afraid my antenna was not good.

At 6.19 UTC I worked GØWTQ Bill from Plymouth, UK with CW on 40 meter.

Just listening

For two days I hear 5N7M (Nigeria) calling and working on 17 meter. But it was not possible for me to work him. Even with QRO (Forgive my sin) I could not come through. On the other (not WARC bands) are contests going on. Even with digi modes. They all seems to be very hasty. It makes me a little bit nervous. On 14.060 KHz I heard around 8.15 UTC SP5AGU and SM4YPG. Sometimes is listening enough for me. Especially when they already in QSO. I listen sometimes to JT65A because it indicates how propagation is. At 9.00 UTC I heard RA9KT (4074 km) however, I made no QSO today so far. Just a little bit of listening. The weather is disappointing, rainy and overcast. Yesterday it rains all day.

This afternoon I have WSPR running with 2 watt on 20 meter. Reported by SV8ARJ (2197 km) and UA3ARC (2146 km) received: 4X1RF and VU2LID (outside Europe).

Andorra or not?

I jumped up from my chair. I heard Andorra on 18.078 on CW (listen) C3LZA/P finnaly! I worked him. It was a very long time on my wish list. When I was looking up with QRZ.com I saw it was a pirate. Aaaargh.

On 28.009 I worked J48LH again on CW. The station transmitted no K at the end of a CQ call so a lot of stations were doubling. Also worked YU9DX on 28.010 KHz.

I like the dits and dah's

The solar flux today is very promising. A SF of 85! And a sunspot number of 54. My first contact today was F/G4BJM Fraser located near Niort, France on 40 meter. I was using 10 watts CW. On 20 meter I worked with CW LZ05WFF a special station and SM1IRS a IOTA station from Gotland Island, Sweden. On 14.060 I worked HB9DAX Fred from Landquart, Switzerland. He was working 5 watt, and so did I. A real QRP-er. Watch his QRZ.com page. As you maybe noticed, I am back with CW. I am a bit fed up with PSK for the time being. And I have the impression that with JT65A om’s are eager to work only DX (outside Europe ) maybe I am wrong. So back to the nice dits and dah’s.

QRP activity

Maybe because of the geomagnetic storm, there was almost no activity on HF. This morning around 9.00 o'clock UTC I was monitoring the QRP CW frequency 14.060 and several stations calling or working. DL2BXC/QRP, F6GVI, UA1AAR, DL5NBS/P, M/DL5SAF, GM3MXN and G4CKS. After 9.30 UTC all activity was gone.

At 10.09 UTC I worked J48LH from Cape Doukato Lefkas Island, Greece with CW. A lighthouse station. Today conditions stay poor. With JT65A I couldn't make it above 1000 km with my 5 watt and vertical antenna. On 20 meter I heard on 14.060 G3KDP. Tonight on 40 meter I worked with CW and 10 watts output: GØWDT Edward from New Castle, England, GØFHK Ray from Gloucester, England and 9A3BVI Babo from Korarula ?? Island, Croatia. In the end I lost him because of heavy QSB.

Is the Sun waking up?

CME IMPACT: As expected, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on August 3rd. The impact, which occurred around 1730 UT, sparked a polar geomagnetic storm. At the time that this alert is being written, sky watchers in Europe as far south as Germany are reporting red and green Northern Lights. If the storm sustains itself for a few more hours, people in North America might see a similar display. Sky watchers in Alaska, Canada, and northern-tier US states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maine should be alert for auroras.

The Sun's activity generally rises and falls on an 11-year cycle: the last peak occurred in 2001, but since then the star has been going through an unusually prolonged calm spell. We've been overdue for some more action for several years, and Golub and his colleagues consider that Sunday's outburst may be a sign that the Sun is "waking up"

The Perseids are coming. The shower is visible from mid-July each year, with the peak in activity being between August 9 and 14, depending on the particular location of the stream. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour. They can be seen all across the sky, but because of the path of Swift-Tuttle's orbit, Perseids are primarily visible in the northern hemisphere. As with all meteor showers, the rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours, since the side of the Earth nearest to turning into the sun scoops up more meteors as the Earth moves through space.

I was listening with FSK441 on 2 meter for meteorscatter. I heard LA/DL1RNW from JP77fg (1716 km) and PA2CHR and PE1GPN. My equipment is not suitable for MS, but with my low profile station I tried to see if I can receive something. In the early morning of August 12, it’s worthwhile to listen with FSK411 on 2 meter. 6 meter is also a possibility, but then I use JT6M.

There is low activity on HF. Looks like a black out. I do hear almost no phone stations on 20 meter and 40 meter. A few weak CW stations. Even with JT65A is nothing to hear. I only worked 3ZØLH with SSB on 40 meter.


http://www.spaceweather.com/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/03/solar_aurora_storm/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids

Reverse beacon activities

This morning I worked YU1AAV/P with CW on 20 meter. My reverse beacon activities with JT65A 20 meter outside Europe: PY6WJ, PY6HL, LU8ENU, K1KS, KJ4DHF and WS4WW. In the evening 20 meter is good for USA and South America. Still I am looking for N2UGB to work with CW. I check +/- 14.058 KHz between 21 and 22 hour UTC.

Solar tsunami

Antique Map of New Netherland (The East Coast of the USA) by Allard 1662. A copper engraving, I like this kind of old maps. (more >>>) Today I let run WSPR 5 watt on 20 meter. Best reports came from VK6JX and FR1GZ Reunion Island.

The signal strength of UA3ARC between 11:50 and 15:08 UTC on 20 meter WSPR. He was using 1 watt (Distance 2146 km).

With CW I worked tonight F5CNQ on 20 meter. With JT65 I worked EA1GFY and KB3MOW on 20 meter. I heard with JT65: KC8V, WX8C, WØKIT, N9MIW, WB4RQD and N1BMX.

Latest news: GLOBAL ERUPTION - During the early hours of August 1st, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a complex global disturbance on the Earth-facing side of the sun. Most of the sun's northern hemisphere was involved in the event, which included a long-duration C3-class solar flare, a "solar tsunami," and a massive filament eruption. As a result of these blasts, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading toward Earth. High-latitude geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible when the cloud arrives a few days hence. Check www.spaceweather.com