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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 11:44 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-rx-wednesday.html


Since about 1005z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today (it is now
1018z) already 46 stations have been spotted. Very encouraging.
UPDATE 1206z: 215 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1336z: 347 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1843z: 717 stations spotted.

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Geosynchronous Oscar 100

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 02:16 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/geosynchronous-oscar-100.html



Every few weeks I give an update on the activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite.

My last peek was at 0910z on a weekday. Activity levels were lower than I
have ever seen. No doubt activity levels would be higher at a weekend or in
the evenings in Europe where most of the activity comes from.
If I was a satellite manufacturer, launcher or AMSAT, I would spend money
some other way.

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160m FT8 RX overnight

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 01:58 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/160m-ft8-rx-overnight_16.html


In all, 141 stations spotted on RX in the last day on 160m FT8 RX with the
10m antenna.

No transatlantic signals. Is this just a blip or is it the end of the
season for me?

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Sunspots - Wednesday March 16th 2022

Posted: 16 Mar 2022 12:02 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-wednesday-march-16th-2022.html


Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 71. A=6 and K=0.

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OFCOM and space spectrum

Posted: 15 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/ofcom-and-spectrum-for-space-broadband.html


OFCOM is consulting on the use of spectrum in support of new space
technology. See the OFCOM website for details.

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160m FT8 RX

Posted: 15 Mar 2022 03:40 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/160m-ft8-rx_15.html


About 5 minutes ago, I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX using the untuned 10m antenna.
So far, 6 stations already spotted.
UPDATE 1925z: 15 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX so far.
UPDATE 2240z: 93 stations spotted.

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15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

Posted: 15 Mar 2022 11:52 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/15m-ft8-rx-with-tiny-indoor-loop_15.html


Again I am on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. This just sits
on the shack windowsill and is about 50cm diameter. For the size, it is remarkable.
UPDATE 1635z: 409 stations spotted on RX today. Unlike yesterday, there
were plenty of stations from the USA. Perhaps conditions were disturbed yesterday?
UPDATE 1840z: 473 stations spotted today. With very few additional ones, I
may soon go QRT and QSY to a lower band.
UPDATE 1850z: Although I am unsure when this happened, my tiny loop had
fallen over. There was still plenty of DX coming through just now when I
QSYed to 160m FT8 RX.

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Really long distance 6m QSOs

Posted: 15 Mar 2022 01:37 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/really-long-6m-qsos.html


In the last few days the EI7GL blog has been reporting some extremely long distance QSOs on 6m.
These are eye watering distances and although TEP may explain some of this,
it makes you wonder what propagation mechanisms were involved.
No wonder they call it "the magic band".

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Sunspots - Tuesday March 15th 2022

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 11:53 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-tuesday-march-15th-2022.html


Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 82. A=14 and K=2.

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2m activity contest results

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:44 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/2m-activity-contest-results.html


A few weeks ago I entered this 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. After just 1 QSO I gave up with my low power and omni antenna. My poor
voice is not really any good in contests these days!
These activity "contests" are more about activity than contesting. In the
past, I have always found them friendly.
The results are now available.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2022 .

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OFCOM and limited range broadcasts

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 04:27 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/ofcom-and-limited-range-broadcasts.html


OFCOM is looking to change the rules governing broadcasting for events and similar where the range is limited. See the OFCOM website for details.
This makes sense when the intended range is very limited, such as hospital radio. Hopefully, this will lead to better use of the spectrum and more
reuse. Some broadcasts are for a limited time too.

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15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 03:15 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/15m-ft8-rx-with-tiny-indoor-loop.html


From about 1000z, I have been on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny loop on the shack windowsill. So far today, 35 stations already spotted.
UPDATE 1135z: 120 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Furthermost is BD6RN (8841km) in Hubei, China.
UPDATE 1245z: 174 stations spotted so far.
UPDATE 1554z: 295 stations spotted so far, with nothing at all from South America. I guess that could be conditions, time of day, or antenna directionality. I find it surprising that not a single South American has
been spotted so far. Come to think of it, just 1 Florida station in the USA spotted.
UPDATE 1725z: 331 stations spotted, but very very few from the Americas. UPDATE 1855z: 341 stations spotted today.
UPDATE 2210z: 343 stations spotted today (see map). Now QRT. Not sure when
the loop fell over, but I think it must have been quite late!


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Sunspots - Monday March 14th 2022

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:41 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-monday-march-14th-2022.html


Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 64. A=13 and K=6.

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WSJT-X on a Chromebook?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:19 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/wsjt-x-on-chromebook.html


My shack PC runs Windows 10. Currently it is almost exclusively used for WSJT-X.
My main PC in the lounge is an Asus Chromebook that I have used for about
2.5 years. It has been excellent: fast, the battery lasts for hours and it
does nearly everything I want. It is also far less expensive than a Windows machine. My wife was also impressed and bought one. I would never go back
to Windows. At first I was uncertain I had made the correct choice: I had.

At some point I may want to upgrade the Chromebook. If I do this, this
current Chromebook might end up in the shack. Although the Chromebook will
run Linux apps, I have never bothered.
Does anyone know how to install WSJT-X on a Chromebook please?
I am definitely NOT a computer nerd, so would need very simple instructions!

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