CQ Santa! The 2011 Santa Contest

Yes Christmas is coming and the Alpha Tango group have organised a Santa contest!

First station to work all or the most Santa stations wins the contest! There will be first places from Europe, Africa, Oceanian, Asia, Americas & Non AT Member!

The 2011 Santa Contest, will be running for the first 4 weekends of December : -

December 3- 4
December 10- 11
December 17- 18
December 24- 25

Starts Saturday at 00:01 GMT (Friday 7:01 PM EST)
and Ends Sunday at 23:59 GMT (6:59 PM EST)

27.605 to 27.855Mhz are the frequencies be used for this contest

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

Anytone AT-5555 Software Frequency Adjustment

Having come across an Anytone AT-5555 that was off frequency from the factory, I have discovered how to adjust the oscillator from the front panel, so it's now back on frequency!

Press and hold "FUNC" while powering on the radio
then press "RB" once
then press "AN/ANL" once
then press "DW" once

the radio enters adjustment mode when the LCD displays BFXXX, (where XXX is the numeric setting value) and you must make adjustments to the frequency in each mode, one by one.

I would not recommend performing this procedure without suitable equipment to count the frequency and make a note of the values before changing them

Note: I did not need to modify resistor R567 for this adjustment and it seams to work well without it.

Special thank you to Highfields ARC, Qixiang and N6QLC providing the community with this information.

DX Code of Conduct

Improving DXEtiquette on the radio

• I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling.
• I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
• I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DX station's call sign before calling.
• I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone calling and will never tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
• I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before I call.
• I will always send my full call sign.
• I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call continuously.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another call sign, not mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a call sign not like mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than mine.
• When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my call sign unless I think he has copied it incorrectly.
• I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
• I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself so as to earn their respect.

Sourced From: www.dx-code.org

For 11 meter operators I will add one more!

• I will QSY off the calling frequency to a clear frequency I checked previously

WW 11m RTTY Contest‏

The WW 11m RTTY DX Contest will take place : -

From 19th November 2011 - 1200UTC
To: Sunday 20th November 2011 - 1200 UTC

I. OBJECTIVE: For 11m RTTY operators around the world to contact as many other RTTY enthusiasts in as many DXCC as possible.
II. BANDS: 11m. Recommended frequencies range for the contest: 27.480 - 27.500 MHz

The rules and categories can be downloaded here: http://11m-rtty.webs.com/WW%2011m%20RTTY%20DX%20Contest.pdf

For further information visit: http://11m-rtty.webs.com/

The Big Net 2011 - 30 years of legal CB radio in the UK

Celebrating the 30th aniversary of legal CB radio in the United Kingdom, this special event takes place on 2nd November 2011 between 7pm and 9pm. Tune in to channel 30 (UK-FM, 27.89125Mhz) see you there!

Anytone AT-5555 V5

Purchased one of these radios from www.defscan.co.uk last week, the latest version of the Anytone 5555, so far performance is good and it seams very reliable. There are the known issues as with the previous versions of the 'pop' when you first transmit after power on and the channel change switch seams a bit week, but for the price I am not complaining!

Here's the spec : -

• All Mode AM/FM/SSB/CW Mobile Transceiver
• Frequency range from 25.615 to 30.105Mhz (dependant on programming)
  
• Output Power: 30 watts PEP SSB/40 watts FM/12 watts AM/CW
  
• Large LCD Display shows frequency
• Sub display shows Channel
• RF Gain Control
• RF Power Adjustment
• Echo adjustment
  
• Scan Feature
• Dual Frequency Watch
  
• NB/ANL Function
• Hi-Cut Function
  
• SWR/S/RF/DC Voltage Display Function
• Includes hand microphone, DC lead, mounting bracket, and handbook.

PSK31 to Azores

Intermittent QSO today using digimode PSK31 with 75PF001 Paul on the Islands of Azores in the mid Atlantic. Propagation was poor but it's always nice to make the trip!

Greenland

Worked the rare 38 division (Greenland) this evening.  Thank you to 47DX101 Mr. John and the DX club for the special activation from Greenland.  John has been operating from Greenland since mid July and today (25/09/2011) is the last day of the activation.  More information on the Delta Xray club site.

John outside the Royal Danish Navy Guard office in Mestersvig, north east Greenland

Lift off!

 

After some recent very strong solar activity in the direction of Earth, solar cycle 24 has finally kicked in big time!

The summer season of  sparodic e propagation has given way to some very good tropospheric propagation.   Over the last week on most days it's possible to work South America, Asia, Australasia, Caribbean and North America.

Hello US of A.

Birth place of our hobby and home to many a fine station.  For me and I guess most UK operators, North America is the 'icing on the cake'.  It's always a pleasure to listen and talk to the 'yanks' and I hope as the solar cycle progresses there will be many more opportunities.

27.385 LSB seams to be a good spot to work DX for USA, for some real fun listen to the 'Super Bowl' on 27.025 AM (Channel 6), 10-4 Rubber Duck!

How to add 11 meter cluster spots to your own website

If you want to add the 11 meter cluster spots to your own website, copy and paste the following HTML : -

For last 20 spots from the CRX Node 1 cluster : -

<iframe frameborder="0" height="333" href="http://www.crxcluster.com" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.crxcluster.com/dxclusterframe.php?format=html&items=20" width="482"> </iframe>

and for the cluster spot map : -

<a href="http://dxcluster.crxcluster.com/img.php?id=YToyOntzOjI6Im10IjtzOjM6Im1hcCI7czo0OiJkYXRhIjthOjM6e3M6NjoiYWN0aW9uIjtzOjIxOiJnZXRMYXN0RHhTcG90c1BpY3R1cmUiO3M6MjoiaWQiO047czo0OiJ0aW1lIjtpOjEzMTYyMTEyMDQ7fX0=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://dxcluster.crxcluster.com/img.php?id=YToyOntzOjI6Im10IjtzOjM6Im1hcCI7czo0OiJkYXRhIjthOjM6e3M6NjoiYWN0aW9uIjtzOjIxOiJnZXRMYXN0RHhTcG90c1BpY3R1cmUiO3M6MjoiaWQiO047czo0OiJ0aW1lIjtpOjEzMTYyMTEyMDQ7fX0=" width="445" /></a> 

and if your a user of Ham Radio Deluxe software, the dx cluster connection details are : -

this should also work for other software that is DXSpider compatible

Blog update - Cluster Dashboard

Some major updates to the cluster page : -

• Added a real-time UTC clock
• Added world time clocks for some major cities around the globe
• Removed all but one cluster spot list - most of them now share the spot data
• Added DX spot map from CRX Cluster Node 1
• Page will now auto refresh every 60 or when you hit the refresh button

and of course I've called it Cluster Dashboard as that seams to be in current fashion to call overview type pages with charts and graphs on.

The Cluster Dashboard should prove to be a useful page when keeping an eye on DX conditions on the 11 Meter band.   If there is something you would like on that page please let me know.

NEIM1031MKII DSP Audio Filter - Again

Well the BHI NEIM1031 MKII that I was very happy about in this post unfortunately developed a fault. The noise cancelling function would intermittently switch off and the output from the unit would sound like the filter level was stuck at full, giving a very metallic sound to the audio. Phoned up BHI Ltd and spoke to Graham who was extremely helpful. Posted the faulty unit to them and they ended up sending me a new unit. Graham initially mentioned it might be a dry solder joint but after inspection looked like a component failure, 'a very rare occurence' said Graham, 'we don't get many faults on these'. So I am now very happy again with my noise filter and after spending a few weeks without it I released how much difference it makes, especially with stations that have a low signal in the background static, definitely does make the difference between able understand them or not. I highly recommend this unit for anyone without a built in DSP on their radios. Many thanks to Graham at BHI

IDM All Digi-modes Open Contest - 22nd to 28th August 2011

The IDM All Digi-modes Open Contest will be taking place from 22nd to 28th August 2011. Contest rules, entry form and log sheet can be found on the IDM forum. Look forward to contacting you during the contest, I will be operating around 27.740 USB PSK31.

IDM PSK Challenge - Results

In an earlier post I mentioned I was taking part in the IDM PSK Challenge between 18 and 24 July 2011. Propogation was very poor on the 11 meter band during the contest and I was very busy towards the end of the week so I could not take part as much as I hopped. Here are the result of the contest : -

First place: 26IDM010 Paul (6 points)
Second place (tie): 14IDM113 Jean-Yves (3 points)
14IDM003 Olivier (3 points)

So it looks like I won! Special thanks to Jean-Yves and Oliver who were my two contacts durring the contest!

I am looking forward to the IDM all digi-modes open contest which will be held on 22nd to 28th of August 2011. I expect as in the previous contest most operators will be 'contesting' around 27.740 USB.

JT65A

JT65A on the waterfall

Begin one for exotic modes, I have become interested in a mode known as JT65A.

From the wiki entry : -

"JT65, developed and released in late 2003 is intended for extremely weak but slowly-varying signals, such as those found on troposcatter or Earth-Moon-Earth (EME, or "moonbounce") paths. It can decode signals many decibels below the noise floor, and can often allow amateurs to successfully exchange contact information without signals being audible to the human ear. Like the other modes, multiple-frequency shift keying is employed; unlike the other modes, messages are transmitted as atomic units after being compressed and then encoded with a process known as forward error correction (or "FEC"). The FEC adds redundancy to the data, such that all of a message may be successfully recovered even if some bits are not received by the receiver. (The particular code used for JT65 is Reed-Solomon.) Because of this FEC process, messages are either decoded correctly or not decoded at all, with very high probability. After messages are encoded, they are transmitted using MFSK with 65 tones.
Operators have also begun using the JT65 mode for contacts on the HF bands, often using QRP (very low transmit power);while the mode was not originally intended for such use, its popularity has resulted in several new features being added to WSJT in order to facilitate HF operation."

Moon Bounce ey? Must be good! So basically the above means JT65A is a weak signal digital QSO mode with a highly structured QSO.

There are not many JT65A operators on 11 meters but I keep transmitting and talking about it on forums and more people are getting interested. I had my first JT65A RX on 11 meters a few weeks ago with my SSTV friend 310LA from Lativa, unfortuantly I was not around to complete the QSO. However, today I had a partial QSO with 161BD520 - Sergiusz over in Poland, thanks Sergiusz! Unfortuantely it appears there is a limit on the callsign length (6 characters) so not really suited for traditional 11 meter calls signs - i'll keep you posted on this one as the experiment continues.

The program I used for JT65A is JT65-HF which can be download here: http://jt65-hf.sourceforge.net/

Save the Radio Spectrum

Are you suffering from a strange-sounding interference to your FM radio, DAB radio, Taxi radio, Business radio (inc. shopping centre radio), Airband radio, Marine radio, Military radio, Amateur radio, Citizens' Band radio, or Shortwave radio?

You may be suffering deliberate interference (Spectrum Abuse) from a neighbour (or neighbours) who are using Power Line Technology (also known as Power Line Networking).

Are you using a power line network in your home?

Also known as : -

• PowerLine Telecoms - PLT
• PowerLine Networking - PLN
• PowerLine Adapters - PLA
• HomePlug networking
• BPL

Please consider removing them and replacing them with a Category 5 UTP or Category 6 UTP patch lead ('wired network cable')

Are you using the British Telecom BT Vision service?

 

If you use the IPTV package from BT Vision and you have installed the PLT devices, please consider removing them and replacing them with a Category 5 UTP or Category 6 UTP patch lead ('wired network cable').  If you wish BT Vision to do this work for you, then contact their Customer Services on 0800 111 4567 and request a wired solution.

Alternatively, you could use a TV solution from another supplier who does not advocate PLT!

For more information and advice on what to do in the UK visit :

Ban PLT website.

UKQRM

Radio Amateur M0MTJ

11 Meter International Digital Modes Group (IDM)

"IDM" for INTERNATIONAL DIGI-MODES group.

This is an initiative of Alex 104fdx104 and Eric 9ew001.

Data Modes on 11 meters are gaining popularity

The main goals of IDM are : -

• to promote digital modes on 11 meters
• to organise activities such as:

regular meetings on the air

digi-days

contests

digi-SOTA, and others.

A digital modes band plan have been discussed on their forum and for some time has been establish with respect to phone mode operators and the frequencies already in use.

IDM are affiliate member of EMU, giving them more visibility to attract new followers and members from around the globe.

The group is open to all and to join, all you have to do is contact them by PM on the forum or by email to:

IDMdxgroup@gmail.com

There is absolutely no fee to join and all they ask is that you use your new IDM call sign as much as possible on the designated frequencies. The fact of having an IDM call sign will also greatly facilitate the validation of logs for the contests.

IDM PSK Challenge 18 July to 24 July 2011

Currently taking part in  IDM PSK Challenge 'contest', propogation conditions have not been very good this week but had a few contacts into division 14.   You can't beat a contest for sharpening your skills and getting to know your radio and software better.

I also joined the IDM group last week, so look out for me on the above frequencies, usually around 27.740 USB as 26IDM010, next post will be more about the IDM group.

QSL SSTV

Finally got the radio directly connected to the computer using the excellent ZLP Electronics Digimaster Pro+ 
I am very happy with my first two SSTV QSLs, 104 Corsica and 1 Italy, thank you Jean-Noel and Agostino for your QSL.

I have created an album for all received SSTV images here.  SSTV slideshow/link is also to the right of the page.

CQ SSTV

I have been using one of the digital modes today, SSTV (Slow Scan Television) on 27.700 USB. Lots of info on the net about SSTV if your interested. The software I am using is MMSSTV to rx/tx the images, takes around a minute to send/receive a picture depending on the SSTV mode you use.

Here's what I have received so far, poor image quality is due to poor propagation conditions at the time and the fact that I dont have my radio directly linked to my computer at this time : -

 

 

 

 

 

CQ CQ DX

Conditions are looking up on the 11 meter band, especially around the 'gray zone' time (evenings), South America, Caribbean, Middle East and North African Stations could be heard over the weekend, on Sunday afternoon the band was very quiet but I heard a station from Italy, 1RB072 - Max, I gave him a call and he responded, unfortunately conditions were very poor at the time and he did not catch my call sign, but I sent him an eQSL anyway, I was just please he actually heard me during a time of such poor propagation conditions, which makes me very happy with my Radio and Antenna (which is still in it's temporary position on a wooden pole in the garden).

Two Six Division Calling...

At the weekend I got around to temporarily putting up the Imax 2000.  It's mounted 6.3m high on a wooden mast (above image from cb museum with metal mast),  SWR was 1.5:1, very impressed with the RX both local and DX stations.  Have not had much time for TX but I will leave the antenna where it is for now until I can get it moved to a 'better' location.   As other users have mentioned, the Solarcon 2000 makes a suprisingly good SWL antenna.

NEIM1031MKII DSP Audio Filter

My current radio does not have a build in DSP (Digital Signal Processor) to clean up the audio... after researching on the Internet I decided to purchase one of these : -

BHI NEIM1031MKII

I have to say it's not a magic device as some reviewers would have you believe, but it definitely does a VERY good job of cleaning up audio signals and reducing background noise/static on all modes, which is nothing but good news for your ears, the only caveat is that it can take a second or 2 for the filter to start working on recieved audio.

Apart from the obvious improved listening experience the advantage this device gives is with noisy week signals and can make the difference between understanding the other operator and not, of course there is a threshhold where no amount of processing can make you hear what simply is not there.  

Which brings me onto something else I've noticed when using this filter, when monitoring a frequency for a long time listening to processed static, I swear ocassionally I can hear 'something' like a voice, when I know for a fact there is nothing there.  I think what is happening is the filter is trying to process the static noise as 'speach' and my brain is also to trying to process this processed noise trying to recognise speach and so I hear a 'voice' by some random chance, took me a while to figure out I was not going mad or am I?

and so the cycle begins...

Solar cycle 24 officially started on 4th January 2008, the number of sun spots have been slowly increasing and along with it the increasing chance of favourable propagation conditions on the 11 meter band.

2011 was the year to dust off my trusty Yaesu, connect a simple wire antenna and have a listen...

As of April 2011 conditions on the 11 meter band here in the UK have been pretty much non-existent, not disheartened by this, I look forward with great anticipation the coming months and years to favourable DX conditions.   All that remains to be done is to sort out a radio 'hut' and erect my unused Solarcon IMAX 2000.   I hope through this blog to keep you up todate on my adventures during Solar cycle 24!  For now I will have to be content with some SWL.