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  • [G3XBM] 70cm scatter?

    From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Thu Nov 11 09:08:34 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

    Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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    70cm scatter?

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 10:56 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/70cm-scatter.html


    Yesterday evening there an FT8 contest on 70cm. What amazed me was the very distant signals spotted on RX with just the vertical omni antenna. In all
    30 stations were spotted in 5 countries.
    I am wondering if some kind of scatter was possible? Activity levels
    probably are too low to see this in normal times, but in an FT8 contest
    such propagation may be noticeable. Aircraft reflection could be better and troposcatter is also possible.
    I am tempted to leave my 70cm FT8 system on this evening to see what
    happens outside of contests. The combination of FT8 and 70cm could be
    potent.

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    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 10:37 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/artificial-intelligence-ai.html


    Our University of the 3rd Age lecture yesterday (by Zoom - 148
    participants) was about AI. Few of us realise just what an impact this
    could make on our lives in years to come.
    We have the potential to make artificial intelligence that could be smarter than us and perform tasks that we could not do with our small brains.
    AI has positive and negative impacts. We cannot be Luddites, but we need to look to the future with our eyes wide open. There could be profound changes
    in the years ahead.

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    Sunspots - Thursday November 11th 2021

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 10:36 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/sunspots-thursday-november-11th-2021.html


    Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 37. A=8 and K=0.

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    70cm FT8 contest

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 02:02 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/70cm-ft8-contest.html



    This evening there is a contest on 70cm FT8. 12 stations have been spotted
    with the furthermost PF1B (305km).

    I am using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Although I had 1 QSO and have
    been spotted by 3 stations, I am mostly RX only.
    UPDATE 1850z: 15 stations spotted with the furthermost EI8KN (518km).
    UPDATE 1950z: 20 stations spotted. This is with the vertical antenna!
    UPDATE 2053z: 29 stations spotted on RX and 5 stations have spotted me
    with the furthermost F5RZC (208km). This is by far the most stations I have spotted at one time on 70cms. My power is 2.5W. See map for the stations spotted at 2035z.
    UPDATE 2200z: 30 stations spotted.

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    10m AM

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 06:13 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/10m-am.html


    One of the pleasures of the last solar peak was hearing the USA AM signals just above 29MHz. One of the beauties of 10m is its size. With 1.7MHz of bandwidth all modes can be accommodated without issues including FM and AM.

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    10m (28MHz) operation

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 04:55 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/10m-28mhz-operation.html


    10m (28MHz) is probably my favourite band. Antennas are modest and some remarkable DX can be worked with low power. I am sure beams might help when conditions are marginal, but I obtained 10m QRP SSB DXCC about 30 years ago with simple wire antennas. I have even heard USA AM stations with a
    super-regen and a base loaded whip in the car.
    See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .

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    70cms (432MHz) band

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 03:38 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/70cms-432mhz-band.html


    In the past I have had a lot of fun on this band, which is shared with
    other services. It seems to experience more localised tropo openings than
    2m. Antennas are small. They look like UHF TV antennas.
    A reminder that there is a 70cm FT8 contest this evening from 1700z to
    2100z on 432.174MHz. Many PAs use vertical polarisation, so I shall be
    using my V2000 vertical.
    See
    https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/70cm-operation .

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    10m FT8 RX

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/10m-ft8-rx_10.html


    In a few moments, I intend to go on 10m FT8 RX. It is now 1006z.
    UPDATE 1105: So far today, 139 stations already spotted with the
    furthermost VK6DW (14466km). The band seems busy. See photo.
    UPDATE 1208z: 197 stations spotted.
    UPDATE 1357z: 284 stations spotted in the last day on 10m FT8 RX. 10m is
    a good DX band again! I must soon listen just above 29MHz for USA AM
    stations.

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    80m FT8 RX

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 02:03 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/80m-ft8-rx_10.html


    In all, 932 stations spotted last evening and overnight on 80m FT8 RX on
    what must be one of the most stupid antenna and ground systems on the
    planet, proving that for FT8 RX almost anything can be used. In my case
    this was the coax to my 2m big-wheel, and a mains plug ground, resonated
    via a ferrite rod ATU on the bench.


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    Sunspots - Wednesday November 10th 2021

    Posted: 10 Nov 2021 01:42 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/11/sunspots-wednesday-november-10th-2021.html


    Solar flux is 92 and the SSN 40. A=6 and K=3.

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