Summertime and propagation will be easy 

50Mhz, 6 meter  is very populaire during the summertime. To know more on how signals behave  listen --> here

73 Gerard

Nice local conditions on 40 meter

When you are dialing on the 40 meter band and searching for local Dutch stations, it's  always useful to take a look at the digisonde probe site. When the E and Es layers are very low in height, there is a good change to work some local stations.

This evening I was lucky and meet several Dutch stations on 7190 khz Henny PA3HK give an excellent explanation how it works.

But let's talk about the Digisonde site

As you can see is that E layer reflect radio signals around 100 km. This mean that you hear strong local signals from Dutch station.

You can find the digisonde site ->here

73 Gerard

Mills on the Air 2017.

From a location near Utrecht the PI4UTR clubstation was active on Saturday the 13th of May 2017.
The Mill they are worked from was an the old MILL Westbroek in Oud Zuilen.

 The shack were all the activity took place.

During the event were watched

The configuration for HF was a Kenwood 570 with a 300 Watt power amplifier on the left. Logging software N1mm contest log program was used . The antenna was a FD3 from Fritzel

73 Gerard

Today I received my SOS Radio Week Award that took place in january 2017. The goal was to work RNLI coast stations as much as possible. Because of the bad HF conditions it was difficult to work a lot.

Finally I had a QSO with six stations and got my award today.

SOS Radio Week (http://www.sosradioweek.org.uk) is an annual fun-raising event organised in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Amateur Radio operators from all over the UK and Ireland come together for nine days and get themselves sponsored to make as many contacts as they can during the event.
Some participants operate on their own from home, others run special event stations from lifeboat stations, shopping centres and other public locations - all with a single aim; to raise money for the RNLI.

Testing the new JT10 Digital mode

Today I did some first quick test with a new digital mode. This mode, JT10 is derived from JT9.
Below you will find the explanation by Igor UA3DJY

First I have installed the latest version of the JTDX software and list on 20 meter 14080.00 khz.

I checked all the settings in the new (beta) software. some of them didn't work now, but this wasn't problem to start the first transmission on 20 mtr,

After some CQ on 20 I decided to switch to 40 mtr and made some contacts.

Message from Igor JTDX developer.

New mode "JT10" in JTDX 17.8 (coming soon)
Hi All,
JT10 mode is derived from the JT9 mode and has 10 tones where two of them dedicated to synchronization pattern, rest 8 are the message data.
Each tone being transmitted for 6912/12000= 0.576 second, minimal distance between the two neighbouring tones is 4*12000/6912= 6.94(4) Hz.
Frequency bin width is 12000/6912= 1.736(1) Hz, so there is always a gap between the two neighbouring tones.
Whole spectrum occupies 6.94(4)*9 +1.74= around 65 Hz. Fano decoder is used for JT10 mode.
16 tones (8+8) are used for SYNC pattern, 69 tones allocated to the message data, total 85 tones being transmitted per 85*0.576= 48.96 seconds time interval.
There are several ideas behind this approach:
- usage of two tones for SYNC pattern can simplify to distinguish harmonic based signals (JT10b and JT10c), also these QRM-ing signals can be decoded and subtracted from the whole signal in the future SW versions
- wider tone spacing shall bring better resistance to the Doppler frequency spreading in comparison to JT65a mode
- wider tone spacing shall bring better spectra overlapping capacity in comparison to JT65a mode, and more signal density on the band if signal subtraction is used in the software
- relatively narrow bandwidth of JT10 signal will allow to get better band capacity in comparison to the JT65a mode.
So far it is not clear if JT10 will go to the public use, one of the reasons that can stop it's usage is the relatively small SYNC pattern, and there is a long way ahead to make it more attractive one in comparison to the
JT65a mode.
73 Igor UA3DJY


73 Gerard

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A large canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere is facing Earth and spewing a stream of solar wind toward our planet. Estimated time of arrival: 2 to 3 days from now. This has prompted NOAA forecasters to issue a geomagnetic storm watch for March 28th when storm levels could reach category G2--that is, moderately strong. Auroras could descend from the Arctic Circle to northern-tier US states from New York to Wisconsin to Washington. Visit Spaceweather.com to learn more about the incoming solar wind stream and what makes it so potent

Above: This canyon-shaped coronal hole (CH) is a magnetic fissure in the sun's atmosphere where solar wind can escape and flow towards Earth. The underlying image, taken on March 25th, comes from extreme UV telescopes on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Yesterday I had a nice contact on 40 mtr with OD5ZZ Libanon

Nice opening this evening on 20 meter to Brazil

The bands where in a good shape this evening. On 40 meter I made contacts in phone with Algeria en Turkey. On 20 meter to Brazil with psk31

<QSO snap>
>>>Hello Gerard Nice to meet you
Report:  599 599

NAME: Elizeu Eliz r QTH: Caucaia , Ceara
GRID LsN: HIDqf
BTU PA7GMU PA7GMU  DE PT7AV KN a!
PT7AV de PA7GMU
</QSO snap>

73 Gerard

My first self build 20 meter HF antenna.

Because I was always planning to build an HF antenna I recently purchased an analyser.

With this device you will be standing to tune antennas on the right frequency.
It is also possible to make impedance measurements in order to get the correct matching between antenna and transceiver.

I have examined which antenna the best for me is to build  that I can use during the PACC contest.
The antenna must meet a low radiation angle. This is needed for good DX purposes.

The above example are from a 21 Mhz VDA

Most HF antennas are large and therefore a problem to post them in the backyard.
After some searching on the Net, I discovered one of  PA3FYM (Remco den Besten) videos on YouTube. In one of his videos I saw a VDA (vertical dipole array) and is easy to build.
Also, the dimensions are limited in order to build a 20 meter antenna.

Fortunately I had most of the stuff already in the house and I immediately started building the antenna. The entire construction diagram of this antenna is described in the DKARS magazine of March 2015. After some saws, drills and screws I put the antenna in the backyard and performed the first measurements. An exciting moment, because you know, finally, never whether it is in practice, as described in theory.

The antenna is as expected a little too low in frequency. A little cut on the bottom two wire solves the problem.

first setup in the garden.

So, I am almost ready to participate the PACC contest.

Good DX. 73, Gerard

My first CW lesson

Antenne at PI4AMF

Thursday, September 22, I took my first lesson CW. Classes are held at the club station PI4AMF in Amersfoort. After a warm welcome and a cup of coffee told the teacher Koos us what was going to do it next year. The group consists of seven HAM radio operators, some of them have already passed the CW examination this year. It was a pleasant evening, which ended at 22: 30h

In Dutch

Old movie 

International Lighthouse weekend

Every year in August there will be a special event where HAM's try to make contact from a lighthouse or lightship. During this event stations will acknowledge a QSO with a special QSL card.

So I tried to make some contacts on 40 and 20 meter, but the conditions where bad . It was not possible to work some local Dutch stations an 40, so I decided to try 20 meter.

During Saturday and Sunday morning I heard some Scottish en German stations and in the afternoon I worked a Italian station.

II1L is located on a rock at western end of the Port of Genova, "La Lanterna" the Lighthouse (ref A.R.L.H.S. ITA-177, D.C.I GE033 W.AI.L. LI 005) is the symbol of the city. From 117 meters above the sea level it radiates light up 36 miles. The actual tower, destroyed after siege, was rebuilt in 1543.

GB2GNL GIRDLENESS LIGHTHOUSE - This lighthouse, designed by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of the writer - Robert Louis Stevenson, has been since being built in 1833 by James Gibb and is still an important navigation mark for ships entering Aberdeen harbour.

Location Latitude 57° 08'.342N., Longitude 02° 02'.914W. Public DGPS Service frequency: 297.0 kHz.

The foghorn which is now disused was known locally as the "Torry Coo" saved from demolition by Aberdeen City Council, it now forms part of the local heritage of the Greyhope Bay peninsula.

Girdleness Lighthouse was automated in 1991 & the keepers houses are now private dwelling houses.

For Inernational Lighthouse Weekend the reference numbers for GB2GNLare:-

UK0037 and SC0089

GB2LMG (LIGHTHOUSE MULL OF GALLOWAY)

The most Southerly point in Scotland

To be activated for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend,

20-21 August 2016

by the Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club (GM4RIV).

Please do not send QSL cards.

If you require a card, please check back here after the Lighthouse Weekend.

ILLW No: UK0086    ARLHS No: SCO144

Loc: IO74np   WAB: NX13   CQ Zone: 14  ITU Zone: 27

GB1BPL is a special event station run by Llanelli Amateur Radio Society (GC0EZQ) to promote the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend on 20th and 21st August 2016 from Burry Port Harbour Lighthouse (ILLW Ref: UK0044).

With its attractive lighthouse and stunning location, Burry Port Harbour has long been a favourite place to take a stroll and get some sea air.  Initially designed by marine engineer Sir Joseph Banks.  The harbour was built between 1830 and 1836, and was originally built to export coal from the Gwendraeth Valley, and replaced the ageing 170 year old Pembrey Harbour which lies less than half a mile along the coast.

Burry Port Lighthouse is a harbour light with a reflector, and is situated on the west breakwater of the outer harbour.  It was built in 1842 and the light consists of a 24ft white painted, stone, circular tower with a black gallery and red lantern.  This lighthouse now enables the harbour to accommodate up to 260 boats to be moored safely on floating berths at all states of the tide.  Burry Port Harbour Lighthouse also makes up part of the much larger Millennium Coastal Park network in Wales.

Also on June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart departed from Trepassy, Newfoundland as a passenger with co-pilots Wilmer "Bill" Stultz and Louis "Slim" Gordon. It took 20 hours and 40 minutes for the plane, a Fokker F7 named Friendship, to cross the Atlantic Ocean. On June 18, the plane landed safely in Burry Port, South Wales. Amelia Earhart had become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

We plan to be active on Phone on various HF bands, and possibly CW and BPSK-31 from time to time. Our station consists of the following:

TX/Rx:  Icom IC-7000 (Output 100W)

Antenna:  Inverted-L (Multiband) - Club Made & Hustler 5-BTV (40 - 10m)

Carndonagh Amateur Radio Club

We are the most northerly amateur radio club in Ireland

EI0CAR/P

Dunree Head Lighthouse

International Lighthouse Weekend 2016

Entry Number =  IE0016

Locator = IO65FE

DM5C  Germany flag Germany

DARC OV Calenberg, DOK H63, c/o Carlo Struß, DL7CSX

Johannes-Kepler-Straße 3

30947 Wennigsen

Germany

GB1CFL (Carraig Fhada Lighthouse) is a special callsign used for the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend in 2016. Hopefully we ( Steve, Gav or me) will have a QSO with you!

ILLW: UK0203

SCOTIA: CS25

WAB: NR33

IOTA: EU-008

ARLHS: SCO-043

Solar Storm Brings Aurora Around the World: Solar Storm Forecast 08-04-2016

JTDX brings you the distant HAM stations into the shack.

Igor (UA3DJY) has create a special source version of Joe Taylor's (K1JT) WSJT-X. This version decode a lot more stations than the standard version. I compiled the source code and install the win32 exe on my PC

Its funny to see a lot of decodes in a short period of time . below a screenshot of the JTDX version 16.4

More information about JTDX on this website or on facebook search for "JTDX-HF evaluation" 

First steps to join a HF contest 

For the first time I tried out my new headset  during the IOTA contest. For the logging I used Log4OM, but this is not the most ideal program for contest logging. In order to log rapidly stations, there are apparently other programs that are more suitable. Incidentally LOG4OM is a simple, but good program for the novice HAM radio operators. It was fun to join the IOTA contest experience, where you can especially train your speed. Because LOG4OM does not support cabrillo format, so I've had to use another program to convert the  ADIF2 format to Cabrillo.

Below you will find my logging, not to much but it was rather an experiment for me instead of a contest.

CATEGORY-TIME: 24-HOURS

CATEGORY-OVERLAY: NOVICE-TECH

CATEGORY-ASSISTED: NON-ASSISTED

LOCATION: DX

CLAIMED-SCORE: 0

CREATED-BY: ADIF2CABR V.3.10 (C) SP7DQR

EMAIL: pa7gmu@gmail.com

SOAPBOX: FIRST TIME CONTEST                

QSO: 14220 PH 2016-07-31 0914 PA7GMU        59  20 GM2T          59  3010 

QSO: 14152 PH 2016-07-31 0909 PA7GMU        59  19 EI6JK         59  668 

QSO: 14185 PH 2016-07-31 0906 PA7GMU        59  18 EI8GS         59  982 

QSO: 14158 PH 2016-07-31 0905 PA7GMU        59  17 IZ2FOS        59  506 

QSO:  7163 PH 2016-07-31 0859 PA7GMU        59  16 DF5A/P        59  1076 

QSO: 14127 PH 2016-07-30 1931 PA7GMU        59  15 ES8/YL1ZX     59  293 

QSO:  7177 PH 2016-07-30 1927 PA7GMU        59  14 LA4C          59  933 

QSO:  7085 PH 2016-07-30 1921 PA7GMU        59  13 G4FOX         59  300 

QSO:  7140 PH 2016-07-30 1818 PA7GMU        59  12 OZ3EU         59  324 

QSO:  7142 PH 2016-07-30 1814 PA7GMU        59  11 IT9VCE        59  183 

QSO:  7149 PH 2016-07-30 1812 PA7GMU        59  10 G6LD          59  369 

QSO:  7163 PH 2016-07-30 1808 PA7GMU        59  9 SP1/UW7LL     59  397 

QSO:  7166 PH 2016-07-30 1804 PA7GMU        59  8 EI1A          59  555 

QSO:  7174 PH 2016-07-30 1802 PA7GMU        59  7 M0NCG         59  335 

QSO: 14265 PH 2016-07-30 1313 PA7GMU        59  6 G2AA          59  079 

QSO: 28412 PH 2016-07-30 1308 PA7GMU        59  5 S52OT         59  049 

QSO: 28535 PH 2016-07-30 1303 PA7GMU        59  4 OE8Q          59  125 

QSO: 28465 PH 2016-07-30 1300 PA7GMU        59  3 9A4W          59  035 

QSO: 28483 PH 2016-07-30 1257 PA7GMU        59  2 9A8DV         59  0097 

QSO:  7162 PH 2016-07-30 1251 PA7GMU        59  1 PA7DN         59  013 

END-OF-LOG

73, Gerard

Canada DX

Yesterday I had a nice QSO with VA3GA Gunther in Toronto Canada. Gunther signal signal was very strong here and sometimes peaking until 9+10db. My report was 5/8, not to bad  with 90 watts  and my long-wire antenna ;-)

QSO confirmed by VA3GA

Tonight DX

This I evening I was surprised to work ZD7VC Bruce for St Helena Island . I got a nice report from Bruce 57 up to 59. Bruce was steady with a solid 59 here.

Propagation info

Station Info 

Yesterday I've got my new headset, the HEIL Pro 6 IC, and I am very happy with it.
I want to buy this headset because in the near future I want to participate in some contests.

With a hand microphone it is not very handy to work in a contest. With the HEIL Pro 6 I have the opportunity to connect a footswitch and keep my hands free for logging .

But the major step forward is that the Heil Pro 6 IC is special made for Icom  and gives me a better sound.

 

Yesterday, Sunday the 10th of July I was WSPRing on the 10 meter band. De band conditions where very poor with an SFI below the 75 and SSN arround 20.

However the 10 meter band seems to be open a little bit and here are my results of that day

61 spots:

Timestamp Call MHz SNR Drift Grid Pwr Reporter RGrid km az

 2016-07-10 20:50 PA7GMU 28.126127 -25 0 JO22oc 1 HA9AL JN97pm 1129 111 

 2016-07-10 20:02 PA7GMU 28.126140 -27 0 JO22oc 1 OH6GKW KP13nt 1665 32 

 2016-07-10 19:42 PA7GMU 28.126139 -28 0 JO22oc 1 OH6GKW KP13nt 1665 32 

 2016-07-10 19:36 PA7GMU 28.126140 -20 0 JO22oc 1 OH6GKW KP13nt 1665 32 

 2016-07-10 19:30 PA7GMU 28.126114 -26 0 JO22oc 1 DK6UG JN49cm 356 143 

 2016-07-10 19:30 PA7GMU 28.126140 -26 0 JO22oc 1 OH6GKW KP13nt 1665 32 

 2016-07-10 19:30 PA7GMU 28.126131 -25 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 19:18 PA7GMU 28.126147 -7 0 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 19:18 PA7GMU 28.126153 -9 0 JO22oc 1 OH6EEA KP02vt 1540 33 

 2016-07-10 18:58 PA7GMU 28.126147 -10 -1 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 18:46 PA7GMU 28.126182 -12 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:40 PA7GMU 28.126182 -8 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:40 PA7GMU 28.126147 -2 1 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 18:40 PA7GMU 28.126131 -21 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 18:32 PA7GMU 28.126182 -4 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:26 PA7GMU 28.126182 -4 -1 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:20 PA7GMU 28.126182 -6 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:08 PA7GMU 28.126182 -7 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 18:02 PA7GMU 28.126182 -8 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 17:58 PA7GMU 28.126146 -20 -1 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 17:58 PA7GMU 28.126182 -8 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 17:50 PA7GMU 28.126182 -3 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 17:44 PA7GMU 28.126182 -9 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 17:36 PA7GMU 28.126182 -10 0 JO22oc 1 ZP4KFX GG14hq 10529 234 

 2016-07-10 17:30 PA7GMU 28.126130 -25 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 17:16 PA7GMU 28.126114 -23 0 JO22oc 1 DK6UG JN49cm 356 143 

 2016-07-10 17:16 PA7GMU 28.126129 -28 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 16:40 PA7GMU 28.126108 -1 -1 JO22oc 1 OZ9QV JO65cp 604 47 

 2016-07-10 16:40 PA7GMU 28.126130 -23 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 16:22 PA7GMU 28.126141 -24 0 JO22oc 1 PE1MPX JO32gc 91 89 

 2016-07-10 16:06 PA7GMU 28.126127 -23 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 16:06 PA7GMU 28.126122 -29 0 JO22oc 1 OE6PWD JN77rb 926 123 

 2016-07-10 16:06 PA7GMU 28.126141 -21 0 JO22oc 1 PE1MPX JO32gc 91 89 

 2016-07-10 16:02 PA7GMU 28.126141 -22 0 JO22oc 1 PE1MPX JO32gc 91 89 

 2016-07-10 15:16 PA7GMU 28.126107 -23 0 JO22oc 1 OZ7IT JO65df 581 51 

 2016-07-10 15:16 PA7GMU 28.126123 -23 0 JO22oc 1 OE6PWD JN77rb 926 123 

 2016-07-10 15:12 PA7GMU 28.126107 -25 0 JO22oc 1 OZ7IT JO65df 581 51 

 2016-07-10 14:58 PA7GMU 28.126146 -14 0 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 14:58 PA7GMU 28.126105 -17 -1 JO22oc 1 DE1TBK JN57dr 607 141 

 2016-07-10 14:34 PA7GMU 28.126124 -23 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 14:16 PA7GMU 28.126123 -22 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 14:12 PA7GMU 28.126123 -22 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 14:08 PA7GMU 28.126125 -22 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 14:02 PA7GMU 28.126123 -25 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 14:02 PA7GMU 28.126147 -24 1 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 13:56 PA7GMU 28.126112 -25 0 JO22oc 1 DK6UG JN49cm 356 143 

 2016-07-10 13:56 PA7GMU 28.126123 -24 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 13:44 PA7GMU 28.126112 -25 0 JO22oc 1 DK6UG JN49cm 356 143 

 2016-07-10 13:18 PA7GMU 28.126147 -24 -1 JO22oc 1 EA1FAQ IN71pn 1391 217 

 2016-07-10 12:32 PA7GMU 28.126192 -16 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 11:48 PA7GMU 28.126129 -25 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 11:28 PA7GMU 28.126128 -22 -2 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 11:06 PA7GMU 28.126178 -17 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 10:50 PA7GMU 28.126177 -22 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 10:34 PA7GMU 28.126129 -27 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 10:34 PA7GMU 28.126173 -16 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 10:30 PA7GMU 28.126173 -15 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 10:30 PA7GMU 28.126127 -25 0 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 10:26 PA7GMU 28.126172 -11 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152 

 2016-07-10 10:26 PA7GMU 28.126127 -27 -1 JO22oc 1 PA7T JO22fd 51 275 

 2016-07-10 10:16 PA7GMU 28.126170 -18 0 JO22oc 1 IU4BXJ JN54kh 962 152