My name is Philip and since 1985 I have held a UK Government license for experimental Radio Communications, having qualified by passing City & Guilds technical/theory examinations and a 12 WPM Morse Code transmitting and receiving test. I hold the Advanced Full license Amateur Radio call sign: G0ISW spoken phonetically as 'Golf Zero India Sierra Whisky' and shown below in Morse Code.
--. ----- .. ... .--
If you cannot see the full index shown on the left edge of your screen, please go to my main page at
I
live in the historical old town of
Penrith, in the County of Cumbria (Maidenhead locator IO84OQ)on the edge of the
Lake District National Park'
in NW
I have been a Radio Amateur since 1985 and used HF/VHF/UHF radios professionally before then.
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Summary of Locator squares worked by G0ISW on VHF/UHF bands all terrestrial (DXCC Country totals in brackets) |
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50 MHz: 353 (75)
Best distance 9264km with ZS6WN TEP + Sporadic-E April 2023
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70 MHz: 125 (27)
Best distance 3235km with S01WS Double hop Sporadic-E (2xEs) June 2021 |
144 MHz: 129 (31)
Best distance 2345km with LZ2WY Single hop Sporadic-E June 1989 |
432 MHz: 20 (9)
Best distance 1087km with HB9AMH/P Tropospheric Ducting October 1989 |
Whilst my main interest within Amateur Radio has always been VHF DX, I still enjoy working stations on HF around the World with my modest equipment and covert antennas, the latter being due to living in a Conservation area where visible external aerials are not permitted. There are currently 340 DXCC Countries to work and my total to date is
DXCC 178 Countries worked
There are lots of mountains and lakes here, the area is very rural with a low population and few Radio Amateurs. it is classed as 'an area of outstanding natural beauty' and has had protected 'National Park' status since 1951, making it a popular tourism destination.
My main interest since becoming a Radio Amateur in 1985 remains experimenting with VHF propagation, collecting Maidenhead Grid squares and trying new data modes. My primary radio from 2001 to 2019 was a Kenwood TS-2000, however from late June 2019 I have been using an Icom IC-7300 for 50/70 MHz and an Icom-7100 for HF/144/432 MHz
From April to September I will be found chasing VHF DX locator squares/Countries via Sporadic-E propagation on the 50 MHz and 70 MHz bands. On 50 MHz I most often listen on:
50.313 MHz - FT8
using WSJT, JT-Alert and WSJT-X software.
In 2009 I last moved house and now live in a 'Conservation area' in Penrith that means no visible external aerials are permitted, therefore all the masts, rotators and beam antennas I used before have had to be replaced by much less efficient and smaller aerials that I can hide from view near ground level.
Despite these restrictions I have had good results in June/July 2013 working across Europe. My antennas were Watson HALO loops until 25th July 2013 and then PAR OA-50 and OA-144 loops until 2019. I now use vertical collinears for VHF/UHF only.
I have also been pleasantly surprised by my Meteor Scatter success on 50 MHz with such a modest antenna setup. During the August 2013 Perseids Meteor Shower there were plenty of stations active on 50.230 MHz using JT6M mode and I worked with ease Portugal and Spain.
I have since worked Scotland, Guernsey, Germany, Sardinia and Sweden by Meteor Scatter on 50 MHz with this modest antenna setup.
Interestingly on 12th August 2013 at 0744 UTC I also worked EI9E/P in IO55VD square, 350 km away from me so too close for easy Meteor Scatter. I heard many very brief MS pings from this station but couldn't work him randomly. I then noticed some longer none MS reflections that were random and not Troposcatter, using AirScout software by DL2ALF I was able to observe that all these longer 15-30 second reflections were actually via Aircraft Scatter (ACS) propagation with planes flying over the Irish Sea crossing the path between our two stations.
Looking for a really good flight path I then worked EI9E/P with ease, see screen shot below. Notice the pink coloured mutual scatter zone and the pink coloured aircraft that allowed us the QSO, the metallic body of this plane being an excellent reflector even at 50 MHz. I took the screen shot after the QSO was nearly complete so the aircraft had travelled slightly over the path line. Had I clicked on the aircraft icon i would have known what the flight and aircraft type was.
From September to April I can be found operating on HF primarily using the FT8 data mode.
Again the antenna restrictions for my house mean that I have to use a British Army tactical dipole at only 2m AGL hidden on the boundary wooden fence top, yet I can still work the World.
I had intended to operate QRP HF/50 MHz portable in the UK, or abroad, using an Elecraft KX3, miracle whip or military tactical HF dipole, however due to work commitments this never happened so my KX-3 has now gone to someone who will actually use it. I still have my Yaesu FT-817 though.
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G0ISW HF / VHF/ UHF Recent Activity |
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For the very latest G0ISW news please visit my new Amateur Radio Weblog below
My amateur radio activity varies considerably by the time of year, but my favourite pastime has always been and remains chasing VHF DX by Sporadic-E or Meteor Scatter propagation on my favourite 50 MHz, 70 MHz and 144 MHz bands. Each April to September I will prioritise working VHF DX via Sporadic-E propagation, which is often a daily occurrence on 50 MHz and peaking for 144 MHz with just a couple of days in June, with the exact dates varying each year. The excitement of not knowing when these extraordinary propagation openings will occur, or where to, remains great fun. In particular I like chasing new Maidenhead locator squares or Countries. Below map of 50 MHz European Sporadic-E locator squares worked
During the Solar maximum the F2 layer can be open with 50 MHz worldwide propagation between October to December from the UK. This occurred last time for me back in 2001 and was a wonderful event with the 50 MHz band even open from the UK to Australia.
During the June Summer 2013 Sporadic-E season I had just started using JT9-1 weak signal data mode and WSJT-X software on 50.293 MHz USB and had been working stations around Europe again, with always the possibility of working the USA via triple hop Es.
My days of chasing DX via Meteor Scatter are probably over, although I still experiment with a much inferior antenna system. I will see what I can work with my ground based antennas, results via Sporadic-E have been so encouraging that just maybe MS might still work.
Until late 2022 I continued to operate often on either HF / 50 MHz / 144 MHz / 432 MHz from my 4x4 vehicle as G0ISW/M using a Yaesu ATAS-120A antenna for HF/50 MHz and a separate large Comet 50/144/432 MHz colinear.
I would have liked to significantly improve my 50 MHz / 144MHz /432 MHz mobile SSB long distance capability and get away from using short vertically polarised antennas. Having had great success from home with my recently installed HALO (HAlf wave LOop) antennas, they would be an obvious choice for mobile use too. I found by chance the design shown below by Mike Fedler N6TWW, which would be awesome if only I could have replicated it.
I also vaguely recall a commercial 144 MHz (2m) HALO loop design for mobile use many years ago that had a PL259 base, support column and topped with a circular wire loop section that could be fixed either horizontally or vertically quickly, was it made by Palstar or similar name?
I monitor my local 2 metre repeater GB3EV on 145.700 MHz FM and/or simplex 145.500 MHz FM when out walking.
I have also operated from home with AX-25 Packet digipeating across Europe on 145.825 MHz FM through Low Earth orbiting satellites or the International Space Station (ISS)
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G0ISW HF / VHF/ UHF Radio shack 2009-Present day |
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G0ISW HF / VHF/ UHF Radio shack 2005-2009 (Interactive photo use your cursor to identify equipment IE only)
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G0ISW HF / VHF / UHF Antennas 2005-2009 (Interactive photo, use your cursor to identify equipment IE only) |
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Summary of Locator squares worked by G0ISW on VHF/UHF bands all terrestrial (DXCC Country totals in brackets) |
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50 MHz: 353 (75)
Best distance 9264km with ZS6WN TEP + Sporadic-E April 2023
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70 MHz: 125 (27)
Best distance 3235km with S01WS Double hop Sporadic-E (2xEs) June 2021 |
144 MHz: 129 (31)
Best distance 2345km with LZ2WY Sporadic-E June 1989 |
432 MHz: 20 (9)
Best distance 1087km with HB9AMH/P Tropospheric Ducting October 1989 |
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Amateur Radio awards 'collector information' for G0ISW |
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Worked All Britain (WAB) Award Square - NY53, Book # 7283, County - Cumbria |
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The European Phase Shift Keying Club Member # 1159, Area EN13 |
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Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society Member # 2384 |
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Feld Hell club Member # 535 |
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Islands on the Air Award EU-005 |
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CQ Magazine Worked All Zones Award Zone # 14 |
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International Space Station Fan Club Member # 3165 |
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G0ISW Amateur Radio Station 'Awards & achievements' |
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VHF |
RSGB Six Metres and Down - 144MHz
Standard Transmitting Award
(40 |
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VHF |
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VHF |
RSGB 50 MHz Countries award (10 Countries 2-way)(60 worked total) |
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VHF |
RSGB 50 MHz DX Certificate (25 Countries)(60 worked total) |
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VHF |
RSGB 50 MHz Squares Award (25 Squares required)(250 worked total) |
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VHF |
WAB Winter Award 1986-1987 (250 stations - All 144 MHz SSB) |
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VHF |
SOTA Chaser 500 points Award (All 144 MHz FM) |
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VHF |
SOTA Chaser 1000 points Award (All 144 MHz FM) |
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VHF |
ANDE Satellite Deorbit Award |
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VHF |
ARRL VUCC Award 50 MHz (100 Squares) |
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VHF |
ARRL VUCC Award 144 MHz (100 Squares) |
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HF |
European Phase Shift Keying Club EUSPA 100 Award (100 European Stations PSK Award) |
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HF |
European Phase Shift Keying Club EUSPA 200 Award (200 European Stations PSK Award) |
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HF |
European Phase Shift Keying Club PHPA 100 Award (100 prefixes World Wide using PSK modes) |
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HF |
European Phase Shift Keying Club PHPA 200 Award (200 prefixes World Wide using PSK modes) |
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HF |
European Phase Shift Keying Club MGSPA 100 Award (100 Maidenhead Grid Squares using PSK) |
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HF/VHF |
RSGB 75 years Award (Worked required number of stations in RSGB 75th Anniversary year) |
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HF/VHF |
eDX 25 Countries (Worked over 25 different Countries verified by eQSL.cc) |
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HF/VHF |
DXCC (100 Countries worked World Wide) |
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HF/VHF |
WAB Century Award (Worked 100 different WAB Book holders) |
In 2006 I finally achieved the SOTA Chaser ultimate award, the 'Shack Sloth', for collecting 1000 points entirely from the comfort of my shack on 144 MHz FM. This took me 4 years of continuous effort, working mobile/portable stations primarily on Lake District summits.
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As a visitor to this website please, please Sign my Guest Book, as I spend a considerable amount of time maintaining this site. I really appreciate your positive comments, suggestions etc. Your Guest Book entries greatly help to maintain my enthusiasm for continuing this task after 23 years!
I've had to create a new Guest Book due to the old Lycos/Tripod service closing down on 01.04.2012. |
G0ISW Station history and background
1960's
During the late 1960's as a young boy I was fascinated and influenced by watching the television series 'The Man from UNCLE' and seeing them use their pen radio communicators, calling "Open 'Channel D' Emergency Relay".
I decided that I wanted to have a cool way of communicating using radio like them.
My favourite film, made in 1968, is "Where Eagles Dare", about an Allied Special Forces/SOE WW2 mission, which contained even more radios and famous spoken lines like "Broadsword calling Danny Boy" that increased my interest further. Little did I realise then, how much this film would ultimately influence me over the next 40 years!
The screenshots above from the film 'Where Eagles Dare' are copyright of MGM and are displayed with gratitude to the
film fan website of which I am a registered member.
1970's
Whilst at a boarding Secondary Grammar School, one of my class friends from Hong Kong brought back with him two 49 MHz FM handheld radios, which we had great fun playing with, although the workable range was only about 200 metres at best.
We also had at the school a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which you could join from the age of 13 onwards, with an Army and RAF section. The Army CCF section was divided into Royal Signals or Royal Engineers. When I was old enough to join, with my interest in radio communication, the Royal Signals section was the obvious choice!
We had 1950's era British Army radios for our CCF use:
Wireless Set No.88 being a battery operated Short range infantry transceiver, covering four channels in the 38 - 42 MHz range, FM, 0.25W. The transceiver and the large battery being about the same size. Instead of wearing these in pouches on belts as originally designed, we fitted them onto GS metal manpack frames instead.
Wireless Set No.31 being a battery operated Short range infantry manpack transceiver, 41 channels in the 40-48 MHz range, FM, 0.3W and interoperable with the 88 sets, took a very large battery in the base.
WW2 era Field Telephones used on exercises between fixed positions, spent many hours digging slits into fields with a bayonet to lay the required D10 telephone cable
1980's
After having left school and using various HF and VHF radios professionally for several years, I still enjoyed radio communications as much as ever and wanted more fun radio use as a hobby, outside of work, so I then followed a path to obtaining my Amateur Radio Full licence as shown below:
| Year | Callsign | |
| 1983 | Joined RSGB as a Short Wave Listener | BRS85124 |
| 1985 | Passed Radio Amateurs Examination and issued with then 'VHF only' licence | G1MOG |
| 1987 | Issued with 'Full' HF licence | G0ISW |
I was first licensed as a Radio Amateur in 1985, with the call sign G1MOG and my first ever QSO was with Chris G4CLB using my brand new Yaesu FT-2700R transceiver on 433 MHz FM.
When travelling back to my original home town in the Lake District on leave from work, I was inspired to get on amateur radio HF by the slow morse transmissions of Bill Delamere G3PER (SK) from Heysham, who I would hear on the M6 motorway as I neared Cumbria, or on the return journey stuck in traffic jams near Lancaster! My other morse inspiration was Winston G4PEF. I had never particularly enjoyed using morse code, but these two gentlemen renewed my enthusiasm.
I joined the Hillingdon Amateur Radio Club (HARC), which used to meet at Hillingdon Golf clubhouse in West London. In 1987 I didn't tell anyone else from the club that I planned to sit the 12 WPM Morse Code examination and turned up at the test centre at Watford one evening, only to find two other club members there who also hadn't told anyone else either! One was Bob and the other Jack Davies G0ISY (SK 2009).
The highlight of the evening was when we prepared to listen to the examiner sending Morse Code for us to receive and we all plugged our headphones into his homemade splitter box for us then to accidentally pickup up perfectly 'Capital Radio' on 95.8 MHz FM simultaneously with the his sent Morse! Somehow Jack and I managed to pass the test despite the QRM!
I was delighted to receive in time for Christmas 1987 my full HF licence personally chosen first choice callsign of
--. ----- .. ... .--
In the summer of 1988 I took an ex Argentine military Racal Syncal 30 (TRA931) (liberated from the Falkland Islands in 1982) HF manpack transceiver 1.8-30 MHz to the HARC clubhouse and we worked stations in the USA on 14 MHz USB with 20 W and a 2.4M long whip aerial, whilst sat outside in the sunshine. I didn't have the required 24 volt battery pack and wasn't going to pay Racal a quoted £315 for a new one, so I used two small 12v motorcycle batteries in series instead.
The biggest Amateur Radio pileup I ever had was on HF when I was invited by Mark ZC4ML and Steve ZC4ST to operate their club station ZC4EPI at the British Forces Episkopi Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus in 1993. From memory the club radio was a Kenwood TS-950 and I had a fantastic evening in their company, thanks guys.
In October 2006 I reactivated my old G1MOG callsign, which I held from 1985-1987 when it was a VHF only callsign. It was then a full license callsign and could be used on any Amateur Band. In 2012 I was advised at license revalidation time that I can only hold one callsign again, so I have reluctantly surrendered the G1MOG license.and now only use G0ISW.
I hope that one of my children might eventually take up this callsign; in England it is an old tradition and belief by some that if a black cat crosses your path, it will bring you Good Luck......Below is a picture of my original QSL card and a more recent one.
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G0ISW/M Mobile Station - Renault Megane Dynamique (2005-2011) |
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BANDS USED |
TRANSCEIVER/ANTENNAS/ACCESSORIES/COMMENTS |
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HF (7-28Mhz) 2m (144MHz) 70cm (432MHz) |
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I have previously installed a Yaesu FT-857D in a Renault Megane Dynamique 1.9 DCI diesel car and found the radio to be a great little transceiver, full of features including illuminated buttons for night time driving. The radio's memories are used mainly by me for storing 144 & 432 MHz FM repeaters and their CTCSS tones and scan very rapidly when searching for activity. For driver safety and operator convenience I have fitted a Watson hands free microphone and PTT attached to the gear change lever. This works very well, but I had to additionally fit a ferrite ring on the microphone lead to suppress alternator whine pickup, which wasn't apparent when using the supplied hand microphone. |
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The front panel of the Yaesu FT-857D is mounted remotely from the main transceiver bolted onto the front of a Waters & Stanton QS-200 metal removable air vent handheld radio mount, which had two small holes drilled into it. This position is perfect to see the display and to reach the controls from the steering wheel. I have set the Yaesu FT-857D to display a different LCD colour for each operating band.
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For HF and 50MHz I have installed a Yaesu ATAS-120A Active Tuning Antenna System screwdriver aerial, which allows simple and quick band changes from 7 - 50 MHz whilst on the move. This Yaesu ATAS-120A is installed at the rear offside of my car, just above the bumper. Extremely difficult to see is my separate micro miniature magnetic mount 2m/70cm aerial at the rear of the car on the roof. |
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You may just see in this photograph a small red dot sticker, near the top of the Yaesu ATAS-120A aerial. This visible red dot is there so that from my rear view mirror when driving I can see if the aerial has begun to unscrew from the SO-239 connector and stop the car before it can drop off completely! The Yaesu ATAS-120A is shown tuned to the correct height for the 14 MHz (20m) band. Having a separate 2m/70cm aerial allows me to change from HF to 2m/70cm repeaters instantly, without having to wait for the Yaesu ATAS-120A to tune. I tend to work 2m/70cm repeaters until I am in an area of no coverage and then change to HF. |
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I really struggled to install any radio or aerial on my Renault Megane car. The car roof is almost entirely made from glass, having twin sunroofs, and a large HF triple magmount wouldn't stay on the little remaining metalwork above the rear window. The gap at the top of the rear window and the car boot isn't wide enough to permit an aerial mount to be installed there either. There are no gutters as well. Trying to get a 12 Volt power lead from the car battery through the engine bulkhead was the most difficult problem. |
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Close-up view of my Yaesu ATAS-120A mounted at the rear of my car. The stainless steel 'L' shaped mount was made for me by my friend Les, a friendly local metal worker, at SmallFab here in Penrith, Cumbria and is attached upside down to the car at the gap between the boot opening and the rear bumper.
The 'L' shaped mount is bolted to the metal bodywork, inside the boot behind where you can see the number plate, and has sufficient grounding to allow the Yaesu ATAS-120A to tune without problem. There is no noticeable vibration on the mount when driving and it is robust enough not to bend or flex. It is about 1/8" or 4mm in thickness. Also shown but not easily seen just above the mount are the Yaesu ATAS-120 locking pins found either side of the motor, at the base of the aerial, covered in a layer of black electrical tape. This prevents them falling out through vibration and then mechanical damage to the circuit board occurring. This happened to me with a previous Yaesu ATAS-100 aerial and is a simple preventative measure. |
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G0ISW/M Mobile Station - Jeep Wrangler Ultimate (2011-2022) |
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BANDS USED |
TRANSCEIVER/ANTENNAS/ACCESSORIES/COMMENTS |
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HF (7-28Mhz) 2m (144MHz) 70cm (432MHz) |
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I have in June 2011 now installed my Yaesu FT-857D in a UK 2010 model Jeep Wrangler Ultimate (JK) 4 door, 2.8L diesel automatic car. Very similar to the Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited model. I have remotely mounted the radio control head onto the top of the dash, using a Waters & Stanton QS-200 metal removable air vent handheld radio mount, pushed into the vertical air vents next to the windscreen and have bent the metal plate also into the vertical position. I have bolted through the metal plate onto the remote head bracket. I also sawed off the end of the QS-200 metal plate, which was above the remote radio control head. Using this removable vent mount I can quickly remove the control head from view for brief periods, whilst removing the entire radio from the vehicle when parked for long periods. This position is perfect to see the display and to reach the controls from the steering wheel. I have set the Yaesu FT-857D to display a different LCD colour for each operating band. |
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For driver safety and operator convenience I have again fitted a Watson hands free microphone to the sun visor and PTT attached to the automatic gear change lever. I have since moved the PTT higher up the selector lever than shown, as it was too low when shifting down into fixed Gears 2 or 1. Having the PTT on the gear change lever is easy to operate and having hands free operation is much safer to drive than using a fist microphone. In the picture you can also see the 12 Volt power lead I use to supply power to my Yaesu FT-857D. Luckily this output is direct from the battery and is entirely separate to the standard cigar socket and is rated at 13 Amps maximum. Using my Yaesu FT-857D at my usual less than 50 W output power, means I am drawing around 10 Amps maximum current and this socket is always powered on, even with the ignition off. I would not be able to use this socket for any power level greater than 50 W. |
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For HF and 50MHz I have installed my Yaesu ATAS-120A Active Tuning Antenna System screwdriver aerial, which allows simple and quick band changes from 7 - 50 MHz whilst on the move. This Yaesu ATAS-120A is installed at the rear of my car, and is attached to the rear spare tyre holder using purpose made brackets which simply bolt onto the car using the existing bolts. In this picture, viewed from inside the rear Jeep Wrangler door, you can see the Yaesu ATAS-120A antenna on the left and a Watson W-770HB 144/432 MHz (1/2 wave (2m) 2x5/8 wave 70cm) colinear on the right (N.B. Silver coloured antenna shown in photo has been replaced by a Black Watson W-770HB). The coaxial cables come down to the bottom of the door and into the inside fixed using cable ties. The door rubber seal is sufficiently large to allow this cable entry without nipping and entering from below ensures no rain drips along the cable inside the vehicle. |
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In this close-up photo of the Yaesu ATAS-120A you can see two large white dot stickers, near the base of the aerial. The lowest visible white dot is there so that from my rear view mirror, when driving, I can see if the aerial has begun to unscrew from the SO-239 connector and stop the car before it can drop off completely! Just in case. The Yaesu ATAS-120A is shown tuned to the correct height for the 50 MHz (6m) band and the highest white dot is there so that as the antenna tunes for HF bands and gets physically longer I can see the gap between the two dots increasing and know it is working. This is a hangover from my days operating a Yaesu ATAS-100 where sometimes the antenna wouldn't move! Having a separate 2m/70cm aerial allows me to change from HF to 2m/70cm repeaters instantly, without having to wait for the Yaesu ATAS-120A to tune. I tend to work 2m/70cm repeaters until I am in an area of no coverage and then change to HF. |
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The rear hardtop of the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate (JK) is fibreglass and removable, as is the entire roof. All of the Yaesu ATAS-120A whip is above the roof level even when set at its shortest 50 MHz operation length. The separate 144/432 MHz colinear, whilst partially lower than the top roof line, still manages to perform well because it is almost entirely higher than the bulk of the vehicle metal bodywork. I have no ignition or other electrical noise from the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate with the exception of the 10 MHz (30m) band. This does not cause me any trouble as I only operate voice from the vehicle on the other bands. On the Jeep forums I have seen lots of historical US comment about electrical ignition noise, but maybe my UK model with its diesel engine is less of a problem, I don't know, or maybe newer petrol engines are cured. |
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Close-up view of my Yaesu ATAS-120A mounted at the rear of my car. The steel 'L' shaped mounts were made again for me by my friend Les, a friendly local metal worker, at SmallFab here in Penrith, Cumbria and are attached behind the rear spare wheel carrier, using the existing bolts.
The 'L' shaped mounts are bolted to the metal bodywork, and have sufficient grounding to allow the Yaesu ATAS-120A to tune without problem. The rear door opens with the antennas attached. |
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G0ISW/M (Bicycle) Mobile Station 1995-2018 |
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BANDS USED |
TRANSCEIVER/ANTENNAS/ACCESSORIES/COMMENTS |
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2m (144MHz) 70cm (432MHz)
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I enjoy mountain biking in the Lake District and have installed a hands free Amateur Radio communications system onto my 1994 model American made Trek 930 mountain bike as shown in this photo. Using a combination of either simplex, repeaters or EchoLink I can cycle along and talk, around the local area or around the World. The metal rear pannier mount provides a substantial ground to attach a 5/8 wave 2m & 2 x 5/8 wave 70cm aerial with plenty of gain. |
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You can see my Kenwood TH-F7E 2m/70cm handheld attached using a bike handlebar belt clip mount and on the right a PTT/VOX unit originally designed for a Kenwood PMR446 radio. I can either use the PTT pressed by my thumb whilst gripping the handlebars or use the VOX function built into this radio or the PTT unit. When wet weather is anticipated I cover the Kenwood TH-F7E with a clear plastic bag and rubber band, which is a simple and practical solution to keeping water out. |
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Attached to the exterior of my cycling helmet is a Kenwood headset comprised of an on the ear earpiece and boom microphone. This was originally designed for a Kenwood PMR446 radio, but was found to be totally compatible and a lot cheaper than the identical amateur radio model. It is attached to the helmet using tie grips placed through the air vent holes. The headset attaches to the Kenwood PTT/VOX unit with a 1m cable terminated with a 3.5mm plug fitting. |
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G0ISW/M (Pedestrian) Mobile Station |
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BANDS USED |
TRANSCEIVER |
ANTENNAS/ACCESSORIES/COMMENTS |
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2m (144MHz) 70cm (432MHz) |
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My Kenwood TH-F7E is a very versatile radio, ideal for use on my local 2m repeater GB3EV on 145.700 MHz and the lithium-ion battery lasts all day. I sold my first one and had to buy a second one as I missed it so much! |
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G0ISW/P Portable (Holiday) Station - usually EA6/G0ISW |
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HF (7-28MHz) 6m (50MHz) 2m (144MHz) 70cm (432MHz) |
A very versatile radio, used by me extensively on holiday and easily able to work most of Europe on 5w SSB voice from the beach! During previous solar maximum years I have worked the USA and South America on 14 MHz just with the Miracle Whip, indoors! I upgraded the battery pack by replacing it with Ni-MH 2.3 Ah cells and making the 'green wire' modification so that I can recharge them in situ. I intend in 2011 to try to work APRS via the ISS and PCSAT (NO-44) satellites using my FT-817 with UISS software and a RigExpert Tiny interface from my usual holiday destination of Peurto Pollenca, Majorca in JM19NV locator square. |
Miracle Whip 1.5m long HF - VHF - UHF aerial
Yaesu MH-48 DTMF microphone (for EchoLink)
Racal Military 655 End fed 1.8-30MHz Sloping wire
What a battle I have had trying to interface my Yaesu FT-817 with MixW software and my RigExpert Tiny interface. Having looked everywhere on the internet to try to obtain the correct CAT and soundcard settings I have finally managed to get the Yaesu FT-817 to transmit PSK-31, but still haven't managed to get the MixW software to show the frequency on the laptop display.
My MixW settings for the Yaesu FT-817 with RigExpert Tiny interface are as follow:
Sound Device Settings Device: Computer Soundcard Input: Line (RigExpert Virtual Sound) Output: Speakers (Realtek High Definition) TRCVR CAT/PTT CAT: Yaesu Model: FT-817 PTT via CAT command: Ticked AFSK in place of FSK: Ticked DIG (Yaesu) is: USB Default digi mode: DIG Serial Port Port: COM5 (This will vary depending upon your own computer) Baud rate: 38400 Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop bits: 1 RTS: PTT DTR: CW Yaesu FT-817 settings CAT rate: 38400 Mode: DIG |
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G0ISW SSB / AM Station equipment |
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You may be wondering why I used all of the Behringer audio equipment? The answer is that I like to experiment with my transmitted audio and had during the late 1990's listened with fascination to broadcast quality voices of the 'eSSB audio net' on 14.178 MHz from the USA. For a full description of eSSB please refer to the website of John NU9N where all about 'eSSB' is explained. I restrict my transmitted audio to a maximum of 3 kHz, usually 2.7 kHz, but I do like to experiment also off-air with the Behringer DEQ2496 to see the full range of sound that it and the Behringer B-1 studio microphone are capable of. I was inspired by listening for hours to the wonderful voice and humour of the late Bill Salerno W2ONV transmitting from 'Studio B', using 'educated aluminum' as he used to refer to his antennas! Click here to hear an example of Bill's fantastic audio.
I worked Bill W2ONV once on air myself, when I was in my car in the Republic of Ireland, as EI/G0ISW/M on the eSSB audio net frequency 14.178 MHz, he played back my transmitted audio across the Atlantic for me to hear. For further audio examples from radio amateurs around the World using various TX audio bandwidths, please visit John NU9N's website MP3 page here.
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I had my Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver for over 11 years and then I was troubled with a regular, but intermittent, main display fault where the screen showing frequency and other information suddenly goes blank and all the front panel controls become locked. Often the only temporary cure has been to switch off the separate power supply and then switch it back on.
Despite my Kenwood TS-2000 radio being sent to an authorised service dealer they had been unable to identify or repeat the problem. Finally I had found by chance an alternative solution and purchased the Kenwood RC-2000 mobile controller remote head. Using this had allowed me to see my display to tune again! I am utterly convinced the problem is caused by the accessory socket connection to my computer in some way.
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1995
Since 1995 when I moved to a more urban location, I voluntarily restricted my base station transceiver output power, from my license permitted 400 watts, to a maximum of only 50 watts on all bands! This helps to prevent any potential TVI/EMC problems and has still allowed me to work most of Europe on VHF and the World on HF.
This power reduction saves energy too, as
400 watts equates to
roughly a single bar electric fire and
50 watts equates to a
typical halogen GU-10 spotlight bulb. On VHF
Meteorscatter
on both
50 MHz and
144 MHz I have often
sent comparable signals to fellow European stations, with
their their much more impressive antenna arrays and higher power, whereas I
have mostly used a small
Create
Log Periodic 5130-1N
|
50 Watts Light bulb |
My Kenwood TS-2000 Transceiver limited to 50 Watts |
|
|
|
2009
Please note that since March 2009, my days of being able to easily chase HF/VHF DX (after 23 years) came to a temporary end following another house move.
I now live in a conservation area, where outdoor aerials are not permitted (if obvious) and the loft has already been converted, both of which make it very difficult for me to install antennas and operate effectively.
I have therefore dismantled and given away, to local radio amateurs, all of my previously used large HF directional antennas, taken down my mast and rotator. I am now mostly active near home either walking or in my car on 144/432 MHz FM using my local repeaters GB3EV (145.700 MHz) and GB3CA (433.325 MHz).
However, I had in August 2010 uncovered a closed section of loft space.
I have removed a disused water header tank, which has given me just enough
room to potentially install indoors my
favourite
VHF/UHF
Create
Log Periodic 5130-1N
|
|
* Frequency
50-1300MHz * Elements 25 * Power 500W PEP * VSWR <2.0:1 * Forward gain
10-12dBi * Front-to-back ratio 15dB * Connector N-type * Wind survival
40m/sec * Boom length 3m * Mast size 38-50mm * Weight 5kg |
This was the default direction my aerials have always faced before, and my best contacts made, so it should allow me to be on the air again on 50/144/432 MHz SSB and back again using my favourite Meteor Scatter software WSJT, after installation of a 10 metre length of SSB-Ecoflex 10 low loss coaxial cable (Attenuation only 0.49dB at 144MHz) to be completed when I get the time and inclination to do this.
Between my Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver and the Create Log Periodic 5130-1N antenna, I was using a Comet CFX-514N triplexer, which matches perfectly the radio's 50/144/432 MHz outputs and has an insertion loss of less than 0.2 dB at 144 MHz.
I intended in 2010/2011 to experiment with the Low Earth Orbiting satellites on 145 MHz uplink and 435 MHz FM downlinks using a portable Arrow II antenna. Click on the images below for some YouTube video clips demonstrating this antenna. K7AGE, in particular, seems to have a wealth of experience and videos on this subject.
From May 2011 I am going to try again to work the AX25 Packet satellites such as NO-44 PCSAT and the International Space Station on 145.825 MHz FM using my Kenwood TS-2000 with UISS, AGWPE and Orbitron software.
I am also occasionally active on EchoLink from home, node number 3116, and now using my Apple iPhone 3GS I am able to use EchoLink from anywhere in the World, where I can get a 3G mobile phone signal or via Wi-Fi.
I am active from home on most HF bands (3.5-28 MHz) with a small Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical, used primarily for PSK31 data communications. My results have been mildly disappointing so far, due to the low angle of radiation not being ideal for European and inter-G working, which at this point in the Solar cycle is where most stations I should be able to work are located.
This isn't the fault of the Sandpiper MV6+3 antenna, which I like, as I would have similar results with any omni directional vertical at this time and I have been spoiled previously by having a rotatable HF beam with considerable gain at the last house, so no comparison would be fair.
I have from 1st September 2010, installed a modern British Army 1.6-30MHz Racal Military tactical adjustable wire dipole (Type 4011-900), at only about 2.5m above ground level, on top of the garden fence, wall and in the trees. It is green coloured, made from very flexible copper braid, Kevlar strengthened and best of all is covert and cannot be seen by neighbours in this conservation area.
I have modified it slightly as I didn't have the matching Racal 'Centre Junction Assembly'(4011-103-01) and have used instead an old amateur radio magnetic balun, terminated with an SO-239 connector, and fed with 25 metres of 50 ohm RG-58 coaxial cable.
Initial testing has shown the Racal Military tactical adjustable wire dipole to tune easily for a 1:1 SWR on all amateur bands between 3.5-28MHz, using my Kenwood TS-2000 internal ATU. Using WSPR software very impressive results have been made, with just 5 Watts low power, all over Europe and the Southern UK. This is due to the high angles of radiation for this dipole compared to low angles for the vertical.
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VHF/UHF Tropo, Aurora & Sporadic-E |
Between 1988-2008 I specialised in VHF/UHF long distance (DX) communications on 50 MHz and 144 MHz with Tropo, Aurora and Sporadic Es being my favourite propagation modes, but having so many mountains surrounding my QTH made it difficult for VHF/UHF radio communications.
Shown below is a 3D aerial image of my home location (QTH) at Penrith, Cumbria, England (Locator IO84oq), indicated by the white arrow, at 140 metres above sea level, with higher ground surrounding all sides. Despite the terrain I have been able to work stations thousands of km away and have regularly been mentioned in both 'RadCom' and 'Practical Wireless' magazines for my achievements in this field.
The map below was created using Geog UK software by G4JNT.
Click here for aerial photo of Penrith with ordnance survey interactive overlay
The topographic map below of my QTH (Centre white dot at 140m asl) was created using the fantastic Mobile Radio software by VE2DBE and downloading from the Internet the latest Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data.
The elevation contours are at 100m intervals and show the high ground rising over 100m, immediately to the North-East of my QTH at a distance of less than 2km away, obstructing line of sight signals between 30-90 degrees.
At 20km distance to the East (Coloured RED) is very high ground formed by Cross Fell (893m / 2930ft), Little Dun Fell (842m) and Great Dunn Fell (848m /2782ft), all obstructing my line of sight signals between 70-90 degrees.
Below is a diagram which shows the antenna elevations required for my aerials to pass obstructions caused by hills around me. You can see that the best direction for me is 130 degrees and the worst is between 20-80 degrees.
When I lived in Ruislip in West London, before 1990, I was able to make extensive use of Tropo Ducting to work stations on the Continent of Europe, indeed I could use 10W on 432 MHz USB to work the stations of HB9MIN/P and HB9AMH/P in JN37 square in Switzerland, using an ex Military flat phased array of 16 dipoles, designed to work at military frequencies around 850 MHz. I was also able to work Scandinavia on 144 MHz. However since moving to the mountainous area of Penrith, Cumbria in IO84 square all my attempts at working via Tropo Ducting have been defeated by having higher mountains blocking the path/duct as I live near the valley floor.
To monitor the build-up of extensive and prolonged high air pressure needed to establish a Tropo Ducting path, in the late 1980's I had a chart recording brass and wood Barograph made for me by Ron Lucking of Hampton Court, a retired watch maker whom was also a Radio Amateur. I still use this fine Barograph today and also have the latest in weather technology in the form of a wireless Ventus W928 Meteotime weather station. I have discovered that I can use the Ventus W928 weather station with Weather-Display software if the WD software is set to be used with an Irox weather station, as the Ventus W928 is not listed as being supported.
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50MHz yearly propagation worked by G0ISW |
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| Year | Month |
Mode |
DX/Comments |
|
1987 |
June | Sporadic-E | Europe ZC4VHF/5B4 / 9H1CG |
|
1988 |
June to August | Sporadic-E | Europe |
|
1989 |
March |
Aurora |
Europe |
| May to August |
Sporadic-E |
Europe | |
| November to December |
F2 |
USA & South America & West Indies & Africa WA1OUB / K8EFS / VE1YX / HC1BI Best ODX (VP5D got away) (EL2FO Liberia got away) | |
|
1990 |
House Move - no activity |
||
|
1991 |
June |
Aurora |
Europe |
| June to July | Sporadic-E | Europe | |
|
1992 |
May to September | Sporadic-E | Europe |
|
1993 |
May to July | Sporadic-E | Europe |
|
1994 |
February |
Aurora |
Scotland |
| May to August | Sporadic-E | Europe / JY7SIX & EA8/DJ3OS | |
|
1995 |
June to July | Sporadic-E | Europe |
|
1996-1999 |
House Move - left with no external VHF aerials for DX |
||
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2000 |
May to August | Sporadic E | Europe |
|
2001 |
March |
Aurora |
Europe |
| June to September | Sporadic-E | Europe | |
| August |
TEP+Es |
Africa - Reunion Island (FR1GZ heard calling CQ on 50.120 I didn't call him straight away, because I thought it was France, by the time I realised he had gone!!!!) | |
| October to December |
F2 |
Israel / Lebanon/ Ghana / Cyprus / India (VU2ZAP got away!) / Canada / USA / Jordan / (Australia got away aaarghhh!) | |
|
2002 |
May to August | Sporadic E | Europe |
|
2003 |
May to August | Sporadic E | Europe (TF8GX got away!) |
|
2004 |
May to July | Sporadic E | Europe |
|
2005 |
May to June | Sporadic E | Europe |
|
2006 |
June to August | Sporadic E | Europe |
|
2007 |
April to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe |
|
2008 |
May to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe/ Sporadic E seems very poor this year! |
|
2009 |
House Move - no activity |
||
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2010 |
May to July |
Sporadic E |
Europe (No TX aerials) |
|
2011 |
May to July |
Sporadic E |
Europe (No TX aerials) |
|
2012 |
May to June |
Sporadic E |
Europe (No TX aerials) Where are the F2 openings expected 11 years after 2001? |
|
2013 |
May to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe (Halo & OA-50 loops for 6m) |
|
2014 |
May to June |
Sporadic E |
Europe (OA-50 loop for 6m) - Very poor Es season indeed |
|
2015 |
April to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe (OA-50 loop for 6/4/2m) |
|
2016 |
April to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe |
|
2017 |
May to September |
Sporadic E |
Europe |
|
2018 |
May to August |
Sporadic E |
Europe (OA-50 loop for 6m & Colinear for 4m/2m) |
|
2019 |
May to August |
Sporadic-E |
Europe / Guadeloupe / USA (Quad band collinear for 6m/4m/2m/70cm) |
|
2020 |
April to December |
Sporadic-E |
Europe |
|
2021 |
January to September |
Sporadic-E |
Europe / Africa / Cuba / Guadeloupe |
|
2022 |
June to August |
Sporadic-E |
Europe / Africa / Canada |
|
2023 |
April to October |
Sporadic-E |
Europe (September and October Es coincided with major MS showers) |
| May to August |
TEP+Es |
South Africa / Brazil / Chile | |
|
2024 |
|
||
I consider my current Amateur Station to be average in
capabilities, but I have still managed to work on VHF very long distances to
For more local 144MHz FM simplex contacts the following two maps show the likely signal strength and coverage, when I am using my Yaesu FT-8800 25W transceiver and an Omni directional colinear aerial from home. This clearly shows I am very well located for working SOTA or WOTA stations on the Lake District hills. Both maps created using the fantastic Mobile Radio software by VE2DBE
Station A
Station B
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Amateur Radio Meteor Scatter |
My favourite VHF propagation mode for Amateur Radio use is without doubt Meteor Scatter. From my IO84 Maidenhead locator square on 50 MHz and 144 MHz via Meteor Scatter, I used the fantastic WSJT software and the high speed FSK441 digital data mode. The maximum practical range for Meteor Scatter QSOs is considered to be around 2300km, with my best distance being 1796km to Estonia.
I have severe obstructions to my signals when beaming between 20-80 degrees due to nearby mountains. Despite this almost impossible direction for working anything at VHF/UHF I have managed to work stations via Meteor Scatter as far afield as Estonia on 144MHz! To get over both hills my horizontal radiation lobe pattern needs to be at least 23 degrees above the horizontal.
Interestingly experiments in 2007 with SM7CMV on 50MHz where my radio signals were heard by him via Meteor Scatter many times, but I couldn't hear his signals despite my station being much weaker in comparison, has resulted in me suggesting that perhaps Knife Edge Diffraction followed by Meteor Scatter allowed this apparent one-way flow? I know Knife Edge Diffraction occurs in that direction as I can work G stations in IO94 square despite a clear mountain obstruction of the Pennines.
Shown below is a still image of my FSK441 QSO (using WSJT software) with ES6RQ on 21.12.2003 on 144.360 MHz a distance of 1796km (1116 miles) and my best DX via Meteor Scatter so far. The burst captured below shows the signal I received from my friend 'Ants' in Estonia.
I was only using 50 watts with my then Yaesu FT-847 transceiver and a 9 element Tonna Yagi at 150m asl to reply and you can see my Meteor Scatter signal report received in Estonia of 27.
The date and time shown on the captured screen above are not correct, as after the event I reran the recorded audio data so that I could grab this image to present on this page.
Below is a map of Stations I have worked on 144MHz Meteor Scatter. The maximum practical range for Meteor Scatter QSOs is considered to be around 2200 km, with my best distance so far being 1796 km.
I have managed to work stations via Meteor Scatter in Iceland, France, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia, Norway, England, Holland, Denmark & Spain.
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VHF/UHF Satellites & EME |
In early 2006 I became interested in working the International Space Station, Low Earth Orbiting Amateur Radio Satellites (using AX25 APRS Packet mode or voice) and trying Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) (using the JT65B digital mode).
This came about because band conditions were so poor on HF and realistically I have worked as much as I can via the normal VHF/UHF propagation modes. I am however finding it a very steep learning curve.
I now use Orbitron satellite tracking software to alert me in the shack, when the Satellites are coming into range. I use UISS software to CAT control my Kenwood TS-2000 radio and send the AX-25 packet messages.
I use AGW packet engine software to give me the ability to transmit and receive packet without a TNC using my RigExpert standard interface. The UISS software works in tandem with AGW and is a very useful tool for working the ISS or digipeating through it. Within a day of downloading the software (on Saturday 17th March 2006 at 1145UTC), and on my first attempt, I managed to have my 145.990 MHz FM packet signal digipeated by the ISS (RS0ISS-3) as it flew overhead at 345km altitude, this was achieved using my normal VHF horizontal beam and using 25 watts.
See the image below, showing my QTH and those of other successful Hams, displayed in real-time, as heard by the ISS. The ISS position is shown and where it will be in 5 minutes later (ISS-5).
In May 2011 I am only using an indoor 1/4 wave 144MHz magnetic mount aerial, little bigger than a handheld radio aerial, as I have no external antennas for 2 metres. I was pleasantly surprised today 23rd May 2011 to see that my 25W 145.825 MHz FM AX-25 packet radio messages had been received onboard the ISS and retransmitted (RS0ISS-4*) as shown below in the text box, with the accompanying map image of active stations.
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20110523075625 :
ON4HF-9]U0TQW4,RS0ISS-4*,qAR,MM1PTT:`{]Z {yv/]"6I}www.on4hf.be= |
Please do not attempt to connect to the old International Space Station Packet BBS system, callsign RS0ISS-11, as you will block the whole pass for all other European stations who can digipeat only if the BBS is not being used. The BBS was established many years ago before the advent of e-mail, the crew do not read it, and in order to obtain a QSL card from the ISS you only have to now digipeat through it using the callsign RS0ISS-4. The crew use e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, not the BBS.
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Summary of Locator squares worked via Satellites International Space Station, PCSAT (NO-44), ANDE-1 (DXCC in brackets) |
My best Satellite DX on 145.825 MHz FM Packet, via the Low Earth Orbiting satellites above, is:
SV3EXT in locator square KM18UA, a distance of 2720 km
UR3QLZ in locator square KN77MT, a distance of 2703 km
US5WDC in locator square KN29BJ, a distance of 1918 km.
On 27th March 2012 when I worked UR3QLZ via the ISS on 145.825 MHz FM packet, I was only using an indoor 1/2 wave 2m collinear and 25 watts, no beam aerial here any more.
Historically, I realised that for consistent and reliable space communications I should have upgraded my antenna system, but I did not have the space for a high performance multiple stacked 4x4 array, so it would have to be based upon a much simpler system. I noticed on the GB4FUN amateur radio demonstration vehicle that they have full satellite capability.
Looking at the setup detail for their mobile system Setting up the satellite tracking software & satellite system I became familiar with the WIMO X-Quad antennas for 144 MHz and 432 MHz, which I had not heard of before.
These aerials have a short boom length less than 1.5m and can be mounted on the front of the mast, which is particularly good for me as they would not catch on my HF beam mounted lower on my mast. The quoted gain for the 2m X-Quad is 10.5dBd and for the 70cm X-Quad is 12.8dBd, which compare very favourably with both a Tonna 9 element 144 MHz yagi at 13.1dBi and a Tonna 19 element 432 MHz yagi at 16.2dBi, but being only horizontally polarised, about 3m long and not able to be mounted on the front of the mast boom. Converting dBD to dBi suggests that the gain is almost the same.
Interestingly these antennas can be configured for horizontal, vertical, Left or Right hand circular polarisation (RHCP) the latter being the preferred setup for satellite use and also EME. Using a WIMO phasing harness for each antenna, further simplifies setup.
As of January 2010 I intend to use a modest portable Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Satellite system based upon the Arrow II Satellite Antenna and my Kenwood TH-F7 5W 144/432 MHz handheld.
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There are very few radio amateurs here in Penrith, or the surrounding area. The local Amateur Radio club is the Eden Valley Amateur Radio Society (EVRS) which meets in Penrith, on the last Thursday of each month at 19:30 hrs local time, in the Royal British Legion club. Visitors are very welcome.
Amateur radio activity is mostly to be found on the local 2m repeater GB3EV on 145.700 MHz FM (CTCSS 77Hz)for fixed and mobile stations due to the sparsity of activity and the mountains which block simplex contacts between the valleys. This repeater is now connected to the Internet by way of EchoLink Node 528770, which is a very welcome addition.
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Radios I have owned and operated over the years * denotes still in use |
|||
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YAESU |
KENWOOD |
ICOM |
OTHER |
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FT-2700RH
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TS-690SAT
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IC-R70
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Racal Syncal 30 TRA931
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If you already use your computer soundcard for data modes such as PSK31, then you can use WSPR (Distant Whispers) software by K1JT, with your existing hardware. The software transforms your station into an automated beacon and weak signal reception hub.
You will be amazed how far your low power signals can be heard and can see maps in real time. Great for antenna experimentation and comparison too. There is even a searchable WSPR spots database.
2010
Below is an computer screen grab using WSPR software and taken from the WSPRnet pages showing my 5 Watts QRP signals on 10MHz on Friday 3rd September 2010. Comparing this with my HF vertical aerial I can see immediately better results for working the nearby Continent, which is what I would expect.
Using the WSPRnet website and its 'spot database query' research tool, I can enter search parameters for callsign, band, number of spots, and select the order they are displayed in such as timestamp, distance, SNR, km per Watt etc.
In the example below, dated from late 2010, I have selected 5 spots for my signals on the 10MHz band and placed them in longest distance order. I can see that my best distance so far is to W3HH at 6751km and I can also see that all 5 spots were using my Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical, as I only put up my Racal Military tactical adjustable wire dipole on 1st September 2010.
Spot DatabaseUsing spot archive (no automatic refresh). 5 spots:
Query time: 0.004 sec |
However, on 14 MHz it is a different story, as I can see from the results shown below that my two best distances were both on dates after 1st September 2010, when I was using my Racal Military tactical adjustable wire dipole. Obviously you have to take into account the variations in propagation, but this software does allow you to compare antenna system performance if tests are carried close in time to each other.
2011
In April 2011, I have returned to using my Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical as my primary aerial, as it will tune up on 50 MHz for the Sporadic-E season in April-July, whereas my dipole won't.
Below is a map showing my QRP 5W 10MHz WSPR signals reaching the USA using a Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical on the morning of 6th April 2011.
Below is a map showing my 5W 10MHz WSPR signals reaching VK1UN in Australia using my 2m tall Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical on 8th April 2011.
The Solar Flux for this day is shown as 112.
The WSPRnet database shows my 10.140195 MHz signal to VK1UN in Australia had a SNR of -28 dB and the distance was my best yet at 16947 km.
The WSPRnet database shows my best ever DX signals have all occurred so far on the 10MHz band and I can tell by the dates that all were achieved using my Sandpiper MV6+3 HF vertical, rather than my dipole. I would expect this due to the low angle of radiation from the vertical aerial which is better suited for long distance (DX) working.
Here below is my 10 MHz signal being received on 16th April 2011 by the man himself K1JT, Joe Taylor, the author of WSPR and WSJT software
On HF from home, my preferred mode of operation in 2011 remains PSK31 data using MixW software.
In October 2011 I have started to look at other HF data modes and tried today JT65-HF on 28 MHz just to see what band conditions were like. Wow!
Shown below is a screenshot using PSK Reporter of stations heard by me on 28.076 MHz (10m), using JT65 HF mode, on Tuesday 18th October 2011.Amazing conditions considering we are only a little way out of sunspot minimum and already DX is visible on 4 Continents all at the same time.
Here below is the accompanying JT-65 HF software screen grab showing ZS1LS in South Africa, PU3WSF in Brazil and several US stations.
However in the Summer months I don't enjoy sitting in my shack and missing all the good sunny weather outside and have discovered in May 2011 that it is possible to remotely control my Kenwood TS-2000 radio using an Apple iPad to touch control my computer.
The Apple iPad using an application called Air-Display allows me to have complete touch screen control of my station from the comfort of my garden, or anywhere else in my house using my own Wi-Fi network, I can remotely view and operate anything on my computer screen. Here is the link to the full article explaining how to do this. http://www.hamradioscience.com/?page_id=141/sdr-radio-general/using-the-ipad-to-control-your-rig/#p49 Below is a YouTube video showing the concept in action.
2013
As of 2013 I have now largely abandoned HF WSPR beacon experimentation in favour of using the newer WSJT-X software also by K1JT and the JT65/JT9 weak signal data modes for two way HF communication. WSPR whilst a superb tool for weak signal beacon monitoring of HF band conditions was frustrating because I wanted to work the DX I could receive. WSJT-X software has allowed me comparable signal performance with WSPR and since I started using JT65/JT9 modes in earnest the results have been equally amazing.
My logbook is absolutely full of US stations now, so many that I nearly have all the US States for the WAS award. I also have many Australian stations now which before WSJT-X I had maybe only one or two ever.
I have also experimented with JT65 and JT9 in the Summer months on the 50 MHz (6m) band and found JT65 very effective indeed, but JT9 has performed poorly in comparison due to doppler 50 MHz signal drift, which means the signals whilst visible on screen often fail to decode. I have experienced no such difficulty on HF.
Again in 2013 I have discovered something better for remote control which is TeamViewer software, free for personal use, which allows remote control of my Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver via PC control from anywhere in the World using my Apple iPad providing I have a connection to the Internet. I can see my computer screen and manipulate the controls of any software. This has totally replaced me using Air-Display. I can still operate my station from the garden using Wi-Fi or from further afield.
2014
My preferred HF data modes remain JT65/JT9 using WSJT-X software, linked with DXkeeper logging software and JT-Alert for spotting DX I need. This combination means I don't have to sit in the shack all day to catch the DX I want, I am instead alerted audibly by voice from the PC and can then go to the shack or operate the transceiver remotely to work that station.
In November 2014 I took advantage of a special discounted offer from Moonraker for an AirNav Radarbox 3-D ADS-B receiver system in order to track in real-time aircraft within approximately 200 miles of my home location.
So far I have been very impressed and have setup alerts for specific aircraft or types of aircraft I am interested in. The system automatically records and logs all aircraft received and downloads pictures from the Internet of them too, for later review.
2015
My 14 year old TS-2000 appears to have developed a CAT hardware fault as I can no longer control its frequency using any CAT programme such as WSJT-X. I now as a result have a brand new Icom-7100 transceiver and have been busy setting it up for use on the HF data modes. Great radio with plenty of features, but quite complex to setup properly. D-Star DV looks interesting, but daunting to work out and understand.
The Icom-7100 appears to have a maximum RX bandwidth on HF of 3.6 kHz, slightly down on the TS-2000 5 kHz which means I can't quite see all of the JT65/JT9 signals at once as they occupy around 4 kHz. Not too much of a problem and am now back on the air, which is good news.
The Primary HF amateur radio software in use with my Icom-7100 and Kenwood TS-2000 here is WSJT-X version 1.6 for data modes JT65/JT9 combined with JTAlert 2.6.1 to be alerted to my wanted DX and US States.
My settings for the Icom-7100 are shown below, note that PTT is direct via CAT as part of the software. Connection to the radio is via USB cable direct, no interface required.
On the Icom-7100 radio
Settings>Connectors>CI-V> I have the following settings
CI-V Baud rate 19200
CI-V Address 88h
CI-V Transceive ON
Data MOD is USB
USB2 function is OFF
The primary VHF amateur
radio software in use with my
Icom-7100
and Kenwood TS-2000
is WSJT version 10, for data modes
JT6M,
FSK441
etc.
My settings for the Icom-7100 are shown below; note that PTT, whilst via CAT again, was a lot more problematic to setup as I had to install a separate virtual COM port on my PC using CAT7200 software by John Wiseman G8BPQ. The CAT7200 software converts changes in the RTS signal on a Virtual COM Port to Icom CI-V PTT commands.
PTT is not possible without using this software with WSJT in its current version except by manually pressing the microphone PTT when required, clearly not a practical solution every 30 seconds. Connection to the radio is via USB cable direct, no interface required.
When you need to use the WSJT software with the Icom-7100 you run the CAT7200 programme first, which opens up the PTT control via the virtual COM port you have previously installed. Then you open the WSJT software and carry on as normal. Below is shown the settings I use here, COM port numbers will vary by each Radio Amateurs own PC.
Also looking forward to this Year's VHF Sporadic E season which began for me earlier than normal on Thursday 30th April, 2015, especially that I now have 70 MHz (4m) capability again. Just waiting for my 50/70/144 MHz Triband EAntenna EA642ZB7 2+2+3 Element beam to be assembled or I will use my OA-50 loop which whilst designed for 50 MHz (6m) appears to tune up perfectly on 70 MHz (4m) too.
I think that I will concentrate on 70 MHz (4m) this year as I have pretty much worked everything I can on the other VHF bands and when I was on the band years ago I had only a very deaf Yaesu FT-847.
It hasn't been ideal weather recently to build my new beam and it is larger than can be hidden easily, however by luck I have discovered that my existing OA-50 loop matches not only 50 MHz, but also 70 MHz and 144 MHz too. This is good news as this antenna is omni-directional and takes up minimal space in my garden. I have as of 16th May 2015 now configured my Icom-7100 to be dedicated to VHF and my Kenwood TS-2000 to HF data modes.
2017
Back to an old favourite of mine and Meteor Scatter, this time using the new data mode MSK144 with 15s periods so much faster exchanges and very popular on both 50.280 MHz and 70.280 MHz. Far more stations observed on MS now in 2017 than ever seen before. The new MSHV software by LZ2HV is in use here and is very easy to understand.
2018
Finally another good year for Sporadic-E on the VHF bands.
This has been an excellent year for Sporadic-E in 2018, much better than for some time. Openings started here in IO84 square in May on the 50 MHz band (50.313 FT8) and have also been on 70 MHz (70.154 FT8) too.
The new FT8 data mode used with WSJT-X software and JT-AlertX and DXKeeper logging has been fantastic for VHF DX chasing. Very easy and quick to automatically be alerted in the shack, house or garden to needed stations whilst ignoring anything else. Weak signals from single or double hop Sporadic-E are easy to work and my humble antennas of a loop for 50 MHz and a Colinear for 70 MHz, both only 2m AGL hidden in garden bushes due to a no visible antennas restriction have allowed me to work many new DXCC Countries and squares on both bands.
Single, Double-hop and even Triple-hop Sporadic-E to South America have been observed in 24 hours, between 12th to 13th June 2018.
On the subject of DXKeeper logging it syncs perfectly with the other software mentioned above to automatically upload contacts to both E-QSL and LoTW, a really nice way to do everything without time consuming manual input.
2019
Another good start for Sporadic-E on the 50 MHz and 70 MHz bands. Already in early June on 70 MHz I have worked EA8DBM in the Canary islands for a new DXCC and locator square, at a distance of 3,140 km via multi hop Sporadic-E propagation.
I have exchanged my Elecraft KX-3 for an Icom IC-7300, as my Kenwood TS-2000 at 18 years old is now really showing its age and needs to be repaired. My main interest lies with the FT8 data mode and of course chasing VHF DX during the Summer months, returning to HF over Winter. The Icom IC-7300 having both 50 MHz and 70 MHz multimode capability and built-in ATU for these bands suits my main Summer VHF requirements perfectly. The built-in panoramic display has allowed me to spot multiple signals on the band being monitored away from the frequency I have been set on and the ease of a USB CAT interface for my computer has made using the FT8 data mode a joy.
Unfortunately the good start to Sporadic-E propagation in 2019 hasn't continued, with markedly fewer and weaker signals than last year. There was an intense 144 MHz Es opening on Tuesday 2nd July 2019 which I missed of course due to being at work that day! However there have been very few Es openings this summer on any band other than 50 MHz and using weak signal modes such as FT8 has permitted contacts, very few times have the signal strengths seen been 59+ which is typical of a strong Es event from previous years.
My most frustrating miss this year was around 16:12 UTC on 24th June 2019 when the station of ST0CAZ on 50 MHz in Sudan, Africa was calling CQ with FT8 for 10 minutes for US stations only, none of which replied to him and then the path to Sudan closed! No one else seemed to hear or work him either according to the DXcluster. In fact this station has hardly ever been heard before on 50 MHz.
2020
An absolutely excellent year for Sporadic-E on the 50 MHz and 70 MHz and 144 MHz bands. This has already by the end of May been the best Sporadic-E opening I can remember, even better than the 17th June 1989. For me the 70 MHz band was the highlight as it appears I was located too far North now to enjoy the 144 MHz opening. Interestingly there was some very short skip via Es on 50 MHz one QSO I had was only 406km away giving a MUF of around 133 MHz.
The Quad Band vertical Collinear has performed better than the horizontal loop surprisingly.
Once again I am frustrated by the weekly VHF Propagation forecasts from the RSGB that continue to wildly promote the Jet Stream as being the key factor for Sporadic-E propagation, this was one theory put forward by some amateurs, but it absolutely does not correlate with my observed openings, indeed the best opening I have ever observed in the past 35 years, from 30th May to the 1st June 2020, had no jet stream prediction for it from the RSGB VHF forecast.
Here in the shack a new equipment addition has been a SDSRplay RSP1A receiver which I use for monitoring both HF and VHF Band II FM DX, its performance has been good so far.
Remarkably the VHF Sporadic-E season has still not ended as I write this in January 2021, in September, October, November and December there were at least three Es openings each month on 50 MHz around Europe, and even now in January there are still some. I cannot recall this ever happening before.
2021
Looking forward to the Sporadic-E season resuming again this year following the epic season in 2020. No new transmitting equipment here in the shack, but have two SDRs for receiving a SDRplay RSP1A and an AirSpy R2, between them I have complete coverage from DC to 2 GHz all modes.
Another small addition tot he shack has been a bespoke wooden callsign plaque made to my own design by Harty's Wooden Things based in Manchester. I cannot compliment Harty's enough as their customer service and communication is superb. Here is the finished solid oak product, laser engraved.
So the 50 MHz Sporadic-E season for my Northerly location in IO84 square has started in earnest on Sunday 2nd May 2021 with a long afternoon opening down towards Spain that has coincided with significant meteor activity from the eta_Aquirids Shower which peaks around the 5th May and deposits lots of metallic particles in the upper Atmosphere.
A very good Sporadic-E opening on the 50 MHz and 70 MHz bands occurred on Friday 14th May 2021, with very short skip worked by me from around 19:21 - 19:38 UTC to multiple stations in Southern England on 70 MHz FT8 mode in distances between 385-425 km. The signal strengths were very strong, long lasting and stable so I am discounting the propagation mode being either MS or AS and the opening occurred after extensive 50 MHz activity.
Well the 28th May 2021 was a good day for Triple hop Sporadic-E when I managed to work CO8LY in FL20 grid in Cuba, 7118 km away, on 50 MHz FT8 mode, his signal was an incredible +21db for over 10 minutes!
On the 11th June 2021 I worked S01WS in IL46 grid, Western Sahara, 3232 km away on 50 MHz FT8 so pleased with this one too.
On the 16th June 2021 I worked S01WS in IL46 grid, Western Sahara, 3232 km away on 70 MHz FT8 another fantastic contact.
2022
A later start with Sporadic-E this year being good from June onwards.
On 1st June 2022 worked VO1DZA on 50 MHz via double hop Sporadic-E in GN37PO at 3502 km distance
On 3rd June 2022 worked EA7Y on 70 MHz via Sporadic-E in IM66WK at 2044 km distance
On 12th June 2022 there was a large opening on 70 MHz from 1045-1942 UTC all over Europe via Sporadic-E
By August the Sporadic-E had largely finished
On 16th December 2022 there was a brief Sporadic-E opening to Scandinavia on 50 MHz coinciding with the peak high metallic deposition from the Geminids Meteor Shower
2023
An absolutely excellent start to the year for me with strong Sporadic-E on the 50 MHz band first opening to Europe on 24th April 2023 possibly due to high metallic deposition from the Lyrids Meteor Shower
On the 26th April 2023 I worked ZS6WN in KG46SC locator square, South Africa at a very long distance of 9264 km.
The propagation mechanism is assessed as being Trans Equatorial Propagation (TEP) from ZS6WN reaching the North Africa area, where it was met and joined together with double hop Sporadic-E propagation from my station, reaching the North Africa area. This was using my Icom-7300 with 50W into a vertical quad band collinear mounted at ground level hidden from view in a garden bush!
On Saturday 13th May 2023 at around 1600 UTC I heard several stations from Brazil on 50 MHz, again TEP+Es, but had visitors arrive at the house for a BBQ and so was unable to work them....aaargh!
My interest in Packet Radio AX25 and digipeating via the International Space Station (ISS) on 145.825 MHz has never gone away, so this year's radio purchase is an AnyTone AT-D878UVii+ handheld for both analogue and DMR, with built in GPS and APRS TX/RX.
The AnyTone AT-D878UVii+ handheld arrived already configured by my retailer Moonraker and as a handheld radio it is really great. Some super nice features and free programming software. I particularly like the ability with Bluetooth (BT) to not only link the transmit and receive audio to a modern car's sound system, but in addition the included small BT PTT button can be Velcro tied to the steering wheel for hands free PTT operation. In the radio settings you can configure the PTT to remain on transmit until you press the button again to end your transmission. You can of course alternatively use a BT headset or earpiece instead.
One of my main reasons for buying this handheld was for APRS TX/RX via the International Space Station (ISS) on the analogue 145.825 MHz FM side of the radio. After eventually getting the correct software settings input into the radio I can now transmit APRS location packets fine, however I still have been unable to receive and decode AX25 packets from other radios here in the shack.
Looking online in May 2023 it appears that many other users have also had problems with RX of AX25 packet signals, unless they are also being sent by an identical AnyTone radio in which case it all seems to work properly. It appears that the AT implementation of existing AX25 protocols may not be quite right yet and a solution is being sought that hopefully will be rolled out on a firmware/software update.
Anyhow in the meantime I have now configured my Icom IC-7100 to use UISS software by ON6MU to send/receive APRS AX25 messages to and from the ISS station, as I used to do on other radios many years ago, this has required the use of CAT7200 software and virtual com ports to allow CAT TX of the IC-7100, screenshot below of my settings, including the UZ7HO SoundModem settings.
Managed to get my callsign G0ISW digipeated on 145.825 MHz FM through the ISS again using my Icom IC-7100, 25W and an indoor 5/8 wave vertical collinear antenna, no reports received back though this time.
On Monday 26th May 2023 there was a really good Sporadic-E opening, which apparently started at around 0700 UTC and was still ongoing at around 1900 UTC. Typically I was at work this day and missed most of it, however in the early evening I worked three new stations on 70 MHz in Switzerland, with a calculated MUF of around 90 MHz for this short 1000 km distance. Later I worked EA8DEG in the Canary Islands, a distance of 3200 km, via double hop Sporadic-E on 70 MHz. From what I could see on the DX cluster 50 MHz was wide open throughout Europe as was 70 MHz, there was also a good opening seen on 144 MHz, but just not for me.
A friend of mine reported receiving FM broadcast radio on 94 MHz from Algeria, whilst driving his car on the M6 motorway, near Tebay, Cumbria.
I have tried using a SDR here for catching FM DX on the VHF Broadcast band 87.5-108 MHz, but without a lot of success as my laptop is simply too old and too slow for the required 10 MHz width of band coverage. I have seen several FM DXers using the TEF6866 radio, which also covers the OIRT FM broadcast band from 65.9 to 74 MHz still used in Eastern Europe. This radio has excellent sensitivity with RDS station identification too. I have taken the plunge and ordered one, which will hopefully arrive before the Sporadic-E season ends. As a bonus it also covers the HF Shortwave bands, broadcast medium and long wave bands too.
On Thursday 1st June 2023 I managed for the first time to digipeat my AX.25 FM signal via the International Space Station (ISS) on 145.825 MHz, using my new AnyTone AT-D878UVII+ with 5W output into a Diamond RH-770 telescopic whip, but nil heard back sadly.
On Monday 5th June 2023 there was an excellent Sporadic-E opening on 144 MHz for two hours whilst I was at work so I missed it. However when I returned home in the late afternoon, the 50 and 70 MHz bands were still alive with Sporadic-E signals, the MUF had dropped from 144 MHz, but was still around 95 MHz and I managed to catch my first FM DX with three FM broadcast stations logged from Spain, the best being on 91.9 MHz at 1652km away. I was using SDR Console software, with a SDRplay RSP1A receiver and a Wellbrook 1530+ vertical loop aerial.
My new TEF6686 SDR radio arrived the same day and so far I have been very impressed with it, the RDS is very sensitive indeed.
Despite the 2023 Sporadic-E season starting off well, it sort of then fizzled out to below average for the year with a couple of brief late openings in September and October that seemed to coincide with the major meteor showers.
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