Summer Activities On The Air

Well I was surprised to see how long ago I last posted on my blog. It has been a busy few months with time passing quickly. 

As for the bands they have been on and off but overall I would have to go for more of the on with some pretty cool DX 

I have as usual been making the most of the great outdoors with the odd attempt of operating both mobile and whilst walking. My next plan is to take my FT-817 and have a go at some long wire QRP. I might get an opportunity over the next few weeks as it's the end of the college year and I am off for a month. 

Space communication has still been keeping me occupied as has ADSB aircraft tracking and of course I am active daily on the HF bands.

This coming weekend on Saturday 22 July at 20:00 UTC a few YouTube hams are getting together including myself and plan to break the 40m band by simultaneously live streaming on 40 meters. This has been organised by James M0GCQ and is a great opportunity to try out your station with the live feed from each channel being so easy to access. You can work up and down the British Isles and try catch everyone that is participating on this event.

This Saturday's Mega Stream YouTube Ham Radio Station list is:

@AmateurRadioUK M0GQC

@m0mcx M0XXT

@timg5tm941 G5TM

@G5STU G5STU

@M0JSX M0JSX

@M0YKSHamRadio M0YKS

@digitalanalogueham 2E0UKH

@IrishHamRadio EI5IMB

#MM0OPXAmateurRadio MM0OPX

There is word out that M0XXT Callum (DX Commander) is offering a prize to the first station that manages to work every live stream station on the Air. This is only available to you guys not the the stations streaming. So with that I hope to hear some of you coming in well  on Saturday night 21:00 local time, - 40m band.

Hope you make it, 73 for now.

ARISS School Contact

Today's ISS activity from OR4ISS on board making contact with a secondary school located in France via ground station ON4ISS.

Reasonable reception at my end with my FT-847 and Innovantenna - loop fed 6 element X YAGI on G-5500 Rotator.

Saint Anatoile secondary school is a French private catholic school located in a rural area in the department of Jura (258,000 population), Burgundy, France Comté region. In conjunction with hosting this ARISS contact, the school has developed a 2-year "ARISS contact" project to provide students a real opportunity to discover and understand an environment that is unknown to most of them. The objectives of the project are to deepen the scientific and linguistic knowledge of the students through workshops, and various STEM projects incorporated in their curriculum. All students participated in the project (about 100 pupils aged 11 to 14)..The workshops covered topics that included: an introduction to amateur radio, Morse code, Q code, radio directional-finding, rules of communicating on amateur satellites (using satellite QO-100), orbital mechanics, wave propagation, and much more.

To find out how your school could participate in a similar radio activity with the International Space Station follow the link - ariss.org

Today's Questions. 

1. Can the effects of global warming be seen from the Space Station?

2. Does weightlessness change the way you breathe?

3. Do you plant seeds in order to have vegetables and eat them?

4. Do you still have the notion of time inside the ISS?

5. What did you like the most when you first entered the ISS?

6. Why did you want to become an astronaut?

7. How is it possible to sleep in the space station with weightlessness?

8. Have you discovered anything unusual or strange during your last missions?

9. How can the Space Station supply itself with electricity?

10. How do you feel to be one of the few people to go into space?

11. What do you do with your waste?

12. What do you do if someone gets hurt?

13. What is the interest of weightlessness in your research?

14. What constraints do you encounter when you return to Earth in order to regain a normal life?

15. How long is the air reserve of the spacesuits?

16. How do you cook in space?

17. How did you feel during the take-off of the shuttle?

18. Is it hard to walk when you come back on Earth?

19. What is the best activity you have done in space so far?

20. How do you feel weightlessness now, as you are talking to us?

Working Into FO-118 CAS-5A

Greetings from the shack of M0YKS, I hope the New year has started well for you. I have been active on most bands from 80m through to 70cms. DX on 10m has been awesome so has 12, 15 and the other HF bands, my confirmed DXCC is now at 155 on QRZ using SSB phone mode. Hopefully this year I will improve the logged DXCC but either way I am enjoying the chase. 

I have also been active on the Satellite bands working mostly into Europe on both SSB and the FM birds. 

Today I thought I would have a go at working a reasonably new Satellite CAS 5A also known as FO-118. I haven't quite setup my radio steering software SATpc32 correctly with the Doppler correction known as a Doppler sqf file yet, so I had to manually change the downlink frequency but still managed a few nice QSOs. The new Satellite was built by CAMSAT and has a FM V/u repeater as well as V/u and interestingly a H/u linear transponder on board for amateur radio use. 

If you don't quite understand what it all means this is it: V = VHF, U = UHF and H = HF. So for example in the case of V/u it would mean VHF uplink TX and UHF down link RX. For this Satellite CAS 5A, V/u is 145.925 FM TX and 435.600 FM RX. 

Today's first trial of working the bird proved to be easy enough with a decent signal back down from the bird using the FM repeater. The next thing is to try the linear transponders and maybe operate the H/u mode with a 15m band uplink. That will be something new for me for sure. The V/u SSB transponder should be easy enough to hit and probably will be decent if it is anything like the earlier XW Chinese satellites. Hope to hear you soon from IO93CU. H N Y.

Seasons Greetings and Happy DX

 

Almost that time of year again and it sure feels like it too. Very cold here in Yorkshire England at the moment and I am looking forward to the holidays which are approaching fast. This year I get to enjoy two weeks away from the workplace which means there will be plenty of time to fire up the FTDX101MP and make some merry DX. 

Talking of DX..... This evening was decent on HF as I worked some nice DX up on 10m - KP4PR and LU5FC and then down on 20m I was able to work TO9W, K9NEM and ZF2OO with some lovely signal reports exchanged. All SSB voice, using 200w barefoot from the 101MP  hooked up to my trusty  Cushcraft MA5B multi band yagi antenna.

I will catch up with you again soon and hopefully catch you on the Air over the holiday period. I may try a couple of live streams in and among the festive fun. In the meantime SEASONS GREETINGS and Have fun!  

M7ELC and M0YKS CQ WW DX Contest

What a great contest it was! The bands opened up and the DX came through a treat. I worked plenty of stations and although I have done better in the past I did manage to work 18 Zones and 74 Countries over the weekend. My young apprentice M7ELC did an absolute fantastic job and bagged herself 14 Zones and got into China as well as many other exciting DX Countries World wide. The new radio in the shack performed flawlessly and the reception was second to none. My only problem was getting Elsie M7ELC to shift over and let me have a go lol.

This years highlights if you have not seen it already.

CQ WW SSB 2022

Thanks to all involved, our logs have been uploaded and we both had a blast. See everyone in the next DX Contest and also next years CQ WW. 73 Good DX M0YKS and M7ELC

Working DXCC

We all enjoy Ham radio for many reasons, after all there is so much to try out with our great hobby. One of my interests is working DX and I have always enjoyed the hunt for new places that I have never made contact with. When I say made contact I am referring to operating with a microphone, radio and antenna. I not particularly interested in digital modes which made me decide to class my successful DXCC entries as voice QSO only. I started off shouting on a President Grant back in the 80s and now manage to shout a little less on my Ham radio equipment. So why change 🤣, anyhow my DXCC total using my Yorkshire sounding phonetics has got me 150 confirmed DXCC since I started the log back in 2004. I'm almost half way there 🤣 and only 22 years so far, hopefully I'll be there sometime, but hey I like to talk. To celebrate the halfway mark I treated the shack to an official QRZ DX World Award. I don't usually bother but thought I might as well have a little reminder to help to motivate me catch some more new DXCC  

73 de M0YKS Simon 

FTDX101MP DX on 10m Band.

The past few weeks of superb band conditions has meant that I could see just how good this radio is. I have spent most evenings up on 10 and 15m working DX and it's been absolutely buzzing with activity. The FTDX101MP is totally awsome on all of the HF bands with an exceptional quality receive capability. I still love my FT-1000mp but the noise does not disappear the same as it does on the 101mp. Infact the 101mp is incredibly good at pretty much everything including putting out a very nice sounding audio. I still haven't tried the Heil GM5 microphone on it as the M70 YAESU desk mic seems to be very good  the reports coming in are pleasing. The M70 came free with the radio as an incentive to buy. It is a nice microphone and I'll be continuing with it for now. I set the eq up with it and thanks to Jay W4ZXT I seem to have configured it to suit my voice. I followed Jay's YouTube video audio/eq settings (thanks bro).

So with a few weeks of playing I have soon got to grips with the layout of the 101mp, it's very user friendly and well designed for chasing DX quickly up and down the bands. I've not used the amplifier recently and my signal has been solid into VK, JA, South Africa, South America and USA. Its definitely a good time to get into the higher HF bands with excellent DX openings daily. The higher bands have provided lots of new stations that I normally don't catch so you can imagine the amount of rag chew qso I have been making. That's another good thing about the higher HF bands you get interesting conversations thst last for as long as you want without too much QRM. Hope to hear you guys and girls on your radios operating 15, 12 and 10m soon. 

73 have a good weekend. GOOD DX. 

ISS Contact - NA1SS - Commander Kjell N Lindgren

 

A little after midnight just before I headed off to bed, I thought to myself "just one more go". Wow what perfect timing as I had a lengthy chat with NA1SS International Space Station Commander Kjell.

 

I was using my Yaesu FT-847 Earth station with the 30 element 435-437 Oscar Sat antenna and 10 Element LFA Cross Yagi for 145 MHz, driven by my Yaesu G-5500 Control/rotator.

The amazing part for me is that I called out CQ once and was answered by ISS Commander Kjell using the call NA1SS. Nobody else in Europe was about so after an initial QSO and signal exchange of a real 5/9+ we had a decent rag chew lasting 5-8 mins as the ISS soared by overhead. Commander Kjell told me he has never been as active and is really enjoying working stations back on Earth from the ISS Columbus Module. I went to bed like an excited child awaiting Christmas and I am still buzzing about it now the next morning. Keep a listen out during the late passes as you may get a pleasant surprise!

New radio in the shack

After serous consideration and a few sleepless nights I decided to part with some hard earned cash and upgrade my HF Transceiver. I am totally satisfied with the new purchase and have been playing all week on an evening after work. The YAESU FTDX101MP is a fabulous bit of kit words can not describe the buzz I have felt and experienced so far. I already worked plenty of DX - Brazil, Falkland Islands, and Indonesia as well plenty of short skip contacts. All made barefoot without the amplifier, the radio puts out 200w so I will be getting rid of both GI7BT amplifiers. The reception is absolutely incredible, I reallly can see the technology improvements which have superseeded my trusty FT-1000mp field. Its like chalk and cheese or day and night. 

Hope to catch you on the air soon using my new setup.  As you can see I have a much tidier setup with a few old school components now taking a well deserved rest. My FT-1000 is now on standby. 

M0YKS/M HF operating

As we all now are getting used to being spoiled with regular band openings I have been making the most of my daily commute to work. Most mornings I make at least one QSO whilst mobile on the 20m band. Today was very good as I managed three QSO along the way. The band was very busy with DX and short skip signals coming up and down to the trusty YAESU FT-857. The past months morning mobiling has brought me some good surprises as I keep hearing the west coast of The USA. I managed to bust a pileup into Oregon which I was very pleased with as I ran about 80 watts into the mono band MALDOL HFC 20 antenna which is still effective after over 15 years of daily mobile use. 

Solar cycle 25 is definitely interesting so far, especially early morning mobile, by lunch I have noticed a lull with just a couple of signals and then its back wide open again at my finish time. 

My home-based shack is slightly down on action as the pleasant WX on an evening has caught my attention just lately but it will be business as usual once the cold creeps back again. For now it's good to be operating my Ham station out and about enjoying both good propagation and good long days with occasional sunshine. I hope you are also having a nice mix of what life has to offer. Listen out for M0YKS/mobile at approximately 7.15 utc on the 20m band. 73 good DX

 

M0YKS/motor cycle 

Still Decoding NOAA

 

Now receiving with a new INNOVANTENNA 12 Element LFA YAGI (X Pole) innovantennas x-pol-yagis

software used ..

WXtoIMG

M7ELC - CQ WW 21 Youth Contest Result First Place In England

Today started well with the awesome news that M7ELC managed a truly great first Contest result. Elsie M7ELC created a new England Record operating on all bands running low power in the Youth category and hit the podium position as Number 1 in England! Go Girl! We are all proud of her great start to her amateur radio participation and lets hope her future experiences on Ham radio continue to develop. Well done Elsie M7ELC England's No 1 Youth on Low Power!

As for myself (Elsie's Dad) I did quite well as usual and came 5th in England as a High Power All Band Classic operator. I did better than usual with the Zones but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Have a fun on the bands! Thanks for passing by. 73.

 

Solar Cycle 25 - HF DX Heaven

 

What a difference a few weeks have made, cycle 25 has definitely woken up! A slightly delayed start due to an overlap of cycle 24 causing disturbance to the new born cycle 25 and keeping the flames quenched. But now the its out with the old in with the new as we experience some fantastic DX openings on all of the HF bands. Enjoy! My Fellow DX Friends!

I have been racking up lots of DX as I operate some late night DX, my station has been hitting all over the globe and the bands have stayed wide open until late and often all night long. It has been really addictive and I have found myself active every day from my radio shack in the search of DX stations that are currently booming through. Morning activity /Mobile from the van has also popped up some nice surprises with  JA, VK and ZL signals and a QSO into Brazil whilst on the move with 80 watts. On my return journey I have heard YB and HS 5/9+ whilst driving and listening on the 20m HF band.

A lot of you will be also experiencing the amazing band conditions and loving it I suspect, but for anyone that hasn't yet had the opportunity to get on the air recently now is the time to dust off the equipment and get the wires, beams, verticals or whatever you fancy trying out back up because things are alive and kicking once again on the HF bands. I have kept up with the video streams and uploads and you can catch the band wide open right here as I make some noise across the pond.

The new solar cycle should now continue to propagate the HF bands and we can expect improvement into the next couple of years taking us up to the peak and then dropping back off on the decline. The full cycle is usually around 7 years of peak conditions and 12 years to complete. Below is an image from the space weather prediction center outlining the current position in the cycle and predicted level of sunspot activity which is just what us DX chasers need plenty of. 

Well that is my update from the shack of M0YKS, hope to catch some of you on the next live stream on my YouTube channel. I recently added a BHI DSP Noise eliminating extension speaker to my HF station and its absolutely the bees knees! The quality of received audio/signal out of the BHI DSP is incredible and I am very pleased with it. Again my latest videos on my channel have the speaker inline so you can take a listen for yourself. In the meantime get on the radio and call CQ DX, I have worked tons of operators that run 100 Watts with big signals. I hopefully will catch you soon on the HF bands! 

Until next the post, Thanks for visiting! Stay healthy! Have FUN! 73 Happy hunting, Good DX, de Simon M0YKS  

Cycled Out?

Well I don't know about you but here in Bradford the band conditions on an evening have been absolutely terrible with high QRN levels and little activity. 

 

I have made the odd DX contact on 40m but overall the shack has had a lot of noisy AF and very little RF generated  I'm looking forward to getting on during the daytime over the weekend, so let's hope that the solar cycle starts peddling again and gets a bit of speed up offering some decent band conditions.

My Ameritron amplifier with its GI7BT valves has helped me have some fun thankfully. The current band conditions certainly favour QRO operation but even with 400w it's been quite tough to fill my log the way I like to  Not to worry I am sure it will not be long before I am back up on 20m Late night DXing. In the meantime I'm battling it out QRV on 80m and 40m with a terrible high noise level. Boo 👎 

Catch you again soon. Keep a watch for Aurora and vhf band openings as this week's forecast looks interesting. The information is supplied from William Hepburn's DX Info centre.

Tropospheric Ducting Forecast

Best 73. 

Ham Radio In 2022

Greetings to one and all! I hope you had a good Christmas and you are having a great new year so far.

We are enjoying one or two decent DX openings when they occur but overall the bands have been average to poor at my end. 

However I have had a few good DX contacts on HF and worked down on the lower end of HF operating on the 40m and 80m bands. 

My mobile activity has been slightly better than from the shack, mainly due to the time I get on air at home. When mobile I'm hitting the long path DX to VK and ZL on my morning work run. The other day New Zealand was booming into the van as I pulled up into the college car park. Today I worked into Brazil, Iceland and Italy using 80- 100w from the FT-857 and Maldol HFC 20m antenna. As you already know that combo has been an excellent mobile station for me and is still effective 18 years later. Lol,  the durability and robust build of both antenna and transceiver has definitely been outstanding. I have made thousands of DX /M using the same setup in many vehicles and still hammering it out in 2022. Happy DX folks let's hope this latest solar cycle starts to play nice and provides a bit more propagation real soon.