2m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 For a change, I am on 2m FT8 with 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1537z:  So far, spotted by 10 English stations. Furthest is G7RAU (460km) in Cornwall.

2m Es - missed!

 Apparently there was a good Es opening on 2m yesterday, which I missed.

2m 3W FT8 (Monday)

Today, I decided to try 2m 3W FT8 instead of 6m in the hope of some Es.

UPDATE 1043z:   3 Eire, English and Welsh stations have spotted me with the best EI2FG (563km). 5 English stations have been spotted here. EI2FG has spotted me several times this morning - scatter?

UPDATE 1425z:  In the last hour I reduced the power still further to 2W FT8 to the big-wheel omni antenna. Despite this, I am still being spotted in Eire and N.Ireland. No sign of Es here today on 2m FT8.

UPDATE 1802z:  Now QRT - thunder!! 20 stations spotted my 2m QRP FT8 today. See map.

2m activity contest (UKAC) last Tuesday

Nearly forgot to submit my (poor!!) score. 

4 stations worked in 30 minutes with 10W, a big-wheel omni and a poor voice! 

All good fun, but FT8 is much easier for me.

2m FT8 activity contest last evening

On Tuesday evening I went on the 2m activity contest (UKAC) arranged by the RSGB using 10W to the big wheel omni antenna. 

Last night was the 2m FT8 activity contest. Running just 5W it was much easier! Again I was only on for a very short while (less than 30 minutes). The map shows the stations that spotted me.

2m FT8 yesterday

For about 30 minutes, as usual, I went on the 2m activity contest.  I worked 4 stations with my 10W, poor voice and big-wheel omni antenna. 

Just before finishing, just for fun, I put out a call with 5W 2m FT8. Immediately I was spotted by PA2M (312km). 

It is so much easier on FT8. In all my years with 10W in the 2m activity contest, I don't think I have worked a single station in mainland Europe.  I think the main issues are my low ERP, my short time active and my poor voice.

2m activity contest

Running 10W to a big-wheel omni antenna I worked a couple of stations at decent distances. Because of my poor voice I only stayed on for under 30 minutes, as usual, this evening .

2m activity contest

Last night was the 2m UKAC (activity) contest. As usual, I was running 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna and I could only stay on for about 30 minutes because of my poor voice. 

In all, 5 stations were worked with some at quite decent range. See map.

2m operation

Last evening was the activity contest on 2m.  Having worked a couple of stations I stopped because of my poor voice and low ERP (10W pep to the big-wheel omni).

For a very short time I decided to switch to FT8. With just a few TX bursts I was copied internationally.  See map.

I think ERP helps on 2m SSB.

2m activity contest (December)

Although I cannot stop on long because of my poor voice, I try to come on the 2m UKAC sessions with my 10W SSB to the big-wheel omni antenna. I only worked a couple of stations in the short time I was on, although I am sure many more would have been worked had I stopped on longer.

2m FT8 activity contest UKAC (Wednesday)

This is a contest I do not submit an entry for. I gave a few (very few!) CQ calls and was copied in southern Eire. There is no doubt there is a lots of activity.

Stations that spotted my 2m 10W FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2102z:  Now QRT. Worked 4 stations in the 2m FT8 UKAC contest.

2m ultra QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Although at 3.2mW I can see my 2m FT8  signal at the grabber at G0LRD, at 26km I cannot see myself on PSKreporter. I shall increase my power until I am I decoded.

UPDATE 1815z:  Increased to 6.4mW. No decode.

UPDATE 1829z: Increased to 12mW. Decode appeared on PSKreporter (just).

UPDATE 1837z:  Increased to 25mW. Decoding, but not reliably. I think both G0LRD and I have big-wheel omni antennas.

UPDATE 1900z: Increased power to  35mW. No decodes this time.

UPDATE 1917z:  Increased power to  45mW. No decodes.The other variable is S/N at the RX.  What I am looking for is what level I need to get reliable and repeatable decodes.

UPDATE 1928z: Increased power to 55mW. It would appear that I am being defeated by local noise. No decodes.

UPDATE  1940z: Increased power to 60mW. No decodes.

UPDATE 1958z:   Increased power to 65mW. 2 people now spotting me.

UPDATE 2117z:  Increased power to 100mW. A surprise QSO with M0WDN at 100mW with a 15dB attenuator in the input of the RX!! The S/N at G0LRD seems to vary widely suggesting he was pointing a beam in a different direction. I have now gone QRT. 

2m 5W FT8 (Friday)

At about 1715z, I QSYed tp 2m FT8 with 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.  

So far 12 stations have spotted me with the furthest EI2FG (565km). 

I am convinced this is some kind of scatter.

Stations spotting my 5W
FT8 to the omni

UPDATE 1841z:  Since about 1835z I have been vertically polarised with my V2000 vertical omni. This is fed with CB RG58 coax, so I would guess the ERP is similar. It seems to make little difference which rather supports the scatter theory.

UPDATE 2125z:  22 stations in 6 countries spotted my 5W FT8 this evening. See map. Now QRT.

2m 10mW FT8 (Tuesday)

After going QRT on 10m I went to 2m 10mW FT8  using to big-wheel omni antenna. Although barely visible on the grabber at G0LRD (25km) the other side of Cambridge, it was decoded.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

Every month, despite my poor voice I go on the 2m and 70cm activity contests (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. It may be me, but I am sense there are fewer people taking part. 

Perhaps it is me, but maybe the higher local noise floors in urban areas are making it harder for QRP stations. Certainly, I generally work fewer 2m stations, whereas I don't have the same problem on 70cm. in fact I usually work more now on 70cm SSB!

Where I was spotted with 2m 10W SSB to the big-wheel omni antenna

On FT8 with half the power I am regularly spotted on 2m in GI and EI at well over 400km. It seems to me that on 2m FT8 it is far easier.

2m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 My 2m FT8 gear was turned on at about 1820z.

UPDATE 1857z: So far, 11 spots of me with furthest GI6ATZ (479km).

UPDATE 1922z:  QRT.

2m and 70cm antenna

Many years ago a local amateur G0LRD very kindly erected my big-wheel omni antenna which I use on 70cm SSB/FT8 and 2m SSB/FT8. Although a 2m antenna it seems to work really well on 70cm although I have no idea about polar plot on 70cm,

The big-wheel is a horizontally polarised antenna with some gain. It is an array of half-waves, suitably matched.

It is ideal for this and regularly gets a long way even with my QRP.

2m 4W FT8 (Wednesday)

Earlier this morning I went on 2m FT8 very briefly. I must have been on for about 15 minutes. In all, I was spotted by 19 stations in 5 countries with the furthest GI6ATZ (491km).

2m FT8 (Thursday)

 Very briefly, I tried 2m FT8 in desperation to see why the IC705 was not working on FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0915z:  Spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries in just a few minutes.

2m FT8 yesterday evening

Stations spotted on
2m FT8 with
the big-wheel yesterday

Yesterday evening was the 2m FT8 activity contest. 

I worked a couple of stations with my 5W and big-wheel omni antenna. 

In all 123 stations were spotted. I was mostly on RX. 

I am sure some sort of scatter is involved.