6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna has been on since about 1030z.  So far, 8 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1425z: 10 stations have spotted me so far and 3 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1601z: 12 stations have spotted me today.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the vertical V2000 omni antenna is on. At 1040z, spotted by 7 English stations. No spots on RX yet.

UPDATE 1622z: 13 stations have spotted me with the furthermost EA6VQ (1419km). 7 stations (all England) spotted on RX. No international DX on RX. The map shows the stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on. So far spots from 6 English stations (see map).

UPDATE 1840z: 14 stations spotted me today and 3 stations in South Africa were spotted here with the furthermost ZS6NJ (9115km). This is the first time I have spotted South Africans on 6m since the 1980s I think.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni was turned on at about 1340z. So far, just one UK spot received.

UPDATE  1428z:  6 English stations have spotted me today so far.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on. I was surprised to be called by 7S2A. We were unable to complete the QSO as he faded out.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 A few moments ago (at about 1554z) my QRP 6m FT8 (2.5W and a V2000 vertical omni) was turned on. So far (at 1605z) spotted by just 1 G.

UPDATE  1738z:  Spotted by 4 Gs.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

This morning, I am on QRP 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. One QSO with G0PQO (90km).

UPDATE 1132z:   9 English stations have spotted me this morning.

UPDATE 1444z:   13 English stations have spotted me. No DX noticed here today.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on 6m FT8 for a couple of hours. So far, 4 spots of me by English stations.

UPDATE 1725z:  Still just 4 stations spotting me. QSYing to 630m QRP WSPR soon.

70cm FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

This evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. The map shows the stations spotted by 2036z. On TX (2.5W), I worked one local and was called by another station but we were unable to complete. This is with a 2m big-wheel omni antenna and no beams.

As far as I know, conditions are normal. It amazes me how well 70cm FT8 works.

6m 2.5W FT8 (Monday)

My 6m 2.5W FT8  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since lunchtime. So far, 8 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Yet again, I am on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, 5 G stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1142z: 10 G and GW stations have spotted me. No DX from continental Europe.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was tuned on. So far, 4 Gs have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1255z:   DX stations are spotting my QRP with spots from Germany (near Hamburg) and the Netherlands. 9 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1526z:  13 stations have spotted me. One QSO attempted and successful.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is turned on. After about an hour 2 stations have spotted me on FT8.

UPDATE 1725z:  18 stations have spotted me (see map) with the furthermost DF6HT (806km).

2m FT8 UKAC activity contest

 At 1900z, the RSGB 2m FT8 activity contest is being held. Already, there is a contest on in Europe, so the 2m FT8 segment is already busy.

UPDATE 2042z:  Over 50 stations in 6 countries spotted and several QSOs made.

UPDATE 2142z: 73 stations spotted as the map shows. I am pretty sure conditions were not "up" and this is normal with FT8. Remember, the antenna is just a big-wheel omni, with no beams!

6m QRP FT8 ( Wednesday)

I QSYed to 6m FT8 from 2m using 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 antenna. 8 stations have spotted me at 1136z. 

UPDATE 1436z:  11 UK stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8.

2m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

As my 10m beacon is sending 500uW, my 2m big-wheel, FT817ND and PC are free, so I am on 2m QRP FT8 with 2.5W.  G0LRD has a very useful on line grabber so I can see if my signal is clean.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the vertical V2000 antenna was turned on about 1300z. So far, just UK spots of me.

UPDATE 1948z:  Some spots from Portugal of my 2.5W QRP 6m FT8 today.

70cm FT8 (Monday)

As 8m (2.5W FT8) and 10m (500uW WSPR) resulted in no spots today, I am trying my luck with 2.5W 70cm FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna. After about 10 minutes, no spots.

Outside of contests, I have no idea of activity levels. I might be better the 2m horizontal omni antenna.I shall swap antennas at 1700z.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday) - not today

At one point I had thoughts of going on 8m QRP FT8 today, but I have decided against this. Borat S50B has antenna issues, so that is one keen person not around. Conditions do not seem to be exceptional, which is probably necessary for me to be spotted "across the pond".  So, I shall stick with 6m FT8 at 2.5W and 500uW 10m WSPR. 6m has more FT8 monitors and this helps.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 My 6m FT8 QRP (2.5W to a vertical omni V2000 antenna) is on.  So far just a spot by M1ABK (70km).

UPDATE 1140z:  3 stations have spotted me with the furthermost SM7KOJ (935km).

UPDATE 1405z:  11 stations have spotted my QRP (better than I was expecting), but I  am unsure of the propagation. I am sure it is not F2 backscatter, so it is possibly aircraft scatter or patches of Es. 

UPDATE  1445z: No further stations spotting me, suggesting the propagation is some short-lived mechanism such as aircraft or Es that quickly went.

UPDATE 1701z:  12 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 today.