15 Jan 2023

Later today (Sunday)

A listener in Florida, USA got some bursts around 2000 Hz audio offset (probably of an FT8 transmission on 40.680 MHz) yesterday. He has copied me in the past and I usually send around this offset when on 8m FT8. So I shall definitely try 8m FT8 later, even though only QRP.

If on 8m, I shall also go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with my beacon.

At the moment, I cannot get to the shack as I have to walk through another bedroom first, and my 11 year old granddaughter is in there ....asleep!

Burwell church - NOT amateur radio

Most of our local church dates from the 1400s, although parts of the tower are Saxon.

This photo was taken a few days ago in dull January. There are a few signs of new life, but things will be much better in a few weeks when the daffodils are in flower.

Our grandson rings the bells here when in Burwell. 

Sunspots - Sunday January 15th 2023

Solar flux is 228 and the SSN 170. A=11 and K=4.

14 Jan 2023

Shetland storm - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was posted recently by a friend on 365project. It shows a storm on the Shetland Isles.

QDX - soon

Around Christmas I ordered a QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs. Mine covers 10m and was ordered ready built. When ordered I was told the wait was about a month. Most days I check where I am on the list.  When I started, I was way down the list. At this rate I should get mine in February.

Exhaustion - NOT amateur radio

There is world of difference (I have found out the hard way) between tiredness and exhaustion. With tiredness, you feel you need sleep to feel better. With exhaustion, you feel totally drained even though you may have had a good sleep. This may just be old age or a result of my 2013 stroke. I tend to feel exhausted now far more than I did.

If someone, e.g. with MS, tells you they feel exhausted, they are not just tired; they are EXHAUSTED.

Triffid? - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year (dull January) we get great pleasure seeing amaryllis grow from bulbs to huge plants with splendid flowers.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 I have been on 2.5W FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial for about an hour. No spots.

UPDATE 1427z:   Just G0HVQ (181km)  has spotted me today on 8m FT8.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. So far today (it is now 1125z) , 4 unique stations have spotted me. There is some evidence of winter Es. 

UPDATE 1145z:  Still the same 4 stations spotting me.

Stations spotting me today

UPDATE 1529z:
  16 unique stations spotting me today on 10m QRP WSPR TX  (see table).

Plans for today (Saturday)

Later this morning I expect to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX and 8m QRP FT8. This is still the mid winter Es season so there is a chance of being copied in Europe on 8m FT8 despite the low power.