Gear turned on at 0853z. No spots.
UPDATE 1326z: Just spots by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
UPDATE 1800z: 3 stations have spotted me on 8m QRP FT8. Most Es openings this year seem to be towards Iberia.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
Gear turned on at 0853z. No spots.
UPDATE 1326z: Just spots by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
UPDATE 1800z: 3 stations have spotted me on 8m QRP FT8. Most Es openings this year seem to be towards Iberia.
My W5OLF beacon was turned on at 0853z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1148z: 30 stations have spotted me so far today. Although I know some Es signals can be strong, some reports are amazingly strong. Later this week I might try the FT817ND with an attenuator right on the output to see who still copies me at low miliwatts. I could also do this on 8m WSPR.
UPDATE 1329z: 33 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1810z: 36 stations have spotted me today with the furthermost PT2FHC (8860km) in Brazil.
Early indications are that European Es is not as good as yesterday, but this can rapidly change. My current plans are 10m 500mW WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
Last evening was the June 2023 2m activity contest (UKAC).
Conditions were well up, but I found it very hard work with my 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. I guess this is a combination of several factors. Firstly, my low ERP is obviously a handicap with stronger signals being copied over me. Secondly, I have a very poor voice, not cut out to "outshout" others. Thirdly, I have no compressor, so my signal lacks punch.
In the end 6 stations were worked before I gave up. These days, I find FT8 easier as I do not need to "outshout" other stations. To be honest, I am no longer attracted to VHF/UHF voice contests.
This is the biggest gathering in Europe for radio amateurs. It attracts amateurs from a wide range of countries. I still keep hoping Yaesu will announce a new QRP SDR radio to replace the FT817. I suspect they will not, alas. In my view they have "missed the boat"....yet again. Personally, I fear Yaesu will leave the amateur radio market shortly. They could well be joined by others.
"Times, they are a changing".
This has been on before, but I make no apology as I find it so good.
This comes free by email every day and is a digest of news from across the world's press. It usually takes about 5 minutes to read and seems pretty unbiased. If you do not want to buy a newspaper or do not have time to read one, I strongly recommend it.
Most weeks we go about 12 miles on the bus into Cambridge. As we are old (!) we have free bus pass, so the journey is totally free. It is also as fast as taking our car. It is a pleasurable ride too.
Like most men, I hate clothes shopping. Instead I had a coffee whilst my wife did the spending!
Once again I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. It is now 0820z and, so far, 20 stations spotted. Some are F2 and some Es. A very promising start.
UPDATE 1449z: 52 unique stations have spotted my 500mW today so far. Pretty encouraging.
My QMX+ has been on since about 1035z. So far, 5 English stations have spotted me. The QMX+ initialised after a few minutes! UPDATE 1145z:...