500uW 10m WSPR TX tests (Sunday)

 Yet again, my 10m WSPR TX beacon is on with the PA off.  According to my TinySA spectrum analyser the power out is about 500uW. No spots. As the power from the beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W, it will report this even when the output is 30dB lower.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 6m FT8 gear (2.5W to a V2000 vertical omni) was turned on about 0940z. So far, absolutely nothing on RX or TX. I would have expected some activity on a Sunday morning if only a few local Gs. I checked that everything was correct: timing, SWR, frequency, antenna, co-ax,  WSJT-X restarted etc.   As far as I can tell, all is fine.

Sunspots - Sunday November 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 39. A=3 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 10mW ERP was turned on just before 1900z. Already several spots of me at 1910z.

UPDATE 1930z: According to PSK Reporter, I am currently the only UK station on 630m WSPR TX! 4 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 2010z:  6 stations have spotted me this evening.

Dark evenings - NOT amateur radio

It suddenly seems to be dark early. Only a few months ago it was much lighter at this time. 

Here we are at 1625z with the curtains drawn in "winter mode". In a few weeks it will stop getting darker and gradually lighter, although it is the end of January before we really notice things changing. 

I like the seasons. There is something good about them all.

70cm QRP FT8 (Saturday)

At about 1610z I QSYed to 70cm FT8 with my 2.5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. No spots.

UPDATE 1914z:  No spots, so have QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

As I am on 2m FT8, I can use my 10m WSPR TX beacon. 

UPDATE 1508z:   So far, I have been spotted by 28 stations on 10m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE 1513z: I have turned off the PA in my beacon. Even though it will report as 0.5W (programmed in), the actual output is 0.5mW (500uW).

UPDATE 1600z:  No spots since turning PA off.

2m 2.5W FT8

My 2.5W FT8 (using the big-wheel omni antenna) is now on 2m 144.174 MHz. So far 11 stations have spotted me. 

Stations spotting me at 1455z

G0LRD has a monitor (see attached). This is about 25km away and is a good check that things are working and the signal is clean.

G0LRD's monitor

UPDATE 1422z: 19 stations in 5 countries have spotted my QRP signal on 2m FT8 today with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km). See map. This is too easy too!

UPDATE 1528z: Interesting that I am only spotting 5 UK stations. My RX is working properly, so this suggests low activity.

New challenge needed

HF bands present no real challenge. Recent microwatt tests on 10m WSPR have been fun, but I need a new challenge. 

My 2.5W 8m FT8 signal has been received in most of the places I had hoped for, and this is not likely to change until there are a few new countries on the band. At the moment I am inclined to ask for a new 8m permit from April 2024 - April 2025 even though I have to pay to do research, which I find utterly stupid!

Later today, I may QSY to a VHF band FT8 as this is "different" and not something I have tried for a while.

8m going "off the boil"?

In recent days, 8m seems to have lost its attraction a bit. 

The FCC does not want to renew access to the band to USA stations and F2 has probably peaked for now. The main Es season in the northern hemisphere is long over and even 6m has been good for F2 DX.  At the moment, I have moved down to 10m FT8, although this is really no challenge.

We could definitely do with more countries legally TXing on the 8m band.  Even just CW, FT8 and WSPR only at low power 40.680 - 40.685 MHz would be a start. As this would be within the ISM band I cannot see this should be a problem.