X108 20W transceiver

G1KQH informs me this Chinese transceiver is available for an introductory prce of £399.99. Personally I think this is MORE than I would expect. To me it still looks like a "back shed" design. I notice this supplier has sold out.

See http://www.sinotel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=183&zenid=oi6qsdgfla6p73q0c5vhs40kj3 .

This is an introductory price for the basic version without TCXO and noise blanker. The FT817ND is now available for well below £500 with cash back offers and, to my mind, is a well proven MF-UHF design.

The X108 claims " minimalist industrial design". Read NO industrial design in my book! Still waiting for the Chinese "killer" radio to out-smart the Japanese. This, in my opinion, is not it.

CX2ABP (11127km ) - 10m WSPR

It had to happen sometime today.  CX2ABP (5W) was spotted on 10m WSPR today at 1326z. I suspect there will be more spots later. This is N-S F2 propagation.

T61AA (6940km) - 10m WSPR

Several spots of T61AA on 10m WSPR today (Ross was actually in Mogadishu, Africa and not Afghanistan but is using the same callsign - very confusing!). I assume it is F2 propagation but it could be multi-hop Es I suppose. No South Americans copied (or copying me) as yet.

EA6GF - why 50W?

For some reason EA6GF is using 10m WSPR and running 50W. This is FAR too much power for this beaconing mode.  I hope he soon realises that WSPR stand for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporting" and just a few watts is more than enough.

It rather goes against the grain to run such high power. As an example FR1GZ was good copy earlier running 5W. People frequently run just uWs.

Turn the power down please OM EA6GF!! Nothing is proved using such high power in this mode - save your power bill and have more fun!

Best man coming to stay

Every year our best man (Pete) comes down from The Wirral to stay with us for a few days. He enjoys the bookshops in Cambridge. My wife and I will have been married 43 years on July 24th having got married in 1971. Pete is a perfect guest: he mucks in and helps. Like all good friends, we just pick up where we left off and it seems like a few days since he was last with us. He last came in November when I was still in hospital. I was so ill then I cannot remember him visiting me.

Pete was a deputy headmaster and a historian. He is very good company.

10m - WSPR Es and F2 this morning

After another night with just GDX on 6m WSPR I QSYed down to 10m this morning. There is widespread Es (both  ways) on 10m (I , SM, EA6, LB9 etc. but also FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted by F2 propagation at 0952z,1128z and 1144z..

Sunspot count is a high 179 with blackouts with "normal" 20-30MHz propagation forecast. It is clearly good enough for N-S F2 propagation - I expect S.America will be within reach later.

6m - CN8LI pipe again

CN8LI (2113km) WSPR spots of my 1W ERP today

The 6m "pipe" to Morocco seems to be open again this evening with plenty of good propagation both ways.  Above are just the spots of my 1W ERP signal in Morocco to 1922z.  Plenty in the other direction too.

UPDATE 2030z:  Now 8 reports this evening from CN8LI.

UPDATE 2040z:  In addition to the Es today, there is plenty of GDX around.

Spots by me of CN8LI this evening (so far) - 10 spots!

6m - 4X1RF - even more WSPR spots!

So far today, up to 1718z, 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my 1W ERP no less than 8 times today. He has spotted me on many other days already - this is no "sporadic" reception: it happens time and time again.  I find it quite remarkable that my QRP is so well, and consistently, being reported on a VHF band from such a distance. The experts tell me it is Es, but how many hops?

 

4X1RF 6m spots today to 1718z.

6m - good Es day

On and off today there has been Es to/from many parts of Europe on 6m. This morning (apart from 4X1RF - Asia, assumed to be Es?) the band was widely open to Scandinavia and Italy. Since lunch, German and Russian stations have also spotted my 1W ERP.  In all, a good day on 6m Es so far. I am still waiting for some "super DX" on WSPR i.e.transatlantic.

6m F2 this autumn?

Speculating about the chances of any F2 openings on 6m this autumn. I guess the chances are slim as the solar activity is now on a downwards path, although those lucky enough to be nearer to equator could catch some TEP.  I think it will be very unlikely that we in the UK will catch any. CN8 to FR, VK to JA etc maybe.

Sunspot count today is 180 (high) with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal".

See http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=EU&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N .