It looks like my tri-band Par antenna, which should be a good match on 10m, 20m and 40m is faulty. It is a good match on 10m, but only on 20m and 40m via the ATU. Tomorrow I shall try loading it up as a long wire tuned against ground via the ATU. Somewhere I have a Sandpiper Poliakov vertical that I should erect. As I recall this has a 9:1 unun so it matches well on most HF bands via an ATU.
Even soldering on a coax is hard work these days! Oh to be fit.
At the moment I am on 630m WSPR using the earth-electrode "antenna".
13 Jan 2016
Yet more wintertime Es on 10m WSPR
All afternoon, 10m WSPR has shown plenty of evidence of wintertime Es with lots of spots from middle Europe. December and January are the peak months in winter for Es although May, June and July are the best for Es.
Lincoln President Mk 2
This rig (mint) has barely been used since last winter. It works well too. The FT817 does all I need really. Because of my poor voice, I mostly use digital modes these days. So, I shall probably box the Lincoln and use it as a trade-in later.
Sunspots and 10m - Wed Jan 13th 2016
Solar flux is 106 today and sunspot number 29 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". More in hope than expectation, I have been on 10m and 6m WSPR since breakfast. Overnight I was on 630m WSPR but just the usual stations, again.
We are definitely on the slide down the solar cycle, but 10m becomes more interesting, not less, as the sun goes "off the boil". Es enlivens 10m for several months each year and the band still supports QRP SSB DX N-S even in the worst years. 10m is a great band if you like a challenge and WSPR in the declining years on 10m should help to winkle out those fleeting openings. Never give up on this great band, our biggest HF band by far with space for most modes.
UPDATE 1010z: No spots as yet on 10m or 6m WSPR although it is still very early.
We are definitely on the slide down the solar cycle, but 10m becomes more interesting, not less, as the sun goes "off the boil". Es enlivens 10m for several months each year and the band still supports QRP SSB DX N-S even in the worst years. 10m is a great band if you like a challenge and WSPR in the declining years on 10m should help to winkle out those fleeting openings. Never give up on this great band, our biggest HF band by far with space for most modes.
UPDATE 1010z: No spots as yet on 10m or 6m WSPR although it is still very early.
12 Jan 2016
UKAC - 70cms leg tonight
Tonight is the first 70cm leg of the RSGB's 70cm activity contest:
This contest takes place on Tue 12-Jan-2016 20:00 UTC
The rules for the contest can be found here
http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/
Regards,
CC
UPDATE 2154z: With just 1 station heard (G3YDY) and a high SWR on the antenna, I gave the contest a miss tonight. I went briefly on 10MHz WSPR and then back on 472kHz WSPR.
This contest takes place on Tue 12-Jan-2016 20:00 UTC
The rules for the contest can be found here
http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/
Regards,
CC
UPDATE 2154z: With just 1 station heard (G3YDY) and a high SWR on the antenna, I gave the contest a miss tonight. I went briefly on 10MHz WSPR and then back on 472kHz WSPR.
PI4CQ
Well, everyone in our hobby is a little mad I suppose!
See https://twitter.com/PI4CQ/status/686684040406142976?t=1&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&sig=619126d5851ba6cc8594d82b29d11956a49fe6dd&al=1&refsrc=email&iid=ad255aadf0224eeeb292bd8bcdf32522&autoactions=1452612574&uid=3032771439&nid=244+595
DXpedition to Scarborough Reef I think.
See https://twitter.com/PI4CQ/status/686684040406142976?t=1&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&sig=619126d5851ba6cc8594d82b29d11956a49fe6dd&al=1&refsrc=email&iid=ad255aadf0224eeeb292bd8bcdf32522&autoactions=1452612574&uid=3032771439&nid=244+595
DXpedition to Scarborough Reef I think.
20m JT9-1
After lots of CQs without QSOs I worked UA2FAK in reply to his CQ. I got a better report than I gave him, despite running 2.5W from the FT817. When I was calling CQ I see from PSK reporter that I was getting all over Europe from Scandinavia and Greece to Southern Spain.
I have now QSYed to 20m WSPR so I can monitor in the comfort of the lounge. Best DX so far on 20m WSPR is a spot from EA8/LA3JJ (2870km).
I have now QSYed to 20m WSPR so I can monitor in the comfort of the lounge. Best DX so far on 20m WSPR is a spot from EA8/LA3JJ (2870km).
Sunspots and 10m - Tues Jan 12th 2016
Solar flux is 109 today. Sunspot number is 41 (K=3). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" although, like yesterday, some wintertime Es may liven things up a bit.
10m and 6m WSPR
Overnight I was on 630m WSPR where I gave and received spots to/from the same few stations. At the moment I am in 10m and 6m WSPR but I hope to go on JT9-1 (probably on 20m) later in the day.
11 Jan 2016
10m and 630m WSPR
My 10m WSPR beacon is still running and I am also active on 630m (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX no preamp and earth-electrode "antenna"). At 2000z I shall QSY to 144.575MHz FM for the East Cambridgeshire net. As my voice is not good, I try not to speak too much and usually finish by 2030z. I shall go back to 630m WSPR after I finish on the net.
UPDATE 2255z: I see that David G0LRD (25km), who very kindly came over and erected my 2m Big-Wheel antenna,was spotting me on 630m. I shall remain on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight although I went QRT on 10m WSPR some hours ago.
UPDATE 2255z: I see that David G0LRD (25km), who very kindly came over and erected my 2m Big-Wheel antenna,was spotting me on 630m. I shall remain on 630m (472kHz) WSPR overnight although I went QRT on 10m WSPR some hours ago.
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