10m WSPR TX

After a very disappointing day yesterday ( no spots) I have just turned on my 500mW WSPR TX beacon using the tiny indoor loop antenna.

UPDATE 1055z:  Just G4KPX (14km) spotting me currently.

6m FT8

At about 0600z my 10W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical was turned on. So far today just 2 G spots.

UPDATE 0845z:  54 spots of me so far, mostly EUs via Es.

UPDATE 1456z: 137 spots of me and a few QSOs so far. On RX 100 stations spotted so far. Best DX is an OD5. on both TX and RX.

Sunspots - Thursday June 4th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 12.  A=4 and K=1.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Once again I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop. No spots of me yet today.

UPDATE 1111z:  Still no spots so far today.

6m FT8

Usually I go on 6m FT8 to have QSOs. Sometimes I just want to TX to find out on PSKreporter where my 10W is being copied. Calling CQ works, but confuses people who call me. Is there a way to TX and appear on PSKreporter that makes it clear to others that I am sometimes not after QSOs?

UPDATE 1113z:  A few Es spots so far today on TX. On RX, very few Es spots so far today.

UPDATE 1355z: On occasions, I want to just look on PSKreporter to see where I have been spotted, but without calling CQ, which can cause confusion. So far, I have not found a way unless I put in a fictitious callsign. Evertyhing I have tried so far does not appear on PSKreporter. Any suggestions?

OFCOM updates

OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly for June. This has the statistics for June. See their website for more information.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=1.

Short range devices (SRDs)

I am very ignorant of the rules in the UK and EU around SRDs. OFCOM has announced making bands at 800 and 900MHz license free. I am not sure what other bands are available for SRDs or whether type approvals are needed or the ERP limits. Can these bands be available to radio amateurs for modes like WSPR or FT8? We might have a legal way to access other parts of the spectrum.

6m FT8

About an hour ago, I turned on 6m FT8 with my usual 10W and the V2000 vertical.  It is now 0800z. So far, 223 stations have copied me. On 6m FT8 RX 114 stations spotted.

Yesterday I was spotted in the mainland USA on 6m FT8 by K4MVL (4360 miles).

Spots of my 10W
to 1730z today

UPDATE 1737z: So far today 548 stations have spotted me on 6m FT8 TX. Most were EU stations by Es with a small number of Africans and near Asia.

10m WSPR TX

As yesterday, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW and the indoor loop. Quite a few spots already. It is now 0859z.