Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity levels on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite.

Usually I give a warning that this is very unscientific. I randomly look at the narrowband transponder via the webSDR at Goonhilly in Cornwall. When I looked midweek activity was low.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

WISPY 10m WSPR RX

In 2012 I designed a very simple RX for 10m WSPR as shown in the photo and circuit. It used low cost 14.060MHz crystals and a Polyakov mixer. It worked well. Even now there's WSPR on 10m, although FT8 is more popular.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 26th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0.  A=4 and K=2.

Anglesey Abbey earlier - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Anglesey Abbey earlier in the week.

10m FT8

Since mid morning I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 4W.

UPDATE 1130z :  So far, 4 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2120z:  QRT. 6 Europeans spotted me today.

Where I come from in 1952 - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon in 1952. Our house is visible.

Yesterday on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna

Quite a quiet day yesterday on 2m FT8 with 21 spots of me with the best DX being a spot by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 25th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=1.

More where I come from - NOT amateur radio

These photos show where I come from in South Devon.

10m WSPR TX beacon

Late morning I turned on my 10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW to the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far (it is now 1425z) 3 different stations have spotted me.