15m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the tiny indoor loop. 27 stations already spotted after just a few minutes with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).

UPDATE 1212z: 219 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1520z:  Recently, I decided to go on QRP TX on 15m FT8. So far 7 stations have spotted me. 437 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop.

Stations spotting me

UPDATE 1850z: 36 spots of me and 2 QSOs - amazing for such a tiny indoor loop and true QRP (see photo of the spots of me an hour ago). 651 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX today.

Stations spotted here 
today on 15m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1926z:  662 stations in 5 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX today.

Dayton 2021 cancelled

My friend Steve G1KQH has forwarded me an announcement that the Dayton Hamvention, perhaps the biggest ham gathering in the world, has been cancelled for 2021. This is obviously as a result of fears over Covid-19. I guess we all feared this. They hope to hold it again next year. 

This is the place where many manufacturers announce new products.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 12th 2021

 Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0 . A=14 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Since late Monday afternoon I was on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. All the usual stations were spotted.  DL6YBF (410km) was the furthermost on RX with EI2FG (565km) my furthermost on 2.5W TX. In all, 15 stations spotted me. At 2130z, I went QRT.

Yaesu FTDX10

Yaesu has just released its new hybrid 100W SDR transceiver the FTDX10. It is based on the FTDX101. 

I wonder if Yaesu is considering an SDR QRP rig to replace the FT817/818 and to compete with the IC-705? 

The new radio does not cover 2m and 70cm, but does have an auto ATU, although I expect the range is limited. It also includes 4m TX.  It is a fair bit more expensive than the IC-705.

At the moment I am torn. As a QRP fan I have owned 2 FT817s and several other Yaesu products. They have all been reliable. The standard Yaesu warranty is 3 years. 

Although I stand to be corrected, I do not think the Yaesu radio has the GPS and Bluetooth features that the IC-705 has. At the moment, the IC-705 is still better in my view.

15m FT8 (Monday)

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX. At the moment 2 Europeans showing on 15m FT8 RX, although an early spot was a V51 on my screen, but not PSKreporter. Not sure why this did not appear. Did my internet disappear for a short time?

Stations spotted
to 1306z

UPDATE 1306z:  50 stations in 4 continents spotted on 15m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE1458z:  Although I am TX too (2.5W to the indoor loop) nobody has yet spotted me. 54 stations so far spotted on RX in 5 continents.

Sunspots - Monday January 11th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Just before 1700z, I QSYed from 10m to 2m FT8 QRP. I am running 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.  Already I have spotted 2 stations and my QRP has been spotted by 9 stations.

Stations spotting my
2.5W 2m FT8 this evening 

UPDATE 2300z: QRT. 

Life - NOT amateur radio

Some days ago I mentioned the estimates for the number of planets in the visible universe. The numbers are staggering. Assuming just a very small number of these have intelligent life, that still leaves a huge number. 

I have no idea how many humans have existed over time, but I am estimating 10,000,000,000.  To be a conscious being alive today on Earth is an incredible thing. Just think, if just one of our ancestors had not had children then we would not be here. Amazing.

No doubt in the years to come our understanding of the universe will change dramatically, but one could be forgiven for thinking each of us is unimportant, yet the opposite seems to be true. Each of us seems important and our love and kindness seem to matter.

No, life and consciousness are deep mysteries. Most religions try to answer these issues, but only hint. All seem too small.

10m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

Since about 1140z, I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the indoor loop. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1644z:  No spots today on 10m FT8. 

UPDATE 1715z: Just a single local QSO all day.