2m FT8 QRP (Thursday evening)

Stations spotting my 2m FT8
QRP Thursday evening

Last evening I was again on 2m FT8 with my 2.5W and big-wheel. 

9 stations in 5 countries spotted me and I had 1 QSO.  Yet again, I was copied in EI and GI.

Sunspots - Friday January 29th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=2.

Lower cost HF rigs

Steve G1KQH and I have been discussing lower cost HF rigs. At the moment it would seem this market is being left to the Chinese and kits like the Indian uBITX. 

Most modern rigs from the Japanese people like ICOM, Yaesu and Kenwood are expensive and there is a dearth of lower cost "entry level" products lacking many of the fancy features. Whilst some can afford expensive toys, many cannot. 

In a way I am surprised that the uBITX design has not been bought by one of the big 3, improved, made in China and sold at an entry level price. It seems this is a market ready to be exploited. If the Japanese don't grab it, the Chinese surely will.

17m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

 As 10m was not good, I QSYed to 17m FT8 QRP at about 1353z. I am running 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. 

At 17m, this is even smaller as a proportion of wavelength than 10m. Nonetheless, 11 spots on RX (including several from the USA) and 1 on TX.

UPDATE 1415z: 21 stations spotted so far on RX.

Yaesu FT991A

This Yaesu radio has been owned for about 18 months. Although used briefly for FT8, it is mainly used on 2m and 70cm SSB and 2m FM. It has only been used on low power. I was considering a trade-in for an IC-705, but have only been offered poor deals so far, so may stick with what I have.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ft991a

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

It is now 1137z. For about 5 minutes I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. So far, no spots today.

UPDATE 1345z: Still no spots

Flatford Mill - NOT amateur radio

This time in 2016, we visited Flatford Mill in Suffolk, UK. This was made famous by the painter John Constable. It is about 50 miles from here by car.

Last evening on 2m FT8 QRP

Last evening, I went on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.  In all, I was spotted by 8 stations in 3 countries with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). On RX, I spotted 3 stations in 2 countries.

Sunspots - Thursday January 28th 2021

Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 26. A=11 and K=1. 

10m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

 At 1507z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. So far, no spots.