Although I am as guilty as others for not using the band as often as I once did, I have created a webpage about 2m operation on my main G3XBM website. 2m is a good, but much under-used, band.
2 Mar 2021
472kHz (630m) WSPR RX overnight
Yesterday evening and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 9 stations were spotted with the furthermost being EA4GHB (1300km).
2m activity contest this evening
At 2000z this evening is the March leg of the 2m UKAC activity contest run by the RSGB. Although the contest runs for 2.5 hours I usually stop on for less than an hour with my 10W, poor voice and omni antenna.
It is not like most contests - it is fun and activity is usually very high on SSB. With conditions likely to be good tonight, you may want to give it a go.
Although I usually submit a score, you do not have to. Exchange is just report, serial number and QTH locator e.g. 59012, IO91FB.
In the end 11 QSOs made before I had to go QRT.
Dalham near Newmarket - NOT amateur radio
17m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
At the moment I am on 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. 17m FT8 is usually quite good and is often open when I go on during the day.
So far, just a single spot on RX of TA2UIL (2826km) and nobody spotting me on TX.
UPDATE 1116z: 28 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km) in Kenya. Still no spots of me on TX.
UPDATE 1140z: 41 stations spotted on RX and 2 stations have spotted me on TX with the furthermost being RA3BE (2437km).
UPDATE 1605z: 110 stations spotted on RX. 1 QSO and my QRP spotted by 2 stations.
UPDATE 1822z: 116 stations spotted on RX.
Sunspots - Tuesday March 2nd 2021
Solar flux is 71 and the sunspot number 0. A=26 and K=4. Pretty poor again.
1 Mar 2021
630m (472kHz) WSPR RX
This evening I am on 630m WSPR RX from about 2045z. So far this evening, 3 stations spotted with furthermost LA8AV (1012km). Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
Wicken walk - NOT amateur radio
The photo shows another view of our walk at Wicken last week. It was a delightful walk.
New webpage created - 10m FT8 QRP transceiver
I am keen to have a go at this, but fear my energy levels and fine motor skills may not be up to it these days. Years ago, this would have been trivial for me.
Imagine, working the whole world on a very simple rig, low cost, smaller than a pack of cards that you have built yourself!
I just hope QRPguys take this further and do a kit. It would be so popular that someone has to do it.
QSY to 17m FT8 QRP (Monday)
As 15m seemed pretty quiet here, I have QSYed to 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna. It is now 1358z. So far, just 2 stations spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me on QRP TX yet.
UPDATE 1445z: 9 stations spotted on RX with furthermost E21EIC (9481km) in Thailand. Nobody has yet spotted me on QRP 17m FT8 TX.
UPDATE 1852z: 40 stations spotted.
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