Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 12. A=4 and K=1.
4 Apr 2021
3 Apr 2021
Kings Parade, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
King's Parade, Cambridge, UK |
17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
After a break of a few days, I am again on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop antenna on the shack windowsill. It is now 1455z. So far, in about 10 minutes, 18 stations have been spotted on RX and my QRP has been copied by nobody yet on TX.
UPDATE 1542z: So far, 30 stations have been spotted on RX on 5 continents and nobody has spotted me on TX yet today.
UPDATE 1800z: 43 stations spotted on RX and nobody spotted my QRP on TX. QRT soon.
What CAN I still do?
Since my 2013 stroke I have been giddy all my waking time, had a very poor voice and get exhausted very quickly.
All the time I am conscious of all the things I used to be able to do without effort that I can no longer do. Some of these things may still be as a result of my stroke, whereas others may just be because I am getting older.
Maybe I need to change the way I think and focus on all the things I can do rather than the things I cannot.
For example:
- I still manage 2 weekly 2m FM nets.
- I still manage the 2m and 70cm UKAC activity contests each month.
- FT8 and WSPR operation is fine.
- Cutting the grass is still possible.
- Getting breakfast ready is still possible.
- Gardening for short periods is still possible.
- Washing the dishes is still possible.
- Ironing is still possible.
- etc...
10FT8R - 10m FT8 RX
The photo show the original WISPY RX.
UPDATE 1506z: A start has been made. Some of the "meSQUARES" pads have been stuck down. I am thinking that "little and often" is my best approach. Years ago I would have done the lot in one go! See http://www.qrpme.com/?p=product&id=MeSl
IC-705 - getting to know you
First impressions are this is some radio. It can do so much!!
Wild walk - NOT amateur radio
Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
We live not far from Cambridge. At the moment there are no foreign visitors. It is still a beautiful place.
2 Apr 2021
5MHz (60m) band
Despite a small slot being allocated to the amateur service at a WRC meeting many years ago, this slot is not universally available. As an example, it is not allocated in the UK. Other 5MHz allocations with higher power are available at 5MHz in the UK.
As a dedicated QRP man, and speaking personally, I would trade the bitty allocations for a smaller, contiguous band with lower power. I have only been on the band with WSPR, so am not well qualified to comment!