It may be old age or an artefact of my stroke in 2013.
These days I seem to be exhausted after doing very little. People who do not know me probably think I am just lazy, whereas at times I am totally exhausted. A particular time is after breakfast (like now) when I really really need a quiet time.
At one time I was a very active person whereas these days I absolutely need breaks.
Maybe I am paranoid over the risk from nearby storms. Everything has been disconnected (PC, PSU, rigs, antennas) to avoid the risk of nearby voltage surges and strikes. If I miss something, does it matter? No.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .
Just before I disconnected everything because of the storm risk there was an Es opening on 2m FT8 with LZ2PI (2107km) in Bulgaria spotted on RX using the omni antenna. At -12dB S/N this station was strong.
Mid afternoon I went on 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni. 12 stations spotted me on TX with the furthermost G4KUX (302km) and I spotted 15 stations on RX with the furthermost DC0KK (589km). I have since gone QRT because of the storm risk.
Last year, this developed a fault.
I strung an end-fed wire using the Par transformer out of the shack window. The VSWR looked low, so I assume this Par transformer is fine. At some point I shall re-erect this tri-band antenna, but with new coax. Either there was moisture in the coax or the plug had failed.
In the past I have been spotted all over the planet with this antenna and 500mW WSPR on 10m. It is good for 35W, although my absolute maximum is 10W and often much lower. With WSPR and FT8 it is far lower.
It is now 0759z. A few minutes ago I turned on 6m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the V2000 vertical omni. So far just G4IFX calling CQ DX, no doubt hoping for the Far East.
Just now I realised I was looking at the 12 hour view on PSKreporter maps. I am now looking just at today. So far just 2 Gs spotted (0807z).
UPDATE 1112z: 18 stations spotted. No Es evident here.
UPDATE 1237z: 26 stations spotted including the furthermost HI3T (7001km) in the Caribbean. With no Es evident here, I am more convinced than ever that some of these long distance paths are not Es, but some other E layer propagation. I am sure with a better antenna, higher up, I would copy far more, especially as the V2000 being faulty.
My 17m QRP FT8 (about 4W) was turned on at about 1618z. Within a few minutes, I was spotted by 33 stations, See map.
