2m FT8 QRP

At about 1335z, I switched to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. After about 8 minutes, my QRP was spotted by 7 stations. On RX 2 stations spotted.

Stations spotting me
to 1412z today

UPDATE 1412z: Spotted by 10 stations with the furthermost EI2FG (565km). On RX, 7 stations spotted so far. Scatter?

English country garden - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the village of Dalham, near Newmarket, which is filled with "chocolate box" thatched cottages.  

We do a delightful walk here.

10m QRP WSPR TX (500mW)

Most of the morning I have been on 10m WSPR TX. So far, 4 unique stations have spotted me, all in Europe, I presume by Es.  

There seems to be far more 10m WSPR than I was expecting this season. I assumed WSPR would be very quiet, whereas on better days I am spotted by around 60 unique stations.

UPDATE 2030z:  8 unique stations have spotted me today. All were n Europe.

6m FT8 RX with the V2000 omni

33 stations spotted so far today. No great DX. Most look like Es.

UPDATE 1205z:  38 stations spotted.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 3rd 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 13.  A=17 and K=2.

Newmarket Flowers - NOT amateur radio

Newmarket is the world capital of horseracing. They also have some great flower displays. 

Those in the photo are near the Guineas shopping centre.  The hanging baskets are usually good too.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Most of the morning, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF TX WSPR beacon. So far, I have been spotted by 9 unique stations in Europe.

UPDATE 1415z: 17 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR so far today. See table.

UPDATE 1606z:  28 unique spots of me on 10m WSPR today.

6m FT8 RX

 Shortly, I intend to go on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. On previous mornings, I have preceded with a few minutes on QRP TX (2.5W).

UPDATE 1102z:  My very brief TX period resulted in 5 spots. On RX, 141 stations spotted.

ICOM IC-9700 VHF/UHF transceiver

This is the "sister" of the IC-7300 with very similar ergonomics. It covers 2m, 70cm and 23cm. It is more expensive than the IC-7300.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/ic-9700 .

ICOM IC-7300

Over the last few years this SDR based transceiver from ICOM has led the field and become very popular. It is a 100W transceiver covering from 160m-4m (in Europe) with a built-in auto ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-7300 .