10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

Most of the morning I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. So far today my TX has been spotted by 6 unique stations, some many times.

UPDATE 1248z:  So far today, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by 9 unique stations.

UPDATE 2023z: 10 stations have spotted me today.  All in Europe. QRT soon.

Runner beans - NOT amateur radio

For the first time, this year I have grown runner beans. 

To my surprise, they were very successful. The photo shows the first crop. Next year I shall grow more. 

Sunspots - Wednesday August 4th 2021

 Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 13.  A=10 and K=1. 

160m FT8 QRP

I am now on 160m FT8 RX after a few CQs with 2.5W. My "antenna" is the earth-electrode in the ground. Unsurprisingly, seeing it is still daylight, no spots on RX or TX. I shall leave it on RX until after dark to see what I spot.

UPDATE 1820z:  The first station in Europe has been spotted - DL8LAS (702km) near Kiel.

Stations spotted on 160m
FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2032z:  Plenty of EU stations being spotted now: 22 stations spotted so far this evening. See map.

2m activity contest this evening

All being well, I shall be on for about an hour at 1900z for the 2m activity contest  (UKAC) organised by the RSGB running 10W pep to the big-wheel omni antenna. ious

Normally, I can work out to about 200km.

UPDATE 2020z: I was puzzled why my Vd was low and also that the battery of the IC-705 was not charging. After I stopped, the reason why became very obvious. The wire from the PSU had been disconnected so I was using battery power at 5W all the time I was active! After I found the loose wire, the Vd was back to normal and the battery was on charge. Operating at 5W off the battery seemed to make little difference!

OFCOM August Communications Monthly

OFCOM has updated its "Communications Monthly" with the latest figures it has for August 2021. See the OFCOM website for details.

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.