10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

After a brief session on 2.5W TX I have been on RX the rest of the time. It is now 0840z, and just 1 G spotted and nobody spotted me.

UPDATE 1037z:  Just 3 stations spotted so far. The 2 from mainland Europe were probably Es, but could have been aircraft reflection. At this point yesterday, things were better.

UPDATE 1917z:  Only 7 stations spotted. All in Europe.  A bad day.

UPDATE 2058z:  10 stations spotted with the furthermost LU8EX (11209km) in Argentina.

Sunspots - Monday September 20th 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 13.  A=3 and K =1. 

Playtime - NOT amateur radio

 

My son's kitten playing yesterday. 

10m FT8 RX yesterday

In all, 121 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX yesterday. 

It is getting back in its stride again. 

South America seems pretty regular in the evening. 

PSKreporter maps

This is a resource I find really useful.  Although I use it mostly with FT8, it supports many modes. 

My WSJT-X automatically uploads what I receive here. It means I can see (on another PC in the lounge or bed!) in graphical form the stations I am spotting. 

When on FT8 TX I can see which stations are spotting me.

See https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html .

Unusual sunflower - NOT amateur radio

Earlier, Muntjac deer nibbled our sunflowers. They have grown again, but only just flowered. 

Among these is the unusual one shown in the photo, which was given by a friend.

All quiet - NOT amateur radio

Every month my brother does part of the bird count on the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon. 

Today it was very quiet. 

10m FT8 RX (Sunday)

It is now 0820z and I have been on 10m FT8 RX for about 10 minutes. So far, 3 stations spotted with the furthermost IK8UKA (1649km).

UPDATE 0920z:  11 stations so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1038z:  28 stations spotted. 

UPDATE 1744z:  77 stations spotted. All in Europe so far. Furthermost is SV1EBV (2263km).

UPDATE 1826z:  92 stations spotted with the furthermost PY2XYZ (9585km) in Brazil.

Kitten sitting - NOT amateur radio

As my son is away this weekend, I am popping down to feed his playful kitten. The photo shows the kitten in the empty bath, which he jumped out of shortly afterwards. 

He is very lively!

ICOM IC-9700

 If I had money to burn, this is a VHF/UHF rig that I might consider. It covers 2m, 70cm and 23cm, all modes. It is an SDR transceiver. It is similar to the IC-7300 in ergonomics. I have an IC-705 that seems to do all I want.

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