2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At about 2030z, I went on 2m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on TX for about 5 minutes and was spotted by 11 stations. Since then I been RX only and spotted 14 stations.

10m WSPR TX

For the first time in many months, I am on WSPR TX with 500mW using my W5OLF stand-alone beacon. The beacon was turned on at 1300z.  

As 10m is moving to a decent F2 daytime DX band, it will be interesting to see where this beacon is spotted. 

I think more people are now on FT8 than WSPR, but I was surprised by how much WSPR there still was on 10m back in the Es season.

I have been spotted by local G4KPX (14km) so I know it is working.

UPDATE 1318z: 4 spots already with furthermost FY5KE (7110km).

UPDATE 1417z: Someone pointed out an error on the WISPY TX schematic. Where it shows 9t, it should be 22t with the oscillator collector resonating at 28MHz, the second harmonic of the crystal. 35 spots of me so far today on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1806z:  EA8BFK (2880km) has been spotting me as strongly as an incredible +11dB S/N. This implies he would spot me at uW levels.

UPDATE 1919z:   4 unique stations have spotted me today. The furthermost is PY1EME (9453km).

Inside King's - NOT amateur radio

King's College Chapel in Cambridge is world famous. It dates back centuries.

This is a view inside with the famous Ruben's painting over the altar.

The photo was taken from under the organ.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we practically had the place to ourselves.

As locals, we can get free entry. 

Oscar 100 SSB activity

It gets worse!  

As you know I periodically have a peek at activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. The last time I checked was a Saturday morning in Europe, which I would have expected to be one of the busiest times. Sadly, there was hardly anybody active! I saw just 2 signals! 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Salcombe rainbow - NOT amateur radio

This was where I spent my childhood. The rainbow was last Sunday. This was the view from my school window - less the rainbow! 

Sunspots - Saturday October 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 92 and the SSN 13. A=4 and K=2. 

10m FT8 RX (Saturday)

 At 0745z, I switched on my 10m FT8 RX. No spots yet.

UPDATE 0820z: Just 1 spot on RX of OZ1RH (824km). Could be Es or aircraft.

UPDATE 0941z: 32 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX in 3 continents with furthermost ZS6AF (9141km). Most propagation on 10m seems to be F2 now.

UPDATE 1206z:  66 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

6m AM Sixbox

If you are after ideas for a cross town natter box, you may get some ideas from my Sixbox. This is not a DX transceiver, but is useful for chatting locally with friends. If you are making several as a winter project, you may want to do a PCB, although I did not bother.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox .

King's, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of one of the most famous places in the world. As locals, we get free entry. 

Tree - NOT amateur radio

For about 5 years now we have been following this tree at nearby Anglesey Abbey through the seasons. As there is a severe fuel shortage (none in 5 garages yesterday) in this part of the UK, we feared we might miss it this autumn, but our son took us yesterday. It was stunning.