As my 10m antenna was available, I decided to go on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far today the only spots of me are by local G4KPX (14km), but at least this proves I am getting out!
UPDATE 0935z: No further spots today.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
As my 10m antenna was available, I decided to go on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far today the only spots of me are by local G4KPX (14km), but at least this proves I am getting out!
UPDATE 0935z: No further spots today.
After a brief TX period starting at 0840z, I am now on RX only. So far at 0901z, no spots.
UPDATE 0955z: 1 QSO with 2E0VDS (30km) and spotted by G0PQO (50km) on TX. On RX, just 2 G spots.
UPDATE 2035z: 9 stations spotted. All G.
Apparently, I have spotted 83 countries on FT8 in the last week. Although most of these will be on 10m, I have been on 160m, 80m, 40m, 30m ,17m, 15m, 6m and 2m as well. This mode certainly digs signals out of the noise.
I am on RX far more than TX these days.
I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW to the W5OLF beacon) as the 10m antenna is available. So far, no spots of me.
UPDATE 1554z: Just one spot of me, so far, by EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1645z: 2 unique stations spotting me. In addition to EA8BFK, I am again being spotted by G4KPX (14km). Richard is giving me a poorer S/N report. Nothing should have changed here, so I wonder if he has a higher noise floor perhaps due to Christmas lights?
After a brief TX period, I am now RX only on 6m FT8 hoping to catch some winter Es. No spots given or received!
UPDATE 1558z: Just one spot of me from G0PQO (50km) , but nothing yet on 6m FT8 RX here.
Some time ago one of my wife's friends went into a care home. If you asked me, I would have said last summer. Apparently it was over a year ago! I was amazed.
It is as if my perception of time is different. Is this just me or is it common in old age?
In recent years we have noticed that the weather in this part of the UK (east) is much wetter. This may be cyclic, but it is more probably the impact of climate change. Some birds are now common in the UK since their ranges have gone further northwards. Swallows were noticeable by how few there were last summer. We get far less snow than we once did. Frosts were very common. Now they are quite rare.
Overall, wildlife is suffering with some species being pushed out and going extinct. There are a few winners.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59757497 .
Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. 211 stations have been spotted with the furthermost VK5DOC (16208km) at 0940z.
UPDATE 0955z: 237 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1530z: 607 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX.
Tomorrow, I plan to try FT8 with my IC-705. Up to now I have used other rigs. I did do this with the first IC-705 I owned. As I recall there...