FT8 versus WSPR

Both these modes are part of the WSJT-X suite from Joe Taylor. 

WSPR needs about 6Hz of spectrum (not much) and 2 minutes for the most common form of WSPR.  WSPR is really a beaconing mode.  

FT8 is a communications mode and needs about 50Hz with 15 second TX slots. WSPR works with signals much weaker than FT8. FT8 works with signals much weaker than SSB or CW.

Both offer the minimum exchange of data and neither are "chatting" modes. As they work with very weak signals and need so little bandwidth they have been transformative in amateur radio. They are not instead of speech modes, but as well as.

There are other modes also available in the free WSJT-X suite.

Personally, I enjoy both modes, especially as my voice is poor since my 2013 stroke.

War - NOT amateur radio

In my view, wars solve little. One wonders how many wars in history would not have happened had women been in charge. 

During WW2, my dad was a Pathfinder. These were the bravest of airmen, the elite.  He survived the war, but rarely wanted to speak about those times. He was lucky to have survived as many did not. One of my greatest regrets was not talking with him before he died in 1987 about those dark days . 

He must have been so brave as were people who have fought in wars from the dawn of history.

Life and quantum physics - NOT amateur radio

One of the "takeaway" things from my university course on quantum mechanics (that seems a very long time away now!) was that things could also be described as waves. These waves exist in all space and all time, but are much more probable here and now. To all intents and purposes they are "things" here and now.

The intriguing thought is that in some sense we have always existed everywhere.

Now my understanding may well be flawed, but it goes to show that what we experience as reality may not be how things are. Reality for us is based on our experiences of life.  It pays to be humble: we only know a very little. Be open minded.

Google "quantum entanglement".

One thing I am sure about: one hundred years from now we will look back at these times with amazement: did they really believe that and did they really drive around in vehicles that needed fossil fuels?

Hope - NOT amateur radio

We usually have a good show of daffodils under the trees in our close. Snowdrops are appearing everywhere now and these daffs are now pushing through. In a few weeks time, they will look great. Winter is still here, but there are signs of hope and new life.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Since just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR QRP TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far, 3 unique stations spotted.

Whenever I go on 10m WSPR QRP TX, I seem to get spotted by much the same stations. Local G4KPX always gets me if he is about as do a couple of stations in the Canary Is. Occasionally I get spotted in S.America. Rarely, others spot me. 

In the last solar peak I was copied across the planet. However, more people seem to have swapped to FT8 for weak signal communications. There is more 10m WSPR than I was expecting though. If the 10m antenna is available, I go on 10m WSPR TX.

8m NoV - zzzzz

A week ago I got an email from OFCOM saying someone was chasing my 8m NoV application submitted last October. 3 weeks after chasing them I have had no progress update - zzzzzz. 

If I was offering them £2M for a mobile phone licence I would have probably heard by return in October.

How can you be impressed by such shabby customer service? In my working life I was told customers are our most important asset. Such service from OFCOM would (rightly) get someone the sack. 

Optical beacon

This photo shows my optical beacon built 10 years ago. I still have it. 

160m FT8 RX in the last 12 hours

Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the non-resonant 10m antenna. In all 499 stations were spotted, but fewer USA stations than I expected. 

Sunspots - Saturday January 29th 2022

Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 77.  A=8 and K=4.

160m FT8 RX

This evening, I am on 160m FT8 RX using the 10m antenna. So far (at 2117z) 355 stations spotted with the furthermost HS0ZNR (9696km).

UPDATE 2220z:  428 stations spotted including 1 in the USA.