Reflections - NOT amateur radio

Every year we go to Hare Park, Chippenham, Cambs, UK to see the snowdrops. Maybe we were a little early this time, but there seemed fewer snowdrops around. 

It still looks great though. This is a photo of the lake.

Rally cancelled

 The Red Rose rally, due to be held this Sunday Feb 6th, has been cancelled I understand.

It is always worth checking the status with rally organisers in case I am wrong. I only pass on what I have been told and you should not take what I say as always correct!

10m WSPR with 500mW QRP (Thursday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with my W5OLF beacon. So far, 3 local spots by G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1517z: 10 unique stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1700z: Still the same 10 unique stations spotting me.

6m FT8 (Thursday)

 At the moment I am on 6m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical. I was on TX  for about 5 minutes, but am RX only now. No spots yet on TX or RX.

UPDATE 1515z:  17 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost 9H1TX (2318km). This looks like Es.

Interesting art - NOT amateur radio

I was sent this by Steve G1KQH. Turn it 180 degrees and take a look. I have no idea where it came from originally.

Sunspots - Thursday February 3rd 2022

Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 75. A=12 and K=4.

2m FT8 activity contest

If you are interested, there is a 2m FT8 activity contest from 1900-2100z tonight, organised by the RSGB. See the RSGB website for more details.  Activity is very high.

UPDATE 2102z:   4 QSOs although I spent much of the time I was on RX. On RX 150 stations spotted (remember this is 2m!!) with the furthermost EA2XR (1024km) in northern Spain.

Remember, I am just using the omni big-wheel and 2.5W, sometimes 1W!!

10m WSPR TX and RX

At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR. On TX I am using 1W for 20% of the time with the rest on RX. So far, 1 station spotted here and I have been spotted by 6 unique stations.

Working DX

DX means different things to different people. 

To some, it is trying to work all countries available today on SSB, perhaps with the full legal power (or more!) and a big beam on a tower. To others it is working across town with uW powers.

Back in the 1980s I owned a Yaesu FT7. This was an HF only 10W rig. I worked DXCC with it and simple antennas (mostly dipoles) on SSB.

These days I am on RX more than TX. I still prefer QRP! If DXCC chasing is your "thing" fine.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/yaesu-ft7 .

Frost - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows a frosty day some years ago.