15 Apr 2022

8m WSPR test - 1500z Friday

 At 1500z I shall be doing a WSPR test transmission on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This is NOT the usual 8m WSPR frequency.

UPDATE 1535z :  Sadly nobody spotted the WSPR TX test. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1042z:  So far today, 2 unique stations have spotted me with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km). 

8m testing (Friday)

After a brief TX period on FT8 (one local FT8 spot) and then Q65, I am now on FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1044z:  Nobody spotted on 8m FT8 RX. 

View from the shack window


Spring is a great time of year with lots of fresh growth and blossom. The photo shows the view looking down the garden from the shack. 

Sunspots - Friday April 15th 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 37.  A=38 and K=4.

14 Apr 2022

Simple 10m FT8 RX

In the Northern Hemisphere we are entering the Es season with DX up to about 1500km on most days. The season usually lasts most of the summer.  Also the sunspot count is climbing, so next autumn should be good on 10m too.

If you want an FT8 10m RX, you may want to take a look at my 10FT8R receiver.  This is very effective and does not miss much.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

Boris - NOT amateur radio


Boris Johnson is the UK Prime Minister. He has recently been fined for parties during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is under a lot of pressure to resign as he set the rules.  The Ukraine war has helped delay the inevitable. 

Minehead - NOT amateur radio


Ten years ago were on holiday in North Devon and went to Minehead in Somerset where we saw lots of steam trains. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far just G4KPX (14km) spotting me (44 spots by 0940z).

Stations spotting me today
UPDATE 2020z: QRT.

8m tests (Thursday)

My 8m station was turned on at about 0800z. Initially, I tried sending some Q65 for a test with a station in Bath without success. I am was on 8m FT8 with just a local spot.

UPDATE 0924z:  Currently monitoring 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8.

UPDATE 2025z:  QRT. Only local spots of me.  On RX the furthermost was EI9KP (649km).