8m experiments (Monday)

After a brief FT8 TX period on 40.680 MHz USB dial (no spots of me) I am again RX only, but will go on TX if there is any sign of Es. On RX, nobody has been spotted so far. I need a decent Es opening!

UPDATE 1415z:  My 8m power goes down with time, so I TX for a period, RX FT8 for a period, turn everything off, TX for a period, then RX again. So far today, no spots on RX or TX on 8m. Currently on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1658z: DX at last!! EI9KP (649km) has spotted me strongly on FT8. This is the first time I have been received beyond the local area. I think this was Es. At -5dB on FT8, this is encouraging.

UPDATE 1827z: QRT. 

Sunspots - Monday April 18th 2022

 Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 74.  A=11 and K=2.

All quiet on the Oscar 100 front

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. This is Easter weekend so a few people may be away with parents etc. This could reduce activity, although with more people on leave I would have expected this to have little overall effect. 

It was very quiet when I looked on Easter Sunday in the early evening in Europe. Overall, I would say, "don't bother". With HF conditions improving, I cannot see many getting pleasure from this satellite. It is a lot of effort that I, personally, think is wasted.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

70cm activity contest last Tuesday

At the moment I have no 70cm horizontal antennas so I use my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Because of my poor voice I usually stay on for about 45 minutes. I run 10W SSB  QRP. Last week I had 3 QSOs with the furthermost 105km.

Hawkweed? - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago this patch of grass near the post office in the village was a mass of daffodils. Now it is the turn of these yellow flowers that I think are mainly hawkweed. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Sunday)

 With the W5OLF 500mW beacon, I am on 10m WSPR TX. So far today, no spots of me. 

UPDATE 1433z:  It look like the Es season has definitely arrived with 11 unique stations spotting me, mostly in central Europe.

8m experiments (Sunday)

After a brief period on FT8 TX (1 local spot), I am on FT8 RX now. 

UPDATE 1427z:  It looks like the Es season has started with strong reception earlier of Borat S50B on 8m FT8.  G9PUV was also copied earlier.

UPDATE 1713z:   It seems only a matter of time now in the Es season that I exchange reports with S50B.

Sunspots - Sunday April 17th 2022

Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 78. A=8 and K=3.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

Once again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. It has been on from about 0900z.  So far, just local spots by G4KPX (14km).

8m experiment (Saturday)

Yesterday, I carried out some 8m WSPR TX tests. All were unsuccessful with no sign whatsoever of anyone copying me. I was hoping that somebody would detect something. Alas....

At about 0900z, I went again on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX. Just local spots again. On RX in the last few weeks I have spotted 4 stations. 

With my results, with QRP and a low dipole, I think I shall concentrate on 8m FT8 RX until the Es season really gets going. I think with Es I should have some success on TX.

UPDATE 1533z: I tried some WSPR TX tests this afternoon on 8m. Again, no success.

UPDATE 1625z:  Another test on 40.680 MHz WSPR at 1600z was also unsuccessful.