10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

As the antenna is available, I am again on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW to the W5OLF beacon. So far, spots from OE3XOE (1233km). As this is early, this is promising.

UPDATE 1131z:  12 stations have already spotted me today.

UPDATE 2120z: 35 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR.

8m experiment (Sunday)

My QRP FT8 8m station was turned on a 0844z on 40.680 MHz USB dial (first) with an audio offset of about 2 kHz. Let's hope for some Es.

UPDATE 0856z:  There is some Es to central Europe on 10m - hopeful sign.

UPDATE 1009z:  Spotted in the Algarve, Portugal again by SWL HC02 (1808km).  Gear now off whilst it cools.

UPDATE 1129z:    2 stations have spotted me now, despite my QRP.   The latest is 9A2TN (1481km).

UPDATE 1850z:  6 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 QRP TX.

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

As regular readers know, every few weeks I take a look at activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Activity levels remain low considering my last peek was on a European weekend morning. when I would have expected activity to be quite high.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Sunday June 5th 2022

 Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 75. A=4 and K=1.

Jubilee party - NOT amateur radio

We had a local party to celebrate 70 years of our queen on the UK throne. Of course, just as we were about to start, being the UK, it decided to rain. 

Luckily, we had the family room at the adjacent museum in case of rain. In the end we had food and drinks indoors and sat outside in the sunshine. It was a good, happy occasion.

ICOM SHF transceiver?

The EI7GL blog has quite a bit about this. 

Sadly, I cannot see this ever coming to market. Surely the big manufacturers are only really interested in making money. I can only see this selling in low numbers, hardly covering development costs.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2022/04/icom-shf-microwave-project-for-24-ghz.html .

10m WSPR TX beacon

Assuming that I remember, I shall be on 10m WSPR TX later with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. I keep forgetting that when the 10m antenna is available I can use it to go on 10m WSPR TX. Yesterday was good with plenty of Es about. 

UPDATE 0757z:  Beacon turned on at 0753z.

UPDATE 2030z: 41 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m WSPR.

8m FT8 QRP TX

Later today I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again with my FT817ND and low wire dipole on 40.680 MHz USB dial.  Yesterday was my best day yet on the band with my first spot outside Europe by EA8BFK (2881km) in the Canary Islands. 

UPDATE 0756z: TX turned on at 0753z.

UPDATE 1745z: My QRP 8m FT8 has been spotted by 2 stations in the Iberian peninsula and I have spotted 6 stations in 4 countries. When Es is good, it really is!!

Amateur radio stamps?

Back in the 1960s there were stamps issued in the USA with an amateur radio theme. This got me thinking - I wonder which other countries issued similar? Googling would probably tell me the answer, but perhaps you already know. 

It will never catch on

This photo appeared as a Facebook memory from several years ago. 

I have no idea where it originated.