Yesterday my QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 was spotted by 4 stations. I am unlikely to be active for the next few days.
14 Jun 2022
10m WSPR (Tuesday)
Yesterday was fairly quiet here on 10m WSPR TX with just 14 stations spotting my 500mW QRP. Most of these were via Es.
13 Jun 2022
Propagation mode?
Both yesterday and the day before, I had over 70 reports of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. Today I have had just a few reports and these could be by F2. Es can be very localised with strong signals somewhere and nothing a few kilometres away.
On 8m I am frequently spotted by EI9KP (649km). This happens so often that I suspect some other form of propagation other than F2 or Es is involved such as random meteors or aircraft scatter.
The period of FT8 makes me think random meteors or aircraft unlikely. It is far too far to EI9KP for tropo.
Am I missing something?
OFCOM
OFCOM has updated the data it holds and has proposed a new licencing regime for commercial drones. See the OFCOM website for details.
Beans - NOT amateur radio
However, I surprised myself last year with good crops of tomatoes, crab apples and runner beans. The secret seems to be to ensure the soil has plenty of goodness in it. This year, I have put beans in the same spot as last year (having added lots of goodness to the soil first) as well a 4 bean plants in a pot. I shall grow some lettuce and tomatoes shortly.
If I get as many as last year, I shall be pleased.
8m FT8 TX (Monday)
Yesterday I got my first report from a station in Scotland bringing my country count to 10.
This proves that even a very simple station can give useful results, although those with much higher ERP are achieving some remarkable results.
Later today I expect to be on 8m TX again.
UPDATE 0816z: On 40.680 MHz USB dial (first) FT8 now.
Shetland - NOT amateur radio
This photo was on 365project recently. It shows a sunny day in the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Normally, it is windy and cold this far north! At one time, these northern islands belonged to Norway.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Monday)
Yesterday 76 stations spotted my 500mW QRP 10m WSPR. I think these were Es. Later today, I expect to be on again.
UPDATE 0822z: On 10m QRP WSPR TX now. Already 2 spots of my QRP from EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is. This could be F2 propagation.
UPDATE 0828z: I am wondering if the very first spots from EA8BFK were with the PA off, so at sub 1mW level? When the PA is first turned on there is usually about 20 minutes of drift. I have just turned the PA off to see if I get spots!
UPDATE 1116z: Having got no spots from the Canary Is since the PA was turned off, I think it unlikely EA8BFK was spotting me on extremely low power. Since turning the PA on again, I am again getting lots of spots.
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