8m experiment (Monday)

After 2 sessions on QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial, I have been spotted just by EA3ERE (1153km) so far.

UPDATE 1811z: Spotted on 8m QRP FT8 by 3 stations, probably by Es (Poland, Slovenia and Spain).

Oldest human in a photo? - NOT amateur radio

This appeared as a Facebook memory earlier. If true, it is remarkable. 

Oscar 100 commercial gear

Apart from the DX-patrol offering diplayed at Friedrichshafen, I am unaware of any complete turnkey solutions to operating on Oscar 100. 

In particular not one of the Japanese manufacturers has offered anything. To me, this speaks volumes, literally. They cannot see volumes and hence profits. 

If DX-patrol can do it for €650 surely the Japanese will have considered it. There is no home market or market in the USA, so they are not interested. 

In my view the Japanese amateur manufacturers will be looking hard at the amateur radio market and asking if the effort is worth it in the coming years. 

Sunspots - Monday June 27th 2022

Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 33. A=22 and K=1.

Oscar 100 box

 This was seen at Friedrichshafen. I have no details about price or availability, but I cannot imagine it being low cost. 

Swaffham Prior - NOT amateur radio

This is the next village to us on the way to Cambridge.

It is unusual having two churches in the same churchyard. I think originally 2 parishes met here. 

Our grandson had hoped to ring the bells here, but they changed the day. 

10m Es

Since 0734z, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on. Already HB9TMC (905km) and IU1DZZ (973km) have spotted me. A promising start.

UPDATE 2041z: 47 unique station spots of my 500mW WSPR today.

8m experiment (Sunday)

After breakfast I hope to be on 8m QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 QRP. It cannot be worse than yesterday when there were no spots at all! There are too few people monitoring on 8m, so it can be very hard going. 

UPDATE 0751z:  8m gear turned on at 0734z. I get the impression that those active on the band have proved what is possible by Es and are now turning their attention to 6m and 4m instead until the autumn. I shall try a bit longer.

UPDATE 0807z: Spots of my QRP by EA3ERE (1133km) and HC02 (1808km). Promising.

UPDATE 2016z: 6 spots of my QRP 8m FT8 today. With spots from 12 different countries, I am pretty pleased so far this Es season, although disappointed not to be copied further than the Canary Isles. I wonder if I might manage the USA on F2 later in the year?

Colourful garden - NOT amateur radio

This garden is opposite Ely Cathedral and usually is a riot of colour. 

Sunspots - Sunday June 26th 2022

Solar flux is 108 and the SSN 31.  A=16 and K=5.