Sunspots - Sunday August 21st 2022

Solar flux is 102 and the SSN 56.  A=14 and K=2.

ENORMOUS spider - NOT amateur radio

This evening we had the biggest spider I have ever seen in the bath. It must have been over 7cm long. It is now outside. We seem to be seeing spiders earlier this year. Some people hate spiders, but they don't bother me. I just put them outside.

Any idea what sort it was? 

New houses - NOT amateur radio

Like many places in the UK, we have new houses going up on spare land. This estate has appeared in the last year.

Guava? - NOT amateur radio

We saw this tree and fruit yesterday. I have never seen it before. Dr Google says it is a guava. It is about lemon sized and looks like a bumpy apple or pear. 

It obviously grew well in our (warming) climate, so maybe we'll see more in the future.

Sunspots - Saturday August 20th 2022

Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 74.   A=20 and K=3.

10m QRP FT8

For a change this morning I am on 10m FT8 QRP with the FT817ND. It is now 0921z and I have been on for about 30 minutes. So far, 5 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 13 stations. No QSOs yet.

UPDATE 1034z: 1 QSO.  80 stations spotted on RX and 7 stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1904z:  416 stations spotted in 4 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

70cm QRP FT8

At about 1830z, I hope to try 70cm FT8 QRP on 432.174 MHz USB dial. It is very unlikely anyone will copy me or I shall copy anyone else. Still, it is worth a try.

UPDATE 1840z:  70cm FT8 QRP turned on. Apart from the first 2 transmissions with the 2m big-wheel, I am using the V2000 vertical omni. No spots. Am I surprised? No!

UPDATE 1935z:  No spots.

2m QRP FT8

My 2m FT8 system is just the FT817ND with my big-wheel omni antenna. Despite this, I have already been spotted on Anglesey by GW8IZR (337km). 

I think FT8 allows even QRP stations to access some sort of troposcatter on 2m. 

As mentioned earlier today, this is probably true on 70cm or 23cm although activity is far lower. It is a pity some beacons on these higher VHF and UHF bands don't have FT8 as part of their transmission cycles.

Mrs Mop? - NOT amateur radio

 

This is me brushing the kitchen floor earlier this week.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)

It would seem most people are now using FT8 in preference to WSPR on 10m. Despite this, my 500mW QRP WSPR beacon was spotted by 15 stations yesterday. 

It is now 1021z and, as yet, no 10m WSPR spots have been received. I am on 10m QRP WSPR as the antenna is available and no PC is needed on WSPR.