8m QRP FT8 TX (Saturday)

The 8m FT8 gear was turned on at 0846z on 40.680 MHz.  No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0938z:    No spots.

UPDATE 1645z:    I am trying again on 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP to get spotted in the USA. Alas, no spots.

Speech processing

Most rigs of the modern era have speech compressors. Early radios did not, and it was vital to make sure your signal was "punchy". I well remember an article in an early VHF Communications magazine that looked at this.

See https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/VHF-Communications/VHF-COMM.1971.1.pdf .

Norwich market - NOT amateur radio

Norwich is a fine city with a great market. We visited there on Thursday. 

10m WSPR yesterday

As I was on 8m FT8 yesterday evening and the 10m antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. 

As well as several Ws, I was spotted in Antarctica by DP0GVN/3. which is the German base down there. This is the first time I have been spotted in Antarctica this solar cycle.

Sunspots - Saturday October 8th 2022

 Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 146. A=15 and K=3. 

8m QRP FT8 TX (first)

As 10m was looking promising, I have switched to 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE 1640z:  No spots on 8m FT8.

UPDATE  1921z:   No spots. Now QRT on 8m.

Autumn splendour

For about 6 years we have been following this tree at Anglesey Abbey nearby.  

At the moment it looks magnificent, but in a few short weeks it will be bare until spring. I just love seasons. 

Reflections - NOT amateur radio

 

We spotted these reflections in the River Wensum in Norwich yesterday.

The Tenner transceiver

Hopefully, this will spark some ideas. I build this rig on the up-slope of solar cycle 24, but with cycle 25 now in good shape, it should be capable of plenty of DX with simple antennas. It worked plenty of DX.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-tenner-qrp-cw .

10m FT8 RX

The 10m FT8 RX gear was switched on about 0851z.  It is now 0907z and, so far, 42 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 1318z:  571 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far.