Sunspots - Sunday November 20th 2022

Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 59. A=5 and K=0.

630m WSPR RX

 This evening I am on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX. So far, at 2125z, 2 unique stations spotted.

8m QRP WSPR TX

 At the moment I am on 8m 1W WSPR TX. This is in preparation for my 10mW ERP tests next week. No local spots. 

That FT817ND power

Since several people confirmed that 3 bars o the FT817ND means 2.5W and not 5W even with a 13.8V PSU, it means all my 10m and 8m FT8 QRP spots were with 2.5W and NOT 5W. This is even more pleasing. 

From our garden - NOT amateur radio

The fully restored windmill next door is about 200 years old. This is the view from our garden. 

Sunspots - Saturday November 19th 2022

Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 55. A=7 and K=1

FT817ND power levels?

You would think after owning FT817s for about 20 years I would know the answer! The Operating Manual is ambiguous, so I would appreciate a definitive answer from someone who definitely knows!

With an external 13.8V PSU and with three bars showing, what is the power on SSB? 

The implication is this is 2.5W (not 5W), but I am not 100% sure. Please clarify! To get 5W I think you have to have no bars, but I may be wrong.

If it is 2.5W (not 5W), I may have been using 2.5W pep when I thought I was using 5W!

Trinity College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the entrance to Trinity College on a sunny day. Most years this street is filled with visitors who come from all parts of the world. 

It is not uncommon to hear more people speaking foreign languages than English on some streets in Cambridge.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 Since about 0945z, I have been on QRP 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz.  No spots.

An article about 8m has been submitted to Practical Wireless. I hope it will be published early next year. I doubt RSGB RadCom would publish it, which is why I gave them a miss this time. I have written a letter to the editor of RadCom about an amateur band at 8m and it has not appeared. 

UPDATE 1350z:  Having got no FT8 spots, I have moved over to WSPR at 1W. It is on 40.680 MHz USB dial with the tones on 1.5 kHz higher in the WSPR window. I am transmitting 40% of the time.

UPDATE 2035z:  In preparation for my local QRPP 8m WSPR test next week, I have started WSPR transmissions on 40.680 MHz USB dial. My WSPR appears 1.5 kHz HF in the middle of the 200 Hz WSPR slot. My aim is to first ensure everyone is looking in the right place. So far I have had reports from G8CRB (12km). With the reports Steve has given me at 1W, it is unlikely he would copy me at 10mW ERP. Steve is using a fan dipole for 80-12m.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. So far, just a spot by LA3RK (1064km).