Sunspots - Saturday December 3rd 2022

 Solar flux  is 124 and the SSN 66.  A=16 and K=2.

OFCOM Updates

Every week, OFCOM updates the figures it holds on us and publishes these. Check the OFCOM website for their latest figures.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 Nearly forgot again that when I am on 8m FT8, I can also go on 10m QRP WSPR with my stand-alone W5OLF beacon. The beacon was turned on at about 1130z. At 1305z, my 500mW beacon had been spotted by 7 unique stations.

This little beacon has given me good service for many years.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 At about 1130z I turned on my 2.5W QRP 8m FT8 (TX first and RX) on 40.680 MHz.  At 1257z, no spots.

Plans for today (Friday)

After shopping in a minute I think I shall immediately go on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. This will be around 1100z.

So far this autumn my 2.5W has only made it to the USA once on 8m. 

23cm update

As regular blog readers will know, I now have a 2W 23cm transverter. I have yet to use it as I have been busy with other things. I still have to get some leads. My plan is to do some tests locally with the supplied test antenna and do some portable operating with a better antenna in the activity contests next year. So, if you are local, stand by!! 

Sunspots - Friday December 2nd 2022

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 49. A=28 and K=3.

Dramatic scene - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was posted on 365project a few weeks ago by a friend. It shows a village in the Shetland Isles.

Picket line - NOT amateur radio

It seems like many in the UK are after a pay rise to help pay the high prices we have at the moment. This was a picket line for Cambridge lecturers who have not had a decent pay rise in a long time. I do not know the answer, but the gap between rich and poor is too great and getting greater. This is not healthy.  

Whilst, I think some people need decent pay rises, there is a danger their public support will wane.

2m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

As the fog is descending and conditions might be "up", I have decided to switch from 8m FT8 to 2m FT8 with the antenna my 2m big-wheel omni. 

So far, 11 stations have spotted me at 1648z with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. 

Still using 2.5W FT8 to the omni antenna.

UPDATE 1914z: 14 stations have spotted my 2.5W with the furthermost F5EGD (472km). 17 stations spotted on RX so far. 

UPDATE 2210z: 17 stations have spotted my 2.5W FT8 and I have spotted 27 here. A very useful (local) tool is the 2m FT8 grabber at http://g0lrd.vs.mythic-beasts.com/cap/ . This allows me to see if I am getting out and if the signal is clean. David's grabber is about 25km from me. The stations that spotted me at 2108z are shown on the map.