8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 At the moment (1000z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with 2.5W to the low wire dipole. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1022z:  Still no spots. One thing is clear from my experiments: running QRP ERP I do lose out on a lot both on TX and RX. Compared with a station with a modest beam at several metres, I am probably 6-10dB down, possibly more. Running just 2.5W on TX is probably 10dB down on many stations, if not more. This means I could be at least 16dB weaker than many stations. Despite this I have still been copied in 16 countries and 3 continents on TX. Moral? I have learnt something!

UPDATE 1228z:  No spots today.

UPDATE 1755z:  2 stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 to a low wire dipole.  Nobody spotted on RX.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

When on 8m I forget that I can still go on 10m WSPR 500mW TX with my beacon. On now.

UPDATE 1010z:  So far, spots from SV9 (F2 or Es?).

UPDATE 1052z: 3 unique stations have spotted me today so far. I think this is mid-winter Es.

UPDATE 1230z:  4 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1735z:  8 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon today.

Break? - NOT amateur radio

We love seeing our grandchildren, but at our age we get more tired, sooner. We have a break of about 7 days before they come again for a few days. It is a chance to "recharge batteries".  

Maybe it is a chance to try some new amateur radio stuff?  Maybe that SDR or 23cms?

At one time our elder grandson contacted us most nights. He has now got more friends his age who share his interests, so we are less of a crutch. All part of growing up, and totally natural.

Plans for today

Today I have 2 aims. 

Firstly I want to concentrate on 8m QRP FT8. It is the winter Es season and the F2 MUF is increasing. Yesterday the USA was spotted in Australia on 8m. There are more countries monitoring 8m. 

Secondly I want to test my SDR for the first time. 

UPDATE 1807z:   My SDR tests will have to wait until tomorrow.

Wisdom - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago I was taught that wisdom is quite different from being clever. Often the most profound things come from someone with wisdom, as these words that are supposed to have come from a woman of 92.

2m FT8 RX near Cambridge

When I go on 2m FT8, a very useful resource is the monitor a G0LRD. It is situated not far from Cambridge and my signal is usually about +5dB S/N. With it, I can look at 2m FT8 activity received locally, and check my own 2.5W is clean.

An example of David's page is attached. I think David also uses a Wimo big-wheel omni antenna. It is a great local (to me) resource.

See http://g0lrd.vs.mythic-beasts.com/cap/. 

Sunspots - Wednesday December 28th 2022

Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 89.  A=25 and K=2 .

When will my assembled QDX transceiver arrive?

My built QDX transceiver covering 10m has been ordered. According to Hans the waiting time is currently about 1 month, so it might be ready at the end of January. As FT8 and WSPR are the main modes used because of my poor voice, I can see this transceiver being well used. It covers 20m,17m,15m,12m and 10m. My antenna is a good match on all bands except 20m. Even there it could be used on RX.

See http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini/assembled.html .

See http://qrp-labs.com/ .

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

 

This Christmas we saw all our grandchildren. The photo shows them with my wife yesterday.

Dalham Church - NOT amateur radio

Dalham church is almost outside the village, so parishioners would have had a long uphill walk every Sunday. It is conveniently next to the old Lord of the Manor's house!