Wall map - NOT amateur radio

This wall map is in our small bedroom where our grandsons sleep. Occasionally it falls down and is a right pain to put back. It fell off a few days ago and was put back yesterday.

8m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

For several hours, I have been on 8m QRP FT8. At 1335z, no spots today. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Already 4 unique stations spotting me at 1030z after a very short time. No surprises.

Stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR at 1030z today

UPDATE 1310z:  No further stations, but more spots.

Stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR to 1505z

UPDATE 1505z:   11 unique stations have so far spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR (see table).

UPDATE 1615z:  14 unique stations have spotted me.

Oscar 100 activity - terrible!

Every few weeks I give an update on activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. It is very low! 

The only activity seems to be from Germany and these are just "59" exchanges. As far as I can tell, this is a total failure. The satellite works well, but people do not like talking through this "repeater in the sky".

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 10th 2023

Solar flux is 191 and the SSN 142.  A=5 and K=1. 

Canon Powershot Zoom - NOT amateur radio

Just occasionally, I see a product that sort of "connects". One such is the Canon Powershop Zoom Monocular. 

It is a monocular and a zoom camera. It is available from several sources. 

As I already have micro-SD cards and a USB-C lead and charger, I would only need to buy the basic camera.

Winter garden - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year the garden looks dead. There are a few signs of new life with bulbs poking through. It will be very different in a few months. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

At about 0925z, I turned on my 500mW W5OLF WSPR 10m beacon. So far (at 0957z)  4 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1550z:   8 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP today.

UPDATE 1650z:  11 unique stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR TX today.

UPDATE  1925z:  QRT.

SSB activity lower?

Every month I take part in the 2m and 70cm UKAC activity contests organised by the RSGB. My voice is poor and I only run QRP to my big-wheel omni antenna. I am usually on for less than an hour. I also have a go at the FT8 activity contests.

Although I rarely use SSB and FM outside contests, I gather activity with these modes is down on the past. I guess there are several reasons. Firstly, people can chat for free on the internet by video with anywhere on the planet, so there is less need to use the amateur bands just for chatting. Secondly, the average age of amateurs is increasing, with the hobby appealing to retired people. Some of these are now getting infirm so less active. Thirdly, there are more digital modes not needing much bandwidth. For example, the FT8 slot is often busy, but very little bandwidth is needed.

QSOs on 2m UKAC
last Tuesday

Certainly, SSB UKAC contest QSOs seem harder now on 2m than a few years ago. My average used to be about 10 QSOs whereas now even getting a couple is harder.

Change is inevitable, but you do not just chance upon FT8 as this needs specialist software. People will no longer just chance upon amateur radio. The danger is numbers decline over the next 10-20 years unless we can galvanise the interest of younger people.

8m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Later, I expect to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 with 2.5W QRP. The winter Es season seems to be in full swing, so I am hopeful some in Europe will spot me. 

UPDATE 1927z:  No spots. QRT.