10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

As usual when I am on 8m, my 10m antenna is available, so I have gone on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF TX beacon. So far, the usual local and the Canary Is station spotting me.

UPDATE 1355z:  11 stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP so far today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km).

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

At about 0930z my 8m FT8 QRP on 40.680 MHz was turned on. At 0940z, unsurprisingly, no spots. At the moment, my only real hope is aircraft scatter or a very good F2 opening with a high enough MUF. Those with higher ERPs have a much greater chance of success.

UPDATE 1340z:   EA8/DF4UE (2876km) has spotted me very strongly (+2dB S/N) and I have spotted Eire and Croatia.

UPDATE 1359z:  Still no news from OFCOM about my T&I permit for after April.

UPDATE 1515z:  No further 8m FT8 spots today.

Bark - NOT amateur radio

This bark was seen yesterday at Hare Park at Chippenham near Cambridge.  

There is different Chippenham in Wiltshire.

QDX status

Hans Summers from QRP Labs has been away for a few weeks, so the status of built QDX transceivers has not been updated for a while. 

Looking at my place in the queue (updated Saturday), I think I should get mine in March. This will certainly be in time for the 2023 Es season, although I expect to span the globe this year with it by F2 propagation.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 7th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 139.  A=18 and K=3.

What a difference a day makes - NOT amateur radio

 

In the last day, the price of this zoom monocular camera has dropped by £60. 

I am glad I waited.

2m QRP FT8 (Monday)

When my coffee is finished, I intend to try 2m QRP FT8. It is daytime, so some people will be at work. Hopefully, some will be on. 

On 2m FT8 I can run 2.5W to the omni big-wheel antenna. The 2m FT8 frequency is 144.174 MHz. 

Usually, I monitor the 2m FT8 RX online at G0LRD about 25km from me to make sure all is working and my signal is clean. This is very useful.

UPDATE 1159z:  My QRP FT8 was spotted by 12 unique stations and I have spotted 10 with the furthermost being F6FGQ (564km) in Brittany. On SSB I would have great difficulty spotting furthermost Brittany and Germany. Not with 2m FT8!

Stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX
with the big wheel omni antenna

UPDATE  1645z:  57 unique stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX. 7 countries. 2m dead? I think not!

Bye bye Christmas tree - NOT amateur radio

We have had a real Christmas tree that has lasted 2 Christmas times. Sadly, it is looking tired and will be put out for composting later. This means getting another for the next Christmas. 

In the past, we have had artificial trees, but prefer a real one.  In the photo it does not look too bad, but I can tell.

It is odd to think we will blink and it will be Easter!! Blink again and it will be Christmas again!

10m WSPR TX

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on about 0930z.  So far, the Canary Is and a local have spotted me.

UPDATE 1201z:  5 unique stations have spotted me this morning with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).

UPDATE 1804z:  29 unique stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.

Plans for today (Monday)

Shortly, I hope to turn on my 10m WSPR 500mW TX beacon. Later, I might try again on 8m FT8, although I have not achieved much success very lately apart from by aircraft scatter.