10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

 As usual, I am on TX with my 500mW WSPR beacon.  Plenty of F2 spots of me after an hour.

UPDATE 1710z:  32 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 2027z:  35 stations have spotted me today with the furthermost F61895 (9729km). QRT.

Monday plans

Hopefully I can resolve the FT-710AESS issue with AESS and with the fan not being on on RX or low power TX. I shall go on 8m FT8 QRP and 10m QRP WSPR TX. 

UPDATE 1812z:   My son and grandson have been staying here, so only 1 of the 3 things has been done: 10m WSPR TX. The others will have to wait.

South West Coast Path - NOT amateur radio

Sadly I am too old these days to do this walk, or even short stretches of it. I have walked many parts of it in South Devon, and as you might expect, there are some great views. Some do the whole lot over several weeks

See https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ .

Sunspots - Monday February 13th 2023

Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 197. A=7 and K=0. 

Nearly - NOT amateur radio

The daffodils in our Close are starting to flower.  In a month they will be everywhere. 

These have just come out in the last day.  It looks like a few days will see more coming into flower.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QRP FT8 has been on for about 2 hours. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1736z:  No spots all day.

UPDATE 1820z:  Scare!!  On 8m, there was no output on FT8. I feared the PA in the FT817ND had been damaged. I connected a 2m antenna and 10m antenna and tried FM. All was well thankfully. Later, I returned to 8m FT8 and all was well. I guess the PA had got too hot. Now QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for about 90 minutes. It is now 1540z. So far this afternoon, 17 stations have spotted me (see table).

UPDATE 1735z:  20 unique stations have spotted me today.

Optical over the horizon

Before my 2013 stroke, I enjoyed 481 THz tests over the horizon. These days I am unable to do these tests. 

Chilling

This photo was taken in 2006 on Lake Annecy in France.  Looks like a copy of Practical Wireless in my hand. 

Sunday plans

The first thing I want to try is my FT-710AESS again. One possibility is the AESS only works if everything is connected and then the rig turned on. If this fails, a phone call to MLS will be needed. I really hope this is it. Does anybody know if, on later firmware, the fan only comes on when the rig is hot?

Other plans are 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon and 8m FT8.