8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

At the moment, I am again on 8m QRP FT8. Time will tell if anyone sees me.  I am TXing first.

UPDATE 1005z:  Just exchanged FT8 reports with OD5KU (3468km) and copied EI2IP and 4X1BG (3532km) in Israel who was incredibly strong! Obviously the F2 MUF is above 40.680 MHz!

UPDATE 1058z:  4 stations have spotted me this morning. Until this morning, I had never been spotted in Asia on 8m QRP FT8. Now spotted by 4 Asian stations with the furthermost UN7MVB (3446km).

UPDATE 1132z:  QRT at the moment so rig cools. Hopefully, the USA will copy me on 8m FT8 later, despite the QRP.  Incidentally, I have never copied a transatlantic 8m station.

UPDATE 1306z: The latest station to spot my 8m FT8 QRP was RA9FMT (3503km), who got me at an incredible -9dB S/N. This is one of my best days yet on 8m.

UPDATE 1322z: I have lost count of the countries and continents in which my QRP 8m FT8 has been copied. I think it is now 21 countries and 4 continents. Even with real QRP, there is a lot to be find out on 8m. When the MUF gets high enough, it seems virtually anything is possible. My article about beaconing legally (in the ISM band) on 8m without a licence should be in PW either April or May.

UPDATE  1758z:   No USA spots today.

Across the fields - NOT amateur radio

 

A view of Chippenham village and church (near Cambridge) earlier this week.

Sixbox 6m transceiver

This design, from many years ago, was designed as a simple rig for local natters. It is ideal for use when the band is not open for DX.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox .

Sunspots - Friday, February 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 101. A=24 and K=2.

Getting taller - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our elder grandson in 3 years. In 2021 he was a child. In 2023 he is a young man. Either I am shrinking or he is growing. It is mostly the latter!

 

10m QRP WSPR TX

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. So far today, 8 unique stations have spotting me. 

UPDATE 1246z:  11 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1604z: 15 unique stations have spotted me today. It is interesting that several stations would have been able to copy my 10m WSPR with far less power, assuming their noise floor was low. This confirms to me that many licence exempt 8m ISM beacons could be copied at great range on WSPR. I hope many use 10mW ERP  8m ISM band licence free WSPR to great effect this Es season. In some countries higher ERPs may be legal too. In the UK, it is 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 1832z:  19 unique stations have spotted me.

8m FT8 F2 backscatter test

At the moment, I am trying to reach G9PUV (158km) by F2 backscatter on 8m FT8.  I am copying Paul, but he is not copying my QRP signal.  My 8m QRP FT8 is reaching SV1DH (2410km) in southern Greece as well as another station in Greece. I suspect this is F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1230z:  Although I copied G9PUV Paul quite well, he was unable to decode my 8m QRP FT8. I am not sure if he copied anything at all from me, but it was not enough to get an FT8 decode. So, we failed. Now RX only.

Bankers pay - NOT amateur radio

This was a Facebook memory from 2011. I was appalled then and this is now 12 years later!! 

Whilst I am all for skilled people earning a decent wage, I hope these people really earn this. Many who play the markets are no more than gamblers.

£260k a year in 2011 sounded stupid money even then! No wonder locals cannot afford properties where they come from. Angry? You bet! I cannot see how these stupid salaries are ever fair. Don't get me started on footballers pay.

QDX getting closer

When I ordered this around Christmas it was about 144th in the queue. It is now very near the top so should be here in March I expect. Hans makes some good kit. 

See https://qrp-labs.com/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this satellite. Although a bit busier than the last time I looked, it is still well under-used.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .