10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

Been on for about 30 minutes (it is now 0945z) and, so far with the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon, 3 unique stations have spotted me. No surprises!

UPDATE 1156z:   7 spots of me so far today. USA also spotting me again.

UPDATE 1615z: 29 unique stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today with the furthermost being FR1GZ (9724km).

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Only been on for a short while, but been spotted by 4X1BG (3552km) and I have spotted G4APG (88km).

UPDATE 1008z:  A reminder that I believe anyone in the UK may legally put 10mW ERP beacons on without a licence on the 8m ISM bands as long as the technical requirements and IR 2030 are met. As encouragement, an Australian 8m WSPR beacon at 5mW was copied over 5000km away! See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2023/01/successful-low-power-tests-on-40-mhz.html . It would be good to see many WSPR beacons on 8m this Es season. 

UPDATE 1150z:  ZS6OB (9099km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1238z: 4X1BG (3552km) has again spotted me and I have spotted this station too on RX. The map shows the stations spotted here this morning on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1454z:  Spotted by 2 stations in the Caribbean on 8m QRP FT8. Amazing! When the rig gets hot, the power drops to 1W ish.

UPDATE 1512z:  Several stations were copied on 8m FT8 RX today, that were not reported to PSKreporter.  I am unsure if PSKreporter does not report in a QSO or it was a problem with my internet. G9PUV, G8BCG and another Eire station seen today. Probably F2 backscatter.

UPDATE 1525z:  5 stations have spotted my QRP 8m  FT8 today, including 3 in the Caribbean. I think FG8OG (6670km) in Guadeloupe may be a new country for me on 8m?

UPDATE 1543z:  It must be an issue with uploading to PSKreporter (delay?) or at my end as VA2CY clearly spotted calling CQ. He is on my screen several times , but not showing on PSKreporter.

UPDATE 1557z: WW1L (4976km) has spotted me on 8m FT8 this afternoon. Even with a very low ERP, I am still being copied "across the pond" many times.

UPDATE 1621z:  Now RX only on 8m FT8.

Kingsbridge NOT amateur radio

Not sure when the photo was taken, but it looks over a hundred years ago. This is where I was brought up as a teenager. I ate at the Shambles in the photo just last year. It used to be a coffee bar in my youth. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 109. A=6 and K=0.

First steps

Looking back, I noticed this photo that shows my first setup on 600m. Later we got an allocation at 630m.

10m Tenner Transceiver

This was created before the last sunspot peak. Although many have migrated to FT8, nothing beats working DX on a simple transceiver that you have made yourself. 

Although you made not build this, I hope it gives you some ideas.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-tenner-qrp-cw  .

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Been on 8m FT8 (TX first) for about 90 minutes. So far, 2 spots from Eastern Europe with the furthermost RA4FER (2992km). This is almost certainly F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1016z:  Not sure if there are now more people monitoring 8m FT8 or it is just that conditions are better so more people can copy my QRP. Until yesterday, there were very few reports of me from the east.

UPDATE 1218z:   When out shopping, I left the 8m FT8 on RX. 3 stations spotted as the map shows. Rig currently turned completely off.

UPDATE 1335z:  5 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8. I am surprised by the results at this time of year. Most reports seem to be by F2. Rig turned on again.

UPDATE 1405z:  7 spots of my 8m QRP FT8 today including HI8SDR-2 (7062km), which is a new country and "across the pond" again. Now RX only again.

UPDATE 1845z:  My first copy of a station in North America on 8m FT8:  VA2CY (4965km). Now QRT.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

It is now 1005z.  9 stations have so far spotted me. The majority look like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1220z:  13 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR beacon today. USA starting to spot me.

UPDATE 1342z:  26 spots of my 500mW QRP 10m WSPR. so far today.

UPDATE 1609z:   34 spots of me so far today on 10m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE 1636z:   37 spots so far today on 10m QRP WSPR.

Plans for Saturday

After breakfast I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz as well as 10m QRP WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. There might be some F2 backscatter on 8m. 

Our church in Burwell - NOT amateur radio

This is a view of our village church in silhouette. It is mostly 15th century although some parts of the tower are Saxon.