Sunspots - Friday May 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 139. A=6 and K=1. 

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Very late in the day, I decided to switch from 8m to 10m FT8. Just a couple of spots of my 2.5W from the FT817ND. I also discovered that my 10m coax antenna plug is intermittent. This needs investigation. Quite a few stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1803z:  4 spots of my 2.5W with the furthermost 9G5AF (5189km).

Rallies on Sunday

These rallies have been notified to me. I do not have contact details, but advise checking with the organisers first if intending to travel a long way.

Sunday May 7th - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, PL20 6AL

Sunday May 7th - Hamfest Rally,Thorpe Camp Visitor's Centre. No postcode given.

Spring - NOT amateur radio

The green in spring always looks fresh whereas later it looks tired. This horse chestnut tree looks splendid. 

8m QRP FT8 TX (Thursday)

Earlier. I got my first 8m FT8 report for a while. This was Martin's SDR at WESSEXSDR (265km) at a respectable - 17dB S/N. 

They have arrived - NOT amateur radio

The swifts are back. This morning 2 were spotted. I have yet to hear them screaming in feeding parties, but the cycle that has been around for thousands of years continues. 

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

160m QRP FT8 last evening

Spots of my QRP FT8 on 160m
with the earth-electrode "antenna"
in the ground last evening

Using just 2.5W FT8 on 160m last evening to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 14 spots of me (as the map shows) were obtained. It works remarkably well with the FT817ND with just the 3C90 transformer and no ATU. I guess the SWR is between 2:1 and 3:1.

Sporadic E (Es)

We are just entering the Es season in the northern hemisphere. DX out to about 1500km with low power is common on the lower VHF bands. The photo shows my V2000 omni in 2020. On 6m even QRP SSB is enough to work DX. 

Sunspots - Thursday May 4th 2023

Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 143. A=4 and K=1. 

160m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

It is not dark here for about 90 minutes, but my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted on 2 SDR's in the west country the furthermost WESSEXSDR (265km).

UPDATE 2108z: 11 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8.