4m - underused

Yesterday I went on 4m for the activity contest and on FT8.

My conclusion is 4m is underused, at least outside the Es season. If you are thinking about getting on 4m you might be disappointed. 

Sunspots - Friday May 19th 2023

Solar flux is 151 and the SSN 121. A=3 and K=0.

6m FT8 (Thursday)

Quite late (1945z) I QSYed to 6m FT8.  Just 5 Gs spotting me. 

Stations spotting me on
6m FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2045z:  15 Gs have spotted me so far this evening. I am using the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is interesting that these stations across England can spot my 20W to the vertical V2000 omni antenna. I guess this is  the normal range that can be expected.

4m FT8 (Thursday)

Whilst waiting for the 4m activity contest to start I went on 4m FT8. G3WCS (223km) spotted me pretty well. even though I was using the low 8m dipole via the auto-ATU in the rig.

After proving the rig/antenna worked OK on 4m SSB, I have returned to 4m FT8. At the moment just G3WCS is copying me.

UPDATE 1951z:  When I checked back on SSB activity later, I could copy few stations, so I went back to 4m FT8. Just G3WCS spotting me, so I QSYed to 6m FT8.

8m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

At about 1550z, I changed to 8m WSPR. I am running 2W on 40.680 MHz (20% RX, DF about 1550 Hz in the WSPR window). Already spotted by HC02 (1808km) in S.Portugal quite well. Nobody spotted on RX. I shall probably be on until about 1845z.

UPDATE 1724z:  8 spots so far from HC02. Getting weaker now.

Rallies

The following rallies are due this weekend. I always advise checking before going far.

Sunday May 21st - RetrotechUK. Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. Contact jezzer3@hotmail.com

Sunday May 21st - Dunstable Downs Radio Club Annual Rally, Luton (No postcode or contact details given).

4m UKAC tonight

 As you can tell, I seem to back losers!! A reminder that the 4m activity contest is on tonight starting at 1900z (8pm UK clock time). I hope to come on and maybe work someone. 

Oh look, there goes another flying pig! 😁

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 On 10m QRP (500mW) WSPR TX. Spots look like local and F2 so far.

UPDATE 1058z:   Still 5 unique station spots of my QRP. Let's hope for some Es soon.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

UPDATE 1537z:    It looks like we are seeing (at last) a widespread Es opening in Europe.

8m FT8 (Thursday)

At about 0805z, my QRP FT8 was turned on (40.680 TX first, DF about 1950 Hz). Some Es around, so a bit hopeful. See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

UPDATE 1101z:   No spots.

See also: https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/8m-40mhz-spot-band/ for 8m spots.

UPDATE 1543z: At last, HC02 (1808km) is spotting my QRP 8m FT8. This is my first report for several days. We have decent Es propagation at last. Nobody else is spotting me sadly.

Kite (bird) seen again

20 years ago seeing a red kite from the kitchen window in East Anglia would have been unheard of. Then they were reintroduced around the country and they are a common sight near busy roads. Yesterday at breakfast we were treated looking out the window - a kite flying over nearby allotment gardens.

Look for the forked tail.

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