10m 500mW WSPR TX

Although the QRP beacon has just been turned on, already spots from 4 unique stations. These look like Es and F2.  A very promising start today.

UPDATE 1047z:  6 unique spots of my QRP 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1200z:  8 unique stations have spotted me this morning on 10m QRP WSPR as the map shows.

UPDATE  1440z: 19 spots of my 10m QRP WSPR so far today. Once again, the furthermost is F61695 (9729km) on Reunion Is in the south Indian Ocean.

UPDATE 1805z:  27 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today. Es back with a bang!

SMD parts

Few radio amateurs  have the tools to solder SMD parts. As time progresses, SMD parts will get progressively smaller and discrete parts rarer. Some sort of SMD capability will become essential for experimenters.

In many ways SMD parts are better. Without leads they become more predictable in RF circuits. With leaded parts, lead inductance can be significant, especially at VHF and above.

The smallest SMD parts are now 0.25mm x 0.125mm!! Good job I am retired.  😁

Imagine a sneeze!! Oh b****r.  😆😊

Es - promising?

A quick look at https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ suggests that European Es could be promising later. My current plan is 8m QRP FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR TX, with 8m WSPR later. Things will be turned on later this morning.

If 8m is disappointing and few stations are active this Es season, I shall probably QSY to 10m FT8 next week. If the Es looks really good, I shall go on 8m again and on 4m FT8.

My 8m "experiment" was to find out how effective a very simple QRP station could be. For this lots of monitors are needed. Sadly, I think there are fewer people on than in the last Es season, at least so far. I was hoping 8m would be busy with WSPR and FT8 beacons from stations without a licence operating under ISM rules.

UPDATE 1446z:  Good Es today in central Europe!

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! 😁