Church Fête - NOT amateur radio

We have not had a church fete since 2019 because of Covid. Today we had one in glorious sunshine. It is was a real village affair and well attended. 

Yaesu curtains?

For several years I have been worried about Yaesu. At the Dayton Hamvention 2023, I was hoping they would announce a new SDR QRP radio to replace the FT817/818. They have the technology.  Sadly, nothing HF was announced just, yet another, VHF/UHF mobile.

Since the early 1970s, I have been a real Yaesu fan. Many Yaesu radios have been bought over the years. At the present time I have 4 Yaesu rigs.  In my view, they have blown their last chance.

In my view Yaesu will quit the amateur radio market in the next few years. I hope I am wrong.

10m 1mW QRPP WSPR (Saturday)

 The lowest power I can run with WSJT-X is 1mW, so that is what I am running now. No spots yet at 1mW.

UPDATE 1230z:  DK6UG (633km) has spotted my 1mW 10m WSPR 4 times already. At best he was getting me at -6dB S/N.

UPDATE 1736z: 5 stations have spotted my 1mW 10m WSPR with the furthermost EA8/DF4UE (2876km). 5mW now seems like high power!

UPDATE 2020z:  8 stations spotted my 1mW 10m WSPR, which was better than I expected. Amazing.

10m QRPP WSPR: 5mW (Saturday)

My 10m WSPR is on 40% TX at just 5mW with the attenuator as close as possible to the TX. This also means the 20dB pad is also in line on RX.

How is it going? On TX, 4 unique stations have spotted me (one report is so strong I could certainly be copied at low microwatts!!).  On RX, even with the 20dB pad, I have spotted 10 stations already after about 30 minutes!

I am tempted to try FT8!

UPDATE 1115z:  I have another 10dB attenuation I could add. Tempted to try 500uW TX WSPR just for fun!

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Today, I had every intention of not going on 8m at all. 

Instead I was going to make an attenuator for 10m WSPR and concentrate on that. However, I am currently on 8m FT8 TX using my usual 2.5W. I have been on since about 0855z, ad already been spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.

UPDATE 1040z:  On 8m FT8 TX, spotted by 4 stations. On 8m FT8 RX 2 stations spotted.

OFCOM publications

 Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the records it holds on licences and similar matters every week.

Saturday plans

If the Es looks encouraging today, I hope to try mW 10m WSPR TX. This means adding attenuation very close to the transceiver. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 10th 2023

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 152. A=4 and K=1. 

Rallies this weekend

The following have been notified to me, but do check first  if the details are correct.

Sat June 10th - Rochdale and Ditrict Amateur Radio Summer ally, Norden, Rochdal, OL12 7QR. No contact details.

Sun June 11th -Mendips Rally. Farrington Gurnesy, BS39 6TY. Contact mendipsrally@hotmail.com

Sun June 11th - Junction 28 Radio Rally, Alfeton, DE55 7BD. Contact secretary@snadarc.com

Orchids - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw these orchids this morning in a meadow near Cambridge. When we went last year, they were dead.