4m FT8 (Tuesday)

Today, I have decided to concentrate on 4m FT8 with about 10W to my 8m wire dipole matched via the auto ATU in my FT-710. It is now 0814z and, so far, just 1 G near Brighton has been spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me.

UPDATE 0823z: Unchanged. Es does not look good so far.

UPDATE 0837z: Spotted by G0TSM (186km).

UPDATE 1050z:   I have been spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost 9A3TN (1481km) and I have spotted 6 stations. There is Es about.

UPDATE 1524z:  After 11 spots (some Es) I am QRT on 4m and back on 8m FT8. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Spots so far from a local and Italy.

UPDATE 0922z: 10 stations have spotted me, mostly Es.

UPDATE 1044z:  19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1923z:   35 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR today. An HA just spotted me after over 4 quiet hours.

UPDATE 2121z:   39 stations have spotted me.

More Google Crappery? - NOT amateur radio

This came today. Whatever is "a property"? They mention this elsewhere.

" You can now link your new Google Analytics 4 properties to AdSense to get a holistic view of your monetisation...."

Haven't clue what they are talking about (again) but so pleased I can now get a holistic view!! 😉

Sunspots - Tuesday June 20th 2023

Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 181.  A=10 and K=2.

4m FT8

Starting tomorrow, I intend to concentrate on 4m FT8. Even with my compromised antenna, matched using the auto ATU in the FT-710, much of Europe should be in range by Es. It could be fun. I shall probably run 10W, maybe less.

Exile? - NOT amateur radio

Since 1970 I have lived happily in Cambridgeshire. I like where I live. We have a nice house and good friends.

Yet a part of me still yearns for where I come from in South Devon.  If I ever moved back I know it would not be the same. People have moved on or died and my memories of the place could not be replaced. 

It is extremely unlikely that I would move back. Instead I go back for a boost most years. Perhaps this is for the best: happy memories.

10m Lesser Chirpy

These days, many people prefer FT8 or WSPR for QRP. However, it is fun to see where an ultra-simple rig can reach. This has been on before, but with Es so good, it will certainly get all over Europe. As with all simple circuits, it is a compromise.

Although I find it hard to believe, this circuit dates back to 2012!  It is an ultra-simple CW transceiver for 10m. It is capable of improvement, I am sure. Mine was made "dead bug" style.  You can always use the reverse beacon network to see where you are reaching.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-lesser-chirpy

SPAM - NOT amateur radio

My mail provider does a pretty good job of filtering SPAM messages out. Just occasionally (maybe 1 in 1000) it puts things in the SPAM folder that is not SPAM, so I try to check before deleting SPAM for good. If I have not replied to an email, it went in SPAM and I missed it. Do not be afraid to send it again! Usually I respond within 24 hours.

Recently, my most common SPAM is "unable to deliver package" or similar. If you just confirm your details we can send you the package (and no doubt send you a nasty virus as a free bonus!!). Thankfully, SPAM is not an issue.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Es looks promising. 

My 8m FT8 gear (2.5W) was turned at about 0755z. So far, at 0813z, no spots.

UPDATE 1053z: Spots received from HC02 (1808km) and IU8CNE (1626km).

UPDATE 1921z: 3 stations spotted my 2.5W 8m QRP FT8 today.  On the whole, I am still being spotted by the same stations. Where is everyone? I was hoping many more would be on this Es season. Sadly, with a few exceptions, this is not the case.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0755z. So far, just spots from local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1321z: 35 unique stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP so far today.

UPDATE 1344z: It is amazing just how strong signals via Es can be. Today, for example, one German station reported my 500mW at +5dB S/N. If his background noise was low, he would probably have received me at 0.5mW. My antenna is nothing special. Raising it a bit higher and with a CB beam I could probably raise my signal by 10dB. So he would probably have spotted me if I was using just 50uW!

UPDATE 1902z:  37 unique stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 2002z:  38 stations have spotted me today on QRP 10m WSPR.