10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

My 500mW WSPR TX beacon has been on for a little while. Already 9 stations spotting me. Plenty of Es around.

UPDATE 0907z: 10 spots of me. Later in the Es season I detect a pattern. I seem to have more northerly spots. I am wondering if this is the traditional Es or something else? It happens every year on 10m. The co-incidence is odd.

UPDATE 1400z: 20 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR with the furthermost PU5ALE (10191km) in Brazil.

How simple can you go?

This has been on before, but I make no excuses for posting it again. One of the challenges in amateur radio is to see how simple a complete transceiver can be made that really works. This is just one possibility. There must be many others. My main issue was adjusting the RX to be precisely on the TX frequency. Maybe you have some ideas?

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

In the UK a General Election, after which the next ruling government will be formed, is expected late 2024. The ruling Conservative party is expected to lose power. 

Sadly, the leading opposition party is led by Sir Keir Starmer. He seems an honest man, but rather lacks charisma. 

In my view, the outcome could well be closer than expected.

Near Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 

This house was next to Ely Cathedral. I think it is either a cathedral office or linked to the King's School.

Sunday plans

Later this morning I expect to be on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX. Sadly the SWR on my loop makes 8m TX tests unlikely, although I might try 8m FT8 RX later.

Sunspots - Sunday July 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 103. A=8 and K=0.

Ely thistle - NOT amateur radio

This splendid thistle was in the Almonry Garden at Ely Cathedral last Tuesday.  You can just see Ely Cathedral behind.

OFCOM publications

This is just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc. every week. Check the OFCOM website for details. The latest versions of their publications are also there too.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

As mentioned before, my 8m antenna system is faulty and needs replacing. As an experiment I tried my V2000 vertical omni on 8m. The VSWR is over 3:1 so not really suitable. I gave a few transmissions but am currently on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1144z:  I must mend my 8m antenna system!

UPDATE 1600z:  As an emergency measure I am using my indoor loop on 8m. The SWR is higher than I would want, so I am mostly on RX.

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