Me in the shack 2013

This was me in the shack this time in 2013. There have been some changes! 

Sunspots - Monday September 4th 2023

 Solar flux is 131 and the SSN 79. A=25 and K=2. 

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

At about 1555z, I went on 10m FT8 instead of WSPR. One of the issues with QRP FT8 is you do not know if you are being swamped out by a much stronger signal you cannot see. You can choose a clear frequency here, but you have no idea what it is like 1000s of kilometers away. My technique is to choose a clear frequency (I hope!) but move if I get no spots. This is a real problem on the busy HF bands.

UPDATE 1618z:  40 stations spotted, but just 1 spot of me. I  am being swamped! QSY called for!

UPDATE  1653z:  Now QSYed and more stations spotting me (see map).

UPDATE 1855z:  24 stations have now spotted my QRP.

UPDATE 2046z:  83 stations have spotted me. Now QRT. Furthermost was PY2BL (9531km).

Belgian 8m AMATEUR band

Since September 1st, Class A amateurs in Belgium have now got access to the 8m band. This is an additional AMATEUR band. 

I hope this is a model that other PTTs soon follow. 

PSKreporter

When I go on FT8, I usually check PSKreporter maps to see if anyone has received me. Some people report spotting, but these sometimes do not appear on PSKreporter. There can be a number of reasons.

PSKreporter might be down, the internet link from the reporter to PSKreporter may be down, PSKreporter may have a delay. There may be other reasons too.

All I am saying is PSKreporter is not infallible. Just because you are not reported does not mean you are not being received far away.

Blackberry picking - NOT amateur radio

For breakfast this morning I picked some fresh, wild blackberries. They are on some bushes about 20m away. With other fruit they were delicious. I guess there are enough for several days. 

Later we hope to go to the next village. With luck these blackberries should be ripe ..... assuming nobody else has picked them all!

UPDATE 1403z: We went blackberry picking at Reach just before lunch. There were thousands. Plenty for another day. 

Beautiful sky - NOT amateur radio

Who would ever thought electricity pylons could be beautiful?  This was posted this morning by one of my friends on 365project, where a picture is posted every day. I have done it now for over 10 years.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 8m 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 20 minutes ago as there are several people monitoring across Europe. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1345z: No spots. 

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 10m 500mW WSPR TX beacon has been on since before breakfast. 3 stations have spotted me. These look like Es.

UPDATE 0914z:   Now spotted in the Canary Is as well. 6 stations spotting me.

European Es (Sunday)

At  the moment, there is quite good Es in Europe. It is 0823z. I hope it lasts!

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