10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

My QRP beacon has been on since about 0814z. Just local G4KPX(14km) has copied me this morning so far.  HF conditions appear a bit disturbed?

UPDATE 1006z: Since 0910z, I have been spotted in the Canary Is.. I remain amazed at how strong these F2 signals can be at times. I have received -4dB S/N at times despite running just 500mW.

Repair Cafe - NOT amateur radio

Every month our village holds a repair cafe where they try to repair things that otherwise would be scrapped. I was expecting it to be quiet, but it was busy. They also serve tea and cakes. What a good idea. Repairs are free, but they appreciate donations.

Plans for Monday

 My current plan is to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon and fix my 630m transverter so I can TX on 630m this evening. 

Well that is the plan!

630m WSPR yesterday

Sunday evening 6 stations were spotted as the chart shows.

I must get back on TX soon! Thinking about my transverter, I guess the first thing to try is see if I can receive the 3.2 MHz oscillator on another RX. If this is not going, it would give me a very good clue where to start looking. My problem these days is it is like fault finding in a brain fog! Somewhere I have my very old transverter which I used on 500 kHz years ago.

2012 back of the garage

In the old house most of my building was in the back of the garage as this photo from 2012 shows. 

Sunspots - Monday September 25th 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 172. A=21 and K=5.

630m WSPR RX

 At about 1845z I QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX. So far just G1GKN (54km) spotted.

I have found my old transverter, but not the current meter yet. I hope to mend the transverter this week.

UPDATE 1932z:  DC0DX (467km) spotted.

UPDATE 1946z: SM6NOC (1056km) spotted.

QSYed to QRP 8m FT8

Even though my chances are small, I have QSYed to 40.680 MHz FT8. At this time of year Es openings are possible, but rare. Aircraft reflection is possible, as I suppose are random MS and tropo. I live in hope! F2 is unlikely at this time of year with my low power.

UPDATE 1829z:  No spots. I see there are 3 stations in Belgium on. I hope I can get spotted by one or spot them.

UPDATE 1833z:  QRT soon on 8m after a hopeless day!

CQWW contests

Today is the CQWW RTTY contest. The SSB contest (the biggest in the world) is at the end of October and the CW contest at the end of November. 

As my voice is poor, I do not get the same pleasure I used to get in the SSB contest. Also, I frequently forget!  

Even if you are not a great contest fan (I am not!), it is a great opportunity to work some more countries. Exchange is, I think, report and CQ zone if you are outside of the USA. For example, if in the UK, 5914. Of course, there is no need to submit a contest entry. I have never submitted an entry to CQWW.

HF MUF

Recently, I was made aware of this website. As the MUF is creeping up, it is worth a regular look. It may give a clue to possible 8m and 6m F2 openings.

See https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems/6/5 - this gives the MUF for vertical incidence.

See also https://prop.kc2g.com/ .