Sunspots - Saturday September 30th 2023

Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 102. A=12 and K=1. 

Being old (some advantages) - NOT amateur radio

There are some advantages of being old! We do not have to work and we have a free bus pass. 

Today, for free, we went on the guided bus to St Ives in Cambridgeshire in bright sunshine. The guided bus is fast, traffic free, and uses the same route as the old St Ives branch railway from Cambridge.

After an excellent lunch in the URC church cafe, we sat by the river and went to the local museum.

630m WSPR RX last evening

 In the end, 6 stations were spotted. There was nothing new spotted after midnight.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

My 500mW beacon is on. Just a single spot by DK6UG (633km) early this mornig.

 
UPDATE 1820z:  9 stations have spotted me today. I seem to be spotted in Antarctica regularly these days! In 5 years' time this would seem remarkable.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 Although I am not expecting much, I am again on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8. Any reports would be welcomed.....from anyone!!

UPDATE 1549z: Today I was spotted for the first time in Luxembourg and I spotted one of the Belgian stations now able to TX legally with an amateur call on 8m. Altogether, 2 spots of my 8m QRP FT8 today.

UPDATE 1830z:   3 stations have spotted me (see map) today.

USA prefixes

 At one time you knew a W6 was on the west coast, probably California. If you spotted a W1, chances were it was in New England and W4 was probably Florida.  Not any more!! 

Yesterday I was spotted on 10m QRP WSPR by a W7. He was on the east coast! Whereas at one time the USA prefix gave you a clue to where the person was, you now have no way of knowing. 

Yet another step backwards.

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder activity

As you know I take a regular peek at activity levels on the narrowband transponder of Oscar 100. It has been pointed out to me that this has encouraged microwave activity especially in Europe. This is certainly true. 

Personally, I was expecting this to become the de facto way of DXing within its footprint. It promised DX, at any time, without QSB with a small fixed antenna (that could even be at ground level) and modest power.  No tower, expensive beams or linear needed!! Very neighbour friendly. 

In my view, I was expecting it to be far busier. When I last looked at European teatime midweek, activity levels were still quiet. 

One transistor transceiver

My attention was brought to this design yesterday. 

My immediate thoughts were than the TX would be fine, but the RX very deaf. For local QSOs and experiments fine, but it could not be seriously used as the RX would not be able to hear who is on the channel. If the other station TXed first, you would know the channel was clear.

See https://semara.org/tech-talk-a-one-transistor-marvel-transceiver/ .

Yesterday on 10m QRP WSPR TX

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was spotted by 24 stations including the German Research Station DP0GVN (13685km) in Antarctica.  I have lost count how many times I have been spotted down there. I expect their noise floor is pretty quiet!

Sunspots - Friday September 29th 2023

Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 109. A=6 and K=2.