Christmas comes early? - NOT amateur radio

In the Cambridge M&S store I was appalled by this blatant attempt at commercialism. Even though it is only October 5th they are trying to tempt Christmas shoppers. To me, the Christmas period does not start until early December at the earliest. The sign says "Christmas Market this way". Bad humbug. 

630m WSPR TX (Thursday) - back on transmit!

I checked the transverter oscillator was working and power was being produced into a dummy load, but there is no current showing in the antenna current meter. Maybe the fault is with this?

So, I tested the transverter connecting it directly to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground (no matching transformer). Every TX period I received 4-7 spots per TX period. My ERP is at most 10mW, probably far less.

Furthermost was 209km.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0800z. At 0824z, no spots.

UPDATE 1635z:  21 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today. There were fewer USA stations spotting me.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 At about 0800z, I turned on my gear on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE 0824z: Just spots by local G4WSZ (12km) so far.

UPDATE 1558z: 2 spots of me today - a local and S59F (1205km). On RX I also spotted RW6HP, but waiting to hear if he is genuine. Spotted in S.Portugal by HC02 yesterday again.

Sunspots - Thursday October 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 151. A=10 and K=5.

630m WSPR RX (Wednesday)

So far, a couple of stations spotted although I only turned about 2000z.

UPDATE 2141z:  6 stations have been spotted so far this evening.

Tree cutting day - NOT amateur radio

 

We had our local tree surgery out to do some trimming of our trees and a hedge. They grow very fast!

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W was turned on at about 0800z.  No spots. 

Looking at the reports local G4WSZ is getting, I think his system is about 3-4dB better than mine. He is getting better reports from South Africa. This could be several things: more sensitive RX, better/higher antenna, antenna directivity. Whatever, I hope Steve spots many more.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 500mW WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0800z. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0829z: It helps if you look for spots of my TX signal on WSPRnet and not signals on RX!! I had forgotten I was on 630m WSPR RX last night. Switching to spots of my TX, there are 3 spots (Canaries and a local).

UPDATE 1148z:  As we are having some tree work done, I have turned off the PA and disconnected the antenna for the 10m WSPR beacon. Once this work is done, I shall reconnect these. 4 stations spotted me this morning (see table).

UPDATE 1725z:  After the tree surgery was completed, I reconnected my 10m WSPR TX beacon and antenna. Just FY5KE (7110km) spotted me additionally.

Wednesday plans

My current plans are QRP 8m FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX with the 500mW WSPR TX beacon.