My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon is back on 500mW with the PA turned on. It is interesting that the reports today suggest 500uW would not be spotted i.e. with the PA turned off. At the moment, I have decided to stick with 630m WSPR and not go on 8m FT8.
17 Nov 2023
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon is back on 500mW with the PA turned on. It is interesting that the reports today suggest 500uW would not be spotted i.e. with the PA turned off. At the moment, I have decided to stick with 630m WSPR and not go on 8m FT8.
Autumn has arrived - NOT amateur radio
Sunspots - Friday November 17th 2023
Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 28. A=8 and K=0.
16 Nov 2023
630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at 1642z. So far, after 1 transmission, 3 UK stations have spotted me. No great DX, but it works!
UPDATE 2015z: 7 UK stations have spotted me.
Rally news
The following rallies are due this weekend. If you are going a long way, I always advise contacting the organisers first.
Saturday November 18th - Rochdale and District ARS Winter Rally, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Contact dave@cardens.me.uk .
Sunday November 19th - Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society (CATS) Bazaar, Old Coulsdon, CR5 1ES. Contact bazaar@catsradio.org.uk .
Fog of war - NOT amateur radio
When there are wars on it is very hard to discern the truth as all sides tend to distort the truth. This was true in the Vietnam war and was certainly true in WW2.
At the moment, in the Middle East, it is hard to untangle the facts. Clearly Israel wants to eliminate the threat from Hamas. At the same time, many innocent people are being killed or maimed and their homes destroyed. The best way I have found is to listen to the news from both angles and try to make up your mind on the truth. With the "fog of war", this is hard.
The only thing for certain is that all involved bend the truth!!
10m uW WSPR (Thursday)
My 10m WSPR beacon is still turned on but with the PA turned off. No spots. My beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W, even though the power is actually about 500uW.
UPDATE 1630z: Unless things dramatically change, I think spots of my 500uW on 10m WSPR TX are very unlikely today. Tomorrow, I shall probably revert to 500mW, i.e. QRO for me! I guess the issue for many is now a high local noise floor.
630m overnight
With 15 stations spotting me overnight (on 630m WSPR with 10mW ERP) this is my best this season. Once again the best were 3 spots by OH1LSQ (1733km).




