2m 2.5W FT8

 Using my big-wheel omni antenna, I have been on 2m FT8 since about 0830z. So far, 4 spots today.

UPDATE 0947z: Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotting me. Too easy, even with 2.5W and an omni antenna! I am still unsure if this is aircraft reflection or troposcatter. The reports (decent) suggest aircraft.

UPDATE 1754z:   12 stations have spotted me today on 2m QRP FT8.

10m 50mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

0.5mW seemed too low yesterday (no spots), so this morning I am trying 10m WSPR TX at 50mW. I am doing this by running my 0.5W beacon directly into a 10dB attenuator. The beacon was turned on about 0830z. My WSPRnet reporting will still say 0.5W (programmed into the beacon), but the actual power is 50mW. 2 stations already spotting me.

UPDATE 1745z:  15 stations have spotted me. Even though the beacon reports 0.5W to WSPRnet the actual power after the 10dB pad will result in 50mW output. Perhaps I should try 5mW tomorrow?

Sunspots - Tuesday November 21st 2023

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 127.  A=5 and K=3.

QRP portable

This photo was taken many years ago in my mother’s garden. Also, judging by what hair I have, which was still black, I would guess this in the 1980s. As I recall, I was using the 2m 200mW PEP MX2 with a 1W 10m homebrewed transverter all powered with a 12V 1A sealed lead acid battery pack. As I recall, I got all over the world with this set-up. The antenna was a base loaded whip on the grass.

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My QRP  630m WSPR was turned on at about 1730z. So far, spotted by 3 English stations.

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 5 stations this evening. All these are in England.

UPDATE 2110z:  Spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost a station in the Netherlands. In the table 10 are shown as one was this morning.

500uW 10m WSPR TX (Monday)

With no reports today at all, it would seem 500uW is too little to be copied unless conditions are very good. Tomorrow, I might try with 50mW output, i.e. with the PA turned on and an external 10dB attenuator right on the output of the beacon.

Christmas display - NOT amateur radio

 

This was at the entrance to a big furniture store in nearby Bury-St-Edmunds earlier today.

No doubt the little ones love it. All the bears move too.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 In all, 14 stations spotted me with the furthermost the north of Scotland. No spots on 10mW ERP from outside the UK this session.

2m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My 2.5W to the big-wheel omni was turned on about 0930z. So far, spotted by 4 stations.

UPDATED 1646z:   Spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

Local walks - NOT amateur radio

If the weather is good, we enjoy a local walk. All were taken within a few miles of home.

This collage shows some of the places seen in the last week.