8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My 2.5W and dipole have been on for several hours. No spots at 1412z.

500uW 10m WSPR tests continued (Friday)

Yet again, WSPRnet seems to be having a bad day and is not working.  As WSPRrocks takes its spots from WSPRnet, there is nothing to see!

Sunspots - Friday December 8th 2023

 Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 121.  A=5 and K=1.

Seasonal Colour - NOT amateur radio

 

Christmastime here always includes hyacinths and amaryllis (see photo).

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W to the dipole was turned in about 1445z. Yesterday the SWR was higher than 3:1. Now it is perfect. I have no idea why!   Perhaps a bird was sitting at the feedpoint? I don't think it is wet in the coax as conditions at the moment are very similar to yesterday. No spots.

UPDATE 1730z:  No spots all day.

10m 500uW WSPR tests continued (Thursday)

My QRPPP 10m WSPR TX was turned on about 1445z. No spots.

UPDATE 1530z:  Amazing!!! A transatlantic spot at 500uW (see table). Although my beacon is hard wired to report 0.5W, the actual output with the PA off is 500uW (0.5mW).

Plans for today

 When I get back from my U3A course in Cambridge after lunch, I shall try 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR and try to better match my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground using the NanoVNA as a guide. Let's hope WSPRnet is working!

Sunspots - Thursday December 7th 2023

 Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 125. A=10 and K=1.

NanoVNA

Well, I think I know how to drive it, so I may try to better match my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground tomorrow after I get back from Cambridge in the afternoon.

For the price it is some instrument.

WSPRnet sick?

This afternoon, I have failed to access WSPRnet. It looks like there is a fault. 

Without this, I cannot continue my 10m 500uW experiments. Tomorrow, I may try 10m FT8.  I can try this with 50mW if need be.

Is there an alternative to WSPRnet?

It looks like WSPRrocks is working.