40m QRP FT8

Yesterday I matched, using my z-match, the coax going to my 2m big-wheel antenna and was amazed by the spots. With 2.5W FT8 I was spotted by 255 stations including 2 in the USA.

Sunspots- Sunday December 24th 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 123. A=6 and K=1.

40m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Just tried loading up the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via my z-match on 40m (7.074MHz). 18 spots of me already after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1612z:  24 stations have spotted my 40m QRP FT8 so far.

Born in a stately home - NOT amateur radio

After WW2, this was a nursing home for some years. It was here that I was born a long time ago.  It has been converted to retirement flats.

So, I can truthfully say I was born in a stately home even though we lived in a modest council house at the time!!

30m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Using 2.5W to my V2000 vertical via my z-match tuner, I am giving 30m FT8 a try.

UPDATE 1447z: Plenty of spots of me. It also loads up on 20m where my 2.5W is being widely spotted.

I think with this z-match, I can load up random wires and coax outers on most HF bands.

The map shows the 71 spots of me on 30m 2.5W FT8 by mid-afternoon. Oh yes, it works.

UPDATE 1552:  Spotted by 125 stations on 30m QRP FT8  - too easy!

10m 500uW WSPR experiment continued (Saturday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX experiment is continuing. 

UPDATE 1219z:  No spots today.

UPDATE 1454z:  Spotted in the Canary Is - amazing for 500uW WSPR! 

Soldering - hard now

 A few minutes ago, I was intending to go on 8m QRP FT8, but I noticed the high SWR. 

The problem is the coax plug. I attempted to fix it, but the soldering is now so much harder, so I have stopped for now. I shall have another go after lunch. 

This is a combination of poorer fine motor skills and eyesight. To think 50 years ago this would be so trivial!! I shall do it, but it takes longer nowadays.

Birthday - NOT amateur radio

Today I am 21 and quite a bit!  A few years ago I would have qualified for a free TV licence!

My wife is cooking pheasant.

Conspicuous silence?

My speculation a few days ago about a possible successor to the FT-817/818 met with silence. I guess Yaesu is looking at ICOM, the KX2/3 and the Chinese and wondering if they should bother. If I was Yaesu, I'd be thinking twice. 

They need to come out (if they do) with a "killer" QRP product that everyone wants with some very unique features. 

On performance these last few years I have my doubts. They are capable of doing some excellent products, but seem to be floundering in recent years. At one time they were market leaders. Nowadays they are market followers trying to catch up.

630m WSPR overnight

 

In all, 10 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight.