Yesterday's birthday celebrations - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I mentioned that I was 21 and quite a bit. 

It was relaxing day at home with the wind blowing outside.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Sunday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR transmissions continue. So far today, no spots.

UPDATE 1223z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1720z:  2 spots from stations in the Canary Is at 500uW (0.5mW).

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.