Interesting clouds - NOT amateur radio

This photo was recently posted by a friend in Shetland on 365project. I think these clouds are very high and the colours are ice crystals reflecting the low sun.

500uW 10m WSPR TX

My QRPP 10m WSPR beacon has been re-sync'd to internet time and is on. Any reports are welcomed. At the moment nobody has spotted me. It will probably be on all day.

UPDATE 1358z:  No spots.

UPDATE  1537z: Spotted twice by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canaries.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Friday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole should be on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1950 Hz) all day. It was turned on about 0945z.

UPDATE 1623z:   No spots.

Michael Rainey AA1TJ

Overnight I had a very good email from Michael AA1TJ. I was so pleased to hear that both Michael and his XYL were well and he is still busy with QRPP. 

Some of his results are truly inspiring, as they usually are!  In my view Michael is one of the most amazing QRPers on the planet and he definitely has produced some really great design ideas over the years.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

As WSPRnet was working again last night, I turned on my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In all, 11 stations spotted me, but no great DX.

Sunspots - Friday January 5th

 Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 64. A=6 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

WSPRnet seems to be fixed so I have QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At 2140z 3 stations have spotted me.

17m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Currently I am on 17m FT8 using 2.5W to the coax to the 2m big-wheel matched with my Z-match. So far, just European spots.

UPDATE 1550z:  Just one USA spot so far.

UPDATE 1636z:  More USA spots.

UPDATE 1926z: 31 stations have spotted me with many in the USA. WSPRnet still looks broken.

UPDATE  2030z: 32 stations have spotted me.

Christmas nearly over - NOT amateur radio

This weekend it is time to take down the cards and decorations. It seems they have been up for a very short time. 

We will blink and it will be next Christmas!

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

As WSPRnet seems to be in trouble, I am on 10m FT8 using 2.5W. It looks like all my spots so far are from the East via F2. On RX the band is well open to the east with plenty of stations in Australia and the Far East.

UPDATE 1155z:  11 stations have spotted me this morning on 10m QRP FT8. I wonder if the vertical coax to the 2m big-wheel (suitably matched) might be better? Might try this tomorrow. It could be this would be more omni-directional.