Sunspots - Saturday January 13th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 188. A=4 and K=1 .

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My gear (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) was turned on at about 1648z. Already 4 stations have spotted me.

Norwich swans - NOT amateur radio

These, and many more, swans were on the River Wensum in Norwich earlier in the week.

Amazing to think stones for Norwich cathedral came all the way from France centuries ago up here!

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 8m FT8 2.5W QRP was turned on a few hours ago on 40.680 MHz.  No spots.

UPDATE 1557z: PJ4MM (7483km) in Bonaire has been spotted on 8m FT8 RX. Nobody has spotted me!

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR TX (Friday)

In the last day my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR beacon has been spotted 3 times (there was a 4th earlier yesterday too). The power was verified with my TinySA spectrum analyser. The beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W even though the power is actually 500uW (0.5mW) with the PA off.

The beacon is on now.

UPDATE 1458z: No spots of my QRPP 10m WSPR today.

Sunspot peak

According to some forecasts we are just over the peak of solar cycle 25. Only time will tell us if this is indeed the case. Conditions on HF should still be good for several years.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

21 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground in the last 24 hours.

Greencube Satellite

Many years ago I had one satellite QSO with a satellite that covered 10m and 15m (I think!). It was so long ago that I forget the satellite and bands! Of late, some have been experimenting with IO 117. This is a medium earth orbit satellite with a 70cm digipeater.

See https://stationproject.blog/2023/07/04/greencube-io-117-overview/ .

Sunspots - Friday January 12th

 Solar flux is 193 and the SSN 151.  A=6 and  K=1.

OFCOM consultation - NOT amateur radio

OFCOM is consulting on a small scale DAB multiplex. See the OFCOM website for details.