Sunspots - Tuesday February 6th

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 152.  A= 7 and K=2 .

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at 2130z. 

UPDATE 2215z:   10 stations have spotted me this evening so far.

22m HiFer ISM band

 Again I am trying my luck on the HiFer band. No luck with being spotted in the USA although both OE and DC have spotted my QRPP.

New experiments to try?

As many know, I enjoy experimenting. In recent years, my health has not been too great, so I have been looking at things I can do from home rather than going out and about. In the past I have tried VLF and over the horizon ((NLOS) optical tests, both with great success.

My problem is I am running out of new things to try!  

I have tried 500uW WSPR on 10m (best DX USA) , got to the Caribbean, USA, Canada and South Africa with 2.5W and a dipole on 8m FT8, 630m QRP WSPR (got to Finland) and have tried the 22m and 8m ISM bands with QRPP WSPR.

If you have any ideas, I'd like to hear from you. These are the criteria:

• Must be able to do it from home.
• No complicated antenna erections.
• Not expensive.
• Does not involve fine motor skills as I am no longer good at these sadly.
• Interesting and fun.
• Contributes to knowledge.

I am sure there must be things to have a go with.  What I would really like is something "meaty" that needs doing. With plenty of time on my hands, things can spread over many months.

Some of the things I might try:

• More 137kHz CW and QRSS3 tests.
• 1296MHz  QRP
• FT8 with real QRPP on 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20m.
• 8m this Es season with ISM power and WSPR.

Monday plans

 In a few moments I intend to have another go on 22m (HiFer band) with ISM power using WSPR. This evening my plan is to QSY to 630m QRP WSPR.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 630m 10mW ERP WSPR has been spotted by 17 stations in the last 24 hours.

Sophisticated wine tastes? - NOT amateur radio

For a long time I have enjoyed Merlot as my favourite red wine. Today, my wife said she really liked a certain rose wine. 

We must be simple beings as both are among the cheapest wines at our local supermarket!! The red wine is liked by both my sons too. 

All this proves expensive wines are wasted on us!

Sunspots - Monday February 5th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 138. A=6 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 2036z. So far, the usual suspects have spotted me.

UPDATE 2117z: The table shows the stations spotted here in the last 2 weeks. If the earth-electrode "antenna" has directivity, this is hard to discern. Judging by comparisons with others with more conventional antennas and earths, I would assume my antenna is definitely a few dBs worse. Nonetheless, it works!

Ultra QRPP

It seems to me that, when conditions are good, very  little power is needed to be spotted on WSPR. I tried 10m WSPR with 500uW and was spotted in the USA. I tried running legal ISM powers on 22m and, again was spotted widely.

What's next?