Car cleaning - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned in an earlier post, we cleaned the car before lunch. We really ought to clean it a lot more often! My wife did the inside and I did the outside. It looks better for it.  It was probably last cleaned last summer. 

As you can tell, to us a car is just a mode of transport. If it is reliable, we really do not care what it is. So far, we have had Kia's for about 13 years and they have proved very reliable.

RSGB webinars

 Usually, I miss these, but I was recommended to watch the recording of the one last Monday by Hugh HC02 an SWL in Portugal. It was given by G3ZIL in Southampton and focused on the use of digital modes for propagation research. There are definitely people around who are far cleverer than I am! In it, his research has highlighted a new possible HF propagation mode called side scatter. Judging by this talk, these webinars are worth watching.

 

500uW 10m WSPR success again

My intention was to add a 17dB pad so I could run 10mW WSPR on 10m. Instead I cleaned the car and left the beacon with the PA off producing 500uW (0.5mW).  I was not expecting any spots so was very pleased to see a spot from the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1435z:  No further 10m WSPR spots today at 500uW (0.5mW). Sadly my beacon is pre-programmed to report the power as 500mW, when it really is just 500uW. I think my repeat 10mW 10m WSPR test will have to wait until tomorrow.

UPDATE 1846z: EA8BFK (2880km) spotted my 500uW again at tea time!

630m WSPR overnight

20 stations spotted my 10mW ERP  in the last day and overnight on 630m 10mW ERP WSPR (see table).

Sunspots - Saturday February 10th

 Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=1.

OK, I am a masochist! 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR (Friday)

As 500mW 10m WSPR TX was proving too easy, I have turned off the beacon PA again. After 1115z, my power is now 500uW again.

UPDATE 1522z:   No spots at 500uW. I think tomorrow I shall do more tests at 10mW ERP. This time, I shall use the 500mW beacon TX with a 17dB attenuator, so the FT817ND is free for other things.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was tuned on. So far, 4 Gs have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1255z:   DX stations are spotting my QRP with spots from Germany (near Hamburg) and the Netherlands. 9 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1526z:  13 stations have spotted me. One QSO attempted and successful.

10m WSPR TX Friday at 500mW (QRO for me!!)

As 500uW 10m WSPR was proving impossible, I turned on the beacon PA, so the output was 500mW. 7 stations have spotted me! It is so much easier at 500mW! 

UPDATE 1105z:   13 stations have spotted me at 500mW.

UPDATE 1112z:  14 stations have now spotted my 500mW WSPR.  500uW seems too low unless conditions are exceptional, whereas 10mW seems far better. 500mW seems like really high power!

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Although no great DX, 26 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

We like watching these growing at this time of year. We have several in various stages with one that has 3 flowers (see photo).