630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 10mW ERP WSPR was spotted by 18 stations overnight. Furthermost was Norway. 

Have a laugh - NOT amateur radio

This photo was sent to me by Steve G1KQH last night. It made me chuckle.

The serious point is many very old people are unhappy with smart phones, apps, online banking etc.  They are used to speaking with a human being!

At one time, for example, I could go into my local bank and speak to the manager.  Now you get connected to an overseas call centre and treated as a number. I am sure I am not alone in absolutely hating call centres on the far side of the planet. 

Do you also get thoroughly fed up being told "your call is very important to us" and please press button "x" if you want this service or "y" if you want this?  One of the worst is AI when you have to say something! With my poor voice I often have to repeat.

Every day we get further and further from real contact with human beings!

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on. One English station spotting me at 0742z.

UPDATE 1036z:  I was wondering why I was getting no new spots on 6m FT8.  When I looked, the rig was flashing "hi SWR". The PL259 was not making proper contact. Since connecting it tighter, I am getting spots (see map)!

UPDATE 1402z: 12 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 with the most distant EA7P (1770km).

Stations received
on 6m FT8 today

UPDATE 1525z:   On RX, some stations in Europe.

UPDATE 1916z: 15 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 on 6m today.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 As solar conditions seem to be on the wane (although still quite good), I think it unlikely that my 500uW WSPR be spotted, so I shall return to 500mW today. 

Funny how this seems really high power now!

UPDATE 0736z: Changed to 500mW 10m WSPR and already spotted locally.

UPDATED 1040z:  At 500mW WSPR it is far easier! Plenty of spots from across the world.

UPDATE 1208z: Plenty of spots from the USA with 500mW 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1444z:  26 stations have spotted me today.  For just 500uW to have worked I would have needed these spots to be -3dB or better. As far as I can see, even if the RX noise was very low, it would have been very unlikely.

UPDATE 1515z:  30 stations have spotted me today. Map from WSPR rocks by VK7JJ.

UPDATE  1938z:   43 stations have spotted me. It's too easy!!

Sunspots- Tuesday March 12th

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 56. A=4 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 630m QRP WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) was turned on at about 1730z. So far, 4 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2157z: So far this evening, 10 stations have spotted me (see table).

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Monday)

My QRPP 10m WSPR signal is on again. 

UPDATE 1706z:   No spots all day. I have definitely concluded that 500uW 10m WSPR only works when (a) conditions are very good, and (b) the RX noise floor is low.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on this morning. 10 English stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1530z:  17 stations have spotted me. All English (see map).

Brunch - NOT amateur radio

Usually I go with my wife to Cambridge on the bus on Mondays, but as I have a few jobs to do I stayed at home. 

This was my brunch. Delicious!! Usually I have a cooked breakfast at weekends and Wednesdays.

630m WSPR overnight

20 stations spotted me overnight including 2 in Norway and OH1LSQ (1733km) yet again.