630m QRP WSPR overnight

Just 3 stations spotted me overnight.  I shall carry on a little longer, although I suspect the season is drawing to a close, especially with my 10mW ERP. 

Sunspots - Friday June 7th

 Solar flux is 191 and the SSN 149.  A=6 and K=1.

500uW 10m WSPR versus 2.5W 6m FT8

At the moment I am doing two experiments. 

Firstly, my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon is on. 

Secondly, I am trying 2.5W FT8 on 6m. 

Every day I get Es spots from Europe with my 6m QRP FT8. 10m WSPR at 500uW is proving far harder with just a few spots a week being average. 

In theory WSPR works with signals having a far worse S/N than FT8. However, WSPR needs almost 120 seconds for a TX burst whereas FT8 needs just under 15 seconds.

I suspect that the longer time to successfully decode a WSPR signal and the fact that a 500uW signal is probably buried in noise is working against me.

Micro80 transceiver

Looking through some old photos yesterday, I chanced upon this one of my Micro80. I guess this must be about 20 years old. The Micro80 was the for-runner to famous Pixie transceiver.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

 My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was turned on at about 2145z . So far just spotted by a single station.

Buddleja - NOT amateur radio

This is known as the butterfly bush, as it attracts butterflies, This morning I bought one and this afternoon I planted it. Let's hope it takes and grows and attracts butterflies.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/buddleja .

USA politics - NOT amateur radio

In no way can (or should) I express views on how the people of the USA should vote for their president in November. They will rightly vote for the person they choose. But I am puzzled. Let me explain.

1. Firstly, I am surprised that their choice is really between two very old men. In a country as vast as the USA, surely they could have found candidates that were younger and sharper.  At 75 (as I am now) there is no way I'd want such high office.
2. Secondly, about half of the USA supports Mr Trump. Whatever your views I have yet to find anyone outside the USA who likes him. I really do mean anyone. Not one person has said a positive word. I have spoken with lots of people from the USA in the last few years.
3. Thirdly, I am puzzled that so many people want to be led by a billionaire who seems to want to be all powerful.

No, the USA puzzles me.

Rallies at the weekend

The following have been notified to me. Always check if travelling a long way.

    Sunday June 9th -  Junction 28 Radio Rally, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. Contact j28rally@snadarc.com .

    Sunday June 9th - Mendips Rally, Farrington Gurney, BS39 6UA. Contact mendipsrally@hotmail.com .

Amazon - NOT amateur radio

Amazon, the online delivery service, is like a UK wheat spread in that some hate it and some love it. Over the years we must have ordered hundreds of items. Only once has a delivery ever gone wrong, and that was just to an address a few doors away.

I recall my wife trying to buy some very ordinary nail scissors from our local chemist. She was told they had none and would be getting none in. She went on Amazon and got them delivered next day to the door at a lower price.

Yes, shopping patterns are changing, with many people preferring the convenience of home delivery.  Many retailers will close or adapt.

Today I wanted some wood filler, forgetting I had given my last to our son. I went on Amazon and two tubes will be delivered to my door tomorrow for less cost than 1 tube at our local DIY store. Delivery is free.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR

 Yet again, my 500uW 10m WSPR is turned on.

UPDATE 2020z: No spots all day today.