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

 My 10m WSPR beacon was re-synced to internet time just after breakfast. No spots.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Just 14 spots of my 2.5W 6m FT8 so far, all in the UK.

UPDATE 1056z:  134 spots of me so far. Strong Es is now evident. 

UPDATE 1220z:  187 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1433z: 207 stations have spotted my 2.5W 6m FT8 today with the furthermost EA8/DF4UE (2876km).

UPDATE  1656z:  303 stations have spotted me with the furthermost EA8RCP (3022km). See map for stations that have spotted my 6m 2.5W FT8 today.

UPDATE 1915z:  325 stations have spotted me today.

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 .