6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+

Since about 1020z yesterday until the evening when I went QRT, I was on 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+. At 1036z Saturday, my signal has been spotted in Eastern Europe. This could be Es.

UPDATE 0825z:  97 stations had spotted my 6m FT8 QRP yesterday. See map.

UPDATE 1758z:  15 stations have spotted me today. Apart from a spot from Finland, all were UK.

Sunspots - Sunday July 21st

 Solar flux is 207 and the SSN 212 . A=7 and K=1.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 At about  1020z, I QSYed to 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. No spots.

UPDATE 1034z: No spots. I suspect many are now using FT8.

UPDATE 1044z:  Spots from OE3GBB (1233km) 

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 

In all 68 stations had spotted me before I QSYed to 6m QRP FT8. See map.

Californian poppies - NOT amateur radio

 We saw these yesterday at Anglesey Abbey. They have a new patch of wild flowers near the entrance.

Early 10m openings

Although I am unsure if this was Es or F2, I was surprised to find 10m FT8 open in the middle of the night.

Sunspots - Saturday July 20th

 Solar flux is 202 and the SSN 269. A=5 and K=2.

OFCOM publications

On the OFCOM website are publications that they do. In my view, this is an excuse to justify their existence! 

Overall I am seriously underwhelmed by OFCOM. The sooner it is closed the better.

Swifts will soon be gone - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, swifts are still screaming in the skies above us in the UK.  Soon they will be gone. They stay very few months, just enough to breed.  One morning, we will look up and realise they have gone. I look forward to them returning, but I shall probably have to wait until next May.

Being tired , giddy and with a poor voice and amateur radio

Back in 2013 I suffered a stroke. Luckily, unlike many, I had few long-term issues such as paralysis. The long-term issues I have are poor speech, giddiness and tiredness. I suspect this has altered the way I enjoy amateur radio. 

Over 30 years ago I worked 10m QRP SSB DXCC, so I am no longer fussed about working DX.  Although I still use voice modes like SSB and FM, I use these less. The main modes I use these days are WSPR and FT8.  

Nowadays I get as much fun from 1-way reports of my QRP signals as I do from 2-way QSOs.  Had I not had my stroke, I am unsure how important voice modes would still be. I agree that voice modes are essential for the continuance of amateur radio in the form we are used to. 

As I have mentioned before, as we age (many radio amateurs will be over 90 in 20 years), and as PTTs grow tired of amateur radio, that generates no revenue, I can see the future of our hobby is under threat. Hopefully I am wrong.