Although my 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast, no reports have been received.
UPDATE 1257z: No spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am quite surprised.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
Although my 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since before breakfast, no reports have been received.
UPDATE 1257z: No spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am quite surprised.
Stations spotting me on 6m FT8 today |
At the moment I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR.
I can’t imagine European Es being as good as yesterday.
A few administrations have made an allocation to radio amateurs (the progressive ones?). At the last count I think this was 6 administrations. Many more have allowed operation at around 8m outside the amateur radio service.
I hope many more come to their senses soon. As I have said many, many times, just 5kHz, narrow digital only, and QRP power amateur radio allocation would be a start and allow research.
Why do radio amateurs in some countries have to pay to do research?
Am I alone in thinking the negative attitude of some PTTs is encouraging law breaking? At least with licenced radio amateurs traceability is easy. With my current T&I call I don't have to use a callsign or give my location, so traceability is non-existent. Talk about stupidity!!
A limited time (2 years around the sunspot peak?) amateur radio allocation at 8m with a strictly non-interference clause, with the limitations shown above, would surely cause no harm.
Steve G1KQH has informed me that there is a firmware update. As the changes do not really impact me, I shall not update my firmware this time. The upgrade does not add SSB. Had it done so, I definitely would have upgraded!
Es activity in Europe is holding up, at least on FT8.
Opinions vary over the length of the Es "season" in Europe, but certainly May, June and July can be good. Others think the season goes on to September.
In my experience it peaks in the late spring and early summer. Indeed, Es will be there at all times of year, but the intensity and frequency go down.
I suspect FT8 and FT4 will show that 10m, 6m and 4m are open on Es paths far more often than we think. It is for this reason that I hope people will stick with FT8/4 on these bands. We have so much to learn.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
My QRP 8m FT8 TX is currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Hoping for reports and QSOs.
UPDATE 1124z: No spots on 8m FT8 so far today.
UPDATE 1508z: As I was out most of the afternoon, I was on 8m FT8 RX only. Only spotted 1 station CT1END (1676km).
UPDATE 1513z: On 8m QRP FT8 TX again.
UPDATE 0936z: 6m QRP FT8 on. Spotted by 34 stations mostly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. See map. I think this is Es, so I am now on 8m QRP FT8.
See https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cow-tower-norwich/ .
This evening was the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. As usual, I was running 10W PEP to my big-wheel omni antenna. Because of m...