Sunspots - August 1st

 Solar flux is 235 and the SSN 271. A=17 and K=4.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 is again on 40.680 MHz USB dial. No spots.

UPDATE 1525z: 9A4ZM (1289km) spotted on 8m  FT8, but nobody has spotted me! 😞

UPDATE 1726z:   Spotted by OE3FVU (1189km).

Sixbox

There is not much call for AM on 6m these days. That is a pity as designs can be simple and effective. This was my Sixbox that appeared in GQRP SPRAT magazine some years ago, I think. I say think as I cannot remember!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox.

Ready for harvest - NOT amateur radio

 

This field of corn, seen on our pre-breakfast walk, looks ready to harvest.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 10m WSPR beacon is on. I was surprised (again) to be spotted at 0034z by HB9TMC (905km). Es really is sporadic!

UPDATE 1007z:  8 stations have spotted me this morning.today.

UPDATE 2104z:  26 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR 

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

For some reason my 6m QRP FT8  transmissions were not being reported. Perhaps my timing was badly off or for some other reason. Anyway, I resynced to internet time and restarted PSKreporter and am getting plenty of spots. Some look like Es.

UPDATE 0934z:  13 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 with the furthermost OH6CT (2012km).

UPDATE 1437z:  Having been RX on 6m FT8 for several hours, I am back on QRP FT8 TX again, although I might try 8m FT8 shortly.

Early morning walk - NOT amateur radio

As today is expected to be very hot, we went for a walk before breakfast. On the walk we saw this thistle.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 31st

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 261. A=23 and K=1.

It is hard to think we were fearing we were entering a Maunder Minimum just a few years ago. These numbers are good.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 6m QRP FT8 to the V2000 omni was turned on at about 1750z.  Just 2 English stations have spotted me.

Promising EU Es?

At the moment, things look promising with regard to European Es.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .