AM station

When I started in amateur radio most people were on AM (amplitude modulation) even on HF.  

In recent years there has been a bit of an AM revival especially on the lower HF bands. At one time AM was very popular as the gear can be simple and it is an effective mode. 

Its main drawback on HF is it is wider than SSB and power is wasted in the carrier. On the plus side RX gear can be extremely simple yet effective. See my Fredbox and Sixbox transceivers.

I saw this AM station on the internet. It made me feel quite nostalgic. 

Sadly, many have never used AM or experienced it.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ has been on since just before breakfast. 29 stations have spotted me, mostly in the UK. 

UPDATE 1036z: 33 stations have spotted my QRP. No signs of F2 here.

UPDATE 1200z: My QRP 6m FT8 has been spotted by 38 stations and 49 have been spotted here. All were European.

UPDATE  1810z:  QRT shortly. Spotted by 49 stations all in Europe. No F2 evident here on 6m.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on since just before breakfast. So far, at 1042z, 19 stations have spotted me. Most look like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1810z:  105 stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP today including many from the USA and Canada. Today has been exceptional on 10m WSPR. Furthermost is F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean.

WSPRrocks by VK7JJ

Where I have been received today.

Queen’s College Cambridge -NOT amateur radio

 This is a 600 year college is in Cambridge.

6m - could we get F2 openings?

With the currently high sunspot numbers there is a chance of F2 openings on 6m. I  shall try again for the USA after lunch. Apparently it was open to Australia but I spotted nothing on my omni vertical yesterday!

UPDATE 1610z: No sign here today of F2 activity on 6m. I shall stick with it as today has been exceptional on 10m WSPR. I have spotted one station on 6m FT8 in the USA this autumn. I suspect now is too late.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 29th

 Solar flux is 255 and the SSN 288. A=17 and K=2.

15m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 At about 1840z, I QSYed to 15m. So far (at 1851z) 11 stations have spotted me, all "across the pond".

UPDATE 2102z: 51 stations have spotted my QRP 15m FT8 this evening. See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday) with the QMX+

Since returning from shopping, I have been on 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ and V2000 omni vertical antenna. So far, 29 stations have spotted me with plenty in mainland Europe as the map shows. I am hoping I get some spots in the USA on 6m FT8 - you never know!

UPDATE 1615z: 37 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP FT8. Nothing from the USA.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

This morning, I am on 10m FT8 with my QDX transceiver. Stations coming in from across the world and I have been spotted (at 0900z) by 6 stations so far.

UPDATE 0957z: 42 stations have spotted me. Now RX only. On RX 152 stations spotted. I may try 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ later after shopping.

End of British Summer Time (BST) - NOT amateur radio

This last weekend we said "goodbye" to BST for another year. For a short while (only!) the mornings seem a bit lighter, but it gets dark far earlier. 

We adapt and get used to cosy evenings with the curtains drawn. I enjoy the dark evenings, but prefer the light evenings we get in spring and summer. Sadly, these seem to last a very short time.