Sunspots - Sunday March 9th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 90. A=21 and K=5.

RX noise

An increasing issue especially in built-up areas is noise on receive. Increasingly, people are using switched mode PSUs with, for example, TVs. Also, there are inverters with solar panels. The result of all this is the noise floor, especially on the lower HF bands is going up and up. 

One solution is to use a separate antenna for receive and transmit. One approach is a low dipole for RX and a vertical on TX as in this video. Vertical antennas can pick up lots of local noise.

Anglesey Abbey walk - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife made this collage of our walk earlier this week.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My QDX at 2W has been on FT8 since breakfast.

Stations spotting me at 1030z

UPDATE 1050z: So far today, 21 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1147z:  43 stations have spotted me and 187 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 2325z: 168 stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP FT8. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday March 8th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 109. A=20 and K=4.

15m QRPP FT8 (Friday)

As I was having no luck with 63mW 10m FT8, I QSYed to 15m at 1658z, where I have been spotted by 1 station in Estonia so far .

UPDATE 2140z:  7 stations spotted my 63mW 15m FT8. QRT now.

Landwade earlier this week - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week we did a walk around Landwade in the spring sunshine. 

Landwade is not far from Newmarket, the home of horseracing.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

There were a couple of new patches of daffodils at Anglesey Abbey yesterday that looked stunning in the spring sunshine.

Better late than never

Just submitted my entry into the 2m activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB.  In all, 6 stations were worked with my 10W and omni antenna in 45 minutes before my poor voice screamed,"stop". I usually come way down, but it is good to try!

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My QDX at 2W (or less) was turned on at 0858z. There are 5 diodes dropping the supply volts.

UPDATE 0911z:  Although I have received 27 stations from across the planet but not one of me. Is something wrong or am I being clobbered by a stronger station?

Stations spotting my
2W 10m FT8 at 1222z

UPDATE 1117z:  So far, spotted by 32 stations and 202 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1222z:  52 stations have spotted my 2W 10m FT8 today. For fun, I may add the 15dB RF attenuator soon.

UPDATE 1228z: 15dB attenuator added so the power out is now 63mW.

UPDATE 1550z:  Although I am still getting plenty of spots of other stations on 10m FT8 RX even with the 15dB pad in the antenna line, I have received no spots at all on TX. This may be because I am being clobbered by a co-channel station or just that I am too weak.