RSGB YouTube taiks

 Although I confess to watching few of these, the RSGB does regular live talks on Mondays at 1900z.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0829z: No spots.

UPDATE 1037z: Widespread Es with 23 stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 6W from the IC-705 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0824z:  6 English spots so far. See map.

UPDATE 1016z: 34 spots of me. Widespread Es.

Ferrite rod TX antennas

At some point in the near future I want to do more tests at very low power with a ferrite rod TX antenna. I have a small manual ATU which I can use. 

The best bands to try is 40m or 30m. Best mode would be WSPR but I want to try FT8.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/ferrite-rod-tx-antennas

UPDATE 0830z:  I have dug out the ferrite rod and ATU in readiness. Maybe tonight?

UPDATE 1628z: On 30m FT8 TX with the ferrite rod (vertical) matched via the Z match ATU. No ground.

UPDATE 1950z:  Although plenty of RX spots, nothing on 30m FT8 with the ferrite rod, so I have decided to try 30m WSPR.

Wednesday plans

 Weather permitting, I plan to do the same as yesterday going on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 21st

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 46. A=13 and K=1.

Summer bedding plants - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went to the local Garden Centre to buy some summer bedding plants. We will plant these tomorrow.

Simple FM bug

Not sure where this is legal , but I don’t expect the power to be very great. I guess you change frequency by adjusting turns on the coil. Might be a fun weekend project.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My W5OLF beacon was turned on about 0630z.

UPDATE  1334z:  So far spotted by just 2 stations in the Canary Is..

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 6W was turned on at about 0630z.

UPDATE 1330z: 26 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1840z: 91 stations have spotted my 6W 6m FT8. Most I assume are Es. See map.