22 Oct 2025

Wire antenna with gain?

 VK3YE has a new video about some experiments with his EFZZ antenna. It appears to have some gain in certain directions.  It is very hard to know the directivity and gain as this will depend on bands, local obstructions, band conditions etc. It might make a useful portable antenna.



10m 2W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on at 0910z.

UPDATE 1714z 525 stations spotting me as far as Canada, USA, South America, Australia and Taiwan. See map.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 22nd

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 107.  A=9 and K=0.

21 Oct 2025

Cambridge looking towards King's College

 

This is near King's College down a narrow passageway. King's College Chapel is visible in the distance.



10m 2W FT8 (Tuesday)

My system was turned on at about 0845z.

UPDATE 1622z:   503 spots of me. Now QRT. See map. It would seem that 2W FT8 gets around the world.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 21st

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 109. A=8 and K=3.

20 Oct 2025

All change weatherwise

Last week we had a big high pressure system and lots of clouds in what they call "anticyclonic gloom". This week we have low pressure, sun and showers.

The photo show Cambridge in a shower.

Later maybe?

As I have my U3A course in Cambridge I shall not be on the radio until later. If I go on I shall probably go on 6m QRP FT8. There is some doubt as we have thunder forecast. 

Sunspots - Monday October 20th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 103. A=18 and K=2.

19 Oct 2025

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 At 1552z I turned on my 500mW beacon. At first I (again) forgot to turn on the PSU!

UPDATE 1644z:  So far, spotted by no stations.  I am sure there are fewer people on WSPR now than FT8: 

UPDATE 2138z: 8 stations spotted me including one in Canada. Now QRT.