15 Jan 2026

Zachtek WSPR gear

For the last few days I have been using the 200mW Zachtek WSPR TX. In the end I bought the original kit although it is being copied in China. 

As far as I can tell, the Chinese copy does not have the low pass filters fitted so will have poor harmonic rejection. The Swedish version is far more expensive.

So far, with 200mW WSPR, it has reached 5 continents,

All timing is by GPS, which is built-in. Once programmed the unit needs no PC, so can run unattended. Mine comes covering 40m-6m. I also bought the all band RX, but I have not used this yet.

See https://www.zachtek.com/wspr-tx .

Cambridge in winter

 

This time of year is good when the weather is fine as there are fewer visitors and the bare trees make seeing easier.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on after breakfast,

UPDATE 1321z:  So far, just EA8BFK (2880km) and an SV spotting me.

Sunspots - Thursday January 15th

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 70. A=7 and K=2.

14 Jan 2026

Really?

Presldent Trump has made some bold claims about the US economy. These have been fact checked by the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz6yg15lpw9t

Some would appear to be incorrect.

Is it only me, but I have come across not one person (absolutely no-one at all, really) outside of the USA that has a good word to say about the leaders of the USA currently. To many they appear brash and arrogant. This is sad as I have always found Americans kind and generous. Yet very many voted for Mr Trump. What he does in the USA i cannot comment on, but I can express my personal views as an outsider.

6m 2W FT8 (Wednesday)

 My gear was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1540z:  15 stations spotting me with plenty in mainland Europe.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

  My beacon was turned on at breakfast time.

UPDATE 0950z: One SV has spotted me.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 14th

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 49. A=7 and K=2.

13 Jan 2026

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1510z.

UPDATE 1815z:  So far, spotted by 43 stations. See table. See Map from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ.



QRP radio

 I am a great QRP fan. This video may inspire you. Without any amplification on RX I expect the RX is deaf, so best not call CQ, but answer other people's calls.