10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)

So far today, 28 stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR on 10m. 

UPDATE 1900z: 35 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m QRP today.

Bury St Edmunds Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Most of the old Abbey is in ruins following the sacking by Puritans centuries ago in an act of pure vandalism. Luckily some of the ruins were incorporated into newer buildings. 

Window time sync?

Usually, I sync my PC to Internet time using https://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/ . I am not sure if later versions of Windows 10 or 11 do this Internet time synchronisation automatically and, if so, how often. 

For some reason, I am unable to sync with this time server today, so I have gone on TX anyway on 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR hoping the PC clock is right.

If you know about Windows and sync to Internet time, please let me know.

Rally

The following rally is due this weekend:

Saturday July 9th Houghton Radio Club Free Radio Rally. DH46LJ. I recommend contacting Amanda M6LXK on 07787155745 to confirm details. 

"Saturday 9 Jul - Houghton Radio Club Free Radio Rall : The Dubmire Royal British Legion Club, Britannia Terrace, Fencehouses DH4 6LJ.

Doors open 10am till 3pm. The rally is open to trade, clubs and private sellers/exhibitors. Table space is limited. There is no charge for tables and it is free entry. Donations are welcome to the Royal British Legion Club. Tea and coffees will be available and a licenced bar from 11am. Anyone wishing to book tables please contact Amanda M6LXK by. email: westona84@gmail.com or call: 07787155745."

8m amateur band in the UK?

According to Keith in a previous post, OFCOM is supporting a proposal for a space based radar to measure ice thickness somewhere between 40-50MHz at WRC23.

Personally, I cannot think why this should prevent them allocating just 5 kHz in the ISM band, by NoV only, narrow digital only (no speech), strictly non-interference, to the amateur service in the UK.

Personally, I think OFCOM is totally nuts over this!! Self training? Traceability? T&I licences? Come on!! Get real OFCOM. For serious self training and research we need this. There is a critical shortage of RF engineers in the UK (I know first hand) and both OFCOM and the RSGB could help address this by giving us the chance of self training at 8m.  As it is we have to pay £50 annually to do this.

8m experiment (Thursday)

After breakfast I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday was a good day. 

Iceland - NOT amateur radio

We went to Iceland in 2011 and had a surprise. I was expecting a country that was rugged and barren. Instead it was green and beautiful. There were lupins all over the place. 

Sunspots - Thursday July 7th 2022

 Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 98.  A=5 and K=1.

8m experiment (Wednesday)

Because I was out most of the day, I was unable to be on 8m FT8 until quite late. In all, my QRP 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 QRP was spotted by 5 stations this evening with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km)t. S50B (1220km) and I exchanged reports and locations. Borut was probably stronger than I have ever got him.

10m QRP WSPR TX

Because I was out most of the day, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was only turned on late this afternoon. Despite this, 26 stations managed to spot me before I went QRT. In all, plenty of Es still about. 

Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens - NOT amateur radio

 

This morning in the Abbey Gardens. 

70cm 4 element yagi

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 4 element yagi made from a metal coat hanger. It was used out portable in a contest. 

The mast was a PVC pipe trapped in the car door. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/70cm-4el-yagi .

Sunspots - Wednesday day July 6th 2022

Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 92. A=4 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My QRP beacon was turned on at 0909z and already there are 11 unique stations spotting me. A great day already.

UPDATE 1148z:  Already spotted by 28 stations on 10m WSPR today. Brilliant Es conditions.

UPDATE 1605z:  35 unique station spots of me today including 11 from John EI7GL.

8m experiment (Tuesday)

My QRP 8m FT8 TX was turned on at 0909z on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Already 2 spots from Iberia. There must Es about.

UPDATE 1144z:  Already spotted by 4 stations on 8m FT8 TX today with the furthermost EA8BFK (2880km) and I have spotted 3 stations on 8m FT8 RX in 3 countries.

UPDATE 1325z:   5 stations have spotted me today so far on 8m FT8. Very good. On RX, 4 stations spotted. 

UPDATE 1631z:  Now spotted by 6 stations today on 8m FT8 QRP TX. One of the best days on 8m FT8 TX. Rig currently off cooling.

UPDATE 2113z:  7 spots of me on 8m FT8 QRP TX. 

Sunspot peak better than expected?

The latest forecast I have seen is for the peak of solar cycle 25 to occur in November next year with a peak around 143, which is better than expected.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/. 

EI7GL?

John's blog has not been updated since May 22nd. There is a link to it on this blog as it is interesting and useful. It is one of the really good blogs that I often visit. 

Does anyone have any news? I hope he is OK. 

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .

UPDATE 1633z: I have received 11 10m WSPR spots from John today.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 5th 2022

Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 79. A=21 and K=1.

Our house 2014 - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo of our house was taken in 2014. 

10m QRP WSPR

At 1027z, my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on. 

UPDATE 1048z:   No spots of me today so far.

UPDATE 1225z: Just spots by local G4KPX (14km) and OE3XOE (1233km).