10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

Yet again I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 18 unique stations have spotted me as the table shows.

Cambridge Winter Sun - NOT amateur radio

This was Cambridge earlier in the week in the winter sun. It has been very cold for the last week. 

Next week should be milder.

I think the senate house on the left is where degrees are presented.

Sunspots - Saturday December 17th 2022

Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 0 (I suspect this is an error, although it still shows 0 at 1939z).  A=6 and K=0.

8m tomorrow

For some reason, I am now seeing a very high SWR on 8m. I think it is the coax plug to the rig. I have a way of checking this that I shall try tomorrow. If this is successful, and the problem is fixed, I intend to do more QRP FT8 tests at 2.5W and the low dipole. 

My 10mW ERP WSPR tests have now (successfully) concluded. 10mW ERP can definitely cover the local area (to at least 17km) on WSPR even with antennas that are not 8m antennas at the RX end. With proper 8m antennas at the RX, who knows what the range would be?

In the car - NOT amateur radio

This was the view through the car window yesterday on the way into Cambridge. We do not get much snow these days. 

We have had snow on the ground since last weekend, then it froze. Lovely to look at, but hard to walk on.

OFCOM and drones

OFCOM has been consulting about commercial drones. It is aware that they are getting bigger and better with longer ranges, so it has worked out a licencing regime for those controlling them. See the OFCOM website for details.

OFCOM has also updated the data it holds on us.

Cambridge Market - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows Cambridge Market earlier this week. 

Winter Es

Don't ask me why, as I do not know, but there is a small uptick in Es propagation in mid-winter. Do not be too surprised to copy Europeans on 10m and 6m, and possibly 4m too. I think Es can remain good until the end of January (ish). Remember that Es can occur at any time of year but is most common in the northern hemisphere in May, June and July. 

FT8 can be good for this as even very short openings are caught and FT8 is well monitored. As you know, Es signals can be very strong.

2m QRP FT8

As my 2m antenna was already connected to the rig, I am on 2m QRP FT8 this morning with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost G4RAA (333km) in Devon.

UPDATE 1139z: 6 stations spotted on RX in 4 countries. My own 2.5W has been spotted in 2 countries (6 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km) in Northern Ireland.

UPDATE 1928z:  15 stations have spotted me with the furthermost  GM0HBK (668km). See map.
.

10m QRP WSPR TX

As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR with the W5OLF beacon. 4 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 2045z:   15 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today. Now QRT. For spots, see table.

2m MSK144 overnight

As it is the Geminids MS shower, I left the RX on 144.360 MHz overnight.  Only 4 stations spotted on MSK144 with the big-wheel omni. I think I was just too late.

Sunspots - Friday December 16th 2022

Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 140. A=5 and K=2.

Cambridge Christmas - NOT amateur radio

This was central Cambridge earlier today. It was very cold. There were fewer people about than normal. This may have been because of the cold or because there is less spending money.

2m MSK144 RX (Thursday)

 As it is the Geminids MS shower, I am on 144.360 MHz MSK144 RX using the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I am hoping to copy some DX on 2m, probably early morning. I am told this is the best place to look.

UPDATE 2212z: DL2NBU (791km) spotted strongly.

Winter wonderland - NOT amateur radio

This morning we drove into Cambridge. My wife had her U3A course and I went shopping. She took this photo through the car window. 

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

At the moment (1611z) I am on 10m FT8 RX. It seems wide open to North America. I was going to go on 8m FT8, but for some reason the SWR is very high.

UPDATE 1956z: 323 stations spotted so far.

8m local experiment

For several days over the last few weeks I have been doing tests with local stations to see if 10mW ERP 8m WSPR could be copied locally. In the end, 6 locals were able to get the signals and as far as I know they all used antennas that were not cut for 8m!!

My conclusion is that 10mW ERP WSPR beacons would definitely cover the local area. My own interpretation of UK ISM rules is that anyone may legally transmit beacons at 8m in the ISM band as long as they meet the technical requirements and IR2030 without a licence. With Es conditions such beacons will be copied in Europe occasionally.

My local tests have now stopped. 

Sunspots - Thursday December 15th 2022

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 174. A=4 and K=2.

Brrrr ... NOT amateur radio

This holly bush in our UK garden, really sums up the last few days - very cold, icy and snow. It should get a lot milder from Sunday.

10m FT8 next year

Currently, I  expect to be on 10m QRP (5W) quite a bit next year. Possibly I may also try 15m FT8.   I find voice QSOs hard these days. Many people are moving to FT8 now.  Around sunspot maximum, working the world should certainly be possible with QRP 10m FT8.