FT-710 on 8m

Someone posted on Facebook today that the FT-710 is about 10dB deaf on 8m. It can be persuaded to TX on 8m by putting it is engineering mode by pressing buttons. However use outside of offered amateur bands probably invalidates your warranty. I have no idea what power it puts out on 8m as I never tried it. I sold the FT-710 some time ago.

Optical communications - over the horizon

When fitter, I really enjoyed experimenting with this. Actually, I don't think this needs a licence at all, but it is real experimentation. Anyone can do this without costing much. 

All my gear and much of my test gear was homemade and very inexpensive. It is real "back of the garage" stuff. All my gear was homemade in the back of the garage. The only special test gear was a very weakly lit LED. If you have a multi-meter and scope, you really don't need much else. In my view optical communications is easier than microwaves as the test equipment is easy.

I was quite surprised how easy it was to copy an optical signal "over the horizon".

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon . 

Water lily - NOT amateur radio

 

This water lily was at RHS Bridgewater, near Salford last week.

By the windmill - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows me with one of my sons and grandsons near the windmill next door.  It was taken this weekend.

10m WSPR QRP (Monday)

So far today, my 500mW 10m WSPR has been spotted by 3 stations. 

UPDATE 1345z:  Just 4 unique station spots of me today. Is the Es season on the wane?

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

So far, 6 Gs have spotted me using 2.5W to the omni V2000 vertical antenna.

UPDATE 1855z:  Late Es opening with 56 stations spotting my QRP (see photo). 

Haircut time - NOT amateur radio

When my younger son pops up from Kent he usually cuts my hair. The weather has been so miserable lately that we had to do it in the utility room rather than the garden.

Sunspots - Monday July 31st 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 139. A=9 and K=1.

Digital Archive - amateur radio

 There is a vast archive of amateur radio material stored on-line.

See https://archive.org/details/dlarc?tab=collection .

Sunday breakfast - NOT amateur radio

Our younger son is here for a few days. He cooked breakfast this morning. Totally unhealthy, but great 😋😋. 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

My beacon has been on for about 50 minutes. So far, at 0930z, 2 stations has spotted me, one probably Es.

Stations spotting me at 1643z

UPDATE 1643z:  22 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today.

UPDATE  1750z:  So far today 27 stations have spotted me. These are mostly Es.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the omni V2000 vertical has been on for about 30 minutes. So far, spotted by 8 G stations with no Es.

UPDATE 1325z:  56 stations have spotted me today so far. 

Stations on 6m FT8 RX until 1412z

UPDATE 1412z:  A good day on 6m FT8 with my QRP being spotted by 63 stations around Europe with 73 stations spotted on RX including the USA and Canada.

Sunspots - Sunday July 30th 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 147. A=12 and K=2.

Swifts gone? - NOT amateur radio

 In the last few days we were up near Liverpool staying with a friend on the Wirral. Swifts were visible most days, but they were absent on the last day. I have not spotted any here in East Anglia since we got back yesterday. It is possible they have started their migration to Africa. Most soon leave. There are a few stragglers until September.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

UPDATE 1655z: I did not realise that some swifts do not migrate from Africa.

UPDATE 0950z Sunday:  Lots seen last evening so they have not gone yet! 

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since mid-morning, I have been om 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni. At 1425z 21 stations have spotted me.

Stations spotting
me at 1700z

UPDATE 1702z:   53 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

Since mid-morning I have been on 10m WSPR TX. At 1417z, I have been spotted by 9 stations across Europe. These were spotted by 8 stations. 

Saturday plans

Later, I shall be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 6m QRP FT8. I have not yet checked Es conditions in Europe. 

I might have a go at mending my 8m dipole and coax.

Sunspots - Saturday July 29th 2023

 Solar flux is 168 and the SSN 148. A=6 and K=3.

European Es - on the way down?

 Although today was quite a good Es day, I sense we are at the start of the decline. As we progress through August, we can expect fewer Es openings. Es will still occur, but we can expect fewer openings and less intense than in recent months.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Since I got home about an hour ago, I have been on 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. 32 unique spots so far. These look like FT8 in the main.

UPDATE 2044z:  45 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 QRP. See photo. These look like Es.