630m WSPR tonight (Monday)

After being in Cambridge most of the day, I am on 630m WSPR this evening. 8 spots of me with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km) yet again. With my QRP 10mW ERP and earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I am amazed that I get this far consistently.

70cm UKAC October 10th

 Usually I send my (pathetic) entry in the next day, but I forgot. I use 10W to my 144MHz omni antenna and only stay on for a short while because of my poor voice. 4 contacts were had.

Not on today until later

 As I am meeting an old school friend in Cambridge later, I do not expect to be active until very late.

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight 15 stations spotted my QRP WSPR TX with the earth-electrode antenna in the ground. The furthermost was again OH1LSQ (1733 km). I am amazed my setup gets spotted this far. 

Sunspots - Monday October 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 92. A=4 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 630m QRP WSPR was turned on at about 1732z. It amazes me that there are so few Gs on TX. As I have proved, QRP and an invisible antenna are all that are needed to be spotted a long way away. This evening, I can only see 2 Gs transmitting! So far, I have been spotted by 8 unique stations. Why not build my transverter?

War crimes? - NOT amateur radio

When Israel was attacked last week, many were (rightly) horrified. They are in a difficult position. They want to stop future attacks, which is fully understandable.

What I question is the ethics of their recent plans. They have asked 1 million people to leave northern Gaza. This is extremely difficult if you are old or disabled. As a person who was in intensive care 10 years ago, I know leaving would be impossible.

Starving innocent people, no water, no fuel?

So the cycle of hatred goes up again.

In my view, the long-term bad feeling created works against Israel.  

I have no idea what the answer is, but punishing the ordinary folk of Gaza cannot be the right one.

Great Britain: Evil? - NOT amateur radio

Looking back over our recent history Great Britain has a lot to be ashamed about. We were heavily involved in the slave trade, we exploited our empire colonies, we got Hong Kong on the back of the opium wars with China etc, etc..  If you look at our past we were a nasty lot.

Yet, today people want to come here!   People risk their lives to cross the English Channel on small boats. In many ways we treat people of all races and colours equally and fairly. We are nowadays a very fair and reasonable people. We are far from perfect, but given a choice I am quite happy living here.

Rural walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a walk around the village of Dalham near Newmarket. 

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 8m QRP (2.5W and dipole) was turned on after breakfast. So far just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me. I am hopeful about F2 propagation again today. 

UPDATE 1432z: 3 spots of my QRP 8m FT8 (2 locals and 1 Canadian). The Canadian was VA2CY (4965km).  On RX, 3 stations spotted G9PUV and 2 South Africans.

UPDATE 1636z: 4Z5ML (3566km) has spotted me.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

 

My 500mW beacon was turned on after breakfast. 7 spots of me already (see 1st table)!

UPDATE 1440z: 47 spots of me so far today (see 2nd table).

UPDATE 1704z:  68 stations have spotted me today. I think this is a record.

Plans for today (Sunday)

Today I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 (F2?) and 10m QRP WSPR TX with my beacon. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 15th 2023

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 100. A=8 and K=0.

Strictly Come Dancing break - NOT amateur radio

This is us with one of our granddaughters this evening. 

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

At about 1930z I QSYed to 630m WSPR using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, the best DX is a spot of me is by 2E0ILY/KIWI (209km). I am hopeful of LA or OH spots later.

UPDATE 2027z:   8 stations have spotted me this evening.

UPDATE 2059z:   OH1LSQ (133km) has spotted me again.

Last Ones? - NOT amateur radio

This lunchtime I picked, washed and ate the last few blackberries on the bush near our home. 

Hopefully I shall eat more next year. 

UPDATE October 29th: Still picked some today! See later post.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole has been on all morning. Just local spots by G4WSZ (12km).

UPDATE 1339z:  ZR1ADI (9777km) has been a good signal on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1418z:   VA2CYX (4965km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX quite well, but no luck him hearing me!

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

My 500mW TX  beacon has been on all morning and 23 stations have spotted me with the furthermost DP0GVN (13685km) in Antarctica yet again. 

UPDATE 1500z:   49 spots of me today.

UPDATE 1636z:   61 spots of me.

630m WSPR last evening

Overnight 8 stations spotted me. I was spotted twice in Norway. 

Sunspots - Saturday October 14th 2023

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 91. A=13 and K=1.