10m 500mW WSPT TX (Friday)

My stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon has been on much of the morning. 3 stations have spotted me. This all looks like F2.

UPDATE 1308z: 19 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1334z: 24 spots of my QRP so far with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km)

UPDATE 1535z: 37 spots of me today.

That DX 8m QRP contact yesterday

Yesterday, as reported, I managed to have my first 8m two-way FT8 QSO across the Atlantic. I was using 2.5W and Eden, ZF1EJ, 5W. 

630m WSPR overnight

Overnight I was on 630m WSPR using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with 10mW ERP. 15 stations spotted me. OH1LSQ was on, but didn't spot me. The table shows the stations spotting me in the last 12 hours.

Sunspots - Friday October 27th 2023

Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 57. A=23 and K=3. 

630m WSPR (Thursday)

I have QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR for the evening and night.  8 stations have spotted me so far - all in the UK.

UPDATE 2118z:  12 stations have spotted me.

NanoVNA - very tempted

The NanoVNA is a palm sized vector network analyser  I have the TinySA, which is its brother spectrum analyser. Like many things out of China, there are many clones, so you have to be sure you are buying originals and not copies. One of the things it can do is plot SWR against frequency, so you can check if your antenna is spot on.  It can also be used to check trap frequencies.

See nanovna.com .

UPDATE 1555z:  Ordered from Mirfield Electronics.

Rallies this Saturday

The following rallies have been notified to me. Both are meant to take place on Saturday, October 28th. I always advise checking first before travelling any distance.

-  Essex CW Boot Camp, Witham, CM8 2HE.  Contact g0ibn1@yahoo.com.

-  Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group Rally Carrickfergus, N.Ireland. No contact details given.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W FT8 has been on since breakfast, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 1410z: 5 stations have spotted my QRP (3 in the Caribbean) and 1 QSO with ZF1EJ (7761km). One of my best days on 8m! I suspect ZF1EJ has an antenna somewhat better than mine!

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since breakfast. Getting spotted in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1322z:  35 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today with the furthermost VK6JR (14528km).

UPDATE 1514z: 50 spots of my 10m WSPR QRP so far. Yet again, the German research station in Antarctica, DP0GVN, has spotted my QRP.

630m WSPR overnight

OH1LSQ (1733km) spotted me 3 times overnight on QRP 630m WSPR TX. 14 stations spotted my 10mW ERP. 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 26th 2023

Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 26. A=4 and K=2.

Back on QRP 630m WSPR (Wednesday)

At about 1920z, I turned my 630m QRP WSPR. So far (at 1940z) UK spots.

UPDATE 2023z:  A good night so far with OH1LSQ (1733km) spotting me already.

Yorkshire parkin - NOT amateur radio

My wife has just made this delicious Yorkshire parkin. It is soft and squidgy made with ginger. It is great with cheese.

Real ham shack?

Many have asked me about how I match to my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground from my rig or 630m transverter. This is a 3C90 42mm toroid (I think I bought it from Farnell online years ago) and it is used on 630m, 160m and 80m.  So, I thought a photo would tell a thousand words. The meter is my antenna RF current meter used on 630m.

As you can tell, when the XYL is not looking, it is a real shack with plenty of mess!

Yaesu discounting

At least one UK retailer is making a "big thing" of Yaesu discounts. 

This may be the lead-up to end-of-year sales like "black Friday" and the Christmas holidays. Or it could be Yaesu is desperate to gain or hold on to market share.  

My view is that all Japanese manufacturers of amateur gear are going to struggle in the years ahead. Some customers have lots of faith and I hope I am very wrong.

End game? - NOT amateur radio

Like many, I have been appalled by recent events in the Middle East. Things carried out by both sides have been dreadful. One side is (understandably) out to reap revenge, but I fear far more innocent women, men and children will be killed or maimed for life across the whole Middle East.

It is likely that this bad feeling will continue well after I am pushing up daisies. Why, oh why, can't people respect others?!! They may be different, but we are still just human beings sharing one small planet.

It is not at all clear to me what the end game is.

1920s radio

This is a reproduction of a 1920's radio made a few years ago. It appeared on social media recently, but I cannot recall who made it. 

Neat job.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Last night was one of my best nights ever on 630m with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with spots by 19 stations as the table shows. I was received yet again in Finland.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 0845z, but no spots yet today (at 0900z).

UPDATE 1740z:  Just local G6KWA (22km) has spotted me today. On RX the furthermost spotted was ZS3/V51PJ (9081km).

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 500mW 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0844z. So far, spotted by 2 stations by F2.

UPDATE 1737z:  37 stations have spotted me today.