A better day (Thursday) - NOT amateur radio

It has been mainly dry today. There are clouds in the sky, but it has not (yet) rained today. "Our" windmill next door looks splendid with a mainly blue sky and a cloud behind. The windmill is next door and this photo was from the lounge window

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My 8m 2.5W FT8 was turned on at about 0905z. Just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1420z:  Lots of Caribbean stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1642z:  I was called by a CT2 on 8m  FT8. Is this station legal?  7 stations have spotted me today on 8m Ft8

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0905z. So far, at 0921z, 4 stations have spotted me.  All seem to be F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1839z:  52 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon today.

Oscar 100 - geosynchronous satellite

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on the narrowband transponder on this satellite. There is also a wideband transponder aimed at ATV including DATV. At one time, probably still on, there was an ATV net on Oscar 100 on Thursdays at 2000z. This is streamed by the BATC.

Although this has encouraged many to try microwaves, I am disappointed more have not tried it. On the face of it, it offers DX with a small fixed antenna, without QSB at any time day or night as long as the satellite may be "seen".

The last time I looked was early evening, European time, on a weekday.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Thursday November 9th 2023

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 92. A=16 and K=3.

Disappearing people - NOT amateur radio

You have probably experienced this. Suddenly you realise that people you chance across on social media, or other means are not there. You often have no means of finding out if they have got new interests, are seriously ill or even dead. 

Two people I have not heard from in while are Jay, W5OLF and Michael AA1TJ. Any news would be appreciated. In the past, both have been very kind to me.

Google gobbledygook - NOT amateur radio

Every few days I seem to get an email from Google  Each seems more stupid than the last. Why use 3 words when 20 will do!  This is especially true if you can make the reader seem totally daft. The last one is talking about something I do not understand.

Plain English please!

SDR dongle

Many months ago I bought an SDR dongle that plugs in a USB socket on the PC. I have still not tried it out!  One of the things I must do in the next few days is try it out! I also have a NanoVNA that I must try.  

When you are retired there is always tomorrow....

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

We have had a very wet autumn. Usually, this is the driest part of the UK. Most summers our grass turns brown, recovering over the winter. This year, it has stayed green. 

My wife took this photo on the way to the dentist this morning.

OFCOM and microwave 5G frequencies

OFCOM is proposing to make available 26 GHz and 40 GHz frequencies for 5G and other mobile services. It is consulting on this before auctioning frequencies. See the OFCOM website for details.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

So far today, at 1205z, just local G4WSZ (12km) spottting me. 

UPDATE 1406z: 3 stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8 today, including 2 in the Caribbean.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0948z.  So far today, spots by 2 stations.

UPDATE 1432z:  So far today, 24 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 8th 2023

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 74. A=18 and K=4.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

In all, 14 stations spotted me overnight.

2m activity contest (November)

Just taken part in the UKAC 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. This evening my 10W pep to the omni was in 2 sessions as my son called. I also had to do a reset on the IC-705 as it locked up. With my poor voice and low ERP it is hard work nowadays!

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 About 1900z, I went on 630m WSPR with 10mW ERP. So far, spots by G stations.

UPDATE 2137z:   10 stations have spotted me so far this evening including OH1LSQ (1733km).

UPDATE 2222z:  11 stations have spotted me (see map).

DMR access with an Android phone

Some months ago, I found a way of accessing the worldwide DMR network from an Android phone. This needed no dongles, DMR phone, or hotspots. The RX was left on monitoring and stations from across the planet were heard. I joined in a local net.

In the end, DMR left me cold and I have not used it for some time. It was too easy! I think the app was called Droidstar. 

UPDATE 1202z:  I could not see a similar app for an Apple iPhone.

Echolink

As I have a new phone, the Echolink app was installed. The last time tried was about a year ago. The repeaters were very quiet and I gave up. If anything, they are even quieter!   

It is worth trying again later, but this tells me something.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 My 2.5W 40.680 MHz FT8 was turned on at about 0919z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1008z: Spotted by SR4BBX (1217km).

UPDATE 1129z: 4 spots of me on 8m FT8 by Europeans. Es?

UPDATE 1209z:  One 8m FT8 exchange with 9A.

UPDATE 1444z:  Now spotted by 5 European stations and I have spotted 3.

UPDATE 1524z: Now spotted by 6 stations with G4WSZ (12km) spotting me.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My WSPR beacon was turned on about 0919z. Already spotted in the Canary Is.. The table shows the spots of me at 0935z. These look like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1146z:  25 stations spotting me. Some Es about?