40m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Just tried loading up the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via my z-match on 40m (7.074MHz). 18 spots of me already after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1612z:  24 stations have spotted my 40m QRP FT8 so far.

Born in a stately home - NOT amateur radio

After WW2, this was a nursing home for some years. It was here that I was born a long time ago.  It has been converted to retirement flats.

So, I can truthfully say I was born in a stately home even though we lived in a modest council house at the time!!

30m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Using 2.5W to my V2000 vertical via my z-match tuner, I am giving 30m FT8 a try.

UPDATE 1447z: Plenty of spots of me. It also loads up on 20m where my 2.5W is being widely spotted.

I think with this z-match, I can load up random wires and coax outers on most HF bands.

The map shows the 71 spots of me on 30m 2.5W FT8 by mid-afternoon. Oh yes, it works.

UPDATE 1552:  Spotted by 125 stations on 30m QRP FT8  - too easy!

10m 500uW WSPR experiment continued (Saturday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX experiment is continuing. 

UPDATE 1219z:  No spots today.

UPDATE 1454z:  Spotted in the Canary Is - amazing for 500uW WSPR! 

Soldering - hard now

 A few minutes ago, I was intending to go on 8m QRP FT8, but I noticed the high SWR. 

The problem is the coax plug. I attempted to fix it, but the soldering is now so much harder, so I have stopped for now. I shall have another go after lunch. 

This is a combination of poorer fine motor skills and eyesight. To think 50 years ago this would be so trivial!! I shall do it, but it takes longer nowadays.

Birthday - NOT amateur radio

Today I am 21 and quite a bit!  A few years ago I would have qualified for a free TV licence!

My wife is cooking pheasant.

Conspicuous silence?

My speculation a few days ago about a possible successor to the FT-817/818 met with silence. I guess Yaesu is looking at ICOM, the KX2/3 and the Chinese and wondering if they should bother. If I was Yaesu, I'd be thinking twice. 

They need to come out (if they do) with a "killer" QRP product that everyone wants with some very unique features. 

On performance these last few years I have my doubts. They are capable of doing some excellent products, but seem to be floundering in recent years. At one time they were market leaders. Nowadays they are market followers trying to catch up.

630m WSPR overnight

 

In all, 10 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight.

Sunspots - Saturday December 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 187 and the SSN 157. A=4 and K=1.

Low cost HF transceiver

Just now I noticed a uSDX 8 band QRP HF transceiver, with internal battery for just over £150 on Amazon. Less battery, it is about £20 less expensive. 

I am slightly nervous of Chinese products as these may not have CE approval and might have import duty to pay. I also think the Chinese have some way to go on quality control.

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1650z. Just G8LCO (58km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1709z :   G4FFC (45km) also spotting me.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole was turned on at about 1015z.

UPDATE 1049z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1545z:   Spotted by MM0AMW (523km) on the Mull of Kintyre. I think this is a new person monitoring 8m.

Ely snack lunch

On Wednesday, we ate at the Almonry restaurant in Ely. This is next to Ely Cathedral and has been serving food since the 1200s - that is some time!! Thankfully, the food was fresh and not that old. It is hard to imagine who was eating here back in the 1200s. I guess it was an alms house back then, giving alms to the poor.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP  630m ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight.

Level crossing - NOT amateur radio

We cross this every time we go to Ely. It’s rare to be held up by a train. This time, we were held up both going to, and coming from, Ely.  Years ago this was very uneven and this made our younger grandson laugh.

This train is probably bound for Felixstowe, which is a very large container port, probably the biggest in the UK.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR tests continues (Friday)

My 500uW WSPR TX is still on today. Just maybe, somebody will spot me?

UPDATE 1546z:  No spots.

Sunspots - Friday December 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 194 and the SSN 138.  A=5 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1615z.

UPDATE 1904z: 2 stations have spotted me. Last night I was on 160m QRP FT8, but this evening I am back on 630m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE 2130z:  4 spots so far this evening.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My QRPP 10m WSPR experiment continues. At 1037z, no spots of me received.

UPDATE 1626z:  No spots of me.

8m FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on after breakfast. 

UPDATE 1645z:  No spots today. Now QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.