My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR is turned on this evening again. So far, 15 spots of me.
8 Mar 2024
Walk - NOT amateur radio
The daffodils are early. In a few weeks, most will be dead!
Lode has many thatched cottages and delightful lanes.
10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)
There's nothing like a challenge!! Once again my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR is on.
For me, it is easy. For the station at the far end the signal will be weak and in the noise probably. In the last 2 weeks I have had 2 DX spots, but nothing yet today.
UPDATE 1504z: No spots.
6m QRP FT8 (Friday)
At the moment I am on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and V2000 omni vertical antenna. Just 4 English stations spotting me so far.
UPDATE 1248z: 11 spots of me from the UK and Eire
UPDATE 1633z: 17 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 including some in Scandinavia.
UPDATE 1916z: 21 stations have spotted me today.
Where I come from - NOT amateur radio
My birthplace and where I lived as a child and teenager was in South Devon. We can trace our family back to the mid 1500s continuously in a village near this photo and we have a record of land being owned in the next parish in 1427! It is pretty certain that some of my ancestors were hereabouts thousands of years ago. The photo is of Bolberry Down which is very close to where I lived.
8m TX
At the moment my inclination is NOT to apply for a special permit to TX on 8m (costs £50 per year!) but to instead try 40.680MHz WSPR using ISM rules.
In the UK, this means 10mW ERP and compliance with IR2030. Anyone, even an SWL, may do this without a licence. The callsign can be made up. I shall use one that WSPRnet can accept, so I can see where I am being spotted.
Having either worked or been spotted on 8m FT8 by most active stations, this will be a new challenge in the Es season. My antenna needs attention first.
Judging by tests at similar ERP on 10m, much of Europe should be in range at times, assuming there are people monitoring!
It would be good if others tried this too.
7 Mar 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1845z, I QSYed from 6m FT8 to 630m WSPR. At 1905z, 2 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP.
UPDATE 1956z: Plenty of stations spotting me, but it is disappointing that there are so few UK stations on 630m WSPR TX.
UPDATE 2216z: 13 stations spotting me.
Rally this Sunday
The following has been notified to me. Usual caveats apply.
Sunday March 10th - Hack Green Radio Surplus Hangar Sale. Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Contact coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk .
Another amazing photo - NOT amateur radio
What I really enjoy about 365project (no affiliation at all with Microsoft) is seeing the variety of photos from all over the world. Some use it as a visual diary, others as a way to be creative. It is absolutely free, although ace membership (paid for) offers some privileges.
This amazing cloudscape was posted a few days ago by a friend.
6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
Shortly, I intend to try 6m FT8 again with 2.5W and the vertical V2000 omni antenna. At present I am on 630m QRP WSPR.
UPDATE 1336z: In tidying up the shack I destroyed the coax connection to my V2000 antenna used on 6m. I shall have to mend this later, although soldering is now quite hard for me. Moral: do not tidy up shacks! Mind you, I found things I had forgotten I had! 6 English stations had spotted me before disaster struck.
UPDATE 1402z: Coax mended. Back on 6m FT8. Now 8 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1627z: 12 English stations have spotted me today.
UPDATE 1826z: 14 English stations have spotted me.
10m QRPP WSPR (Thursday)
After my surprise spot yesterday with 500uW (0.5mW) on 10m WSPR, I am again on with the same power from my beacon.
The beacon must be re-synced to internet time. This is done daily although it probably is good for several days.
UPDATE 1817z: 1 spot early this morning. My beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W even though with the PA off it is actually only 500uW (0.5mW).
Sunspots - Thursday March 7th
Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=2.
Are we on the long, slow, slide or will we see a second peak?
630m QRP WSPR overnight
A successful period on 630m QRP WSPR with 26 stations spotting my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR. Best DX was a spot (again) by OH1LSQ (1733km).
6 Mar 2024
West Bank homes - NOT amateur radio
If only people could live together peacefully.
It is reported on the BBC website that many thousands of homes for settlers have been approved in the occupied West Bank by the state of Israel. Surely this just stokes the fire.
Whilst what happened by HAMAS in Israel on October 7th was evil, surely the response by the state of Israel is over the top?
630m QRP WSPR
My 10mW ERP was turned on at about 1855z. So far, spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost PA3BAK (317km).
6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
In a few moments I shall go on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W and vertical V2000 omni antenna.
UPDATE 1648z: 12 stations have spotted me with the furthermost SM5EPO (1344km).
10m QRPP WSPR (Wednesday)
My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX is on. No spots now for several days. As you can see, I like making things hard!
UPDATE 1655z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my 500uW (0.5mW). I was not really expecting this.
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