630m QRP WSPR overnight

Disappointing with just 11 spots of my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight. This is the poorest this season. Either people are trying something new, or conditions were poor. 

Sunspots - Friday March 22nd

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 141. A=27 and K=3.

More LF spectrum for amateur radio?

There is a very interesting piece on John EI7GL's blog about the demise of BBC Radio 4 on 198kHz long wave. 

Gradually, long wave AM broadcast stations are going. There are now very few radios covering LW broadcast bands. The present date for switch-off could be June 2025.

With so much LW spectrum becoming free, I wonder if amateur radio could get any?

2m UKAC (activity) contest in March

The results of this March contest have been released. 

In the low power section, I am about half way up the table. Only staying on for a fraction of the time because of my poor voice and omni antenna, this is quite pleasing. 

Not scientifically, my impression is there is reduced activity in this contest, whereas there seems to be increased activity in the FT8 activity test.

Near Salcombe - NOT amateur radio

Before I was 10, I lived in Salcombe, Devon. This is Starehole Bay, just south of the town.

Shetland Islands - NOT amateur radio

As you may recall, I enjoy 365project where people try to post a photo (totally for free) every day. One of my friends lives in the Shetland Is.. He often posts dramatic photos of landscapes as well as birds. This photo shows Lerwick, which is the capital of the Shetland Is. 

I have done 365project for over 10 years and it is great to look back!

630m QRP WSPR overnight

A disappointing period with just 13 spots of my 10mW ERP. Overall, I am very pleased with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground that is almost invisible. As I have said before, neither my XYL or neighbours are even aware it is there! 

Just wish I could try it on 2200m.

My 10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR tests

My QRPP 10m WSPR tests continue today. At the moment, I seem to be spotted in the Canary Islands most days.

Continuing monitoring 8m WSPR

Today, I am continuing to monitor 40.680 MHz WSPR. My rig should be on during the daylight hours. Nothing at all was spotted on 8m WSPR yesterday. I am hoping to receive Bernard in Canada.

Sunspots - Thursday March 21st

 Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 120. A=4 and K=2.

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 Once again, I am on 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP.   So far tonight I have been spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost just EI.

10m QRPP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon is on, but no spots.

UPDATE 1346z:   Much to my surprise, I was spotted at lunchtime again in the Canary Islands when I was running just 500uW (0.5mW). He must have a very quiet electrical environment.

630m WSPR overnight

 

In all, 16 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight withe the best LB1HI (1047km).

Lock-up - NOT amateur radio

Most villages had lock-ups where local villains could be locked-up. The one in the photo is at Swaffham Prior near Cambridge and also housed the local fire engine.

8m WSPR RX (Wednesday)

As a Canadian is doing some transatlantic 8m WSPR tests, I shall be on 40.680MHz WSPR RX for the next few days during the daytime.

UPDATE 1614z:  No spots. I notice there are no other WSPR 8m spots.

UPDATE 1652z: I am wondering about the next Es season on 8m. I was considering using 10mW ERP under ISM rules. FT8 might be a better mode, but is less sensitive. On the other hand the TX burst is only 15 seconds whereas WSPR needs almost 120 seconds, so FT8 would be better on short openings. Operating under ISM rules (certainly in the UK)  implies 10mW ERP and meeting IR2030, but is open to all without the need for a TX permit to beacon WSPR or FT8. I would expect 8m FT8 would be much harder than WSPR, but there might be more monitors? Last Es season I was running 2.5W, so I would be far weaker.  The difference is 24dB, so most of the time I would be far too weak to copy on FT8. Perhaps some local FT8 tests at 10mW ERP are called for?

Sunspots - Wednesday March 20th

 Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 123.  A=9 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

So far, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted by 10 stations with the furthermost EI0CF (602km).

Faroe Islands - NOT amateur radio

These islands are between The Shetland Is and Iceland. They are very remote. A friend on 365project recently posted this photo. 

Red legged partridge - NOT amateur radio

We used to see a lot of these in our garden, but it is a while since I have seen one. 

They can be very tame.

6m QRP FT8

This morning, I am again on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W to the vertical V2000  omni antenna, Mostly UK with some Scandinavian spots on 6m FT8 yesterday.

UPDATE 1646z: 12 spots of me (see map), all in England. 7 stations spotted here (England and Wales).