10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon has been on all day. No spots all day.

If I had good results on 6m FT8 with 10mW, I would have expected some Es spots with 500uW on 10m WSPR. Perhaps the 13dB difference takes signals into the noise floor?

That famous plaque - NOT amateur radio

This famous plaque is outside the Eagle pub in Bene't Street  Cambridge. Within about 100m many world changing events took place. Rutherford split the atom, the form of DNA was understood, to name just two. The plaque was re-created recently to acknowledge the contribution of others.

6m 10mW FT8 (Wednesday)

My 10mW 6m FT8 was on overnight.  To my great surprise stations in Norway and Finland spotted me in the middle of the night. To be spotted at all at this time is remarkable, but with just a few milliwatts took me totally by surprise.

UPDATE 1046z: Spotted in Poland with my 10mW 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1424z: Spotted by 31 stations when I was using 10mW 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1555z:  Spotted by 46 stations (see map).

UPDATE  2116z:  My 10mW 6m FT8 spotted by 47 stations. Even with my 15dB attenuator right next to the rig, 109 stations were still copied on 6m FT8 RX.

Sunspots- Wednesday May 22nd

 Solar flux is 191 and the SSN 146. A=9 and K=0.

Few new radios at Hamvention 2024?

Apart from the hint about the ICOM X60, I have not heard rumours of new radios on the horizon from the likes of Yaesu and Kenwood. If my thoughts are correct (I hope I am wrong!) both these are having thoughts of getting out of the amateur radio market. 

Personally, it is my view that Yaesu has lost its way.  Nearly a quarter of a century after the launch of the FT817 the world is still waiting!! Personally I think they have, sadly, missed the boat again.

Going on and on!! - NOT amateur radio

Poinsettia plants are often thought of as Christmas flowers but my wife has one that has got new buds and goes on and on!!

Seen in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

It’s good to see Jewish students supporting the innocent people caught up in the war following the horrific events of October 7th. This was outside King’s.

10m 500uW WSPR (Tuesday)

 Once again, my 500uW 10m WSPR is turned on although I am not too hopeful.

UPDATE 1410z:  No spots today.

The pattern seems to be that 500uW is not quite enough for most people most of the time. I guess many have a background noise floor that has to be exceeded. It is also possible there are fewer people on WSPR these days. I would have expected ŧo see far more WSPR spots by Es.

6m 10mW FT8 (Tuesday)

Once again, I am on 6m with 10mW FT8. Unless things improve, I am not too hopeful.

UPDATE 1356z:  Just 2 spots of my 10mW 6m FT8 today from Portugal.

European Es

Looking at the maps of Es reports, it would seem, at the moment. that Es is not as good as the last few days. As with all things sporadic E (Es), things can quickly change.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Sunspots - Tuesday May 21st

 Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 124. A=7 and K=1.

Our green - NOT amateur radio

In our quiet part of the village is this delightful green. One of the trees has half its leaves of a different colour.

6m 10mW FT8 (Monday)

Once again I am on 6m FT8 with 10mW and the V2000 vertical omni antenna.  At 1545z, 20 stations (see map) have spotted me with the furthermost EA8/DF4UE (2875km).

It never fails to amaze me how little power is needed with 6m FT8.

10m 500uW WSPR (Monday)

 Although my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon has been on all day, I am surprised to not get any spots. On 6m FT8 I have had lots of spots with 10mW. I shall try a re-sync.

UPDATE 1808z:  No spots all day.

UPDATE 1851z:  OE3GBB (1233km) has spotted my QRPP.

8m experiments

Experiments at 6m (as opposed to 8m) have FAR exceeded what I expected and convinced me that 8m WSPR at 10mW ERP would definitely be spotted by Es. The fact that 10mW FT8 on 6m reached Brazil yesterday was amazing with an omni antenna.

I may try 8m FT8 at 10mW ERP as soon as my 8m antenna is mended. At this rate, it would not surprise me if this spanned Europe as well. Judging by results at 6m, it certainly should. The only difference is the dipole, which is a bit lower in height than the V2000 used on 6m. I would expect this to (maybe) make a few dBs difference.

630m QRP WSPR

For the first time in months I was not on 630m QRP WSPR, when I was at home, last night. Gradually, the number of spots I had received had been dropping off. I shall be back on in the autumn and may try occasionally in the coming months, but not every night.

A new night-time challenge calls! I am still undecided what form this should take.

Swifts - NOT amateur radio

Although I both saw and heard swifts in Ghent, Belgium last week, yesterday was the first time this year I had heard swifts screaming in a feeding party overhead in England. It is too soon to comment on numbers although I spotted 5 overhead. 

Swifts are part of the UK sky in late spring and early summer.

Sunspots- Monday May 20th

 Solar flux is 201 and the SSN 156. A=9 and K=1.

QMX+ transceiver

My thanks to Steve G1KQH for bringing this to my notice. 

QRP Labs have the QMX+ multi-mode 160-6m transceiver on sale. Hans makes some really good kit and I have no doubt that this rig will also be great.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html .

6m QRPP FT8 (Sunday)

Yesterday I was surprised how well 6m FT8 worked at 10mW, so I am again trying 6m QRPP (10mW) FT8 today. 

How do I work out 10mW?  The rig is set to the lowest power setting (measured 500mW). There is a 15dB pad right at the antenna connection of the radio. My 6m antenna is fed with RG58 coax with a loss of 2dB at 6m. Assume 0dB gain on 6m from the V2000 omni antenna, although it probably has a loss in many directions on 6m!  

So just 10mW to the antenna.

UPDATE 0855z: Already spotted with 10mW pretty well in Sardinia by IS0AWZ (1599km). Really, with good Es not much power at all is needed! Even at 10mW 6m FT8, I probably had 8dB in hand.

UPDATE 1141z:  8 spots of my 10mW 6m FT8. Who needs power?

UPDATE 1726z:  24 stations have spotted my 10mW 6m FT8 to the V2000 omni antenna. The best DX is western Ukraine. I am amazed how little ERP is needed at times on 6m FT8. Judging by the results on 6m FT8 with 10mW, perhaps I should try 10m FT8 with 10mW?

Spots of my 10mW
6m FT8 today

UPDATE 2020z:  I can scarcely believe this!!  My 10mW 6m FT8  has reached Brazil!  In all, I have been spotted by 32 stations today with the furthermost PY1EME (9453km). This is with an omni vertical antenna too!  I guess this was TEP and Es. Truly amazing for a VHF band. The antenna and take-off at PY1EME must help as must the electrically quiet environment. Many of PY1EME's spots were in South America, so I am pretty sure this is genuine.

PY1EME's 6m antenna

6m FT8 RX spots
- despite the 15dB pad!