Sunspots - Tuesday May 28th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 116.   A=8 and K=2.

Recent events in the UK - NOT amateur radio

Several recent events have severely dented my confidence in "the deep state". These include the contaminated blood scandal, Grenfell Tower and the Post Office scandal.  Time and again, we hear of corruption in high places. It makes me sick.

It would be good if those in high places operated at all times with high integrity and honesty. It would appear many cannot be trusted sadly.

160m QRP FT8 tonight?

Overnight, I may give 160m FT8 a go with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This assumes the match is acceptable. 

For a first try I shall probably use 2.5W. It is unlikely I shall be on until it gets dark. I don't think I have tried 160m FT8.

UPDATE 1656z:  The match is good and I am on 160m with 2.5W FT8.  No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1831z:   One UK spot of me by 2E0INH (60km).

UPDATE 1900z:  3 UK spots of me so far this evening. Still very much light. Furthermost is G4BRK (133km). This is quite reasonable with 2.5W FT8.

UPDATE 2039z:  6 spots of me (see map).

UPDATE 2154z : 11 spots of me with 2 spots from Norway.

Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio

 

This morning, we did a very nice walk around part of Wicken Fen.

630m QRPP WSPR overnight

Well, either the internet was not working here from the shack or there was an issue with WSPRnet. Although I was spotting DX on 630m WSPR and was sending all night, no spots at all. I shall probably try again tonight.

6m 10mW FT8 (Monday)

My QRPP 6m FT8 has been on since about 0815z. No spots.

UPDATE 1601z:  32 spots of my 6m 10mW FT8 (see map). This proves that very little power is needed when Es is good.

Sunspots - Monday May 27th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 148. A=10 and K=1.

Is there a problem with WSPRnet?

 At the moment I am on 630m WSPR with my usual 10mW ERP. I am seeing no spots on RX or TX. This could be that I cannot connect to the internet or there’s a problem with WSPRnet. I shall leave it on overnight.

Distant thunder - NOT amateur radio

Between the showers, we were trying to do some gardening. 

The photo (yet again!) is of the windmill next door with storm clouds behind just now.

Low cost 70cm QRPP modules

Before anyone tells me I know Baonfeng and Quansheng handhelds are available at very low cost, but I wonder if any experimenters are experimenting with low cost modules designed to send digital signals at short range?  

Many are available on Amazon.

500uW 10m WSPR (Sunday)

Quite surprised to see my 500uW QRPP 10m WSPR had been spotted this morning by GM4WJA (624km). I suspect this is Es as I have been spotted in N.Ireland when I was running just 10mW FT8 on 6m.

6m 10mW FT8 (Sunday)

My 10mW 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on, but no spots at 0858z. 

UPDATE 0950z:  Spotted by GI0OTC (560km) in Northern Ireland. I suspect this is Es as I have also been spotted running just 500uW in Scotland on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1459z: No more spots of me on 10mW 6m FT8 surprisingly. No further Es reports of my QRPP. Perhaps later?

UPDATE 1735z: Some Es now. 4 spots of my 10mW 6m FT8 so far.

Es (Sunday)

At the moment Es looks quite promising in Eastern Europe. Let's hope this spreads west.

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

QMX+ from QRP Labs

Yesterday evening I heard that QRP Labs had received my payment, although I do not know what the delivery date will be for my QMX+.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html .

Near where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This is Blackpool Sands in Devon (not THAT Blackpool!!). It’s near where I come from in South Devon. 

It is a private beach with restricted access.

6m 10mW FT8 overnight

 Although I (accidentally) left my 6m QRPP on overnight, no spots.

Sunspots - Sunday May 26th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 106. A=6 and K=1.

POTA with the Elecraft KH1

In the USA POTA seems very popular. Amateur Radio Weekly reports on a POTA activation pedestrian portable with the KH1 and a small whip by K4SWL. 

I don't think the tiny KH1 is available in Europe.

6m 10mW FT8 in the Es season

At the start of the Es season, I started with 10mW 6m WSPR. It worked, so I changed to 6m 10mW FT8, which in theory needs a better S/N to decode.  

Every day, 10mW 6m FT8 has been very successful.  Some reports suggest some margin too. 

I think the fact that FT8 only needs a 15 second TX period compared with 120 seconds for WSPR helps to catch very brief Es openings. 

When I return to 8m, I think I shall try 10mW ERP FT8 instead of WSPR.

23cm activity session

Well over a year ago I bought a 2W 23cms transverter that I intended to use /P in the 23cm activity sessions. As it has been so wet, I have yet to do this. Perhaps later?

I was only going to go out very locally, but on higher ground.