Sunspots - Saturday November 30th

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 162. A=8 and K=3.

More Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

These are some more images of Cambridge. 

The top picture is of the round church of which there are very few in the UK. 

When I first came to Cambridge in 1970 it was an active church. Now it is a brass rubbing centre.
 

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My QRP 6m FT8 from the IC-705 was turned on just before breakfast.  So far 6 spots of me, all English.

UPDATE 0953z: 23 spots of me, all in Europe.

UPDATE 1554z:   95 spots of me with many in N.America. See map.

UPDATE 1744z:   103 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Friday November 29th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 149. A=4 and K=2.

Rally this Sunday

 The  following rally has been notified. I always recommend checking before going far

Sunday December 1st - Wiltshire Radio Winter Rally, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. Contact Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club .

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 So far this morning 12 stations have spotted me with the furthermost 3W9T (9944km) in Vietnam. It seems when the MUF goes this high my vertical V2000 omni antenna is fine.

UPDATE 1152z:12 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 including VK.

UPDATE 1712z: 52 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 today with the furthermost VK6NH (13739km). Remember this is VHF with QRP and an omni antenna!

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 After a brief session on 10m QRP FT8 with about 5W with 86 stations spotting me with the furthermost JA5AFW (9330km), I have QSYed to 6m FT8.

Thursday plans

 At various times I expect to try 6m and 10m QRP FT8 with the IC705.

Archetypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This is archetypal Cambridge. King’s College chapel on an autumn afternoon with bikes on King’s Parade.

There are fewer visitors at this time of the year.

US prefixes

At one time if you heard a W7 you could be sure he was on the west side of the USA. Yesterday, I was copied by an N4  .... who was on the west side of the continent. 

If, like me, you are in Europe it is much harder than it once was. I presume this saves the FCC a few dollars in admin..

Sunspots - Thursday November 28th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 141. A=8and K=1

Visiting Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Being a resident of a nearby village, I often take Cambridge for granted. Some people travel across the planet to see places I can see for free at any time. There are many videos about the city on YouTube. This is just one.

17m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 17m QRP FT8 (about 4W) was turned on at about 1618z.  Within a few minutes, I was spotted by 33 stations, See map.

15m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

At about 1545z I QSYed to QRP 15m FT8 with the IC705. So far, 50 spots of me in 4 continents. It's too darn easy!  Someone called me so I had a quick QSO.

UPDATE 1556z: 63 spots of me. See map.

FT8 versus WSPR

It is hard to compare these two as I run 500mW on WSPR and about 5W on FT8 from the IC-705. However FT8 is about 10dB less sensitive than WSPR. My feeling is there is far more activity on FT8 than WSPR. Certainly I get far more spots with FT8.

Starting out, I believe FT8 is better. It also allows 2-way QSOs.

Old bookshop - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Trinity Street in Cambridge, UK. In the right foreground is a bookshop that has been a bookshop for centuries.

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

With about 5W from the IC-705 I went on 10m FT8. So far, 152 stations across the planet have spotted my QRP.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

For a short while, I tried 6m QRP FT8 using the IC-705 at about 5W. 12 stations in England spotted me in the short time I was on.

UPDATE 1528z:  22 UK stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 today. No real DX.

IC-705 working with FT8

This morning I got my IC-705 working with FT8. Up to now I had been using different rigs for FT8.  I had to install the ICOM USB drivers and adjust the USB TX modulation levels to the rig.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on about 1015z. At 1030z 10 stations had spotted me, by what looks like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1153z: 13 stations spotted me before I went on FT8.