Just to show it works, I tuned the coax outer and ATU up on 30m.
Just because a match can be obtained it does not guarantee efficiency. The ATU may be very inefficient and the antenna may be firing the signal right up!
What it does show is that almost anything can be matched with a suitable ATU, but this does not mean it will work well.
After the immediate success on 80m FT8, I have now QSYed to 40m FT8 using the coax to my2m big-wheel antenna via the ATU.
It would seem any band within the ATU range would be workable with this setup.
It is some time since I went on 8m FT8, preferring to concentrate on 6m FT8 instead. Both in 2024 and 2023 my few watts to a low dipole were enough to reach the USA, Canada, South Africa and the Caribbean as well as all over Europe and into Asia. On 6m QRP FT8 I have reached the USA and Canada by F2 this autumn.
If I can do it with just a few watts and low dipole, a station with more power and a small beam at moderate height would find it much easier.
Stations have worked thousands of miles with just 10mW under ISM rules at 8m. The band would get far more F2 openings than 6m. For Es and MS, I would not expect much difference. Certainly if more countries had 8m available there would be more interest.
When my current 8m TX permit expires in the summer, I do not think it is worth me renewing it. My purpose was to find out what was possible with QRP. I think I now know.
Time for a new challenge!
DXCC with 10W SSB was worked here on 10m back in the 1980s, so DX is rarely chased these days. Interesting to see this video comparing 5W to 45W on 40m SSB. There is a difference, but loads of contacts at 5W.
It has been getting a bit lighter in the evening for some days but it now starts to get lighter in the mornings too.
Psychologically this marks an important turning point for me with lighter days ahead. It is slow at first. We are heading in the right direction!
Yesterday and overnight I tried 630m WSPR RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna tuned with a ferrite rod ATU. Not a single station was spotted!
Either I did something wrong or the WSPR activity is way down.
I might try 160m FT8 today and overnight with the same setup. If the match is good enough I might try 160m FT8 QRP TX.
For the first time this season I am on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX using my coax outer to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU. I intend to remain on until breakfast.
At the moment I cannot TX on the band because of a fault with my Tigertronics USB interface or lead.
If you can TX WSPR on 630m I would appreciate a signal to test all is working.
UPDATE 1805z: No spots.
I imagine you could find it by looking for the glow in the sky!
Just think of the neighbours and the electricity bill!
There is now little doubt that we are at, or just over, the peak of solar cycle 25.
Some were wondering if we would have any sunspots at all, but it turned out to be a decent peak. The E-W F2 MUF exceeded 50MHz several times. At this time in the month I usually check the solar activity.
My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0812z.
UPDATE 1141z: 8 spots of me so far including one German. See map.
May I wish all readers a happy and peaceful 2025? The world is a better place when we all help each other with kindness and compassion. The world is a nicer place just one step at a time. I hope health wise you and the people you love have a good year.
This collage shows some of the views.
At this time of year things seem more "raw". It is a time when everyone is expected to be jolly and happy, making sadness and unhappiness all the harder.
Our younger teenage grandson has just been dumped by his first girlfriend. Most of us have felt this pain, that seems like the end of the world at the time.
When people die or are seriously ill at this time of year it seems especially hard.
Things change: things that seem constant and will go on for ever do not. We have to adapt to the new reality. Time usually heals, but change can be painful.
Often we do not appreciate the inner pain others are experiencing. It is all too easy to judge others.
We deliver local Christmas cards by hand. We were going to do it yesterday, but the rain was horrendous so we did it today instead in the co...
