Sunspots - Sunday January 5th

 Solar flux is 209 and the SSN 193.  A=32 and K=2.

Faroe Is - NOT amateur radio

One of the pleasures of 365project, as I have said before, is having a "window on the world" as in this photo recently posted by a friend who lives in the Faroe Islands. I can imagine that it is often cold, wet and windy.

See https://365project.org/mubbur/365/2024-12-29. 

The year of 23cm?

I bought  my 2W transverter with a view to using it in the RSGB activity contests (UKAC) when out /P last year, but the weather put me off, so maybe I shall try again in 2025. 

Also I have an SDR receiver that is better suited to beacon hunting. 23cm (for me) would be a new challenge. Since buying the 23cm transverter, it has hardly been used.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR beacon is on again, but again no spots. I suspect there is a problem uploading spots as I know it is working and time is synced.

UPDATE 1545z:  Whatever was wrong seems to have been fixed as my little beacon is being spotted by 39 stations with furthermost ZD7GB  (7607km).

UPDATE 2035z:  QRT.

The home of horseracing - NOT amateur radio

 

Newmarket is world famous as the home of horseracing. These horses have just returned from exercising on "The Gallops" nearby.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Today, I am back on QRP 6m FT8 with the QMX+.  At 1043z 6 English stations had spotted me.

UPDATE 1418z:  13 stations have spotted me, all in the British Isles.

UPDATE 2025z:  QRT.

Wet string next time on 80m FT8?

 In the last 12 hours I was spotted by 184 stations despite just running a few watts of 80m FT8 from my QMX+ to the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU. 

On 80m FT8 RX 629 stations were spotted here. See the map of stations received.

Hence my title! If this works anything will.

Sunspots - Saturday January 4th

 Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 190. A=9 and =5.

Back on QRP 80m FT8 (Friday)

At the moment I am back on 80m QRP FT8 with my QMX+ and the coax up to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna, tuned via an ATU.

Lots of spots already from across Europe. See map to see where I am being spotted.

I am surprised how effective this "Heath Robinson" antenna is on 80m.

UPDATE 2218z:  176 stations have spotted me on QRP 80m FT8. 404 stations spotted here on 80m FT8 RX.

Christmas shadow - NOT amateur radio

The Christmas and New Year holidays are almost over. We pack the Christmas things away on Sunday. 

This time, time has seemed to fly by. I expect in what seems like 5 minutes it will seem like Christmas again!

The Times (UK) on YouTube - NOT amateur radio

Trying to keep abreast of world affairs I get The Knowledge by email free every day and watch TimesRadio on YouTube most days, also free. 

It is important to get news from multiple sources as just one source often has bias.  Here in the UK The Guardian newspaper is very left wing politically and the Daily Mail very right wing. 

The video below is an example of news from TimesRadio.

Australia - NOT amateur radio

One of the aspects I like about 365project is that it is a window into other places on the planet. This photo was recently posted by someone who lives in New South Wales, Australia.

See https://365project.org/leggzy/365/2025-01-02

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

As I got zero spots on 10m QRP WSPR, I have now gone on 10m QRP FT8 with my QMX+. Immediately I received 17 spots including one from the USA in the first minute!

UPDATE 1430z:  47 stations have spotted me with loads in the USA. See map.

80m QRP FT8 (Friday)

So far today, with my "ad hoc" 80m antenna (coax outer tuned via an ATU and the QMX+) 27 stations have spotted me. See map.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 My 500mW was turned on at about 1200z. At 1208z no spots.

80m the easy way

In the last day my QRP 80m FT8  has been spotted by 58 stations across Europe using just the outer of the coax up to my 2m big-wheel tuned with my ATU. 355 stations have been spotted on RX from across the world on 80m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Friday January 3rd

Solar flux is 212 and the SSN 173,  A=22 and K=1. 

80m QRP overnight

42 stations  spotted my 80m QRP FT8 overnight using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU.

30m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

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.

40m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 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.