Autumn in the garden

 

My wife took this photo showing the leaves changing colour for the autumn with holly behind.

Before we know it it will be winter and spring.

Every season has things to enjoy.

Ultra-simple transceiver

Many years ago I set out to see just how simple a viable transceiver could be made. It was published in GQRP SPRAT. It certainly works! Others built it and have worked some remarkable DX. It is also on my website.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

My gear has been on since mid morning.

UPDATE 1303z:  So far just 10 English stations spotting me today. I had been looking at the last day by mistake.

My favourite walk

When I was younger and fitter this walk near Salcombe in Devon was one of my favourites. You crossed the foot ferry from Salcombe and walked about 5 miles to Prawle Point. The views are spectacular.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0930z.

UPDATE 1001z: Spotted multiple times by EA8BFK (2880km).  If this station is active I seem to get spotted most times. I guess this is single hop  F2.

6m QRP FT8 yesterday

Stations spotting my 3W 6m FT8 yesterday

It continues to surprise me how well just 3W 6m FT8 does. It is well after the main Es season has ended, and I am unsure of the propagation mechanism. Being spotted in Finland could be a patch of Es, it could be some sort of scatter and even F2 but I think this very unlikely.

Anyway, the message is clear: with FT8 on 6m be prepared to be surprised! If I can do it with 3W to a V2000 omni vertical imagine what 50W and a beam could do.

Sunspots - Monday September 29th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 131. A=10 and K=2.

Handheld QRP

 

This short video shows this rig in operation. Great fun. I see it is available from Amazon UK for less than £100.

Pears

These were on a tree in our village earlier. We moved ours a couple of years ago. It’s smothered and had no fruit this year. 

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 Most times, I start being spotted after lunch, but I put my 500mW WSPR beacon on at about 0900z.

UPDATE 1313z: 8 stations spotting me. Nothing yet from "across the pond".

6m 3W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0900z.

UPDATE 1233z: So far, spotted by 15 stations. See map.

UPDATE 1418z:   Spotted by 28 stations in 8 countries. Furthest Finland. Not bad with 3W 6m FT8 and a V2000 omni vertical antenna.

Sunspots - Sunday September 28th

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 172. A=6 and K=3.

6m 3W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was switched at about 1242z. 

UPDATE 1254z:   Just 1 English stations spotting me.

Antarctica on 10m

 In the last few days my 500mW 10m WSPR has been spotted 10 times in Antarctica by DP0GVN (13685km) on the German base down there.

10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on  at about 0850z.

UPDATE  1250z: 256 stations spotting me so far today.

Sunspots - Saturday September 27th

Solar  flux is 165 and the SSN 137.  A=7 and K=2.

15m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 Earlier, for a change, I went briefly on 15m FT8. I did not stop on long.

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 1300z.

UPDATE  1328z:  So far today, spotted by 7 English stations. Reports suggest I might be copied at 1-2W, although this will depend on the local noise floor. In most urban areas this is getting worse. I think my chances of being spotted "across the pond" this autumn by F2 with my low ERP are very slim! It is very unlikely the MUF will climb this high and with my low ERP it is very unlikely I would be spotted.

"Our" tree

Every year we take a photo of the same tree at nearby Anglesey Abbey. 

I take a photo around this time when the leaves are changing colour before the leaves fall for a few months over winter.

UV-5R Mini

This was bought recently and I am now familiar with the menu and have successfully programmed some channels using Bluetooth. 

It will probably be used mainly on RX.