Article in RadCom Basics

In the latest edition of this online RSGB magazine is an article by me about 6m. You may want to read it. See the RSGB website.

Innovative

 

This is an innovative use of an old tree stump. It is filled with flowers that look lovely at this time of year.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

Stations spotting my 6m FT8 QRP earlier

My gear has been on since early this morning.

UPDATE 1614z:  31 spots of me so far including some in continental Europe. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 My beacon has been on since early this morning.

UPDATE  1244z: Just spots by 2 stations in the Canary Is..

6m QRP FT8 yesterday

Yesterday only English stations spotted me as I think conditions were disturbed. 

It goes to show how useful the 6m band could be for inter-G QSOs, especially on modes like FT8.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 1st

Solar flux is 187 and the SSN 171. A=75and K=5.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 My beacon has been on since late morning.

UPDATE 1257z:  Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned in late morning.

UPDATE 1255z: Just 11 English stations have spotted me so far. See map.

Tuesday plans

 Later I hope to go on 6m 5W FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR. 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 30th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 131. A=27 and K=7.

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".