4 Oct 2025

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

Since lunch I have been on 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1754z:   12 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday October 4th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 161. A=30 and K=3..

3 Oct 2025

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon has been on since mid morning. Once again, plenty of spots from the Canary Is..

UPDATE  1919z: Just those 2 stations in the Canary Is. all day. Now QRT.

Pass it on

 Last night my wife and I re-watched the film "The History Boys" by Alan Bennett. It really is a very good film, although I have not read the book. 

It is actually a very deep film. One famous quote (it's been on this blog before) is about "pass it on". See https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8740630-pass-the-parcel-that-s-sometimes-all-you-can-do-take .

See also https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464049/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 .

It is available on Amazon.

"Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it, and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on.”

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

Since returning from shopping I have been on 6m QRP FT8. 

UPDATE 1117z:  17 stations have spotted me in England, Wales and Eire. 


UPDATE 1917z: 
37 stations have spotted me today. See map. Now QRT.

Friday plans

 After shopping I plan to go on 10m 500mW WSPR and 6m 5W FT8 again.

Sunspots - Friday October 3rd

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 161. A=45 and K=5.

2 Oct 2025

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My beacon was turned on just after lunch.

UPDATE 1340z:  No spots of me.

It's coming

We are now firmly in autumn. Leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter. It is starting to become cooler here in the UK. 

It amazes me how we always adapt. Every season has something to enjoy.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)


My gear was turned on after lunch.

UPDATE  1328z: 11 stations, all in England, have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 2039z:  25 stations have spotted me including several in Iberia. See map.  Even in October I am being spotted widely despite my 5W and vertical omni antenna.

Pititico transceiver

This circuit originated in Brazil. Here it is on the DXexplorer site. I think it has been on this blog some time ago.


See https://www.qsl.net/py2ohh/trx/pititico/pititico.html .

Incidentally, PY2OHH's site has a wealth of data.

Storm coming

This weekend is likely to be wet and windy in the UK as we get hit by the remains of a hurricane. Although we can expect strong winds and rain, it is unlikely to be as bad as it was a few days ago. Anyway, it does not look like weather to go far!

Thursday plans

 Probably I shall go on 10m 500mW WSPR and 6m 5W FT8 again, most likely after lunch.

Sunspots - Thursday October 2nd

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 161.  A=50 and K=6.

1 Oct 2025

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.