10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

Usually, 10m starts to come to life after lunch, but my TX WSPR beacon is on anyway as the antenna is available when I go on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 1910z:  Spotted by 8 stations today. See table.

6m this autumn

Most times I have been on 6m with 5W or 3W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna I have been spotted in mainland Europe. I shall stick with 6m FT8 QRP today.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at 0834z.

UPDATE 1812z: 21 stations in 5 countries spotting me. No continental stations have spotted me today. See map.

Thermidor

Having bought these from a UK store I decided to try my own. There was too much tomato so next time I'll get my wife to do the sauce. 

Not bad for a first attempt. 5/10 and a star for effort.

Comparing regen and direct conversion receivers

In this video VK3YE compares these types of receivers. In my view, both have their places.

Sunspots - Sunday October 5th

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 137. A=20 and K=3.

The garden in autumn

 

Although most trees still have their leaves, they will soon lose them. The colours this autumn are great.

SSB on the QMX and QMX+

These radios from QRP Labs now support SSB. I see there is a video on how to wire up an electret mic to use with the QMX.

Yucca

This is in a neighbour's garden. 

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My stand-alone 10m beacon has been on since lunch.

UPDATE 1950z:  12 stations have spotted me including plenty ""across the pond". See table.

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..

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.

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.