Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 126. A=8 and K=2.
10 Nov 2025
9 Nov 2025
Monday plans
At the moment I am not sure about Monday. I may try 23cm beacon hunting with my SDR receiver or even lower power on 10m FT8. If there is thunder around I may just stay off the air.
Spitting Image
This was originally on terrestrial television, but is now on YouTube. I imagine they avoid some of the censorship this way.
50mW 10m FT8 (Sunday)
I have used the GE3 prefix to distinguish the 50mW signals.
UPDATE 1304z: 59 stations have spotted my 10m 50mW FT8 today. Furthest is OX3HI (3173km).
UPDATE 1449z: 84 stations spotting me. Nothing from the USA or Canada yet.
UPDATE 2012z: 97 stations have spotted me with the furthest KW7MM (8476km) in Arizona. See map.
8 Nov 2025
Day off the radio?
Today, I shall probably not go on the radio. On Sunday I may give 10m FT8 a try with 50mW.
Obscene?
I have just heard that the richest man in the world has just got a salary package that could be worth an extra $1trillion.
When some in the world are starving, I find this obscene. Meanwhile the poor get even poorer.
Some advert for democracy - NOT.
Web SDRs
There are quite a few SDRs (software defined radios) connected to the internet often with extensions so you can decode your favourite modes. It is fun to take a listen to these.
I was listening on 10m FT8 via http://sdr.gb0snb.com:8073/ which uses an active loop by George Smart M1GEO called the Wellgood loop. See https://www.george-smart.co.uk/projects/wellgood-loop/ .
A search on Google or similar will produce a list. of webSDRs. Alternatively see https://rsgb.org/main/operating/web-sdr-receiver/.
7 Nov 2025
USA government shutdown
Not being a politician, I am unclear about the government shutdown in the USA, but it must be costing a lot to the USA economy. I can see this becoming a massive issue.
10m 500mW FT8 (Friday)
Without an external attenuator, 500mW FT8 is the lowest power I can run from my IC-705. It was turned on at about 0945z.
UPDATE 1036z: So far, spotted by 83 stations. It is still too easy!! Furthest is RN4WA (3365km).
UPDATE 1433z: 231 stations have spotted me including VO1CH (3737km). See map. I think I'll stick with 500mW today, but might try 50mW 10m FT8 another day. At 500mW FT8, I have no problem at all getting lots of spots on 10m. Furthest is a spot by HZ1BQ (4465km).
UPDATE 1640z: 250 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW FT8. Furthest is W4SPF (7202km).
UPDATE 1708z: QRT.
2m activity contest last Tuesday
Every month, despite my poor voice I go on the 2m and 70cm activity contests (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. It may be me, but I am sense there are fewer people taking part.
Perhaps it is me, but maybe the higher local noise floors in urban areas are making it harder for QRP stations. Certainly, I generally work fewer 2m stations, whereas I don't have the same problem on 70cm. in fact I usually work more now on 70cm SSB!
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| Where I was spotted with 2m 10W SSB to the big-wheel omni antenna |
On FT8 with half the power I am regularly spotted on 2m in GI and EI at well over 400km. It seems to me that on 2m FT8 it is far easier.
6 Nov 2025
2m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My 2m FT8 gear was turned on at about 1820z.
UPDATE 1857z: So far, 11 spots of me with furthest GI6ATZ (479km).
UPDATE 1922z: QRT.
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on at about 1145z.
The Tenner QRP CW transceiver
It is also on my website.
It has worked plenty of DX.
FTX-1 and IC-705 head to head
In the end, if you are choosing between these two transceivers, it will be a personal decision based on the way you operate.
Another factor is price with the IC705 considerably less expensive than the FTX-1 in the UK. In this video, both are compared. The IC-705 has more features built in.
Personally, I would not pay the extra for the FTX-1. If it was the same price as the IC-705 it might be a harder decision!
Village centre?
Perhaps the village centre could be considered as near our local co-op shop where there are a few shops together as in the photo.
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