One of the people I follow on 365project usually has photos of the Shetland Islands. This photo is of a place on the mainland.
Although I was not planning to go on 8m until late this afternoon, I am already on QRP 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz.
You may be interested in my 8m webpage. See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .
UPDATE 1732z: No spots today.
A reminder that some of my videos might be of interest. Most are about amateur radio. A few are not. Many give more details of some of my projects.
My plan for today is to go on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW) TX and switch to 8m QRP TX FT8 later this afternoon. As the table shows, several 10m WSPR spots from the USA yesterday.
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| 10m WSPR spots of my QRP 500mW beacon yesterday |
I have no idea what they charge, but they can be a useful way to get your bearings.
As the 10m antenna is available when on 8m FT8 QRP, I decided to go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the 500mW beacon.
Although I have been on 8m for about 2 hours, no spots at all at 1805z. Another disappointing day.
This morning, I shall not be on. After lunch, I hope to be on 10m FT8 RX. Later, if thing are promising, I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX as well as 10m WSPR QRP TX.
My U3A course in Cambridge starts this afternoon, so I shall not be on TX until late afternoon.
After several hours on 8m QRP TX FT8 on 40.680 MHz (it is now 2005z) I have again failed to get any spots from the USA, or anywhere else.
At some point I shall make it.
UPDATE 2025z: Now QRT.
I love Norwich.
He has rung now in about 50 churches. He has a YouTube channel called Ringer Luke.
Currently he is doing a project on unringable bells. These are bells that cannot be rung in the conventional way as they are no longer safe. Today we went to Impington near Cambridge, where some of the bells were damaged by water dripping.
Later this morning (all being well) I expect to be on 10m FT8 RX.
If things look promising, I shall switch to 8m QRP TX on 40.680 MHz later in the afternoon, hoping to reach the USA. As yet, this has not been successful on 8m, but let's hope for success whilst F2 propagation is good.
Having worked the USA handheld with QRP SSB from the bedroom with just a base loaded whip on 10m SSB, it should be easily possible on 8m FT8 if there is propagation. My main issue is there are too few 8m monitors in the USA. This means the USA may be reached on 8m QRP FT8, but not be reported!
A huge satellite should be clearly visible from Earth. In fact some astronomers are worried that this and its companions could be so bright they may interfere with some observations on earth.
See https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/bluewalker-launched-spacex-largest-satellite-astronomers/ .
As the 10m antenna is available, I have remembered to go on 10m WSPR (I keep forgetting I can do this!). No spots yet today.
UPDATE 0918z: Several spots from the Canary Is. These look like single hop F2.
UPDATE 1650z: 21 spots so far, with lots from the USA. It appears I am romping into the USA on 10m WSPR.
The 8m FT8 gear was turned on at 0846z on 40.680 MHz. No spots yet.
UPDATE 0938z: No spots.
UPDATE 1645z: I am trying again on 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP to get spotted in the USA. Alas, no spots.
See https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/VHF-Communications/VHF-COMM.1971.1.pdf .
As well as several Ws, I was spotted in Antarctica by DP0GVN/3. which is the German base down there. This is the first time I have been spotted in Antarctica this solar cycle.
As 10m was looking promising, I have switched to 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz.
UPDATE 1640z: No spots on 8m FT8.
UPDATE 1921z: No spots. Now QRT on 8m.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-tenner-qrp-cw .
The 10m FT8 RX gear was switched on about 0851z. It is now 0907z and, so far, 42 stations have been spotted.
My current plans are to go on 10m FT8 RX for most of the day and maybe 8m QRP FT8 TX later if things look promising.
I must remember to go on 10m WSPR then as the antenna will be free and the PC will not be needed. Usually, I forget this!
10 years ago I got 3 phlatlights from the USA with the intention of doing more "over the horizon" (NLOS) optical tests at 481 THz. Then my stroke got in the way. There are 3 in the drawer unused.
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| Norwich Cathedral West Window |
We went to the market, up Tombland Alley, down Elm Hill, in the cathedral and a nice walk beside the River Wensum where Caen stone was brought up years ago from France to build the cathedral.
We spent the day in Norwich, but I turned on 8m FT8 QRP shortly after we got back at about 1630z. At 1827z no spots.
We deliver local Christmas cards by hand. We were going to do it yesterday, but the rain was horrendous so we did it today instead in the co...
