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| Stations spotting my 2.5W FT8 on 8m yesterday |
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0630z. Just spots from local G4KPX (14km) so far.
My expectation is to go on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8. I am hopeful of some Es propagation.
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 tonight |
This unusual as it is on Friday evening. Junk sale. Best to check details first.
Friday August 11th 6-9pm Cockenzie and Port Seton ARC . No contact details or postcode, sorry. I think this is Scotland.
Usually the 70cm FT8 activity session is this evening.
My 500mW TX WSPR beacon is on.
UPDATE 0917z: Lots of Es spots.
UPDATE 0917z: SR4BBX spotting me. Now EI9KP (649km) too.
Not quite sure why, but my 8m SWR is back to normal. My intention is to try 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 tomorrow. Hopefully there will be some Es around.
Starting at 1900z, this evening is the RSGB organised 70cm activity contest. I usually go on for a short time with 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Sometimes I work over 100km whereas other times I work nobody.
Today, the Es on 10m and 6m seems very good on FT8.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
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| Stations spotting my QRP 6m FT8 today |
Later, we hope to go on a walk in the village. It is an area called "Paulines' Swamp". It is a nature reserve created some years ago in memory of the wife of a well known village person.
The YouTube video is a view of our village, taken with a drone. Pauline's Swamp is just visible after 2 mins 10 secs at the very top. If you did not know, you would not know! Our house also on near the windmill.
Following on from my post yesterday and Jan's comment, I am finding plenty of 6m Es today.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0830z. So far today, no spots of me. It is now 0851z.
UPDATE 0932z: My signal has been received in Finland by OH6BG (1718km). This could be Es or F2 I guess.
My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0830z. So far, spotted just by Gs. 1 G spotted on RX.
UPDATE 0955z: My signal has been received in Portugal. Es? 10 stations have been spotted here as far away as the Canary Is..
UPDATE 1104z: 13 stations have spotted me as far as Portugal and Spain and 23 stations have been spotted here so far.
Many years ago whilst driving around the lanes of Devon I worked G3USB/M on 2m FM. I used to work with him in old Pye days. After a period of inactivity, he is now on the air again from 26km away. He has spotted me several times recently on 6m FT8.
I checked QRZ.com but could not see an email address. If anyone has this I'd be most grateful as I should like to get in touch.
Traditionally, the Es season in the northern hemisphere peaks around May, June, July. It is now well into August and I am wondering if more people are "staying around" on 10m and 6m FT8 than before?
In the past, many people took a look, heard nobody, so QSYed to a lower band. With FT8 a band can be monitored very easily and signals can be fleeting and weak. It is my thought that brief peaks in Es occur far more often than we think. FT8 might just be the key that "unlocks the door".
Today, as an example my 2.5W to a vertical omni has been spotted widely in Europe (96 stations at 1442z) on 6m FT8. Openings may only be fleeting and weak, but that can be enough. With more power and a beam just imagine what could be possible.
The Pixie transceiver was derived from the Micro80. Both have severe limitations, especially on RX. Nonetheless, they work and can be a very low cost introduction to the hobby. I have built both in the past.
You may be amazed that something this simple actually works.
So far (at 0926z) just spots from G4KPX (14km).
UPDATE 1027z: 3 unique stations spotting me. There is some Es.
I meant to include details of how I accessed the world DMR network with just an Android phone (no hotspots, DMR portables or dongles needed), but I forgot, so this will have to await the next edition!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book
My 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 was turned on about 0850z. So far, (at 0905z) just 3 UK spots of me and nobody on RX.
UPDATE 1030z: 8 stations spotted on RX and 13 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP. There is some Es.
Isn't it amazing that Mr Trump is so popular in the USA? It is surprising that a nation so vast cannot find a young, sharp, intelligent potential president. It looks likely both candidates will be older than me and I retired 14 years ago!
In the UK the leaders of the major political parties are younger. I am so glad we live in a democracy and can change parties every few years. Some policies need long term agreements like health and social care.
The way we elect people in the UK can probably be improved. The important thing is that we use our vote. There are good people and bad (sadly) in all political parties in all nations.
My last peek was late afternoon in Europe on a weekday. To my surprise there was more activity than I expected. At this stage, I would have hoped for even more activity.
On the way to the Co-op food shop in the village, I spotted this postman. I asked his permission to take this photo. Very festive!
