Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 66. A=11 and K=1.
28 Oct 2023
27 Oct 2023
630m QRP WSPR (Friday)
This evening, I QSYed to 630m WSPR QRP TX (with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) earlier than usual. So far (at 1820z) 3 stations have spotted me.
Quote in "The Knowledge" today - NOT amateur radio
This quote was in "The Knowledge" today.
"War is the unfolding of miscalculations." Historian Barbara Tuchman
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 2.5W 8m FT8 gear has been on much of the morning. So far, just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me.
UPDATE 1215z: 2 locals have spotted me and I have spotted ZR1ADI (9777km) in South Africa yet again.
10m 500mW WSPT TX (Friday)
My stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon has been on much of the morning. 3 stations have spotted me. This all looks like F2.
UPDATE 1308z: 19 stations have spotted me today.
UPDATE 1535z: 37 spots of me today.
That DX 8m QRP contact yesterday
Yesterday, as reported, I managed to have my first 8m two-way FT8 QSO across the Atlantic. I was using 2.5W and Eden, ZF1EJ, 5W.
630m WSPR overnight
Overnight I was on 630m WSPR using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with 10mW ERP. 15 stations spotted me. OH1LSQ was on, but didn't spot me. The table shows the stations spotting me in the last 12 hours.
26 Oct 2023
630m WSPR (Thursday)
I have QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR for the evening and night. 8 stations have spotted me so far - all in the UK.
UPDATE 2118z: 12 stations have spotted me.
NanoVNA - very tempted
See nanovna.com .
UPDATE 1555z: Ordered from Mirfield Electronics.
Rallies this Saturday
The following rallies have been notified to me. Both are meant to take place on Saturday, October 28th. I always advise checking first before travelling any distance.
- Essex CW Boot Camp, Witham, CM8 2HE. Contact g0ibn1@yahoo.com.
- Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group Rally Carrickfergus, N.Ireland. No contact details given.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My 2.5W FT8 has been on since breakfast, but no spots yet.
UPDATE 1410z: 5 stations have spotted my QRP (3 in the Caribbean) and 1 QSO with ZF1EJ (7761km). One of my best days on 8m! I suspect ZF1EJ has an antenna somewhat better than mine!
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since breakfast. Getting spotted in the Canary Is..
UPDATE 1514z: 50 spots of my 10m WSPR QRP so far. Yet again, the German research station in Antarctica, DP0GVN, has spotted my QRP.
630m WSPR overnight
OH1LSQ (1733km) spotted me 3 times overnight on QRP 630m WSPR TX. 14 stations spotted my 10mW ERP.
25 Oct 2023
Back on QRP 630m WSPR (Wednesday)
At about 1920z, I turned my 630m QRP WSPR. So far (at 1940z) UK spots.
Yorkshire parkin - NOT amateur radio
Real ham shack?
As you can tell, when the XYL is not looking, it is a real shack with plenty of mess!
Yaesu discounting
At least one UK retailer is making a "big thing" of Yaesu discounts.
This may be the lead-up to end-of-year sales like "black Friday" and the Christmas holidays. Or it could be Yaesu is desperate to gain or hold on to market share.
My view is that all Japanese manufacturers of amateur gear are going to struggle in the years ahead. Some customers have lots of faith and I hope I am very wrong.
End game? - NOT amateur radio
Like many, I have been appalled by recent events in the Middle East. Things carried out by both sides have been dreadful. One side is (understandably) out to reap revenge, but I fear far more innocent women, men and children will be killed or maimed for life across the whole Middle East.
It is likely that this bad feeling will continue well after I am pushing up daisies. Why, oh why, can't people respect others?!! They may be different, but we are still just human beings sharing one small planet.
It is not at all clear to me what the end game is.
1920s radio
Neat job.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
Last night was one of my best nights ever on 630m with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with spots by 19 stations as the table shows. I was received yet again in Finland.
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 0845z, but no spots yet today (at 0900z).
UPDATE 1740z: Just local G6KWA (22km) has spotted me today. On RX the furthermost spotted was ZS3/V51PJ (9081km).
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My 500mW 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0844z. So far, spotted by 2 stations by F2.
UPDATE 1737z: 37 stations have spotted me today.
24 Oct 2023
630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
Since about 2000z, I have been on TX. So far, UK spots.
80m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My 80m QRP (2.5W) has been on for the last few hours. My "antenna" is the (almost invisible) earth-electrodes in the ground on which the match is very good. I do not know the ERP on 80m. 2 QSOs have been made with one being PE4BAS, Bas, (450km). Results on TX and RX are far exceeding what I expected. My furthermost spot on TX is UN7MAU (3446km) - quite amazing.
UPDATE 2015z: QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.
CQWW SSB contest this weekend
This is this weekend (October 28/29th). It is the biggest contest on the planet with 35000 people taking part over the SSB and CW contests.
Exchanges are just report and CQ zone. For example, in the UK, this might be "5914". There is no need to submit an entry, Just come on to work a few more countries. The contest runs all weekend. Exchanges usually take a few seconds only.
At one time (when my voice was OK!) I used to enjoy this contest and have pages filled in the logbook even with 2.5W. I even worked the USA on SSB handheld with the FT817 whip indoors on the bed!
These days, I often forget.
The fog of war - NOT amateur radio
Recently I have been watching different news TV sites trying to get a balanced view of things. It is very noticeable that different outlets emphasise different things.
In the "fog of war" it is very hard to get to the facts. All sides tend to stress what they want you to believe.
The best we can do is get the news from various sources, make our own minds up, and don't believe all we hear.
Getting over Covid-19 - NOT amateur radio
As mentioned before, both my wife and I have had Covid-19, we believe for the first and only time. My wife got better after a few days. I seem to be getting better with the worst of the symptoms now gone. We have both (as "old" people) had all our injections and assumed we would never get it!
As mentioned before we had different symptoms. So far, my sense of small and taste are the same. Since my 2013 stroke these have been "different" in that I no longer want sugar in tea and coffee. Also, I like sweet things more - quite bizarre!
Anyway, assuming I have no relapses, I think I am getting better. If others get it, I hope you have similar experiences or better i.e. mild, and short.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been on since breakfast. So far, plenty of spots from the Canary Is, by what looks like F2. Also, other stations, probably F2.
UPDATE 1325z: 19 spots of me so far today.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My 2.5W has been on since after breakfast, but just spots by a local so far. As usual, 2.5W and the low dipole.
As the solar conditions do not look too promising today, the best I can really hope for is some tropo or aircraft scatter. Even this would be a bonus!
UPDATE 1316z: ZR1ADI (9777km) has again been copied. With the SSN so low I am pleasantly surprised to see the MUF on N-S paths so high. I was not expecting this.
e-Loran
OFCOM is proposing to offer licences to e-Loran around 100 kHz. I have no idea if this will cause interference to LF and MF amateur bands. I remember the QRM caused by Loran at the top of 160m. I think OFCOM is after comments. See the OFCOM website.
160m QRP FT8 overnight
 |
| Stations spotting my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8 overnight |
In all, I was spotted by 55 stations as the maps shows. 73 stations were spotted on RX. The furthermost on TX was OH6BG (1716km).
My theory is this works as a loop in the ground, so that the efficiency should decrease as the skin depth goes down, so I would expect it to be poorer on 160m than 630m. Also, I was using FT8 which is some 10dB poorer than WSPR. Overall, very pleasing.
This begs the question - what is it like on 80m FT8? If the match is OK, I shall probably try this tonight!
This is experimentation I can still do! At some point I must try my 2200m (136 kHz) beacon on QRSS. I think it can do QRSS. It is over 10 years since I last used QRSS.
23 Oct 2023
160m FT8 this evening?
As a change from 630m WSPR, I might try the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with QRP 160m FT8 as long as I can get a match that is low enough.
I cannot recall trying this at this QTH. Mind you, it it is more than a month ago I probably cannot remember it!
UPDATE 1450z: I turned on my 160m QRP FT8 to the earth-electrode using the same 3C90 matching transformer. With the same taps as used on 630m the SWR is pretty low.
UPDATE 1811z: 7 stations have spotted me with the furthermost LA3MHA (1074km).
UPDATE 1900z: 10 stations have spotted me.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
My furthermost spot has increased in distance. Last night was probably my best ever on the band.
Count your blessings - NOT amateur radio
As mentioned yesterday, I have tested positive for Covid-19 despite having all the injections and avoided it until now. My wife also has it, with different symptoms. At the moment I feel rough and hope things get better soon. I have not felt this unwell since my 2013 stroke.
Just imagine this if I lived in Gaza. I have no sympathy with killing innocent people whatever their religion. I am sure revenge just fuels the flames. I just wish everyone could live in peace and respect our differences.
At the moment my symptoms of Covid are many and varied. It feels like a very heavy cold and it hurts when I cough. Also, I have noticed I make far more mistakes typing.
Enjoy every moment.
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
My 2.5W to the low dipole has been on since about 0945z. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1424z: So far still no spots on TX or RX.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
My 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon was turned on about 30 minutes ago.
UPDATE 1258z: 39 stations have spotted me today.
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