10m QRPP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 500uW (0.5mW)  WSPR TX tests continue. Today, I was spotted by DF1VB (506km) . At this tiny power I have been spotted by 4 stations on 3 continents. I have been amazed by these results.

Winter jasmine - NOT amateur radio

 

On our walk yesterday, we saw this bush laden with winter jasmine. It can look splendid at this time of year

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Ten stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR overnight. No great DX, but more active stations than I was expecting just after Christmas.

2200m activity

 Apart from an unsuccessful test last year with my CW beacon, I have not tried TX this LF band. As my only suitable antenna is my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, I am rather hampered with my poor health. It is this or nothing.

Some years ago, I made a video of my LF transverter.

At some point I must repeat my test with my 2200m CW beacon.

Rally on Thursday

The following rally is due to take place this Thursday. Check if travelling a long way.

Thursday Dec 28th - Sparkford Wireless Group Tabletop Rally in aid of RAIBC, West Camel near Yeovil, BA22 7QX.  Contact wjh069@gmail.com .

Sunspots - Wednesday December 27th 2023

 Solar flux is 154 and the SSN 94. A=5 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

This evening, I expect to be on 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 1800z:  In the last few weeks, the stations on the map have been spotted on 630m WSPR RX.

UPDATE 1824z:   6 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours (see table).

8m QRP FT8 tomorrow (Wednesday)

All being well, I hope to be on 40.680MHz FT8 (DF about 1950Hz) with my 2.5W and dipole tomorrow (Wednesday). I should be on from just after breakfast.

Winter walk - NOT amateur radio (Tuesday)

On Christmas Day the weather was dull, but Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) was cold and sunny, so we went for a walk to burn off a few of the Christmas excesses. We walked around the village of Lode, near Cambridge.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My 500uW 10m WSPR TX continues. EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me twice today.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 10 stations overnight with the furthermost SM6BOC (1054km).

Sunspots - Tuesday December 26th 2023

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 98.  A=4 and K=1.

Christmas Cava - NOT amateur radio

This is one of our sons opening the Cava this Christmas.

Pigged out - NOT amateur radio

 Like many, I am getting over the Christmas feast.

 Some are unable to feast this Christmas. Let’s hope 2024 brings peace and happiness to all. 

War has no place here in the 21st century 

On 630m QRP WSPR (Christmas Day)

My 630m QRP WSPR is currently active. As usual it is 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2021z:  I shall stay on overnight. 7 stations have spotted me today.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) TX WSPR (Monday)

After being received yesterday in the Canary Is on 10m QRPP WSPR by 2 stations, my 500uW beacon is on now, whilst Christmas dinner is prepared!

UPDATE  1057z:  Already spotted today by EA8BFK (2880km) at 0836z. Amazing!

UPDATE 1722z: No further spots.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

In all 9 stations spotted me overnight. Not bad for Christmas Eve. 

Very old photo 1838 - NOT amateur radio

Sorry, but I do not know where this copy of an 1838 photo comes from. It is one of the earliest photos ever made. 

Imagine if we had had photos 200 years earlier!

Sunspots - Christmas Day

 Firstly a very happy Christmas to all readers. Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 113. A=9 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

 My gear (10mW ERP) was turned on at about 1730z.

UPDATE 1740z:  2 spots so far.

Shetland sun - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on 365project recently by a friend. It can be very windy on Shetland.

Yesterday's birthday celebrations - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I mentioned that I was 21 and quite a bit. 

It was relaxing day at home with the wind blowing outside.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Sunday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR transmissions continue. So far today, no spots.

UPDATE 1223z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1720z:  2 spots from stations in the Canary Is at 500uW (0.5mW).

40m QRP FT8

Yesterday I matched, using my z-match, the coax going to my 2m big-wheel antenna and was amazed by the spots. With 2.5W FT8 I was spotted by 255 stations including 2 in the USA.

Sunspots- Sunday December 24th 2023

Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 123. A=6 and K=1.

40m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Just tried loading up the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via my z-match on 40m (7.074MHz). 18 spots of me already after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1612z:  24 stations have spotted my 40m QRP FT8 so far.

Born in a stately home - NOT amateur radio

After WW2, this was a nursing home for some years. It was here that I was born a long time ago.  It has been converted to retirement flats.

So, I can truthfully say I was born in a stately home even though we lived in a modest council house at the time!!

30m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Using 2.5W to my V2000 vertical via my z-match tuner, I am giving 30m FT8 a try.

UPDATE 1447z: Plenty of spots of me. It also loads up on 20m where my 2.5W is being widely spotted.

I think with this z-match, I can load up random wires and coax outers on most HF bands.

The map shows the 71 spots of me on 30m 2.5W FT8 by mid-afternoon. Oh yes, it works.

UPDATE 1552:  Spotted by 125 stations on 30m QRP FT8  - too easy!

10m 500uW WSPR experiment continued (Saturday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX experiment is continuing. 

UPDATE 1219z:  No spots today.

UPDATE 1454z:  Spotted in the Canary Is - amazing for 500uW WSPR! 

Soldering - hard now

 A few minutes ago, I was intending to go on 8m QRP FT8, but I noticed the high SWR. 

The problem is the coax plug. I attempted to fix it, but the soldering is now so much harder, so I have stopped for now. I shall have another go after lunch. 

This is a combination of poorer fine motor skills and eyesight. To think 50 years ago this would be so trivial!! I shall do it, but it takes longer nowadays.

Birthday - NOT amateur radio

Today I am 21 and quite a bit!  A few years ago I would have qualified for a free TV licence!

My wife is cooking pheasant.

Conspicuous silence?

My speculation a few days ago about a possible successor to the FT-817/818 met with silence. I guess Yaesu is looking at ICOM, the KX2/3 and the Chinese and wondering if they should bother. If I was Yaesu, I'd be thinking twice. 

They need to come out (if they do) with a "killer" QRP product that everyone wants with some very unique features. 

On performance these last few years I have my doubts. They are capable of doing some excellent products, but seem to be floundering in recent years. At one time they were market leaders. Nowadays they are market followers trying to catch up.

630m WSPR overnight

 

In all, 10 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight.

Sunspots - Saturday December 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 187 and the SSN 157. A=4 and K=1.

Low cost HF transceiver

Just now I noticed a uSDX 8 band QRP HF transceiver, with internal battery for just over £150 on Amazon. Less battery, it is about £20 less expensive. 

I am slightly nervous of Chinese products as these may not have CE approval and might have import duty to pay. I also think the Chinese have some way to go on quality control.

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1650z. Just G8LCO (58km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1709z :   G4FFC (45km) also spotting me.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole was turned on at about 1015z.

UPDATE 1049z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1545z:   Spotted by MM0AMW (523km) on the Mull of Kintyre. I think this is a new person monitoring 8m.

Ely snack lunch

On Wednesday, we ate at the Almonry restaurant in Ely. This is next to Ely Cathedral and has been serving food since the 1200s - that is some time!! Thankfully, the food was fresh and not that old. It is hard to imagine who was eating here back in the 1200s. I guess it was an alms house back then, giving alms to the poor.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP  630m ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground overnight.

Level crossing - NOT amateur radio

We cross this every time we go to Ely. It’s rare to be held up by a train. This time, we were held up both going to, and coming from, Ely.  Years ago this was very uneven and this made our younger grandson laugh.

This train is probably bound for Felixstowe, which is a very large container port, probably the biggest in the UK.