My 2.5W FT8 to a dipole was turned on at 1046z on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1950 Hz). No spots at 1227z.
18 Jan 2024
A lot of grass! - NOT amateur radio
The college lawns are always immaculate. Mind you, I doubt they are short of money!
500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR (Thursday)
Although my QRPP 10m WSPR beacon is on, no spots today.
It looks like conditions have to be really good for this tiny power to be spotted. A low local noise level is also needed and this is getting harder.
UPDATE 1334z: Still no spots today.
UPDATE 1426z: 3 spots by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is.. This station spots my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR most days.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
A good session on 630m WSPR overnight. In all, 25 stations spotted my 10mW ERP (measrued) from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
17 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1645z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me this evening..
Time to stop - NOT amateur radio
What happened in Israel on October 7th was appalling. It was understandable that the people of Israel and its government were angry. It is clear they want to stop such attacks in future.
However, I am unsure of the real motives of Israel in Gaza.
There were lots of people killed or taken hostage on October 7th, but the destruction and deaths in Gaza are surely out of proportion. Many there are starving, and you can understand why many are calling the actions of Israel genocide.
If, as was the declared intention of Israel, they want to decimate Hamas, then surely there are more clinical ways of going about it? I am not impressed from a population that was so badly impacted in WW2.
QRP 8m FT8 (Wednesday)
My 2.5W FT8 on 40.680 MHz has been on for about 30 minutes.
Better equipped stations are regularly getting across the Atlantic again. It is much harder with just 2.5W and a low dipole! As the F2 season is good in February and March, we can expect even better times ahead.
UPDATE 1515z: No spots yet today.
10m 500uW WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My 500uW (0.5mW) signal has already been spotted by EA8BFK (2880km) .
The beacon is pre-programmed to report 500mW even though the actual output is just 0.5mW!! The QRPP power is confirmed by spectrum analyser.
UPDATE 1152z: Now spotted 5 times today by EA8BFK. USA afternoon?
UPDATE 1519z: No further spots of me. Not surprisingly, single hop F2 is the most successful. I guess the USA is at least 2 hops, so there is far greater path loss, so the USA would require conditions to be exceptional with 0.5mW.
Punting on the Cam - NOT amateur radio
The last few days have been crisp and cold in Cambridge. If you wrap up warm, ideal weather for punting. The photo was yesterday outside King's College.
630m 10mW ERP WSPR overnight
My 10mW ERP (measured) from the invisible earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 20 stations with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km).
16 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR has been on for a couple of hours. 13 stations have spotted me so far, but no great DX.
10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR TX (Tuesday)
My QRPP 10m WSPR beacon is on again. Already spotted 5 times in the Canary Islands. This is the best yet on 10m WSPR QRPP.
UPDATE 2015z: 3 different stations spotted me today despite the tiny power - EA8BFK, DL0LU, PD0OHW.
2200m beacon
My test a year ago with this was (surprisingly) a failure. At some point I would like to try again. There is a short video of this beacon on my video channel. It sends CW at 10wpm and QRSS3.
Norwich Cathedral last week - NOT amateur radio
High MUF
We are close to the peak, possibly just over it, of solar cycle 25. Yesterday, in some parts of the world, the MUF was over 42 MHz. In the depths of the next solar minimum we will look back with disbelief.
See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .
It can only get better!
The results of the first 2m activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB have been published. I am at the very bottom of the low power section. As I said, things can only get better, HI!!
15 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR
My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was turned on at teatime. So far (at 1830z) 8 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1910z: 11 stations have spotted me in the last hour (see table). The furthermost is EI0CF (602km).
Through the glass - NOT amateur radio
Elections - NOT amateur radio
2024 is a year of elections.
In the USA, Mr Trump is on record as saying, "Mr Putin is a genius".
In Taiwan, an election has just been held.
In the UK, an election is very likely this year. In the UK, the Conservative Party won an overwhelming majority in the last election. At the moment, the opposition Labour Party is expected to win. I suspect the majority will be smaller than recent polls suggest.
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
HF F2 propagation is looking good, so I am hopeful that I shall get some transatlantic spots again soon on 8m FT8 with my 2.5W and low dipole. Better equipped stations seem to be getting across the Atlantic regularly. I guess their ERPs are 10dB up on me, which could make quite a difference. I intentionally want to see how QRP performs. It would appear it is much like 10m if the MUF is high enough.
At the moment, my inclination is to apply for a new UK 8m TX permit when my current one runs out in April. I object to having to pay, but I think the experiment is worthwhile.
In the 2025 Es season I may concentrate on unlicenced WSPR activity with 10mW ERP, but that is some way off still. Who knows, we might have a tiny 8m amateur band in the UK by then!!
UPDATE 1156z: At some point, I might try a modified CB vertical on 8m. I hope to get this up before the 2024 Es season.
UPDATE 1423z: No spots all day.
UPDATE 1536z: ZF1EJ (7761km) has spotted me. This is my first transatlantic 8m FT8 spot this year.
500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX (Monday)
My beacon is on, but no spots. A reminder that the power was verified with my TinySA. I am surprised that even with this tiny power, it is regularly spotted at great distance.
UPDATE 1134z: 3 spots from the Canary Islands by EA8BFK (2880km). I think this is single hop F2.
Norwich museum exhibit - NOT amateur radio
It is interesting that, although we have no intention of moving, Norwich is a city we could live in. It has a nice feel.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
Quite a decent session on 630m WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with 10mW ERP with 24 stations spotting me in the last 24 hours.Also, some useful DX again.
14 Jan 2024
70cm activity session last Tuesday
Every month I take part in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) using 10W pep and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. It is usual for me to stop on not very long with my poor voice. 3 stations were worked (see map).
630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
At about 1608z my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was turned on. So far, at 1640z widely spotted in the UK.
UPDATE 2215z: 21 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours on 630m QRP WSPR. Quite good with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground that the XYL and neighbours do not even realise is there!
Best session yet on 630m QRP WSPR
The last 24 hours was the best session this season on 630m QRP WSPR TX with 28 stations spotting my 10mW ERP.
13 Jan 2024
500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR
This must have been one of the best days ever on 10m QRPP WSPR TX. EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me 6 times.
London, St Pancras - NOT amateur radio
We went to London to eat out at an Italian restaurant nearby with our daughter-in-law and her daughter.
630m QRP WSPR in the last day
In the last day, 26 stations spotted my 10mW ERP. I think this is the best this season.
QSL cards
These days a contact may be confirmed a number of ways and eQSLs exchanged. I have to admit that I rarely send out QSL cards these days.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
