Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 168. A=29 and K=3.
18 May 2024
17 May 2024
Kenwood TH-D75
Who pays this stupid money for a handheld?
I guess people with very deep pockets and very small brains.
Ancient websites - NOT amateur radio
Nothing infuriates me as much as websites that are very out of date! Today, I chanced on this:
"Next proposed Working Party Dates: 6th February 2011 and 6th March 2011."
This is only 13 years out of date 😉. If you are doing a website it has to be maintained!!
6m 10mW WSPR (Friday)
My 10mW 6m WSPR is on again. As you will know this is to find out how well 10mW ERP might perform on 8m, which is available to all (certainly in the UK) under ISM rules without a licence. I am guessing there are more monitors on 6m.
UPDATE 1900z: No 6m spots of me today. Unexpectedly, 3 UK stations were spotted on 6m WSPR RX despite the large pad on the rig output!
UPDATE 2135z: G0VQH (15km) has spotted my 10mW 6m WSPR very strongly (+2dB S/N)
10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on again, although I doubt this will be copied unless we have really good Es further west in Europe. Maybe later?
UPDATE 1343z: DK6UG (633km) has spotted my 500uW 5 times today.
European Es
At the moment, Es seems better in Europe further east. Let's hope it spreads further west!
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
Rallies this weekend
The following have been notified to me, but it is always advisable to check beforehand.
- Saturday May 18th - Barry ARS , CF64 5SP. Contact s.cawsey@sky.com
- Sunday May 19th - Braehead Rally, G51 4BN. See http://braeheadrally.com. No contact details given.
- Sunday May 19th - Dartmoor Radio Club Rally, Yelverton, PL20 6AL. Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com .
16 May 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1910z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. So far, 2 spots received from G8OCV/SDR (65km).
What are these? - NOT amateur radio
Something was put in months ago and must have germinated.
70cm UKAC on Tuesday last
6m 10mW WSPR (Thursday)
My 10mW 6m WSPR is on, but no spots of me at 0835z.
UPDATE 1920z: No spots of me all day.
10m QRPP WSPR (Thursday)
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on. So far (at 0833z) no spots of me.
UPDATE 1807z: No spots.
European Es (Thursday)
At the moment the Es seems to be mainly in the east. I hope this spreads west.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
A better session with 6 stations spotting my 10mW ERP. No amazing DX but it gives me hope!
The West and China - NOT amateur radio
China is in the ascendancy in the 21st century.
For a long time the USA has been acknowledged as the strongest power in the world, but it looks as if this is changing.
No doubt the USA will try to hang on to their supremacy, but I suspect long after I am pushing up daisies things will be very different. China is communist and the USA a western democracy. Both systems have merits and demerits.
15 May 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
Once again, I am on 630m QRP WSPR with 10mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. At the moment I appear to be the only UK station on TX. So far, just spots by G8OCV/SDR (65km).
European Es
At the moment I am carrying out two experiments:
- 500uW 10m WSPR
- 10mW 6m WSPR
The latter is to simulate 8m under ISM rules (10mW ERP) which is open to everyone without the need for a licence.
So far, I have received no spots. When Es is good, this power should be enough, although with weak signals, these can be masked by noise. This could prove to be the limiting factor. My intention is to continue these experiments during the Es season.
Yet more Google rubbish - NOT amateur radio
Yet again, I have received another email from Google Adsense, about adverts in certain USA states.
Perhaps they could either not bother at all (preferable) or learn to communicate in plain English? I am getting fed up with receiving so many rubbish emails from Google that I immediately delete.
Two-faced? - NOT amateur radio
The USA (according to the BBC) has told congress that it wants to send $1bn in arms to Israel. No doubt these (along with many others before) will be used to render women and children dead, maimed or homeless.
We accuse Russia of war crimes in Ukraine, but allow Israel to do the same in Gaza with weapons we provide.
Indeed, Israel has a perfect right to defend itself. However, many will question the way Israel is trying to prosecute the war in Gaza.
My firm belief is everyone on the planet has a right to live in peace, be respected and worship in the way they choose.
6m 10mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My QRPP 6m WSPR was turned on at about 0830z.
UPDATE 1606z: No spots. I am beginning to think that 10mW 6m WSPR is harder than I was expecting. When I went on earlier I noticed that there were quite a few lines of interference. This, if typical, could make reception of weak signals hard.
Sunspots - Wednesday May 15th
Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 185. A=6 and K=1. Solar activity seems to be high. Another peak?
OFCOM auction
OFCOM is consulting on the format of its upcoming auction of 26-40 GHz spectrum. See the OFCOM website for details.
Reminder - Dayton Hamvention
This is a reminder that the Dayton Hamvention is this coming weekend. Dayton is in Ohio, USA 🇺🇸.
As far as I know, it is the biggest amateur radio gathering on the planet. It particularly attracts visitors in the USA, but is also a meeting place for overseas visitors too.
It is often the place where new products are announced. I am still waiting for the FT817 true successor, although I fear it is now too late!
630m QRP WSPR overnight
I forgot to change back to G3XBM from GE3XBM that I was using on 6m during my QRPP tests overnight. Just a single station spotted my 10mW ERP overnight. It was quite the worst night for months. Probably time to think of a new challenge!!
UPDATE 0950z: I shall keep going on 630m WSPR until the weekend before reconsidering things.
14 May 2024
70cm activity contest (UKAC)
This evening was the 70cm activity contest. I worked a couple of stations with my 10W pep SSB to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna before I went QRT after about 40 minutes.
10mW 6m WSPR (Tuesday)
This is really to see how 8m WSPR would work under ISM rules (10mW ERP). I am testing on 6m as I hope there will be more monitors.
If it works on 6m, I am pretty sure it would work on 8m. On 6m QRPP WSPR I am using a unique callsign so I can ID spots at 10mW.
UPDATE 2000z: No spots of me all day.
500uW 10m WSPR (Tuesday)
Once again, I am on 10m WSPR with 500uW to see how I get on in the Es season.
UPDATE 2017z: No spots all day.
Last post about Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio
On Sunday we went to see the famous Sacred Lamb altarpiece in the cathedral in Ghent painted by the van Eyck brothers. In the crypt is an audio visual presentation introducing it.
Amusing - NOT amateur radio
My wife took this photo of 2 geese in Citadel Park in Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪. It looks like they are discussing if they should sunbathe!
10m QRP WSPR late yesterday
My 10mW WSPR on 10m was turned on late yesterday. 11 stations spotted me suggesting the Es season is in full swing.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
As we returned from our holiday in Belgium 🇧🇪 I returned to 630m QRP WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode “antenna“ in the ground. Spots from 3 stations.
Eurostar - NOT amateur radio
Everyone we interacted with in Belgium was extremely kind. In fact this is probably what I shall remember most.
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