8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 8m QRP FT8 was turned on about 1000z. G9PUV (158km), EI2IP (607km) and S57TW (1236km) spotted on RX and my signal has been spotted by 4X1TI (3633km).

You get the distinct impression that 8m has "come of age".

UPDATE 1048z:  3 stations have spotted me today on 8m QRP FT8 TX:  G4FKI (60km), S51WX (1296km) and 4X1TI (3633km).

UPDATE 1144z: A QSO with ZR1ADI (9777km) on 8m QRP FT8 earlier. The map shows where my 2.5W 8m FT8 has been spotted this morning.

UPDATE 1222z:  Spotted by WW1L (4976km). I am tempted to try 6m, but have decided to stick with 8m today.

UPDATE 1455z: Spotted by 9 stations today. I think that is it, although I shall leave the gear on until teatime.

UPDATE 1506z: I totally fail to understand the really backward stand by the FCC, OFCOM and the RSGB towards amateur access to 8m. Just 5kHz at low power, narrow digital only,  would open the radio community to free propagation research. A few enlightened administrations have seen sense, whereas the UK and USA seem so backward (and frankly stupid).

UPDATE 1706z:  11 stations spotted my 8m QRP FT8 today. QRT.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

We have some yellow roses outside our bungalow. I usually heavily prune these in March. 

They have several flushes and look good at the moment with several in flower and some in bud.

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0845z. At 0912z spotted by 47 stations.

UPDATE 0922z: Puzzled why I was seeing no RX spots of mine on PSKreporter and the RX spectrum looked all "watery" and indistinct. I reset the QDX and PC and all was well again. Not sure if it was the QDX or PC. 49 spots on RX and 58 spots of my QRP FT8 on the QDX.

UPDATE  0952z:  79 spots of my QRP 10m FT8 so far, See map. Think I should QSY to 8m.

Sunday plans

 At the moment my plan is to go on 10m FT8 with the QDX. Apart from that, no firm plans.

DX Explorer YouTube channel

This is a YouTube channel I really like. It is sponsored by PCBway. The videos are of a modest person from Eastern Europe exploring various aspects of the radio hobby. The one here is just an example.

Sunspots - Sunday October 27th

  Solar flux is 238 and the SSN 181. A=14 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

When I am on 6m, I keep forgetting that the 10m antenna is available so there is nothing stopping me beaconing on 10m WSPR. 

Since about 1515z, I have also been on 10m QRP WSPR TX. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1722z:  34 stations have spotted me with most in the USA. Compared with screaming my voice off in the CQWW SSB contest with 20 times the power, 10m WSPR is so much more civilised.

UPDATE  1750z:   QRT.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday) - 6m instead

One of my intentions was to try QRP 8m FT8 today. Instead, I am sticking with 6m in the hope of some transatlantic 6m F2 propagation.

Slavery reparations - NOT amateur radio

The UK is in a difficult position over slavery centuries ago. 

The UK government at the time of the abolition of slavery in the 1800s paid compensation to slave owners but nothing to slaves.  

There is no doubt that many slave owners and their descendants years later gained benefits from this. I read somewhere that this loan was only finally paid off in 2015!

If we paid reparations now it would cost the UK trillions of pounds. There is absolutely no doubt about the moral nastiness of the slave trade. But these were in different times when our moral compass was far different. 

Should we be paying for the sins of those living in a different age?

QMX+ and new PC working on 6m FT8

The QMX+ works fine with my "newer" Windows 10 PC. 

Stations spotting my QRP 6m FT8 today

UPDATE 1730z: 35 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 so far. The furthermost is Sardinia. See map.

UPDATE 1753z:  QRT.

QDX and newer Windows 10 PC : all working

Stations spotting me on 10m QRP FT8 earlier with the QDX

Just now, I tried my QDX on FT8  with my "newer" Windows 10 PC.  Thankfully, all is working just fine. 

I may try Linux on the older PC, but on the one I am using I shall just leave well alone for now on the principle of "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

Primroses planted - NOT amateur radio

Most of the primroses bought yesterday have been planted (see photo). 

It is dull this morning, so ideal planting weather.

CQWW SSB contest

The CQWW SSB contest is in full swing and the bands look busy. 

After 1 QSO this morning, I gave up shouting knowing I could easily fill pages in the logbook. I shall leave this to others with better voices! 

The photo shows 10m looking very busy earlier.

Plans for Saturday

 Several things to do today!

• Get the primroses planted.
• Go on the CQWW contest at some point.
• Get both the QDX and QMX+ working with the newer Windows 10 PC.
• 8m QRP FT8.

Garden centre - NOT amateur radio

 This was at the garden centre yesterday.

Sunspots - Saturday October 26th

 Solar flux is 209 and the SSN 157. A=3 and K=1.

BRICS - NOT amateur radio

Whilst not at all agreeing with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, I can understand why many countries want to move away from the once mighty US dollar. 

It is my view that the 21st century will see a realignment of world power in which the USA will be far less important.

CQWW SSB contest this weekend

A reminder that the CQWW SSB contest is this weekend. 

Even without an entry, it is a great chance to work new countries and US states. With HF conditions being excellent, now is a great chance to have fun. 

In years past I have worked the USA with an indoor handheld with a base loaded whip on SSB with a few watts! I think this was 10m.

See https://cqww.com/ .

Newer Windows 10 PC

Currently on the "newer" Windows 10 PC which seems to be working fine with SignaLink USB and FT817ND. I should try the QMX+ later.

UPDATE 1318z:  As I have to use the 10m antenna to try the QDX, I shall probably try this and the QMX+ with this PC tomorrow. 54 spots of my QRP 10m WSPR today so far.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My gear has been on for about 15 minutes. So far, just 5 G stations have spotted me (at 1155z) and I have spotted 2 G stations here.

UPDATE 1814z:  7 G spots of me today on 6m FT8 TX. On RX the furthermost is DK5EE  (565km).

That time of year - NOT amateur radio

At about this time we put winter plants 🪴 in the garden.  We try to choose flowers that give colour at this dull time of year.

We change them in the spring.

10m 500mW WSPR yesterday and today

Another good day with 2 spots in Antarctica yesterday.  Re-synced to internet time earlier. See table of stations spotting me in the last day on 10m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE 1416z:  60 spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR today.

UPDATE 1815z:  73 spots of my QRP 10m WSPR today.

Our garden yesterday - NOT amateur radio

 

This was one of our sons and grandsons in our garden yesterday.

Rallies

 The following rallies have been notified to me. Usual caveats about checking details apply.

• Saturday October 26th - Carrickfergus ARG Rally, Carrickfergus. No contact details given.
• Saturday October 26th - Essex CW Boot Camp. See essexcw.uk .
• Sunday  October 27th - British Vintage Wireless Society Swapmeet. Golborne. BVWS members only.
• Sunday October 27th - Galashiels Rally, TD1 3JX. Contact rallyqueries@galaradioclub.co.uk .

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

The last time I looked was mid evening in Europe on a Thursday evening. Although activity was better than I feared, there was still plenty of space.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Friday October 25th

 Solar flux is 197 and the SSN 138.  A=12 and K=0.

Yesterday on 10m 500mW WSPR

 Yesterday, 94 stations spotted me, which I think is a record. This included many in North and South America.

Someone else locally said he had been doing WSPR tests at 1mW and 2mW. Results were far easier at 2mW than 1mW.

Work reunion - NOT amateur radio

This morning I went to a reunion of old work colleagues some of whom I had not seen for years. It was a good gathering. Some had not changed a bit. Some had changed a lot.

Windose? - NOT amateur radio

 My “old “ PC that was running Windows 10 will no longer allow me to log in. I think Microsoft wants me to upgrade to Windows 11 even though this PC will not support Windows 11. 

Later I shall go to the newer Windows PC and upgrade to Windows 11 and reinstall WSJT-X and see what happens. 

I have still to make a Linux distro on a flash disk. Having family these last few days has prevented me.

Sunspots - Thursday October 24th

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 104.  A=9 and K=2.

St Ives near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

We went here today on the guided bus from Cambridge. The weather was good.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 So far today 82 stations have spotted me - a good day.

10m QRP WSPR TX yesterday

 In all 69 stations spotted my 500mW yesterday afternoon including many in the USA 🇺🇸.

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

This was a view of Ely Cathedral yesterday from the carpark at Tescos.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 23rd

 Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 130. A=8 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 Although my beacon has been on since about 0810z, no spots.

UPDATE 0955z:  10 stations have spotted me. See table. F2 related?

UPDATE 1517z:   62 stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR today.

6m 2.5W FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on about 0810z. So far, just one G spot.

UPDATE 1025z: Several stations spotted in Europe but only 7 G spots of my 6m FT8 QRP so far. See map of where I have been spotted.

UPDATE 1514z:  Just one station from "across the pond" spotted on 6m FT8 today - WA1NLG (5244km). My QRP didn't make it. 24 stations spotted - mostly UK, but some in continental Europe.

Autumn flowers - NOT amateur radio

My wife saw these yesterday. A lovely display of autumn flowers.

Tuesday plans - 6m F2?

Later today, my plans are to go on 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8.  Yesterday 8m was good, so there is a chance 6m may have some F2 openings. If it is going to happen (e.g. openings by F2 across the Atlantic) now is probably the best time. It has happened in the past and I recall Ws coming in on 6m by F2  propagation coming in like locals.

Faroe Islands - NOT amateur radio

One of my friends on 365project.org lives in the Faroe Islands high up in the Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland. This is one of his photos.

I imagine there are long summer days and very short days in winter. The weather can be windy as well. It is a place I would like to visit, but doubt this will happen.