10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My TX beacon has been on since lunchtime.

UPDATE 1646z: So far today, spotted by 50 stations with the furthermost F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. This is far fewer than yesterday.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My  QMX+ has been on since lunchtime.

UPDATE 1519z: Furthermost is a spot of me by V51MA (8460km) in Namibia. 38 spots of my QRP, mostly in Europe. No sign here of any stations in North America.

UPDATE 1653z: 43 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today. Although I shall be on for a few hours yet, I do not think I shall see any USA stations on 6m today.

What is DX?

DX means different things to different people. 

To some, it is working a new country in the Pacific. To others it may be being copied in the antipodes with a few milliwatts of WSPR.  To some it may just be working a few kilometres with ultra-simple gear. Thank goodness we are all different.

Just because we do not understand what "turns people on" we have no right whatsoever to judge others.

FT8 in the quiet years

It seems odd to be talking about the "quiet years" when solar conditions are so good. 

However, in about 5 years' time there will be few sunspots and many will (wrongly) assume the higher HF bands are dead.

In many cases this is not the case and a casual listen around 27MHz will prove this is due to a lack of activity and not poor conditions. 

Hopefully FT8 users will stick around on bands like 10m, 12m and 15m and prove the bands are open far more often than is assumed. I well remember working a surprised LU when I was running 10m SSB QRP when there were no sunspots at all at sunspot minimum some years ago. 

FT8 is well monitored and works with very weak signals. Who knows by then we may have an even better mode!

In my experience, N-S paths remain open for DX at all points in the solar cycle. I agree you have to be more patient, but that is half the fun.

Yaesu FTX-1F all mode, all band QRP transceiver

When this was announced at the Tokyo Ham Fair some months ago, there was a lot of hype, but little news. 

It was expected "early 2025", but since then I have heard nothing further. Several dealers are accepting deposits, but I have heard no news about price or specs..

Does anyone know anything? 

It looks like Yaesu's answer to the FT817/818 series and the ICOM IC-705. Without the detailed specs and prices, it is hard to know how this will do. 

I imagine much of the software and hardware is based heavily on other Yaesu SDR transceivers to reduce development costs.

I hope the price is well below £1000 so it is competitive against many other products now around, especially as the Japanese Yen is far weaker than it was against the US dollar and UK pound.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 30th

 Solar flux is 266 and the SSN 220. A=12 and K=3.

Why? - NOT amateur radio

Apparently Israel has passed a law preventing UNRWA operating in Israel. Why?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cpqd9lr80p8t .

Our bungalow - NOT amateur radio

 Our local museum and windmill are just across the way from us. We have just been to an end of season "mini party" for all volunteers. One photo shows our bungalow (and a bit of the windmill!). It was taken on our way home. The other shows the party.

Last ones? - NOT amateur radio

We like to eat fruit with our breakfasts . This includes blackberries if they are in season. We have a bush very close to us and I thought I had picked my last of this year a few weeks ago. 

To my surprise I collected some today which will do for breakfast today and tomorrow. It has been very mild of late. 

If you do not believe we are living in a warming world, open your eyes. We have lived in this part of the UK for over 50 years and it is definitely milder. Some may argue about causes, but it is definitely warmer.

AM station

When I started in amateur radio most people were on AM (amplitude modulation) even on HF.  

In recent years there has been a bit of an AM revival especially on the lower HF bands. At one time AM was very popular as the gear can be simple and it is an effective mode. 

Its main drawback on HF is it is wider than SSB and power is wasted in the carrier. On the plus side RX gear can be extremely simple yet effective. See my Fredbox and Sixbox transceivers.

I saw this AM station on the internet. It made me feel quite nostalgic. 

Sadly, many have never used AM or experienced it.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ has been on since just before breakfast. 29 stations have spotted me, mostly in the UK. 

UPDATE 1036z: 33 stations have spotted my QRP. No signs of F2 here.

UPDATE 1200z: My QRP 6m FT8 has been spotted by 38 stations and 49 have been spotted here. All were European.

UPDATE  1810z:  QRT shortly. Spotted by 49 stations all in Europe. No F2 evident here on 6m.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on since just before breakfast. So far, at 1042z, 19 stations have spotted me. Most look like F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1810z:  105 stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP today including many from the USA and Canada. Today has been exceptional on 10m WSPR. Furthermost is F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean.

WSPRrocks by VK7JJ

Where I have been received today.

Queen’s College Cambridge -NOT amateur radio

 This is a 600 year college is in Cambridge.

6m - could we get F2 openings?

With the currently high sunspot numbers there is a chance of F2 openings on 6m. I  shall try again for the USA after lunch. Apparently it was open to Australia but I spotted nothing on my omni vertical yesterday!

UPDATE 1610z: No sign here today of F2 activity on 6m. I shall stick with it as today has been exceptional on 10m WSPR. I have spotted one station on 6m FT8 in the USA this autumn. I suspect now is too late.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 29th

 Solar flux is 255 and the SSN 288. A=17 and K=2.

15m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 At about 1840z, I QSYed to 15m. So far (at 1851z) 11 stations have spotted me, all "across the pond".

UPDATE 2102z: 51 stations have spotted my QRP 15m FT8 this evening. See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday) with the QMX+

Since returning from shopping, I have been on 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ and V2000 omni vertical antenna. So far, 29 stations have spotted me with plenty in mainland Europe as the map shows. I am hoping I get some spots in the USA on 6m FT8 - you never know!

UPDATE 1615z: 37 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP FT8. Nothing from the USA.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

This morning, I am on 10m FT8 with my QDX transceiver. Stations coming in from across the world and I have been spotted (at 0900z) by 6 stations so far.

UPDATE 0957z: 42 stations have spotted me. Now RX only. On RX 152 stations spotted. I may try 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ later after shopping.

End of British Summer Time (BST) - NOT amateur radio

This last weekend we said "goodbye" to BST for another year. For a short while (only!) the mornings seem a bit lighter, but it gets dark far earlier. 

We adapt and get used to cosy evenings with the curtains drawn. I enjoy the dark evenings, but prefer the light evenings we get in spring and summer. Sadly, these seem to last a very short time.

Sunspots - Monday October 28th

 Solar flux is 246 and the SSN 198. A=10 and K=4.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 Whilst on 8m, I put my 10m WSPR beacon on. So far today, 58 stations have spotted my QRP.

UPDATE 1553z: 67 stations have spotted me with the vast majority being "across the pond".

UPDATE 1825z:  QRT. 75 stations spotted me today.

October 2024 shack

The photo shows the shack currently.  As you can see, the QDX is very tiny. The box it is sitting on is the 472kHz transverter.

Middle East peace? - NOT amateur radio

It is too early to tell, but there are tentative signs that the Middle East is growing tired of war. I certainly hope a just peace can be forged that is good for all.

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.