7 Nov 2024
15m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
For a change, I am trying 15m QRP FT8 with my QMX+ transceiver. Within a few minutes I was being spotted by 48 stations and I had spotted 38.
The map shows the stations spotting my 15m QRP at 2150z. 223 stations have spotted me.
Almost forgot - 2m UKAC submission
Last Tuesday was the 2m leg of the RSGB organised activity contest (UKAC). Despite running 10W and an omni I submit my results, despite stopping on for very little time. Conditions seemed a bit "up".
The map shows the stations worked in 30 minutes.
Microwave meeting on Saturday in Scotland
The following is due this Saturday. Check before going far.
- Saturday November 9th - 12th Scottish Microwave Round Table, GMRT Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife. Contact gm4hwo@gmail.com .
Years ago (many!) I attended a Microwave Round Table at Martlesham in Suffolk. It was very good.
10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
As my 10m antenna is free, I am on 500mW 10m WSPR TX with my stand-alone beacon. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1213z: Now being spotted by 32 stations with many in the USA.
6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
At about 1110z I QSYed to 6m QRP FT8 with the QMX+. So far, just 11 English stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1139z: Now spotted on 6m FT8 QRP by 21 stations including one in southern Italy.
UPDATE 1257z: My first 6m spots from the USA and Canada today with QRP FT8 were at about 1230z.
UPDATE 1427z: 50 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today.
QMX+
At first the PC does not want to recognise the QMX+ so I have to do a reset. SSB is promised with a software release.
It works really well and has been copied "across the pond" on 6m QRP FT8 and around the planet on 10m QRP FT8. with simple antennas.
Lunch - NOT amateur radio
My wife goes in to Cambridge for her U3A so I prepare lunch . Avocado 🥑 with prawn.
10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My QMX+ has been on since just before breakfast. My QRP has been spotted by 140 stations (furthermost Japan) and I have spotted 284 stations (at 0900z) with the furthermost FK8HM (16470km) in New Caledonia.
UPDATE 0942z: 346 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. The map shows the stations spotted here.
UPDATE 1032z: The map shows the stations spotting my QRP 10m FT8 so far today. Worldwide.
6 Nov 2024
USA Elections - NOT amateur radio
The people of the USA have voted and chosen Mr Trump again. I wish them well although I am quite surprised.
6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday) with the QMX+
Just after 1200z, I went on 6m FT8 with my QMX+ and V2000 vertical. At 1215z just English stations were spotted.
UPDATE 1730z: 53 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 today including several "across the pond".
10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)
Change of plan!
For some reason my PC is not working with the SignaLink USB so I am just on QRP 10m WSPR TX.
UPDATE 1738z: 52 stations have spotted my QRP beacon.
5 Nov 2024
2m activity contest (UKAC)
A reminder that the November 2m activity contest (UKAC) is on tonight starting at 2000z. Although I usually submit an entry, there is no need to do so. Many just come on to enjoy the activity. Because of my poor voice and low power I do not stop on long.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2024&contest=2mukac .
UPDATE 2038z: 4 stations worked with my 10W and omni, then I stopped as it was too hard with my poor voice. Best DX was GW1YBB/P. I have no idea (yet) how far this was.
10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)
UPDATE 1427z: 65 spots of me so far today. See table.
UPDATE 1534z: 75 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR beacon today. Furthermost is F61694 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean.
8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)
As I am out this morning, I am on 8m FT8 RX only at the moment.
UPDATE 1436z: Now home I am on 8m QRP FT8 TX and looking for QSOs. Six stations have spotted me so far.
UPDATE 1454z: 8 spots of my QRP 8m FT8.
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| Stations spotting me today on QRP FT8 TX |
Autumn - NOT amateur radio
In many ways November is the dullest month with miserable days and few lights. At least after Christmas the days start to get longer and there are a few positive signs.
4 Nov 2024
The future of the 8m band
At the moment the 8m band is in great shape. We are around the sunspot maximum and 8m behaves like 10m quite often.
8m is a great research band and it is a great pity more PTTs are not granting amateur radio access. Instead, in many countries people have to pay to do research.
In a few years, the conditions will be very different. Now is the best time to do propagation research.
Propaganda , ever so subtle - NOT amateur radio
You are probably unaware of just how subtly we are subject to propaganda.
The "others" are always the "bad guys" and we are the "good". Actually, the truth is somewhere in between. Many times in history we have been the "bad guys". Remember we are subject to propaganda as well, although we may not realise it.
The answer is get your data from multiple sources, often with radically different ways of seeing a situation. In reality, the truth is an amalgamation of inputs from various sources.
Don't believe at face value what you are being fed in the news.
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
My 2.5W to a low wire dipole in on. So far spotted by G4FKI (60km) only on TX. Just 9K2YM (4721km) spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1511z: 16 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today. When the sunspots are good 8m behaves like 10m.
UPDATE 1756z: 18 stations have been spotted on 8m FT8 today. See map.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)
My QRP 10m is on. I think most of my 19 spots are either F2 or F2 back-scatter.
UPDATE 1031z: 36 stations have spotted me with the furthermost RA0SX (5904km).
UPDATE 2117z: Spotted by 104 stations today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. QRT.
Hollow tree - NOT amateur radio
Monday plans
As yesterday was so successful, I think I shall do the same as yesterday i.e. 500mW 10m WSPR TX and 2.5W 8m FT8. Let's hope for more E-W F2 propagation on 10m and 8m,
3 Nov 2024
Danish stations on 8m
Bo OZ2M reports that a number of OZ stations are now active on 8m using a LMR licence that has to be paid for and applied for. There are some restrictions.
I am totally surprised that so many PTTs seem dead against even a very narrow amateur radio 8m band, especially around solar maximum when much propagation research would be possible.
Perhaps they will grant it ....too late, years after solar maximum! I can imagine many committees, quangos and much bureaucracy!
Hamlife pages
I am told that this website often has the latest news on amateur radio. Perhaps we can just look at the photos or use Google translate!
See https://www.hamlife.jp/ .
The American Dream? - NOT amateur radio
One of the things that those in the USA seem to be excited about is "the American dream".
This seems to be a belief that anyone can "make it" under capitalism. It is interesting that in the states of the old Yugoslavia, most I have met preferred it when all had a house and a job under Tito's liberal communism. Society was fairer.
Now, no system is faultless, but I am not in favour of greedy capitalism if this means trampling over others. I cannot condone any form of society where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Yes, all should have equal opportunity, but I want to live in a fair society, where wealth and privilege do not bestow advantage.
In my view everyone is equal, whether you are a king or dustbin collector.
10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)
My QRP 10m WSPR beacon has not been on long at 0943z. Already spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).
UPDATE 1450z: So far today, spotted by 74 stations on 10m WSPR.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My 40.680 MHz FT8 (2.5W to wire dipole) is active. G4FKI (60km) has spotted me. On RX I have spotted G9PUV(158km) and S57TW (1236km).
UPDATE 1401z: 16 stations have spotted me on 8m QRP FT8 (see map) and I have spotted 32. 1 QSO with a station in the Canary Is.. I have never before seen 8m so busy.
UPDATE 1500z: 34 stations spotted here today on 8m FT8.
How few parts?
One of the aspects that I enjoyed was seeing how few parts were needed to make QSOs. This is one of the simplest circuits.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .
MFJ
The owner of MFJ, Martin Jue, has retired. In my view, other amateur radio players will go.
Years ago I owned an MFJ Cub 15m QRP CW transceiver.
2 Nov 2024
VOTE!! - NOT amateur radio
In any democratic society, we are given the right to vote for the government every few years that we believe best serves us .
In the next week the people of the USA vote for their president. This is their decision.
The important thing is to vote.
Solar Data
Early in the month I enjoy looking at the forecast for the solar cycle on my favourite site for such data. At the moment the peak for sunspots in cycle 25 looks like August 2024, but it depends on the smoothing period.
What should be the case, is solar conditions should be good for some time yet. I wanted to link to the image on the solan website but failed. Clearly the copyright is with solan.
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| https://www.solen.info/solar/ |
10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)
As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR with my beacon. No spots yet today at 1000z.
UPDATE 1600z: Furthermost today is again F61695 ((9729km) in the Indian Ocean. 72 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today.
UPDATE 1940z: QRT. Furthermost was PP5DZ (10174km) in Brazil.
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