For the first time this season I am on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX using my coax outer to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU. I intend to remain on until breakfast.
At the moment I cannot TX on the band because of a fault with my Tigertronics USB interface or lead.
If you can TX WSPR on 630m I would appreciate a signal to test all is working.
UPDATE 1805z: No spots.
I imagine you could find it by looking for the glow in the sky!
Just think of the neighbours and the electricity bill!
There is now little doubt that we are at, or just over, the peak of solar cycle 25.
Some were wondering if we would have any sunspots at all, but it turned out to be a decent peak. The E-W F2 MUF exceeded 50MHz several times. At this time in the month I usually check the solar activity.
My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0812z.
UPDATE 1141z: 8 spots of me so far including one German. See map.
May I wish all readers a happy and peaceful 2025? The world is a better place when we all help each other with kindness and compassion. The world is a nicer place just one step at a time. I hope health wise you and the people you love have a good year.
This collage shows some of the views.
At this time of year things seem more "raw". It is a time when everyone is expected to be jolly and happy, making sadness and unhappiness all the harder.
Our younger teenage grandson has just been dumped by his first girlfriend. Most of us have felt this pain, that seems like the end of the world at the time.
When people die or are seriously ill at this time of year it seems especially hard.
Things change: things that seem constant and will go on for ever do not. We have to adapt to the new reality. Time usually heals, but change can be painful.
Often we do not appreciate the inner pain others are experiencing. It is all too easy to judge others.
My gear has been TXing since breakfast. Yesterday my QRP 6m FT8 from the QMX+ was spotted in the USA + Canada and I spotted both here too. So far this morning just English stations are spotting me.
One of my Christmas presents was a book on the history of the G-QRP Club that has been going for 50 years. I was more interested in the content than the cover, but was horrified to see the spine had a glaring spelling error which will be seen every time it’s put on a shelf! Is this not checked?
I once noticed an obvious spelling mistake on the front cover of RadCom.
To be honest I am appalled that such basic errors occur. I know the organisation depends heavily on volunteers, but this is not excusable. It gives the impression the RSGB is incompetent.
Come on RSGB!!
Most days I go on 6m FT8 with my QMX+ transceiver. I think that every day I have been on recently I have been spotted somewhere in continental Europe.
If I am able to do this with just a few watts and a vertical omni antenna, it proves how useful 6m can be. Imagine if you had a reasonable beam and more power. You would have an ERP increase of several dB improving the chances of being copied even more.
In the last 30 minutes I have been spotted in Latvia, Germany and Holland on 6m FT8.
Well before the end of the USSR, I remember working loads of stations in the USSR and getting QSL cards.
I have no problem at all with the people in Russia and am happy to work them or get reports on FT8 or WSPR.
In a small way, amateur radio breaks down barriers. I like to think that whatever the race, colour, wealth or nationality, it makes no difference. After all, we all share this planet and are all human beings.
Just one problem! It is on the market for £8.5 million, so I think I shall give it a miss!
My beacon was turned on about 0950z. 5 stations have spotted me at 1051z.
My gear has been on since about 0950z. So far, just English stations have spotted me.
As I said, there are some very clever people. I would not know where to start!
Don’t ask me why as I don’t know the answer, but there’s a small Es peak in the northern hemisphere around now so it is worth keeping an eye on 6m . I suppose this could link up with F2 propagation further south to result in some spectacular DX on 6m.
Since the Yaesu FT817 was introduced almost a quarter of a century ago, a lot has changed. There was serious competition e.g. the ICOM IC-705, many Chinese radios, plus the offerings by QRP labs, HF signals and Elecraft, There are others.
At one time Yaesu had a captive market. This is far from the case today. There are still loyal Yaesu fans around, but the new FTX-1F will have to be very good and keenly priced for volumes to be high.
I was puzzled when ICOM introduced their microwave transceiver as I could not see many being sold.
No, the amateur radio market is changing and fierce. Many will fall by the wayside in the next 10 years.
My QMX+ was turned on at about 1020z. So far (at 1032z) just 9 English stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1129z: So far just 15 English and Welsh stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8.
My QRP 10m, WSPR beacon has been on since about 1036z, but no spots of me yet.
UPDATE 2125z: 30 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.
My gear was turned on about 1038z. At 1042z 5 English stations spotting me.
UPDATE 2113z: 23 stations in 4 countries have spotted me today. Now QRT.
This rally has been reported to me. Check details.
