My 2.5W gear was turned on just before breakfast.
UPDATE 2112z: No spots all day. My inclination is to concentrate on QRP 10m FT8 for now. If I go on 8m QRP FT8 I must remember to try 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW TX beacon. Now QRT. If anyone needs me on 8m I can be active on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX in minutes.
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on just before breakfast. So far, 2 stations have spotted me.
Sunspot numbers seem to be a bit lower this month.
Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 93. A=11 and K=2.
A reminder that OFCOM is consulting views on amateur radio.The deadline for responses is rapidly approaching, so make your views known ASAP.
There is a form if you need it to help make a response. At a guess, just 10 minutes should allow the form to be completed.
This is important.
At 1346z, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on.
At about 1340z I switched to 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. So far, no spots. I gather there is some TEP.
UPDATE 1625z: Spotted by EI9KP (649km), I am pretty sure this is not Es . He spots me regularly. As the time varies, I do not think it is aircraft. I suppose it could be random MS, but think this unlikely. It is too far for tropo.
UPDATE 1906z: The jury is out on the propagation to EI9KP , but it is most likely aircraft scatter. What I had not thought about is that there could be many aircraft on the path.
This must come with old age.
As we get older, we know our time is limited. Certainly it is highly likely that our health will fail. So, every chance to do a walk is a gift to be enjoyed.
Today we saw, a green woodpecker, blackberries, Ely cathedral and lots more.
My 2.5W FT8 was turned on at 0524z. No spots at 0532z.
UPDATE 0932z: 28 stations have spotted my 2.5W FT8. 124 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YG9EDE (12436km).
My QRP signal has been copied in Portugal this evening by Hugh HC02, although this has not appeared (yet) on PSKreporter. I went on 8m FT8 as Hugh was getting G9PUV well.
As I am on 8m QRP FT8, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW TX beacon. The beacon was turned o at about 1814z. Already spotted in the Canary Is.. I presume this is F2 propagation.
To be honest, I am disappointed in the interest shown in 8m. This is between 10m and 6m and especially around sunspot maximum (like now) there is a lot of useful research that radio amateurs could do.
Instead, we have had fewer active TX stations on 8m this summer and the FCC is not renewing the few USA permits I understand. In Belgium higher class amateur licencees will be able to TX on 8m. One station in Greece has been granted special access for a limited time. EI, ZS, S51 and 9A I think have amateur bands and a few Caribbean stations (I think) have been given access to 8m.
In most countries everyone is able to run very low power beacons in the 40-66-4.70 MHz ISM bands without a licence, I think. We know from Australia that just 5mW WSPR can be copied 5000km away. As far as I know, few have tried 8m WSPR ISM beacons, instead preferring to talk about tomatoes with commercial rigs on 80m. Self training is interpreted as testing weedkiller.
Amateur radio is meant to be about self training and research! I despair for the future. At this rate, the hobby will be gone by 2040.
We had 11mm of rain overnight, but no thunder. It is now sunny.
My 2.5W 10m FT8 was turned on at about 0600z.
UPDATE 0819z: So far spotted by 26 stations with the furthermost V51MA (8460km) in Namibia. On RX, 62 stations spotted.
See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=5;y=49.6529;x=1.597;d=2;dl=2;dc=0; .e
The latest RadCom has a review of this ICOM microwave transceiver.
At £3549.95 without the 10 GHz transverter I cannot see them selling many, let alone make a profit. It would not surprise me if this product quietly disappeared in 2024. There is a theory that this product is a free trial for a later commercial product. Watch this space.
It is an interesting product, but would you pay this much to cover essentially line of site and rain scatter QSOs? Perhaps "appliance operators" with deep pockets might buy as the latest toy. This is not for me unless a fairy godmother waves her magic wand, HI.
Well, today was pathetic on 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR.
The main Es season has now ended and the main F2 peak is a few months off. Most of my reports recently on 10m, 8m and 6m with QRP were via Es.
These openings will occur, but not with the frequency we were used to in May, June and July. Probably 10m FT8 is worth a try as there is far more activity than WSPR. Also, the far shorter TX periods of just 15 seconds means that very short openings may be caught. FT8 is about 8dB worse than WSPR mind you.
This is a weekly reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc. every week. They also have a new publication about 28 GHz satellite gateways. As always, look on the OFCOM website for details.
Been on with 2.5W and the dipole since about 0856z, but no spots.
UPDATE 1627z: No spots all day again.
Been on 10m 500mW WSPR TX since about 0856z. No spots.
The following have been notified to me. It is advisable to check details are correct.
Sunday August 20th - Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally, Rugby, CV23 9PY. Contact rally@rugbyats.co.uk .
Sunday August 20th - Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally, Marken Rasen, LN8 3HT. Contact m5zzz@outlook.com .
Sunday August 20th - Red Rose Summer Rally, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. See http://www.wmrc.co.uk .
Once again, I am on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Most days even my 2.5W to the dipole is spotted across Europe by about 3 stations.
UPDATE 1740z: No spots.
It looks like the main Es season in the northern hemisphere is just about over but, as I remind people, Es can occur at any time. OK, the days when 10m or 6m may be open for hours may be over for this year, but there will still be times.
This is why FT8 can be so useful, sniffing out very brief openings that in the past would have gone unnoticed. Frequently, the 27 MHz CB band is busy, yet 10m is quiet. This suggests decent propagation, but a lack of activity. These days, there is little excuse. Just 15 seconds of FT8 transmission is all that is needed to prove a path is "open".
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/
My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0850z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1034z: Just spots by local G4KPX (14km). No Es.
UPDATE 1741z: Spotted by 3 stations. Marginal conditions.
This is a handheld radio available from AliExpress for less than £67. I have no idea how good it is. The Chinese will soon will be a real challenge to the Japanese in the years ahead. In my view the Chinese have more work to do on quality control, but they will get there.
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0900z. At 1217z, 4 stations have spotted me
Once again, I am on 8m QRP FT8. As the Es season is drawing to a close, it may be harder to get spots now.
UPDATE 1221z: No spots.
UPDATE 1443z: Spotted by EA3ERE (1153km).
We are coming to the end of the main Es season here. In a few months, we should have F2 openings "across the pond".
My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 0830z. No spots on RX or TX at 1152z.
UPDATE 1314z: EI9KP (649km) has spotted me today.
UPDATE 1632z: 4 spots of me today with the furthermost HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0820z. So far, just spots from local G4KPX (14km).
UPDATE 0918z: Still just G4KPX spotting me.
In recent days I keep thinking that I have seen the last swift in the UK until next spring. Then I see another one!!
In recent days, my QRP 8m FT8 has been received at odd distances. I have also received G8JNJ (247km). Now this could be tropo, aircraft reflection or MS. However, I am wondering if it is some kind of backscatter? It is far too close for Es.
My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 0800z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1300z : EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me. He spots me quite often.
My 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on about 0800z. So far just local spots by G4KPX (14km).
