630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My QRP station was turned on at about 1945z. So far, a spot by G6AVK.

UPDATE 2050z:   5 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP this evening.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Saturday)

 My 0.5mW tests on 10m WSPR TX continue. So far, no spots.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 

At about 1300z my 8m QRP FT8 was turned on. So far spots by 9 stations (see map). Good F2 conditions. Probably my best day ever on the band with both Europe and the Caribbean stations spotting me.

Brunch - NOT amateur radio

We have our son and grandson staying. We treated them to brunch.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

In all, 13 stations spotted my 10mW ERP with the furthermost LA.

Birthday girl - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, my wife was 21 and quite a bit!! We had our two sons and 3 of our 4 grandchildren around.

Sunspots - Saturday November 25th 2023

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 184. A=7 and K=3.

HF propagation

In the last few days (until today) I had given up on 8m. Today, I am back on the band and have been spotted by 4 stations including 2 in the Caribbean. F2 conditions appear to be quite good still. It is worth keeping an eye on propagation including the MUF.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/.

8m QRP FT8

After a few days not on 8m, I am back on with 2.5W and the dipole. Already spotted by G4WSZ (12km).  I see an ON was spotted across the Atlantic yesterday.

UPDATE 1148z: Also spotted by EI9KP (649km) on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1430z:  Spotted by 3 stations today. Furthermost was HI0SDR/3 (7008km) in the Caribbean.  On RX 2 S.Africans spotted here.

UPDATE 1518z: Spots by 6 stations (see logbook).

UPDATE 1725z: Spotted by 7 stations according to PSKreporter. For some reasons several CQs by a VA2 did not get reported by PSKreporter. Now QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.

UPDATE 1800z:  My signal in the USA.

500uW 10m WSPR TX (Friday)

Once again, my beacon is on 10m QRPPP WSPR with the PA turned off with an output of about 500uW. For several days, no spots.  A good experiment and I live in hope!

UPDATE 1043z:  Still no spots, although I am not surprised.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

Disappointing with just 8 English stations spotting me.  No DX.

OFCOM consultation

OFCOM is consulting on shared access to spectrum for high speed internet access at microwaves. See the OFCOM website for details. Closing date for inputs is early February.

Sunspots - Friday November 24th 2023

Solar flux is 194 and the SSN 176. A=7 and K=1.

Rally this weekend

Saturday Nov 25th - Wiltshire Winter Radio Rally, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. Contact Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

 My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been on since teatime.

UPDATE 2220z:  7 stations have spotted me so far. All are UK.

500uW 10m WSPR (Thursday)

 Yet again, I have had my beacon running with the PA off so the output is about 500uW.  So far, and I suspect all day now, no spots.

Cambridge autumn - NOT amateur radio

This was taken from the bus earlier today. It shows one of the many parks in the city.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My system (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) has been on for hours, with no spots at all on RX or TX. It would appear there is nobody on unless there is Es or F2 about.

UPDATE 1720z:  No spots all day. QSYing shortly to 630m QRP  WSPR.

Sunspots - Thursday November 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 190 and the SSN 174.  A=30 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was turned on about 1620z. So far, no spots of me on TX. Just M0FMT (51km) spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1716z: 2E0ILY/KIWI (209km) has spotted me three times.

Grand Arcade, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The Grand Arcade in Cambridge is a covered indoor mall, near the centre of town. It has some big named stores as well as a Raspberry Pi shop for geeks! It is gearing up for Christmas. 

This is a view on one of the quieter sides.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was on overnight. In all, 7 stations spotted me with the furthermost DL4SA (788km),

2m FT8 (Wednesday)

At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 4 spots. after 10 minutes or so.

UPDATE 1445z: So far today (as the map shows) my 2.5W 2m FT8  using the big-wheel omni has been spotted by 11 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

10m QRPPP WSPR (Wednesday)

In the end, I decided to continue my 500uW 10m WSPR tests with my beacon. Although it is pre-programmed to report 0.5W to WSPRnet, the PA is turned off so the actual beacon output is 500uW. Any spots at all would be a bonus. The beauty of the beacon is it just runs in the background. No spots!

UPDATE 1655z: No spots all day at 500uW.

Sunspots - Wednesday November 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 138. A=18 and K=5.

King's College Chapel, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

Walking back along this path I noticed the clouds behind the chapel.

630m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 2133z. So far this evening, 3 stations have spotted me.

DX - apt name

This lorry was seen from the bus this morning. I liked the name of this delivery company. Their tagline? Delivering Excellence. 

I wonder if they deliver long distance!!

Lucky? - NOT amateur radio

 

Every Tuesday we go to see a free concert at Cambridge University. Today it was the Kingsmen who were male singers from King's College Choir. It was note perfect and sublime. It is very easy to take Cambridge for granted.

365project - NOT amateur radio

One of the pleasures of 365project, where you add a photo every day, is seeing the photos that other people add. This was added by a friend earlier.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Furthermost was just GM and PA, but 15 stations spotted my 10mW ERP overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground (see table).

2m 2.5W FT8

 Using my big-wheel omni antenna, I have been on 2m FT8 since about 0830z. So far, 4 spots today.

UPDATE 0947z: Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotting me. Too easy, even with 2.5W and an omni antenna! I am still unsure if this is aircraft reflection or troposcatter. The reports (decent) suggest aircraft.

UPDATE 1754z:   12 stations have spotted me today on 2m QRP FT8.

10m 50mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

0.5mW seemed too low yesterday (no spots), so this morning I am trying 10m WSPR TX at 50mW. I am doing this by running my 0.5W beacon directly into a 10dB attenuator. The beacon was turned on about 0830z. My WSPRnet reporting will still say 0.5W (programmed into the beacon), but the actual power is 50mW. 2 stations already spotting me.

UPDATE 1745z:  15 stations have spotted me. Even though the beacon reports 0.5W to WSPRnet the actual power after the 10dB pad will result in 50mW output. Perhaps I should try 5mW tomorrow?

Sunspots - Tuesday November 21st 2023

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 127.  A=5 and K=3.

QRP portable

This photo was taken many years ago in my mother’s garden. Also, judging by what hair I have, which was still black, I would guess this in the 1980s. As I recall, I was using the 2m 200mW PEP MX2 with a 1W 10m homebrewed transverter all powered with a 12V 1A sealed lead acid battery pack. As I recall, I got all over the world with this set-up. The antenna was a base loaded whip on the grass.

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My QRP  630m WSPR was turned on at about 1730z. So far, spotted by 3 English stations.

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 5 stations this evening. All these are in England.

UPDATE 2110z:  Spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost a station in the Netherlands. In the table 10 are shown as one was this morning.

500uW 10m WSPR TX (Monday)

With no reports today at all, it would seem 500uW is too little to be copied unless conditions are very good. Tomorrow, I might try with 50mW output, i.e. with the PA turned on and an external 10dB attenuator right on the output of the beacon.

Christmas display - NOT amateur radio

 

This was at the entrance to a big furniture store in nearby Bury-St-Edmunds earlier today.

No doubt the little ones love it. All the bears move too.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 In all, 14 stations spotted me with the furthermost the north of Scotland. No spots on 10mW ERP from outside the UK this session.

2m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My 2.5W to the big-wheel omni was turned on about 0930z. So far, spotted by 4 stations.

UPDATED 1646z:   Spotted by 8 stations in 4 countries with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

Local walks - NOT amateur radio

If the weather is good, we enjoy a local walk. All were taken within a few miles of home.

This collage shows some of the places seen in the last week. 

Sunspots - Monday November 20th 2023

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 51. A=4 and K=2.

Middle East conflict - NOT amateur radio

What happened in Israel on October 7th was horrific. Whilst the revenge sought by Israel is understandable, one has to see the wider picture.

Just bombing the Gaza strip and denying many innocents the basic essentials of life just stokes yet more hatred. What is needed is justice on all sides. Arabs have to accept Israel's right to exist and Israel has to respect its Arab neighbours. This includes the Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank.

Hatred, where ever it comes from has no place in the world today. Everyone, of whatever race, colour or creed has the right to live in peace. We all have a duty to respect our differences .... peacefully.

Autumn signs - NOT amateur radio

Today is very dull and windy. This photo was taken a few days ago when the sun was shining. Most of the trees are now bare of leaves.

Broken hearts - NOT amateur radio

Our 16 year old grandson has just had his heart broken over a girl. We have all been there. At the time it feels like the world stops and nothing else matters. 

All we can do, as can his dad and mum, is love and listen without being judgemental. It is hard. Those teenage years are difficult ones.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Sunday)

Having given up on 6m FT8 (and 500uW 10m WSPR) I have QSYed to 10m QRP FT8. Within a few minutes I was spotted by 32 stations across the world. 86 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1445z: 174 stations have spotted my 10m 2.5W FT8 today (see map). It is too easy!!

UPDATE 1615z: 253 stations have spotted my 10m 2.5W FT8 today. In 5 years' time this will seem remarkable when conditions are far worse. For now, enjoy!

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

In all, 12 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight. No great DX, with all UK stations.

500uW 10m WSPR TX tests (Sunday)

 Yet again, my 10m WSPR TX beacon is on with the PA off.  According to my TinySA spectrum analyser the power out is about 500uW. No spots. As the power from the beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W, it will report this even when the output is 30dB lower.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 6m FT8 gear (2.5W to a V2000 vertical omni) was turned on about 0940z. So far, absolutely nothing on RX or TX. I would have expected some activity on a Sunday morning if only a few local Gs. I checked that everything was correct: timing, SWR, frequency, antenna, co-ax,  WSJT-X restarted etc.   As far as I can tell, all is fine.

Sunspots - Sunday November 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 39. A=3 and K=0.