QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (December 4, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week:  ON6KZ,  R1OA,  UR7VT, SM7RYR, RV3GM, R1CAF,
UA1CEG,  DK1HW,  EA6BB,  RA1M,  UA1ADF, UR0ET, UA0SBQ, RA7RA, RX3DIT,
US3EN,  G3XJS, OH6NPV, OK1DNZ, SM2FIJ, YO6AHR, EA5EQ, US5ERQ, DL8BCJ,
IT9IFI, F4WBY, UR5LEH
Congrats!
EA5EQ entered in the Honor Frequenters list (regular visitor)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page.
Comments...
Read full report here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Overnight on 472kHz (630m) WSPR

Last night and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR. Results were disappointing. Are there fewer on than last year? Only 6 unique spots with 5mW ERP and best DX just 250km.

10m JT65 since breakfast

Overnight I was on 630m (472kHz) WSPR. It was rather disappointing with the same stations spotting me. Since breakfast I have been on 10m JT65, although no spots as yet. It was teatime yesterday before I spotted South America on 10m. Unless there are active stations in South Africa or short skip to Europe, I might have a similar wait today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday December 4th 2016

Solar flux is 84 today and the sunspot number a respectable 62. A=3 and K=0. As the last few days have shown, 10m does open for DX.

More digging on HF needed!

The DX on the higher HF bands is getting harder to find now. I have been on 10m JT65 all day but not a single spot. Although conditions are not as good as they were, I am sure one of the issues is people take a casual look and give up. A major contest brings the higher HF bands alive, proving it is activity (or lack of it) and not conditions. Switch to weak signal modes and stick at it.

10m remains good far more often than is realised. This is a great opportunity for JT65 to prove its usefulness. WSPR should be even better, but sadly activity on 10m WSPR seems much lower than JT65.

UPDATE 1830z: As if to prove the point, LU1AMH (11207km) in Argentina was spotted at 1702z on 10m JT65. There is definitely life still on 10m.

South Hams trains again - NOT amateur radio

Once again, after many years, Kingsbridge in Devon has trains again. The light railway is again running along the side of the water delighting children and adults alike. I wish them all the best.

See https://www.facebook.com/kdlr.co.uk/ .

Record? - NOT amateur adio

I am nearly 68 and an Old Age Pensioner. Today, I lost my lone baby tooth that was still in my mouth. For all this time it had remained until today. I guess my gums are shrinking.

Will the tooth fairy still pay out at my age? I guess not!

Tenbox 10m QRP transceiver

This was a project started before my stroke, but it is a reminder that 10m is always a good band for cross-town nattering. It is not a coincidence that the 11m CB band is "next door" in the spectrum.

My Tenbox is just one approach.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

Bands 30-88MHz

The lower VHF bands are becoming less popular for professional users as antennas on handhelds are long and there is Es interference from time-to-time. This is great news for amateurs as lower VHF ex mobile radio gear is often cheaply available and the chances of amateur 6m and 4m allocations around the world get better. I certainly hope we get a small 8m (40MHz) allocation (mainly for Es work) and we see 6m and 4m allocations worldwide.

More deals

This morning I got an email from Waters and Stanton offering 5% off in a "post Black Friday" deal. I expect MLS will be doing similar.

See http://hamradiostore.co.uk/ .