6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0755z. So far (at 0806z) 4 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1143z:  9 spots of my QRP including one from Germany.

UPDATE 1535z: 13 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today (see map).

500uW 10m WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon (with the PA off) was turned on at about 0755z.  I wonder if I shall be spotted in the USA today with QRPP?

UPDATE 0900z: Just a single spot by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1548z: 9 spots only from the Canaries so far today (see table).

UPDATE 2155z: 22 spots of me today but all from the Canary Islands.

Marconi

 Without this man things would have been very different. I often wonder, say, if radio had been been discovered centuries earlier.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

13 stations spotted me overnight. Quite a decent session for my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Trade mark - NOT amateur radio

When thatchers put new thatch on a roof they often leave a trade mark such as a pheasant, fox or dog made from straw on the roof apex. We saw this on our walk around the village on Saturday.

Sunspots - Sunday April 14th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 115. A=6 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR (measured) was turned on at about 2020z. So far, just 2E0ILY/KIWI (209km) spotting me.

It is very disappointing to see I am the only UK station sending 630m WSPR according to WSPRnet at present. 

17 different stations have spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR in the last 2 weeks.

Spring is coming - NOT amateur radio

 

Trees are coming into leaf. It felt much warmer today on our walk around the village. It is windier.

8m dipole

As mentioned before, it looks like my 8m dipole antenna system has an intermittent fault. Recently, I decided to concentrate on 8m TX with ISM restrictions, which means 10mW ERP. WSPR gives me the best chance. I doubt 8m FT8 at 10mW ERP would be enough.

A reminder that, certainly in the UK, possibly elsewhere, under ISM rules 8m beaconing is licence free and open to all. A full T&I 8m TX permit costs £50 annually in the UK. With more countries opening the band for real amateur radio research, I keep my fingers crossed that radio amateurs will eventually be granted restricted access with conditions. I have long said that just 5kHz in the ISM band would do.

For 10mW ERP tests the antenna must be reliable.

The actual antenna and coax are not problems, whereas erection is more of an issue as this requires ladder work. I can probably manage OK as the ladder work is quite low, but I get giddy very easily these days so even a short distance off the ground is harder than it once was.

500uW 10m WSPR again

My 10m WSPR beacon, without the PA, is on again. At 0846z, no spots. 

This QRPP is really great fun and definitely worth trying in the upcoming Es season. I suspect FT8 would not work.

UPDATE 1817z: 23 spots of me so far today. Please note that my beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W even though the power with the PA off is 30dB lower (500uW).