21 Apr 2024
70cm UKAC activity contest results
You would not exactly say I am a contest nerd. One thing is certain: guess who will never win! If I come half way up the table I'd be very pleased!
I like to submit an entry into the activity contest even though I stay on very little time, use 10W SSB and a 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In the low power section I am 43rd out of 70, which is not bad.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2024 .
20 Apr 2024
6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
At about 1620z, I QSYed to 6m FT8. At 1630z, 4 stations had spotted my 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna.
UPDATE 1800z: 9 stations have spotted my QRP. On RX, the furthermost is EA9ABC (1873km) in North Africa.Knotted tree - NOT amateur radio
8m FT8 RX (Saturday)
Currently, I am monitoring 40.680MHz USB dial FT8.
UPDATE 1348z: No spots.
UPDATE 1621z: Locally I can see ZS1TX, ZS3/V51PJ and ZR1ADI were spotted but these did not appear on PSKreporter. For some reason, these spots were not uploaded.
10m QRPP 500uW WSPR (Saturday)
My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR has already been spotted multiple times this morning by EA8BFK (2880km). Perhaps this is not too surprising with the solar flux and sunspot numbers so good.
UPDATE 0948z: 12 spots already.
UPDATE 1808z: 34 spots of my 500uW QRPP WSPR, one with about 20dB in hand!! See table.
Ely last Thursday - NOT amateur radio
It is called "the Isle of Ely" as it is built on a rare hill in these parts.
Much of the Fens area is flat for miles. It is one of the most fertile areas in the UK.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
An average session with no real DX with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 10 stations spotted me (see table) with a new reporter (I think) from Wales.
19 Apr 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Friday)
My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1810z. So far, spotted by one station.
UPDATE 2104z: 3 stations have spotted me.
OFCOM and DAB licences
OFCOM is inviting applications for small scale DAB multiplex licences. See the OFCOM website for further details.
8m FT8 receive (Friday)
This morning, I am on 40.680MHz FT8 receive. No spots at 1017z.
UPDATE 1252z: No spots today.
Ely waterfront - NOT amateur radio
10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)
Already my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR eacon has been spotted 8 time at 0908z by EA8BFK (2880km). See table.
With solar conditions promising, I wonder if I shall be spotted in the USA later?
UPDATE 1635z: 15 spots of my extreme 10m WSPR QRP so far.
Peacocks - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, we went to Ely with a friend who is staying with us.
Sunspots - Friday April 19th
Solar flux is 227 and the SSN 247. A=4 and K=2.
Are we seeing a second peak?
18 Apr 2024
Rallies
The following have been notified to me. As I always advise, check before going a long way.
- Saturday April 20th -Yeovil ARC 38th QRP Convention, Sherbourme, DT93AA. Contact derekbowen1949@talktalk.net .
- Sunday April 21st - Andover ARC Boot Sale, SP11 0JE. Contact admin@arac.org.uk.
- Sunday April 21st - NARSA (Blackpool Rally}, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. Contact dwilson@btinternet.com .