My 8m gear (2.5W to a low dipole) has been on since just before breakfast, but no spots.
8 Jun 2023
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My beacon has been on 10m QRP WSPR TX since just breakfast. So far, F2 in evidence but not Es. 5 unique stations spotting me so far.
7 Jun 2023
2m FT8 activity contest
 |
| Stations spotted on 2m FT8 to 2000z |
There is an FT8 activity contest at the moment and 126 stations spotted on RX and my 2.5W to the omni has been widely copied.
UPDATE 2136z: 181 stations spotted. QRT.
Haircut time - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
Gear turned on at 0853z. No spots.
UPDATE 1326z: Just spots by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
UPDATE 2020z: QRT.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My W5OLF beacon was turned on at 0853z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1148z: 30 stations have spotted me so far today. Although I know some Es signals can be strong, some reports are amazingly strong. Later this week I might try the FT817ND with an attenuator right on the output to see who still copies me at low miliwatts. I could also do this on 8m WSPR.
UPDATE 1329z: 33 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 2020z: QRT about an hour ago.
European Es (Wednesday)
Early indications are that European Es is not as good as yesterday, but this can rapidly change. My current plans are 10m 500mW WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
2m activity contest last evening
Last evening was the June 2023 2m activity contest (UKAC).
Conditions were well up, but I found it very hard work with my 2.5W to the big-wheel omni. I guess this is a combination of several factors. Firstly, my low ERP is obviously a handicap with stronger signals being copied over me. Secondly, I have a very poor voice, not cut out to "outshout" others. Thirdly, I have no compressor, so my signal lacks punch.
In the end 6 stations were worked before I gave up. These days, I find FT8 easier as I do not need to "outshout" other stations. To be honest, I am no longer attracted to VHF/UHF voice contests.
6 Jun 2023
Friedrichshafen - mid June
This is the biggest gathering in Europe for radio amateurs. It attracts amateurs from a wide range of countries. I still keep hoping Yaesu will announce a new QRP SDR radio to replace the FT817. I suspect they will not, alas. In my view they have "missed the boat"....yet again. Personally, I fear Yaesu will leave the amateur radio market shortly. They could well be joined by others.
"Times, they are a changing".
The Knowledge newsletter - NOT amateur radio
This has been on before, but I make no apology as I find it so good.
This comes free by email every day and is a digest of news from across the world's press. It usually takes about 5 minutes to read and seems pretty unbiased. If you do not want to buy a newspaper or do not have time to read one, I strongly recommend it.
Shopping - NOT amateur radio
Most weeks we go about 12 miles on the bus into Cambridge. As we are old (!) we have free bus pass, so the journey is totally free. It is also as fast as taking our car. It is a pleasurable ride too.
Like most men, I hate clothes shopping. Instead I had a coffee whilst my wife did the spending!
OXO QRP TX
This circuit was originated by GM3OXX, hence the name. It has become a classic circuit. It produces about 1W CW. It has been built by many people in many forms and is very easy to replicate. You just need to add a low pass filter for your chosen band. I have used it to 10m. This schematic was on the G3PTO website many years ago.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
Once again I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. It is now 0820z and, so far, 20 stations spotted. Some are F2 and some Es. A very promising start.
UPDATE 2052z: 54 stations spotted today. Some would have copied me with just microwatts given a quiet noise floor.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
As the Es looks promising, I am again on 40.680 MHz FT8 (TX 1st, DF about 1950 Hz). No spots yet.
OFCOM and my requested 8m T&I licence changes
I sent an email to Dave Parsons at OFCOM, who has always been quick and helpful. Within 24 hours he came back to me for some clarification. Hopefully, he will unblock things. He is one of the better people there.
UPDATE 1333z: Just a day after contacting Dave, my licence has been amended so I can run 20W if I need/want to on 8m.
5 Jun 2023
Yaesu FT-710 versus ICOM IC-705
My IC-705 was traded in some months ago for the Yaesu FT-710. Both are excellent radios and I have enjoyed them both. The FT-710 has 4m but no 2m or 70cm. The FT-710 also has an auto ATU which I find quite useful. The FT-710 is a 100W radio whereas the IC-705 is a 10W radio (5W with the attached battery). As a QRPer, 10W was more than enough for me.
I was hoping that Yaesu would announce a new QRP SDR transceiver at Dayton as a proper replacement to the FT817. Sadly, no such product was announced. Had one been announced, I might have traded it for the FT-710.
In my view amateur radio is at a crossroads. In many countries, amateur radio appeals mainly to older males. As these age, fewer new rigs will be sold and magazines will lose advertising revenue from dealers. Some will get smaller, less frequent, or close. In my view, several larger manufacturers will leave the amateur radio market as they will be unable to make profits. My prediction in the UK is that amateur radio will cease to be a service supported by OFCOM. I can see (not many years ahead) when CB, ISM and amateur radio will all become a "free for all" as these generate no income and are unnecessary hassle. The watchwords will be "no interference".
European Es today (Monday)
At the start of today, I had great hopes for Es in Europe. Sadly, certainly at the moment, things are not looking too great. Hopefully things will get better.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/8m-40mhz-spot-band/ .
Multiple lives - NOT amateur radio
We are used to thinking of time flowing from the past into the future and experiencing just one life from cradle to grave.
However, we are only aware of one life, which is the one experienced now. It is equally possible that we could have been born on a different planet at a different time. We could have multiple lives, not one.
All we know is things are far beyond our imaginations. We are just humans with limited brain power.
Poplar fluff? - NOT amateur radio
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)
Been on 10m WSPR TX since before breakfast. It is now 0958z and, so far, 12 unique stations have spotted me. These are the usual suspects.
8m QRP FT8 ( Monday)
As the Es looks encouraging today, I have stuck with 8m QRP FT8. Already spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
4 Jun 2023
Trondheim, Norway - NOT amateur radio
This photo was posted by someone who lives (I think) in Norway. It is interesting to see how people use 365project. My wife and I use it as a visual diary, whereas some use it to show their photographic prowess. We would never win on that count!
Tomorrow 10m FT8 QRP
In view of the (low) activity levels on 8m this Es season, I propose to concentrate instead on 10m QRP FT8 using my little QDX transceiver.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on before breakfast. It is now 0848z. Just a single spot (quite strong too) from HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.
There appear to be fewer active stations on 8m this Es season. I was hoping for more, not fewer. With this year probably seeing the peak of the current solar cycle this is very disappointing! Where are all the experimenters? Perhaps people prefer discussing vegetables on 80m with commercial gear!
UPDATE 1414z: Just HC02 (Portugal) and SR4BBX (1217km) have spotted my 8m QRP FT8 today. Just G3WCS spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1539z: It is extremely unusual to see 8m FT8 reports from new stations, bringing into question why I should continue with my experiment. My experiment was to see how useful QRP and simple antennas could be on 8m. I think I have already proved that and only with reports from newcomers will I learn more. So, unless I see significant interest from others it is unlikely that I shall spend as much time on 8m in the future. Results were more interesting in the last Es season.
Stations spotted on 8m RX today 
Stations spotting my 8m FT8 QRP today
UPDATE 1814z: Just 2 spots all day on 8m QRP FT8. On RX 3 stations spotted, although I suspect the EA is illegal.
10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
My 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon on 10m has been on since before breakfast. It is now 0836z and, so far, 8 spots of me. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of Es around yet.
UPDATE 1846z: 50 spots of me today. More Es later.
Village garden - NOT amateur radio
European Es
It is now 0554z, so it is too early to tell how Es will be in Europe today. Assuming it is good, my plan is QRP 8m FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
3 Jun 2023
The dangers of AI
There is little doubt that the power of artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a powerful force for good allowing huge quantities of data to be analyzed quickly and accurately. An example is analyzing x-rays for tumours.
At the same time AI could also be our downfall. As the knowledge warned today it could also be our downfall.
"The truth is that it’s “already too late” for any meaningful pause in AI development, says Iain Martin The Times. As with the creation of the nuclear bomb in the 1940s, the pressing question is whether democracies or dictatorships get there first. If the West and its allies fail, we will be at the mercy of autocrats who can swarm us with thousands of lethal drones, or deploy sophisticated programmes which “relentlessly search for weaknesses through which to launch cyber attacks and shut down our financial systems”. This is a race “we have to win”. "
This is quote from The Knowledge today.
Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio
Geese with young - NOT amateur radio
This morning, we went for a nice walk to nearby Wicken Fen. Until we got home and put the photos on the PC I had not noticed the young. The photo was taken through a zoom lens.
Media fascism
In the UK media for several days a headline has been about an ITV presenter, who happens to be gay. The lives of him and his family have been a total hell. On the BBC news it has been the very first item. Had it been a heterosexual affair nobody would care.
In my view this is despicable. He and his family should be left alone.
As far as we know, he had done nothing wrong or newsworthy. Just leave him alone and get off his back.
In my view, this is journalism of the very worst kind: superficial and gratuitous gossip. BBC, get back to real news please!!!
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)
2 Jun 2023
OFCOM publications
A reminder that OFCOM updates the publications it holds on the statistics on licences and similar.
Our local shop - NOT amateur radio
8m FT8 QRP (Friday)
European Es (Friday)
Things look much quieter for European Es this morning. My plan is to go on 8m FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX.
Rally this weekend
The following rally has been notified to me. It is always advisable to check first.
Sunday June 4th - Spalding Radio Rally, Holbeach, Lincs, PE12 7PR. Contact Graham on rally2023@sdars.org.uk
1 Jun 2023
Invasions - NOT amateur radio
In the last year, we have all seen the invasion of a sovereign nation by its bigger neighbour.
In the past this has occurred on many occasions. In my view, invading another country is wholly wrong. In the past, Great Britain has been guilty too.
We have to try to understand the context of a dispute. Often we are fed a line which is only partially correct or not the whole story.
In no way is this an excuse for any country to walk into, or terrorise, another.
In my view the Russian "special operation" in Ukraine is despicable in the 21st century.
8m 2W WSPR (Thursday)
Currently, I am on 40.680 MHz WSPR (TX 20%, DF 1560 Hz, 2W). It is now 0958z. No spots.
UPDATE 1100z: Another (weaker) spot by HC02.
 |
| Spots of my 8m QRP WSPR today by HC02 |
UPDATE 1904z: Plenty of spots of me by HC02 (1808km) today. Some suggest even ISM power levels (10mW ERP in the UK) would have been copied.
The next solar peak
According to the latest update to my favourite site for solar data, the next sunspot maximum is still shown as December 2023 with a smoothed number of 142.5. This makes it a very short time since the minimum. The information was updated today.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
It is only now 0930z and already I have been spotted by 41 unique stations! Incredible Es conditions today.
UPDATE 1003z: Already an incredible 57 spots of my QRP 10m WSPR. At the moment, this looks like the best day this Es season.
UPDATE 1936z: An incredible 65 unique station spots of me. I think today I have received more spots on 10m than I can ever recall. QRT now.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
31 May 2023
10mW ERP on 8m WSPR without a licence?
Today alone, I have had several reports on 10m WSPR that suggest 10mW ERP at ranges around 3000km would be copied.
I am convinced following emails from OFCOM that, as long as ISM rules are carefully followed, a licence is NOT needed to run a beacon in the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band in the UK. This could well be true in other countries too. In the UK this means 10mW ERP. It is my firm belief that such beacons, would be received at great range. It is a great pity more people are not trying this.
This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service. It is ISM.
10m FT8 RX on the cheap
This has definitely been on before, but as we approach sunspot maximum (and beyond) a timely reminder is in order.
This works remarkably well and can be made very inexpensively, yet will bring in stations across the world most days. It may be built "dead bug" or, if you are really keen, as a simple PCB. As I have said before, it would make a great club project on a PCB. The circuit is simple, so a single sided PCB should be straightforward. It means the "big rig" is free yet 10m FT8 may be monitored.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
Bots? - NOT amateur radio
Already I have had more than 3 times the number of visits to this site than yesterday. My posts are as boring as ever, so I think this must be bots probing.
Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio
Funny how we just took it all for granted.
It is now the most expensive resort in the UK. Salcombe.
Cambridge Store - NOT amateur radio
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)
Gear turned on about 0845z. At 0905z, no spots.
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My gear on 40.680 MHz FT8 (TX 1st, DF about 1950Hz) was turned on about 0845z. Unsurprisingly, no spots at 0856z.
UPDATE 1426z: I am told by HC02 (1808km) that I appeared briefly in Southern Portugal but this did not appear on PSKreporter. On RX the only spot is of 9A3TN (1481km).
UPDATE 1750z: HC02 has spotted me again this evening. His report is now on PSKreporter. Also spotted (just!!) by SR4BBX (1217km) in Poland.
Plans for Wednesday
The impression I am getting is that Es is not as good as yesterday. My plans are 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW beacon and 8m FT8.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/
30 May 2023
Clematis - NOT amateur radio
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
On 10m with 500mW WSPR TX. So far (at 0848z) already 36 unique spots!
UPDATE 1340z: 56 unique station spots of me today!! Incredible.
8m QRP FT8 and WSPR (Tuesday)
After a brief outing on FT8, I have decided to try 8m QRP WSPR all day. HC02 (1808km) has spotted me on FT8 and WSPR.
On WSPR I am using 2W on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1550 Hz).
UPDATE 2035z: More WSPR spots by HC02 this evening. QRT soon.
29 May 2023
What is it? - NOT amateur radio
I should know the name but I don't.
UPDATE 2130z: See below it looks like it is called the King's Spear.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
As my 10m antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. At 1051z, spotted by 4 stations with plenty of Es.
UPDATE 1807z: 19 stations have spotted me today. Lot of Es.
UPDATE 1947z: 22 stations have spotted me today.
QDX-M 630m - not yet!
Following a recent email from Hans it is clear they are concentrating on the 160m version first. The 630m version could be some time, as the toroids on the LPF will need lots of turns! Judging by the results of the higher band versions of the QDX, I have no doubt the 160m and 630m single band versions will be very good.
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
A few moments ago, I QSYed to 8m FT8 QRP. My thanks to Hugh HC02 (1808km) who has already spotted me in southern Portugal.
 |
| Stations spotting me today on 8m QRP FT8 |
10m QRP FT8 (Monday)
At the moment (0824z) I am on 10m FT8 with the little QDX transceiver. I have yet to check conditions this morning! So far, just a couple of Europeans spotted, but nobody has spotted me yet.
UPDATE 09427z: 25 EU stations have already spotted my QRP 10m FT8 today, so I may QSY to 8m QRP FT8 and 10m WSPR with my 500mW WSPR beacon. On RX, stations as far as Western Australia have been copied on 10m FT8.
28 May 2023
QDX-M 630m
When this is available, I quite fancy one. My transverter produces about 10-12W of WSPR on this band. It would be good to try the QDX-M next winter, on 630m, if available. I think the output would be about 5W on the QDX-M.
15m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX (Sunday)
At the moment I am trying 15m FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver. Conditions are better than 10m, but still pathetic compared with yesterday.
UPDATE 1513z: I have gone RX only after a brief period on TX.
 |
| Stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today to 1518z |
UPDATE 1618z: 326 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1923z: 720 stations spotted.
UPDATE 2132z: 877 stations spotted. Now QRT. The QDX RX works really well.
10m QRP FT8 with the QDX (Sunday)
As 8m seems quiet compared with yesterday, I am on 10m FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver. At most, it puts out 5W and it is probably nearer 4W. Conditions do not seem very great.
At the moment my furthermost report is from IM0LZK (1589km) on Sardinia. To be honest, conditions seem really poor on 10m. On 15m, I was spotted in the central USA, but I did not stop on very long.
Good quote - NOT amateur radio
This quote was in the Knowledge today. The Knowledge is a free email newsletter that condenses the news from various world sources. As far as I can tell, it is pretty neutral. I find it very good.
"Remember yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present."
ICOM IC-705 transceiver
The IC-705 is a great rig, although it did have noise issues when a USB cable was connected between the rig and a PC. This issue was overcome with a decent, filtered, cable, but this was a design fault that should have been fixed.
I am still surprised Yaesu seems to have dropped out of the HF QRP market when they were clear market leaders at one time.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-705 .
10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
At about 0840z, I turned on my 500mW W5OLF 10m TX WSPR beacon. So far, just FR1GZ (9724km) spotting me.
Internet time sync - NOT amateur radio
For 10m WSPR, I usually sync time using my atomic clock in the shack. For 8m FT8 and WSPR, I usually sync to internet time using the built-in sync with Windows 10. For some reason (too busy?) this sync was not happening earlier. I shall try again later. As far as I can tell my PC clock error is just a few seconds at most, so I hope this is OK for now.
27 May 2023
QDX transceiver
It produces 5W and is very small.
With the popularity of digital modes, this is all most people really need. It works extremely well. Hans makes some excellent pieces of kit.
Mine is regularly copied all across the world on a very basic antenna.
Murder - NOT amateur radio
We saw this dead pigeon (or rather what remains of it!) at Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge, this morning. It looks like it was killed by a sparrow hawk or buzzard.
Football - NOT amateur radio
Although I rarely go to a football (soccer) match, I take an interest.
Coventry and Luton were at Wembley battling for a place in the Premier League. It was a hard fought match that Luton eventually won after extra time and a penalty shoot out.
This was very tense and your heart bleeds for Coventry man who missed his penalty. It was a very close fought match that both teams deserved to win.
Network radios
The phone is essentially an Android smartphone, so it can run all sorts of apps too.
I'll be honest, I prefer "real" radio where the link is open to the variations of the ionosphere or troposphere. I can see they have their place where conventional RF radio is not possible such as in hotels or care homes, or where external antennas cannot be erected. At the depths of solar mimima, I can see them having a place too.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/network-radio .
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)
For about 2 hours I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. Lots of Es and F2 reports already as the table shows.
UPDATE 1400z: So far today, 45 unique station spots of my QRP with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).
UPDATE 1853z: 48 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today (see table).
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
Since about 0950z, I have been on 40.680 MHz FT8 (DF about 1950 Hz, TX first). It is now 1038z and no spots.
UPDATE 1153z: Spotted by S50F (1205km).
UPDATE 1402z: Now EI1CAH (690km) also spotting me.
UPDATE 1822z: 6 stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 to a low dipole today. There are some notable stations missing this year. G9PUV and EI9KP have not been seen on 8m TX this year. G3WCS appeared briefly earlier in the spring, although I have not spotted him recently. So far, today has been a good day with plenty of Es on 8m. 
Stations spotting my 2.5W to
a low dipole on 8m FT8 today
Es promising (Saturday)
As the indications are that we could have a decent day in Europe with Es, my proposal is still to try 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz and 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW beacon. I shall probably turn these on in the next 10 minutes. Later, I might try 8m WSPR on 40.680 (DF about 1550 Hz)
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.
26 May 2023
8m Saturday
Today seems to have been the best Es day in Europe this season.
Even on 4m with an 8m dipole (tuned via an internal auto-ATU) I have been spotted widely in Europe and I have spotted 4m FT8 stations all over Europe.
So, assuming Es will be as good tomorrow, I hope to try 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. I may also try some 8m WSPR.
I am convinced that very low powered 8m stations operating on WSPR using ISM rules will be widely copied across Europe.
In many countries a licence is not needed for beacons on the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band as long as national rules are followed. In many countries this means 10mW ERP. On 10m WSPR just uWs have spanned Europe. We know from Australia that 5mW of 8m WSPR has spanned 5000km.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)
As my 10m antenna is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW WSPR TX beacon. Already, a couple of Es spots.
UPDATE 2120z: 62 unique stations have spotted me today. I think this is a record number.
 |
| Spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR today |
4m FT8 (Friday)
As I have no 4m antenna, I am using my 8m dipole, tuned via the auto ATU in the FT-710 So far just spotted today by G3SHK (200km) and no Es.
UPDATE 0935z: One G QSO with a station in the UK near Coventry - G4AEH (124km) and again a spot of me by EA6SA (1423km).
UPDATE 1030z: 3 spots of me with 2 QSOs, the furthermost being EA6SA (1423km). Several spots of Spanish stations plus ZB2GI (1848m).
Gobbledegook - NOT amateur radio
I have just received an email from Google AdSense and I am none the wiser! In my view it is total rubbish. To my mind, it was total gobbledegook.
Please may I have this in plain English?
Rallies this weekend
For once, a good weather forecast for a Bank Holiday weekend!
The following rallies have been notified to me, although I always recommend checking the details with organisers before travelling.
Saturday May 27th - Barry Amateur Radio Society Rally , Sully, CF64 5SP. Contact Steve 07368 140795.
Sunday May 28th - Durham and District ARS Radio Rally, Bowburn Co. Durham, DH6 5AT. Contact dadars@gmx.com
8m disappointment this Es season
Both FT8 and WSPR have been given a try on 40.680 MHz. Apart from Hugh HC02 in Portugal, I have had few spots this season. My impression is there are fewer people on than last year.
I know Es has been less good until recently and things could change. For those experimenting on 8m, the more stations on the better, with widespread monitors, even if unable to TX.
Some quite odd antennas may well be good enough with Es, so if you have a RX capable of monitoring 40.680 MHz, that is probably all you need.
If 28 MHz looks promising, it may be worth monitoring 40.680 MHz.
This is the real boundary between HF and VHF and a lot may possible.
25 May 2023
10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
When on 4m FT8, I am on 10m WSPR QRP TX with 500mW.
UPDATE 1620z: I was wondering why I had got no 10m WSPR spots in the last hour. It helps if you turn the beacon on!! Guess who had forgotten? Doh!
UPDATE 1928z: 10 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today (see table).
4m FT8
Using my 8m dipole tuned via the auto-ATU in the FT-710, I am on 70.154 MHz FT8. So far, 4 Gs have spotted me with the furthermost G4HGI (244km). No Es yet and nobody spotted on RX.
Goodestone Water Gardens - NOT amateur radio
We practically had these to ourselves.
If going to Oxborough, these are well worth visiting.
10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
At the moment I am on 10m FT8 with 2.5W. So far, 10 stations have spotted me. On RX at 1442z, 40 stations have been spotted.
24 May 2023
A vision of the future - NOT amateur radio
I wonder what they would make of smart phones today! And also Bluetooth earpieces!
Lichen - NOT amateur radio
4m Es
As we are now in the Es season, I shall probably try 4m FT8 from tomorrow. There are now quite a few countries on 4m, which is very different from the 1960s when really just the UK and Eire were on. I was surprised how quiet 4m was outside of the Es season.
A good website showing which countries have 4m allocations is http://www.g0che.co.uk/4m_alloc.php .
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
Currently I am on 10m WSPR with the 500mW W5OLF beacon.
UPDATE 0852z: No spots. I am getting a bit suspicious something is amiss.
UPDATE 1112z: The coax is faulty. High SWR. Must investigate.
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
At the moment, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 (TX first period, DF about 1950 Hz).
UPDATE 1111z: No spots.
European Es
As Es propagation in Eastern Europe is looking good today, I am changing my plans. I was going to go on 10m FT8, but instead will try 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
23 May 2023
SW interval signals
If you were like me, you will recall the old shortwave interval signals of old. I remember the sound of Radio Moscow and VOA on the shortwave bands. These days, the shortwaves are a lot different with far fewer English language broadcasts.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/sw-interval-signals .
Cambridge store - NOT amateur radio
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