2m activity contest this evening

After 5 QSOs with 10W SSB to my big-wheel omni, my voice had had enough, so I went QRT. 

Battling with repeating my callsign is no longer fun. In fact it is hard work. As my voice is now poor, I really struggle in SSB contests. It used to be fun whereas now it is far harder.

Servicing the gas fire - NOT amateur radio

 

Annually, we have our gas boiler and gas fire serviced. It was that time of year! 

The photo shows our gas fire being serviced.

Radio France International antennas

 These are the antennas at Radio France International. It looks like they have directional antennas so the ERP in the chosen direction must be huge.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon is on again, but no spots so far.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 is currently on. 

UPDATE 1347z:  QRT. No spots.

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

 

This was my brother last Sunday looking at the view.

European Es

According to the past, the European Es season should soon go "off the boil" and subside. 

In my experience the Es season still goes on for a while longer. I have worked Scandinavians on 6m QRP SSB as late as September.  With FT8 it should be even better.  Es can occur at any time of the year, but the peak months are in the spring and early summer.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ 

Sunspots - Tuesday July 2nd

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 192. A=6 and K =1.

An amazing resource

Recently I was reminded of this amazing resource. If you are looking for an old radio magazine, look here first. 

See

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm

Sunday lunch - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where we ate lunch yesterday in Hope Cove. I have a record of my ancestors living here in the mid 1500s so we were probably here thousands of years before then. It is probable that a distant ancestor manned the Iron Age fort in the distance.

See

https://www.hopecove.com/public/miscellaneous/webcam

8m testing this week

 Later this week I hope to continue my 8m FT8 tests and re-erect my 8m dipole.

QMX+ testing later

 When I get home I expect my USB-C lead will have come. At some point early this week I hope to do more tests with the QMX+ rig.

Travelling home- NOT amateur radio

After a few days in Devon with my brother I travel home later. It has been a good few days with weather I could not improve on - sunny and warm and not humid.

Sunspots - Monday July 1st

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 199. A=11 and K=1.