5 Jul 2024
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
4 Jul 2024
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 5 stations have spotted me.
10m QRP FT8 with the QMX+ (Thursday)
14 stations spotted me early today on QRP FT8. The RX audio seems to be too low from the QMX+ on digital RX. Sometimes it is (just) in the green on WSJT-X but many times it is too low and still in the red.
Overnight, I wondered if the RX audio on digital was controlled by the volume control (a good idea?), but adjusting this made no difference. It is as if the default audio setting on digital RX on built QMX+ units is too low at least on a Windows 10 PC like mine. I checked that all settings of audio on the PC were at maximum.
I could see no mention of this in the QMX manual and I think, as yet, there is no operating manual for the QMX+.
It is to be expected there would be some teething issues on early builds.
UK General Election day - NOT amateur radio
For readers in the UK, remember that this is a General Election day on which you have a chance to elect the MP of your choice to represent you. By voting you are having your say on the future government of the UK 🇬🇧.
If you don’t vote you will have to accept the consequences. Whatever your political views it’s important that you vote!!
3 Jul 2024
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My 8m 2.5W WSPR was on for a few hours this morning, but no spots. Now QRT on 8m.
Dream - NOT amateur radio
Most nights I dream but cannot remember them. Last night, just before waking, I had a dream that I remembered. I have absolutely no idea why I dreamed it! This is the essence of the dream:
We were on holiday and staying in a hotel room. Before we checked out we noticed that the bathroom bowl and a cupboard had been completely removed.
Now, this is totally bizarre as in reality we would have heard this being done. Dreams often reflect something going on in one's waking life, but I cannot think what this could be.
Any ideas?
At the chancel door: read the words! - NOT amateur radio
It is important to read the words, not just glance at the photo.
In death wealth does not matter.
10m 500mW WSPR in the last day
My 10m WSPR beacon was re-synced to internet time a few moments ago. In the last day 7 different stations have spotted my beacon with quite a few already this morning.
UPDATE 1328z: after a break of several hours, I am back on TX. No recent spots.
UPDATE 1700z: 10 stations have spotted me in the last day.
2 Jul 2024
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
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.
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/
1 Jul 2024
An amazing resource
Recently I was reminded of this amazing resource. If you are looking for an old radio magazine, look here first.
See
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.
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.