Monday plans

 In a few moments I intend to have another go on 22m (HiFer band) with ISM power using WSPR. This evening my plan is to QSY to 630m QRP WSPR.

Plans for Sunday

In a few moments, I expect to again go on 10m WSPR with my 10mW ERP. After lunch I shall probably  try the 22m (HiFer) band with ISM conditions. I shall probably use my G3XBM call still as I know that works with WSPRnet.

Plans for Sunday

 Today, I shall try 500uW 10m WSPR again and 8m QRP FT8.

Reflections on 2023 and plans for 2024

Looking back on 2023, the stand-out things are my 8m QSOs with 2.5W and a dipole with stations in the Caribbean and my 0.5mW WSPR tests on 10m.  At the moment, I have no firm plans for next year.  What is clear is that I prefer WSPR and FT8. There are several reasons.

1. My voice is poor and it is a strain to talk.

2. DXCC was worked back in the 1980s with QRP SSB on 10m. DXCC is no longer a priority.

3. I prefer experimenting to just talking with stations.

4. One-way signals (looking on the internet to see when I am being received) are as important for me than two-way QSOs.

Everyone is different and I can totally understand that working DXCC and new countries is important to some. It is just that, for me, it is no longer important. When I was fitter going out in the wilds on 481THz or VLF was good fun. These days I try to do experiments from home.

Plans for today

 When I get back from my U3A course in Cambridge after lunch, I shall try 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR and try to better match my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground using the NanoVNA as a guide. Let's hope WSPRnet is working!

Plans for Saturday

 After lunch, I shall probably go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW TX beacon and 40.680 MHz (8m) FT8 with my 2.5W and dipole. F2 is good at the moment, so there is a good chance of being copied (again) in the USA, Canada and in the Caribbean on 8m QRP FT8.

Friday plans

Shortly, I hope to turn on my 10m 500mW WSPR TX beacon and my 8m 2.5W FT8. Tonight, I shall probably try 630m QRP WSPR. 

Tuesday plans

Later, I shall probably turn on my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon. I may stay on 630m QRP WSPR in the daytime as an experiment and give 8m a miss.

Sunday plans

Probably on QRP 8m FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR TX during the day, switching to 630m QRP WSPR after dark. 

Plans for today (Monday)

After lunch, I expect to be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8. At the moment, European Es does not look great.

Plans for today (Sunday)

My current plan is to try 10m FT8 with 5mW. Based on the 10m QRPP WSPR I might get some spots.

Progress report

 Some weeks ago, these were my aims. Some have been achieved.

Done

• Put Spectran software on the shack PC.
• Been on 80m and 160m with the earth-electrode "antenna".
• Local 481 THz tests.

Not done

• QRSS tests on 136 kHz.
• 481 THz QRSS tests with Spectran.
• Yet to restart 8m tests.

Plans for Sunday

Currently, I hope to be on 6m FT8. It is still a bit too early for the big Es openings but, despite this, I seem to be widely spotted. 

I think I shall give 8m a miss until a bit later in the spring. Then I hope to monitor both FT8 and WSPR at just above 40.680 MHz.

Plans for this afternoon (Thursday)

 Assuming the thunder storms keep away, my plan is to go on 10m FT8 later. 

Sunday plans

Getting the optical gear working 

As today looks dull and wet, these are my plans :

• Email G4BAO to set up a sked on 23cm SSB.  Email written and sent.
• Try to get the optical gear working. All gear assembled. Spectran installed. 
• Go on 10m FT8 daytime. RX on morning. Off late morning.
• Go on 630m WSPR RX this evening. Went on late morning. 

Doing anything these days is so much harder. After getting my 481 THz gear together I feel exhausted. I cannot remember how I interfaced from the optical RX to the PC. I must find out. It was 10 years ago!!

I may try a local CW test after dark this evening bouncing off a wall about 200m away - small steps.

Monday plans

Hopefully I can resolve the FT-710AESS issue with AESS and with the fan not being on on RX or low power TX. I shall go on 8m FT8 QRP and 10m QRP WSPR TX. 

UPDATE 1812z:   My son and grandson have been staying here, so only 1 of the 3 things has been done: 10m WSPR TX. The others will have to wait.

Plans (Thursday)

Later, I hope to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX with my 500mW beacon and 8m FT8 QRP. I may also see if I can detect any 23cm beacons with my 2 el beam indoors.

Plans for today

 At the moment these are my plans:-

• 8m FT8 QRP on 40.680 MHz.
• 10m 500mW WSPR TX.
• 23cm QRP FT8 local tests at 1630z.

Plans for the day (Tuesday)

 Today, I plan the following:

• 8m QRP FT8
• 10m QRP WSPR TX
• 23cm local tests ( I think tonight is the 23cm activity contest).

Plans for the day (Friday)

My plan for the day is to go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. Later, I may try 8m QRP FT8 TX .