11 Jun 2022

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

At the moment (1040z) I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 14 stations have spotted me by Es already! Another good Es day.

Out of the kitchen window - NOT amateur radio

We get a good view at breakfast. This is what we see.  

The view from the lounge is similar.

8m experiment (Saturday)

Later today I expect to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 again. 

Yesterday, 5 stations spotted me as the map shows. 

UPDATE 1036z:  8m FT8 TX turned on about 1030z. 2 stations in southern Europe have already spotted me by Es.

UPDATE 1316z:  7 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today.


UPDATE 2010z: Best day yet with 12 stations spotting me today. 

Sunspots - Saturday June 11th 2022

Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 33. A=5 and K=2.

10 Jun 2022

8m experiment (Friday)

On and off this afternoon, I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 QRP TX. It is now 1605z, and I have been spotted by 2 stations  and I have had 1 "QSO" with a station  in Croatia although I cannot tell you this! Actually it was an FT8 exchange of location and signal reports. 

Maybe to keep OFCOM happy I should have told him about runner beans and sweet peas - oh silly me, I don't have a commercial rig and antenna for 80m. 

Isn't OFCOM's position and that of the RSGB on 8m absolutely crazy?!!

UPDATE 1807z:   5 stations have spotted me on 8m FT8 TX today. 2 stations have been spotted here.

IC202 - remember these?

Back in the late 1970s (I think) these became very common on 2m SSB. They were the successor to the Liner-2 and far cleaner. I had one for several years and it served me well. Even today, they are still in use driving microwave transverters.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/icom-ic-202

I hope the links on the link still work as they were created some time ago.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

Later today, I expect to be on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. 

Yesterday was very good with lots of Es propagation.


Sunspots - Friday June 10th 2022

Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 17. A=5 and K=2.

9 Jun 2022

My book - delayed again

 My free PDF book is taking longer than I expected. Next week I am away for a few days and the collation is taking far longer than I anticipated. My current self imposed deadline is the end of next week. 

OFCOM consultation

 OFCOM is consulting on the licences of National Multiplexes. Well, I guess it is easier than RF. See their website for details.

Do you remember when GPO officers actually used to visit your station? In my time, I think I had 3 visits. I guess few remain who even know what a transmitter is! Sarcastic, me? Surely not!!