Bumper crop - NOT amateur radio

In the orchard next door there is a bumper crop of apples. We had a very wet winter followed by a hot dry summer. 

I guess these must have been ideal conditions.

8m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

About an hour ago I QSYed to 8m FT8. hoping to be spotted across the Atlantic or spot someone from over there. A QSO would be magic. 

Based on ERP alone, this should be possible as I have done it with less ERP on 10m SSB, so 8m FT8 QRP should be possible.

UPDATE 1733z:  Nothing on RX or TX today. QSYing to 17m FT8 RX.

Memory costs - NOT amateur radio

Amazon is selling Sandisk Ultra 128GB micro SD cards for £13.99. A few years ago this would have been unheard of. 

Imagine what memory will cost in 2032!

Shack 9 years ago

 

This photo shows my shack when we moved to this QTH in summer 2013.

Complete change today?

As an experiment, I may try FT8 RX on a different band with my 10m end fed antenna. I think it has a low SWR on some other bands, but I cannot remember which. 

UPDATE 0836z:  The antenna would appear to be a good match on 17m, 15m. 12m and 10m. Today, I am trying 15m FT8. My very first signal resulted in a QSO with an LZ station. 8 stations have spotted me on QRP TX!  I am RX only now. So far, on 15m FT8 RX, 16 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1113z: 172 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 21st 2022

Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 70. A=8 and K=2.

8m Cornish beacon

According to the beacon keeper, the 8m beacon at GB3MCB on 40.050 MHz should be operational next weekend subject to the rigger and weather. They also have permission for a 5m beacon.

As yet, I have not checked on modes. I hope to copy it by MS, scatter, and maybe tropo.

The probable modes are CW and PI4. 

In my view, ALL beacons should include an FT8 sequence as this mode is (I think) as good as PI4 and is included free with WSJT-X and other software packages making 24/7 monitoring easy.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

After a successful RX session on 10m FT8, I am now on 10m QRP WSPR (500mW from my W5OLF beacon) as the antenna is available. 

UPDATE 1815z:  Just F2 spots from 2 stations in the Canary Islands. No DX from the USA today. I think most people now use FT8.

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

All afternoon and early evening (UK time) I shall be on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX hoping to spot some DX from North America via F2.

If successful, I hope to be on FT8 TX (40.680) later in the week. My first challenge is can I spot anyone from "across the pond" on my low wire dipole!

OFCOM and Mangata satellite licences

OFCOM is consulting about new licences for satellite opearation by Mangata. See the OFCOM website for details.