8m QRP FT8

 My 8m FT8 QRP on 40.680 MHz was turned on at 1406z. So far, no spots.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 1406z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1833z: 12 unique stations have spotted me today.

U3A course - late on radio

As I am in Cambridge for my University of the 3rd Age lecture on the Bank of England history, I will be late on the radio today. 

2200m in 2013

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 2200m tests. Apart from a very brief TX last year I have not been on that band on TX for many years.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 25th 2023

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 127. A=4 and K=0.

Cold winter? - NOT amateur radio

This winter we have seen far more cold and frosty days than for many years. We had snow on the ground before Christmas and we have just had another cold spell. 

It is odd to think that not many months ago we were too hot in bed! Come May we can expect blossom, summer migrant birds and warm days again.

23cm webpage added

As I have started my adventure on 23cm, it seemed the right time to add a webpage about 23cm on my website. Many are dead serious about the band with big antennas and high power. I am only playing!

As you know, I am using the transverter from SG Labs which looks well made. Several people have these and are pleased.

Yesterday was my first ever 23cm QSO.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/23cm .

UPDATE 1406z:  I tried to see if there was any sign of the 23cm beacon on Dunstable Downs GB3DUN on 1296.890 MHz. Nothing at all was spotted despite moving the antenna around to try to detect it, perhaps by a reflection off something. From here, this path is well obstructed. I assume it is on the air. The Martlesham beacon GB3MHZ on 1296.830 MHz is on the wrong side of the house, so I think I have no chance. I shall have a go though later.

Sunspots - higher than expected?

Some years ago, some were predicting a Maunder minimum with years without sunspots. 

On present showing, the current solar cycle is looking to exceed the last one. My favourite site for solar data is still expecting the peak late this year, which is early. With many months still to go to the peak, things are promising.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my beacon. It is now 0940z and I have been on for about 10 minutes. So far today, spotted by no stations.

UPDATE 1007z:  So far, 2 unique stations are spotting my QRP. The distances look like single hop F2. (Canaries and Finland).

UPDATE 1125z:  4 unique stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1446z:  12 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

 At the moment I am on 8m FT8 QRP. It is now 0934z. No spots yet, although I have only just turned on.

UPDATE 1610z:  4 stations in EI and G have suddenly spotted my 8m QRP FT8 TX. I am wondering if this is aircraft reflection? Apart from this, just 1 EI spotted on FT8 RX this morning.

UPDATE 1616z:  Since then, spots by 2 more at this time. This makes aircraft reflection even more likely. It looks like the position and Doppler made reception possible. I am not aware of aircraft reflection before now on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 2205z:  I have been advised to look at Airscout which is an app that can help predict when planes are in the correct place for airplane scatter. See  http://airscout.eh/index.php.