Housework - NOT amateur radio

In our house we do the housework jointly on a Monday. After this (mid morning) we enjoy a cup of coffee together.

European Es

In the last few days, I have found this site extremely useful. In a few seconds, I can get a "snapshot" picture of Es conditions in Europe. It gives me a good idea of what bands may prove useful. Of course, Es can change very quickly so this is not perfect, but it is a useful guide.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX (Monday)

My tiny QDX was turned on at 0622z i.e. quite early. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0816z:  7 spots of me from Eastern Europe and I have spotted 4 stations. No DX yet.

Stations spotting me today

UPDATE 1028z:  33 stations have spotted my QRP and 26 have been spotted here. All Europeans. I assume most are Es.

UPDATE 1200z: 52 stations have spotted me and 51 stations have been spotted here. Iberia now coming through.

UPDATE 1431z:  I have been spotted by 65 stations and I have spotted 67. All were in Europe. Still no real DX today.

Sunspots - Monday May 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 140. A=28 and K=3.

Growing up - NOT amateur radio

 

One of our sons and grandsons earlier in our back garden.

6m super DX

Several stations in Europe have worked VK8AW on 6m. This is amazing. 

I am not sure of the propagation mechanism. TEP might be involved for some of the path. This sort of DX has been worked on several days. 

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

As the previous post explained, I had no intention of going on 8m today! Then I saw 10m was open to Iberia, so QSYed to 8m FT8.  At 1040z, no spots.

UPDATE 1055z:  Spotted on 8m by HC02 (1808km) in southern Portugal. Hugh has been pretty dedicated - thank you Hugh.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

Originally, I was going to be on 10m QRP FT8 all day. Then I noticed Es on 10m to Iberia, so I QSYed to 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW beacon. Several spots from Portugal of me on 10m WSPR  plus a local.

UPDATE 1103z:  Still just the 2 stations spotting me. It will be interesting to see if the Es moves and I get spots from others. Certainly to Portugal the Es seems a bit poorer now although this could just be QSB.

UPDATE 1108z: Now being spotted in Luxembourg by LX1DQ (504km).

More on that Belgian 8m amateur band

Details are still very sketchy, but I see John has put a bit about this on his excellent blog. We can only hope this allocation is the first of many.  There is a real case of a small amateur allocation here to encourage real research.

Personally, I would happily give up 5 kHz of any band for 5 kHz at 8m. Really, I cannot see the harm in any country allocating a small bit in the ISM band 40.66-40.70 MHz to amateurs on a secondary basis. Oh sorry, this requires brains and thinking!!  😁

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .

Runner beans - NOT amateur radio

These are a good choice for gardens as they are (generally) easy to grow, have attractive flowers, and you eat them! I have grown them for the last few years in an otherwise wasted corner of the garden. It gets sun in the mornings.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/runner-beans/grow-your-own .