My system (2.5W and a vertical omni V2000) has been on since 0726z. So far spotted by 2 stations in East Anglia on TX and I have spotted 1 station in Devon on RX. No Es.
UPDATE 1008z: 8 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (including Portugal and Italy) and 2 stations have been spotted on RX (one by Es).
UPDATE 1212z: 23 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today. |
| Stations spotting me at 1253z |
Later, I expect to go on 6m QRP FT8 again. On recent days, there has been some good Es on 6m . I have yet to see how European Es is shaping up.
UPDATE 0712z: It is quite early, but early indications are that European Es is not as great as yesterday. Things may well change.
Every few weeks I take a peek to judge the activity level. My last look was mid afternoon in Europe on a Sunday, when activity is likely to be good. Yet again, there were few stations and plenty of space.
I can see the hobby dying out as many people age and no longer buy Japanese "black boxes". Maybe before 2040?
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/
The assumption is that the Labour party will win the next General Election and that the ruling Conservative party will be ousted. At the moment Labour enjoys a commanding lead.
In my view (often wrong!!) is it will be much closer in the end. Labour could even lose. It would not surprise me if the outcome is a hung parliament. Some years ago we all assumed the Labour party of Neil Kinnock would win. It did not.
12 months is a very long time in politics. The political landscape could rapidly change.
The leader of the Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer, seems an honest man, but lacking in charisma. Maybe the UK public is looking for a man with integrity? What is really needed is an honest leader, with integrity and charisma. These are qualities that seem in short supply, not only in the UK.
The place to look for reviews of amateur gear is eham.net. I was quite surprised to see that the QRP labs QDX, which is a tiny 5W digital transceiver was only 4.2 out of 5. In my estimation, it is a 5 out of 5. It is truly tiny and if FT8 or WSPR are your "thing", you really need nothing else. I must write a review.
Some people have had trouble with PAs blowing. In my case I have 5 3A diodes to drop the voltage and always use it with an antenna with a low SWR. I can see a problem with auto-ATUs which may present a bad match during tuning.
A 6m, 8m and 10m version would be good.
See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=15155 .
UPDATE 0615z Monday: Review written.
Not sure where this phrase originated. It must be good to have a strong faith.
Recently my cousin died of jaw cancer having lost his only daughter in the last year. His wife was so upset that she told nobody of the funeral and there were only 3 people there (her sister, niece and herself). She must feel so alone and bereft.
Nothing I can say will be able to make things better. Talk of a loving God and life everlasting seem hollow.
It is now 1105z and I have been on for about an hour. So far, my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted by 26 stations.
UPDATE 1340z: 29 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 28 stations with the furthermost EA8DBM (3016km). The Es would seem to be in the direction of Iberia (Spain and Portugal).
UPDATE 1600z: My signal has been spotted by 30 stations and I have spotted 33 here on RX.
