10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on shortly before 0800z. So far, my 2.5W to the Par end-fed has been copied in Finland. On RX 3 stations around Europe have been spotted. I suspect this is all Es.

UPDATE 0940z: 27 stations have been spotted and my 10m QRP has been spotted by 12 stations.

Sunspots - Thursday August 3rd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 135. A=12 and K=2.

QDX QRP digital transceiver

 This tiny 5W digital transceiver is available from QRP labs. I was amazed how small it is. It is available in 2 versions covering the lower HF bands or the higher ones. Mine is the higher one. With WSJT-X and FT8, it has got me all over the world despite a low Par end-fed antenna. If you only want digital modes like FT8 and WSPR this really is all you need.

All Electric - NOT amateur radio

All the "Park and Ride" buses  in Cambridge are going green and will be electric. 

Bell bonkers - NOT amateur radio

My elder grandson (15) is mad on bell ringing. He has now rung in nearly 130 towers and 2 cathedrals (it may be more). Last night he rang a quarter peel in Newmarket.

See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1873O6zPsert2bTsPCLItIGJ2QtAf4pMW/view?usp=sharing.

Birds - NOT amateur radio

This photo of a stonechat (if it was on before, blame me!) was taken a couple of weeks ago on the Dee estuary near Liverpool. I spotted a swift yesterday, but I suspect the adults have started their migration southwards.

UPDATE 1630z:  5 swifts seen this morning. Young?

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My 2.5W QRP FT8 was turned on before breakfast. I was called by a station in Portugal when there was already widespread Es.

At 0830z 82 stations have spotted me (all in Europe) and I have spotted 50 unique stations.

UPDATE 1303z: 131 unique spots of me so far today. 

UPDATE 1702z: 261 unique stations have spotted my 2.5W 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE  2004z:  363 unique stations have spotted my 2.5W 10m FT8 (see photo). Furthermost 2-way QSO was with Brazil. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 2nd 2023

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 160.  A=9 and K=1.

Solar cycle peak this year?

My favourite site for solar data has just been updated. It still show the peak of solar cycle 25 as November 2023 with a peak of 144.2 (this is up slightly). This seems early, but it has been late this year now for a very long time. If so, conditions could still be good for several years to come. It is definitely worth watching 10m FT8.  I suspect 10m will remain open far more than we thought.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 For a change, I am on 10m (not 6m) FT8 with my 2.5W.  The 10m antenna is a low Par end-fed. At 0816z 3 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost FR4OM (9763km) on Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Just 3 spots of me, all in Europe.

UPDATE 0842z: 7 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today (see photo).

UPDATE 1106z:  13 stations spotted on 10m FT8  RX so far today.

UPDATE 1735z:  132 spots of my 2.5W QRP FT8 with 2 in South America.