Autumn signs - NOT amateur radio

Today is very dull and windy. This photo was taken a few days ago when the sun was shining. Most of the trees are now bare of leaves.

Broken hearts - NOT amateur radio

Our 16 year old grandson has just had his heart broken over a girl. We have all been there. At the time it feels like the world stops and nothing else matters. 

All we can do, as can his dad and mum, is love and listen without being judgemental. It is hard. Those teenage years are difficult ones.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Sunday)

Having given up on 6m FT8 (and 500uW 10m WSPR) I have QSYed to 10m QRP FT8. Within a few minutes I was spotted by 32 stations across the world. 86 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1445z: 174 stations have spotted my 10m 2.5W FT8 today (see map). It is too easy!!

UPDATE 1615z: 253 stations have spotted my 10m 2.5W FT8 today. In 5 years' time this will seem remarkable when conditions are far worse. For now, enjoy!

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

In all, 12 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight. No great DX, with all UK stations.

500uW 10m WSPR TX tests (Sunday)

 Yet again, my 10m WSPR TX beacon is on with the PA off.  According to my TinySA spectrum analyser the power out is about 500uW. No spots. As the power from the beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W, it will report this even when the output is 30dB lower.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 6m FT8 gear (2.5W to a V2000 vertical omni) was turned on about 0940z. So far, absolutely nothing on RX or TX. I would have expected some activity on a Sunday morning if only a few local Gs. I checked that everything was correct: timing, SWR, frequency, antenna, co-ax,  WSJT-X restarted etc.   As far as I can tell, all is fine.

Sunspots - Sunday November 19th 2023

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 39. A=3 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 10mW ERP was turned on just before 1900z. Already several spots of me at 1910z.

UPDATE 1930z: According to PSK Reporter, I am currently the only UK station on 630m WSPR TX! 4 stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 2010z:  6 stations have spotted me this evening.

Dark evenings - NOT amateur radio

It suddenly seems to be dark early. Only a few months ago it was much lighter at this time. 

Here we are at 1625z with the curtains drawn in "winter mode". In a few weeks it will stop getting darker and gradually lighter, although it is the end of January before we really notice things changing. 

I like the seasons. There is something good about them all.

70cm QRP FT8 (Saturday)

At about 1610z I QSYed to 70cm FT8 with my 2.5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. No spots.

UPDATE 1914z:  No spots, so have QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.