QMX/QMX+ firmware update

Steve G1KQH has informed me that there is a firmware update. As the changes do not really impact me, I shall not update my firmware this time. The upgrade does not add SSB.  Had it done so, I definitely would have upgraded!

European Es (Sunday)

 Es activity in Europe is holding up, at least on FT8. 

Opinions vary over the length of the Es "season" in Europe, but certainly May, June and July can be good. Others think the season goes on to September. 

In my experience it peaks in the late spring and early summer. Indeed, Es will be there at all times of year, but the intensity and frequency go down. 

I suspect FT8 and FT4 will show that 10m, 6m and 4m are open on Es paths far more often than we think. It is for this reason that I hope people will stick with FT8/4  on these bands. We have so much to learn.

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

8m QRP FT8 TX (Sunday)

My QRP 8m FT8  TX is currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Hoping for reports and QSOs. 

UPDATE 1124z:  No spots on 8m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1508z:  As I was out most of the afternoon, I was on 8m FT8 RX only. Only spotted 1 station CT1END (1676km).

UPDATE 1513z:  On 8m QRP FT8 TX again.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to be on 6m QRP FT8 with my V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 0936z:  6m QRP FT8 on. Spotted by 34 stations mostly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. See map. I think this is Es, so I am now on 8m QRP FT8.

Cow Tower, Norwich - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, Norwich is a fine city. Cow Tower (shown in the photo) was built at the end of the 1300s as part of Norwich’s defence’s.

See https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cow-tower-norwich/ .

Amateur radio?

We have to be grateful for "big" stations with "big" antennas, who sometimes hear us when others might not. 

However, this is not my idea of amateur radio fun. I prefer to see how far my QRP signals reach with very modest, low, antennas. 

Each to their own.

Sunspots - July 28th

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 178. A=13 and K=1.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today, we took the train to Norwich. It is a very fine city with a fine cathedral shown in the photo.

472kHz transverter

The photo shows me testing my 472kHz (630m) transverter in the back of the garage at the old QTH. Later it featured in a QST article. It is still used now producing about 10W into a 50 ohm load and about 10mW ERP with my earth-electrode “antenna “ in the ground.

Sunspots - July 27th

Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 181. A=23 and K=2.