8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear (2.5W to a low dipole) was turned on just before 0700z.

UPDATE 1950z:  8 spots of my QRP. See map. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 7th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 90. A=15 and K=2.

Ground cover - NOT amateur radio

 

Quite near us is a house with some great ground cover plants. These are colourful and cover well.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

With just a single spot of me on 8m FT8 I have QSYed to 6m FT8.  The QSY was made at about 1441z.

UPDATE 1800z:  Spotted by 18 English stations. See map. Using 2.5W and a V2000 vertical omni antenna.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 When I am on 8m FT8 I can use the 10m WSPR beacon as this does not need the 10m antenna or PC. My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0840z.

UPDATE 2002z: Spotted by 18 stations, mostly in central Europe, presumably via Es. Also spotted in Brazil and on St.Helena.  See map.                   

Back on 8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 Whilst I still have my 8m TX permit I am again on 40.680MHz FT8 (offset about 1950 Hz).

UPDATE 0920z:  Just EI3KF (574km) spotting me.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

At the moment I am on 10m QRP FT8 with 6W from the IC-705.

UPDATE 0656z: 23 stations have spotted me. All are single hop F2 or Es I think.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 6th

 Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 108. A=29 and K=3.

8m disappointment

We are now in the Es season, but we still have far too few countries on the band. 

After my 8m T&I permit expires later this summer I have no plans to continue. 

Far more would be learned if we had many more countries on the band, even for a short period. Although there may be some F2 propagation in the autumn and spring on 8m it is likely to decline especially on E-W paths.

I have tried to my best to encourage the RSGB and OFCOM, but I give up.

My plan is to go on 6m instead.

Shield bug? - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson brought this in the house this afternoon. It is ladybird size (about 5mm long) and I think it is a shield bug, although I am unsure.