Sunspots - Monday August 4th

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 118. A=9 and K=1.

6m 2W FT8 (Sunday)

I am now back on 6m 2W FT8.

UPDATE 1928z:  So far this evening I have been spotted by 34 stations with the farthest D4L (4518km)

15m 1W FT8 (Sunday)

 For a change I have QSYed to 15m FT8 with 1W.

UPDATE 1816z: After a few minutes on 15m FT8, spotted by 141 stations. See map.

UPDATED  1846z:  180 stations have spotted me. Now QSYed to 6m 2W FT8.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

After my abortive outing on 70cm FT8, I have returned to 10m FT8. Initially this was RX only, but I intend to go on TX (5W) shortly.

UPDATE 1300z: Back on 10m 500mW  FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1519z: Spotted by 99 stations. Es I think for most.

UPDATE 1655z:  Back to high power - 1 watt FT8! Spotted by 130 stations today.

UPDATE 1754z: 238 stations have spotted me mostly with 500mW, a few with 1W FT8.

70cm 5W FT8 (Sunday)

After lunch I may try 70cm FT8 with my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In contests I usually spot plenty of stations in the Netherlands, but I don't recall trying 70cm FT8 at other times. I guess my problems will be (1) distance, (2)  lack of monitors, (3) power and antenna.

My theory is some quite remarkable distances are being spanned by some sort of scatter.

UPDATE 1115z:  Turned on.

UPDATE 1215z:   No spots. QRT. on 70cm. Moving to 10m FT8.

2m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

 My 5W 2m FT8  to the big-wheel omni antenna has been on since about 0945z.

UPDATE  1055z:  10 spots so far in 2 countries..

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 Plenty of Es still about with 11 stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR and I have not been on long.

UPDATE 1028z:  33 stations spotting me.

VHF troposcatter?

Yesterday evening I went on 2m  FT8 with my 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. 

It seems that every time I go on I am spotted at amazing distances. As an example, I was spotted in Poland at over 1000km with my QRP. 

I think my QRP FT8 is copied by troposcatter. FT8  is better than CW or SSB by some way, so I suppose this offsets the antenna gain and power.

It this is true at 2m, I would expect this is also true at 70cm and possibly 23cm.

Sunflowers

These are fun plants. I planted some seeds in the ground and a tray and about 7 are coming up and should soon be in flower.

UPDATE 1721z:   All these are now supported.

New rig? No.

Last year I put £1000 in a savings account. I expected to trade in my IC-705 for the FTX-1F.  To say I was shocked by both the high price and lack of features of the new Yaesu would be an understatement.

My thoughts turned to other rigs. I considered the FT710 (again) and the IC-7300, but decided I would gain very little: 4m is very quiet outside of the Es season and my IC-705 more than does all I need up to 70cms.

So, for now I have decided I do not need anything at all besides what I have.

Should ICOM do a true portable I might reconsider.