Sunspots - Saturday December 6th

 Solar  flux is 206 and the SSN 133.  A=13 and K=4.

Oscar 100

MLS, one of the large UK distributors, is selling the DX Patrol Ground Staion for QO-100. I guess you have to add a GPS external reference, a LNB, a dish and a TX antenna.  

Probably you would still get change from £2k, which is less than the cost of many HF transceivers, a linear and a beam on a tower plus rotator. I guess operators now have confidence in this after many years.

The advantages are many.  The dish is small, fixed and no HF rig is needed. Within the footprint of the satellite DX is always available and without QSB. In many ways I am quite surprised many DXers have not gone for this option already.

I prefer experimentation.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ if you want to take a peek.

Incidentally, I heard recently about someone in the UK working a German station who was mobile on Oscar 100!! I think the station in the car was listening on the webSDR but using the 2.3GHz uplink to the satellite.

I suppose a low(er) cost option is to make or buy a TX transverter and helix and listen on the webSDR.

10m 2W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 1245z 

UPDATE 1330z: So far, 59 stations have spotted me. 

Really low cost kit

Steve G1KQH has brought to my attention a very low cost SSB/CW 40m kit from India. It really is exceptional value. 

As a club project you can even buy 5 kits (yes five kits!!) for $150 total. Individual kits are just $39.

See www.hfsignals.com  .

Friday plans

 Probably I shall go on 10m 2W FT8 later.

Dark breakfast!

In the UK early mornings are dark. Our grandson stays with us on Thursday night as he has an early start on Friday and relies on me to get him up although so far he has been very good for an 18 year old. Thankfully things get better after Christmas.

Sunspots- Friday December 5th

 Solar flux is 220 and the SSN 165. A=32 and K=3.

10m 2W FT8 (Thursday)

 

At about 1830z I QSYed from 8m and instead went on 10m FT8 with 2W. 

UPDATE  2021z:  10 stations have spotted me with the best PU2YFR (9602km). Now QRT.

Future plans

Already, I am thinking about 2026. Sunspots and solar activity should still be good although declining. 

My instincts are to go mainly on 10m QRP FT8, although I shall go on 6m FT8 in which case I shall go on 10m WSPR wth my 500mW beacon that does not need the PC at the same time. 

Still tempted by 8m, TX,  although I think most of the activity would be in the Es season. If I was to reapply for a TX permit, I would time it to coincide with the Es season, so leave any new application until late March, so the permit would be in place in time for the Es season. I may decide not to bother.

2m activity contest (December)

Although I cannot stop on long because of my poor voice, I try to come on the 2m UKAC sessions with my 10W SSB to the big-wheel omni antenna. I only worked a couple of stations in the short time I was on, although I am sure many more would have been worked had I stopped on longer.