As far as I know these rallies are ON this Sunday. As usual, please check with the organisers before setting out.
- Caister Lifeboat Rally
- Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
As far as I know these rallies are ON this Sunday. As usual, please check with the organisers before setting out.
Maybe people are using different modes or it is still too early in the season, but the impression I have is there are plenty of monitors on WSPR RX, but fewer people on TX. Usually I am on QRP WSPR TX, but am not yet.
It is obvious that when Amazon recommends purchases, it looks at your past buying history. Having just bought something, why would you buy it again? When I get an email with recommendations it is usually binned with other rubbish.
It is now 0740z. I have been on 10m FT8 (QRP) for about 10m. I briefly was on TX with 2.5W. So far, no spots received or given.
UPDATE 0836z: 3 spots received from other stations. 2 look like Es. This re-enforces, to me, that there is still Es about, but there is far less and it is more sporadic. In these situations FT8 (and probably FT4) can be useful. Signals have certainly been strong so the shorter duration of FT4 might catch more, even shorter, openings? I have never tried FT4.
UPDATE 1722z: 20 stations spotted. IS0AWZ was spotted at an incredible +18dB S/N.
UPDATE 1816z: 21 stations spotted with the furthermost PY2XB (9599km) in Brazil.
UPDATE 2015z: Loads of South American stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX this evening. In all, 57 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. You get the feeling 10m is becoming a serious DX band again after a few relatively quiet years.
Spooky!
The other day I mentioned Schottky diodes in a post. Today I notice the adverts on Amazon are for Schottky diodes from one of the suppliers I visited! Obviously targeted ads.
Just 2 unique stations spotted on RX last evening, both in Germany. Disappointing.
UPDATE 0730z: Doh!! It helps if you connect the correct antenna! The above were with the 10m antenna connected by mistake! I shall try again this evening to see how I get on - this time with the correct antenna!
My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1910. So far, spotted by just G6AVK (78km).