Sunspots - Tuesday May 7th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 148. A=15 and K=2. 

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 No great DX but 7 stations spotted my 10mW ERP overnight.

8m or 6m 10mW WSPR?

My intention was to try 8m WSPR with 10mW with ISM rules but I was concerned by the lack of monitors on 8m. 

Then it occurred to me that I could try 10mW WSPR on 6m instead during the Es season and be assured of a reasonable number of monitors.

If it works on 6m it would work on 8m in the ISM band. So, my proposal is to try 10mW WSPR on 6m instead of 8m knowing that if it works on 6m it would work licence free on 8m.

630m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at about 1845z. So far, 2 stations have spotted me.

York - NOT amateur radio

We like the city of York. It has many narrow and very old streets and a magnificent minster. It also has a famous railway museum. The photo shows the railway station in a photo recently posted by a friend on 365project. The approach to the railway station is currently being changed.

See https://visityork.org/ .

10m 10mW WSPR (Monday)

There is some Es about, although I have not been spotted yet with my 10mW.  The impression is this is not yet at the intensity to regularly support QRPP WSPR.

UPDATE 1730z:  No spots of me. It would appear EA8BFK (2880km) is either not monitoring or my signal is too weak.

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This is a very old National Trust piece of land. In the UK, members can visit any National Trust property for free. Others pay an entry fee. NT properties include old houses, clifftops and other land of interest. It is a great resource.  I think Wicken Fen was the first NT property in the country. We visited here on Saturday. 

We heard lots of cuckoos. Cuckoos like reed warbler nests - there are plenty!  Cuckoos are often heard and not seen.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/cuckoo .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

With spots of my 2.5W 6m QRP FT8 to the vertical omni antenna from Germany 🇩🇪 , France and Denmark already, there looks like Es is about.

UPDATE 1131z:  23 spots of me. Plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1653z:  34 spots of my QRP so far today. See map.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

8 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight . No great DX, but better than I expected really.

Sunspots - Monday May 6th

 Solar flux is 177 and the SSN 152. A=12 and K=2.