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  • [G3XBM] 160m FT8 RX with the active antenna

    From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Thu Dec 30 21:17:34 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.equipment, uk.radio.amateur
    XPost: free.uk.amateur-radio

    Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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    160m FT8 RX with the active antenna

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 01:08 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/160m-ft8-rx-with-active-antenna.html


    As 6m and 10m seem to be dead now, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. I shall probably leave it running overnight. At 2011z, 70 stations spotted.
    UPDATE 2108z: 86 stations spotted on RX today.

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    Rally

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:51 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/rally.html


    As far as I know the Sparkford Wireless Group rally near Yeovil is still on this Sunday January 2nd. Contact the organiser to confirm.

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    Super DX by E layer

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 01:21 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/super-dx-by-e-layer.html


    Recently, there have been reports of DX contacts on 6m between New Zealand
    and South America. For as many late spring/early summers as I can remember there have been 6m VHF QSOs between western Europe and Japan. All these
    QSOs appear to be via E layer, but I think these are too far for multi-hop
    Es.

    My own theory is this is some sort of chordal hop E layer propagation. It always seems to be in late spring/early summer and is linked to noctilucent clouds which form in the mesosphere around this time (late June, early July
    in the northern hemisphere).
    I get the impression that these modes may well work at far higher
    frequencies, possibly even microwaves.
    See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .
    See also John's blog at https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .

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    10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 06:48 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/10m-wspr-qrp-tx-thursday-my-500.html


    For most of the day since breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my
    500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. At the moment the vast majority of spots are by
    EA8BFK (2880km) with a couple by local G4KPX (14km). I think the spots in
    the Canaries are single hop F2 as some are very strong.

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    ICOM IC-7300 transceiver

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 03:03 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/icom-ic-7300-transceiver.html


    Although you get the impression (I may be wrong) that all UK dealers have
    been instructed to hold the price, it looks like there are special "gifts" being given away with the intention of attracting buyers. This is a 100W
    HF, 6m and 4m SDR transceiver with auto ATU. It has (at last) some
    competition from Yaesu. It has proved very popular in the last few years.


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    6m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

    Posted: 30 Dec 2021 06:46 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/6m-ft8-qrp-thursday.html


    After a very brief period on TX (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna-
    no spots of me), I am now RX only. So far after about 15 minutes (it is now 1050z) just 1 G spotted on RX in the form of G3RIK (224km). No winter Es evident yet here.
    UPDATE 1446z: Just 3 G spots on RX.

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    Sunspots - Thursday December 30th 2021

    Posted: 29 Dec 2021 11:25 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/sunspots-thursday-december-30th-2021.html


    Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 79. A=7 and K=2.

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    6m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

    Posted: 29 Dec 2021 01:28 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/6m-ft8-qrp-wednesday.html


    At the moment I am on 6m FT8 RX. At first I was on QRP TX (2.5W to the
    V200 vertical with 1 spot by G0PQO (50km) and 1 G spot on RX.
    UPDATE 2126z: Mostly G stations spotted as well as OY and OZ stations that might have been Es.

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    10m WSPR QRP TX (Wednesday)

    Posted: 29 Dec 2021 05:59 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/12/10m-wspr-qrp-tx-wednesday.html


    As my 10m antenna was free, I am again on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the
    W5OLF beacon. I have been on since 0943z. So far, spotted by local G4KPX
    (14km) and EA8BFK (2880km).
    Yesterday I was spotted on 10m in the USA for the first time this solar
    cycle on WSPR.

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