• [G3XBM] 10m WSPR TX (500mW)

    From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 5 01:29:14 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

    Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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    10m WSPR TX (500mW)

    Posted: 04 Jul 2021 12:59 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/07/10m-wspr-tx-500mw.html


    When I am on 6m FT8, I keep forgetting that my 10m antenna is not in use!
    So, I am on 6m FT8 (2.5W) and 10m WSPR with the 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon.
    Much to my surprise I got 3 spots on my first transmission with the
    furthermost TF4X (1995km) on 10m WSPR. I shall leave the 10m WSPR TX
    running to see what other reports come in.UPDATE 1242z: Glad I went on! Now being spotted in South America with 500mW.
    UPDATE 1337z: Plenty of WSPR spots on 10m today.
    UPDATE 1534z: Spots today on 10m WSPR by 13 different stations with the furthermost FY5KE (7110km).
    UPDATE 1737z: 32 different stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today so far. Did someone say everyone now uses FT8? If so, they are
    wrong!! I like FT8, but have been blown away by the WSPR spots.
    UPDATE 2000z: My 500mW WSPR on 10m spotted by 42 stations today. See table.

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    6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 omni

    Posted: 04 Jul 2021 02:24 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/07/6m-ft8-with-25w-and-v2000-omni.html


    As the antenna and coax were faulty, I had not been on 6m for some weeks
    until just now. The FT8 slot on 6m is filled with Es stations from Europe.
    I am on TX too. I wonder who I shall work?
    Within a very short time (a few minutes) I had been spotted across Europe
    by 25 stations and I have spotted 55.

    UPDATE 1224z: 120 stations have spotted me and 2 QSOs. 225 stations
    spotted on 6m FT8 RX. When open, 6m Es is every bit as good as 10m in my
    view.
    UPDATE 1411z: 235 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX. 5T5PA (3791km) in Mauritania, West Africa, remains the best DX spotted on 6m FT8 RX although
    I see Caribbean and USA stations are being worked. As I said before on this blog, a decent beam antenna at a reasonable height could be worth 10dB over
    my station, which can be a big difference on some signals. It means signals that I cannot even detect become workable.
    UPDATE 1542z: Furthermost spotted today on 6m FT8 is A71AM (5138km)
    UPDATE 1744z: 412 stations spotted today on 6m FT8.
    Stations spotted today
    on 6m FT8 RXUPDATE 1922z: 530 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost PV8DX (7830km). On 6m TX FT8 (2.5W) I have been spotted by 212 stations with several QSOs around Europe.
    238 stations
    spotted my 2.5W
    6m FT8 TX today UPDATE 2122z: Spotted by 238 stations using 2.5W to the
    V2000 vertical omni antenna. The furthermost was a YU on RX in Niger, south
    of the Sahara (4200km). I was going to go QRT, but 6m is still wide open.

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    Sporadic E (Es) and wet string

    Posted: 04 Jul 2021 01:15 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/07/sporadic-e-es-and-wet-string.html


    At this time of year we get Es in the northern hemisphere. What amazes me
    is how strong signal can be. This is not always the case, but it is not uncommon to get S9+ signals with low power, even on FM. Es can be
    particularly effective on 10m and 6m. Often the season goes on into
    September. Very simple antennas can be effective. Yesterday I was happily decoding FT8 signals with my antenna wire on the ground on 10m. A dipole
    made of wire is perfectly adequate.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jan 29 10:24:03 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

    Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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    10m WSPR TX (500mW)

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10m-wspr-tx-500mw.html


    Since just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR QRP TX with the W5OLF
    beacon. So far, 3 unique stations spotted.
    Whenever I go on 10m WSPR QRP TX, I seem to get spotted by much the same stations. Local G4KPX always gets me if he is about as do a couple of
    stations in the Canary Is. Occasionally I get spotted in S.America. Rarely, others spot me.
    In the last solar peak I was copied across the planet. However, more people seem to have swapped to FT8 for weak signal communications. There is more
    10m WSPR than I was expecting though. If the 10m antenna is available, I go
    on 10m WSPR TX.

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    8m NoV - zzzzz

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 04:34 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/8m-nov-zzzzz.html


    A week ago I got an email from OFCOM saying someone was chasing my 8m NoV application submitted last October. 3 weeks after chasing them I have had
    no progress update - zzzzzz.
    If I was offering them £2M for a mobile phone licence I would have probably heard by return in October.
    How can you be impressed by such shabby customer service? In my working
    life I was told customers are our most important asset. Such service from
    OFCOM would (rightly) get someone the sack.

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    Optical beacon

    Posted: 28 Jan 2022 11:32 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/optical-beacon.html



    This photo shows my optical beacon built 10 years ago. I still have it.


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    160m FT8 RX in the last 12 hours

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 01:05 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/160m-ft8-rx-in-last-12-hours_29.html


    Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the non-resonant 10m antenna. In all
    499 stations were spotted, but fewer USA stations than I expected.


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    Sunspots - Saturday January 29th 2022

    Posted: 28 Jan 2022 11:12 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunspots-saturday-january-29th-2022.html


    Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 77. A=8 and K=4.

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    160m FT8 RX

    Posted: 28 Jan 2022 02:20 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/160m-ft8-rx_28.html


    This evening, I am on 160m FT8 RX using the 10m antenna. So far (at 2117z)
    355 stations spotted with the furthermost HS0ZNR (9696km).
    UPDATE 2220z: 428 stations spotted including 1 in the USA.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)