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  • [G3XBM] Oscar 100 activity update

    From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jan 31 09:48:13 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.space, uk.radio.amateur XPost: free.uk.amateur-radio

    Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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    Oscar 100 activity update

    Posted: 31 Jan 2022 06:08 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/oscar-100-activity-update.html



    Every few weeks I take a peek at the activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite by looking at the Goonhilly webSDR. This was at 1400z on a Monday. There were 6 SSB QSOs going on,
    which is better than the last time I looked. There is still plenty of space.

    See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .


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    Solar data update soon

    Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:58 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/solar-data-update-soon.html


    Usually on the first or second day of the month the solar data on my
    favourite solar data site is updated. Expect an update Tuesday or Wednesday. See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

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    10m FT8 QRP (Monday)

    Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:53 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10m-ft8-qrp-monday_31.html


    After a very brief period on TX at 2.5W (spotted by 2E0VDS), I am RX only.
    So far, 75 stations spotted including several in Australia.

    UPDATE 1352z: 483 stations spotted on RX. There is little doubt 10m is
    getting back into its stride as a great DX band with most of the world
    spotted.


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    Sunspots - Monday January 31st 2022

    Posted: 30 Jan 2022 11:13 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunspots-monday-january-31st-2022.html


    Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 70. A=10 and K=3.

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    10m WSPR TX beacon using 500mW

    Posted: 30 Jan 2022 01:37 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10m-wspr-tx-beacon-using-500mw.html


    At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX using 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So
    far, 4 unique stations have spotted me.
    UPDATE 1555z: 4 unique stations have spotted me.
    UPDATE 2130z: 6 unique stations spotted me with the furthermost W4WLO/B11 (7271km). Now QRT.

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    2m FT8 RX

    Posted: 30 Jan 2022 01:32 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/2m-ft8-rx.html



    Most of the morning I've been on 2m FT8 RX using the omni big-wheel
    antenna. So far, 24 stations spotted.
    UPDATE 1559z: 64 stations in 7 countries spotted.
    UPDATE 2030z: 91 stations spotted with the furthermost F1GTU (788km). I suspect some of these will be tropo, but I think some are scatter.
    UPDATE 2130z: 93 stations spotted on RX. A brief 2.5W TX was spotted by 6 stations with the furthermost G4LOH (455km) in Cornwall.

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    160m FT8 overnight

    Posted: 30 Jan 2022 12:21 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/160m-ft8-overnight.html


    214 stations spotted on RX overnight with the non resonant 10m antenna and
    just one in the USA.


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    Sunspots - Sunday January 30th 2022

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 11:32 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunspots-sunday-january-30th-2022.html


    Solar flux is 125 and the SSN 74. A=17 and K=3.

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    On 160m FT8 RX again

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 02:00 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/on-160m-ft8-rx-again.html


    This evening I again on 160m FT8 RX using the non-resonant 10m antenna.
    This clashes with a contest, so there is competition from CW stations.
    Despite this, lots of Europeans spotted so far.
    UPDATE 2200z: 149 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

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    FT8 versus WSPR

    Posted: 29 Jan 2022 07:53 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/ft8-versus-wspr.html


    Both these modes are part of the WSJT-X suite from Joe Taylor.
    WSPR needs about 6Hz of spectrum (not much) and 2 minutes for the most
    common form of WSPR. WSPR is really a beaconing mode.
    FT8 is a communications mode and needs about 50Hz with 15 second TX slots.
    WSPR works with signals much weaker than FT8. FT8 works with signals much weaker than SSB or CW.
    Both offer the minimum exchange of data and neither are "chatting" modes.
    As they work with very weak signals and need so little bandwidth they have
    been transformative in amateur radio. They are not instead of speech modes,
    but as well as.
    There are other modes also available in the free WSJT-X suite.
    Personally, I enjoy both modes, especially as my voice is poor since my
    2013 stroke.

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