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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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70cm activity contest

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 01:10 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/70cm-activity-contest.html


This was this evening, although I only stayed on for 28 minutes because of
my poor voice. As usual, I was using 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.
My biggest "get away" was a station on the south coast. In all, 4 QSOs were
had although many more would have been possible had I stopped on longer.

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160m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 01:43 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/160m-ft8-qrp-tuesday.html


Using 2.5W and the 10m end fed antenna, I was copied by 4 stations with the furthermost G4MSA (222km). On RX, 101 stations spotted at 2058z, with the furthermost 4X1UF (3513km).
UPDATE 2140z: 147 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX this evening.

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8m NoV application submitted October 2021

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/8m-nov-application-submitted-october.html


Still waiting any progress update from OFCOM. No email today, despite 2
emails from me in last 24 hours.

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ARRL National Convention

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 05:45 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/arrl-national-convention.html


As far as I know, this is still on. It is in Orlando, Florida, USA this Thursday. As always, check with organisers first before travelling far.
This may be of interest to people in the USA.
See http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo .

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10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 11:35 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/10m-ft8-qrp-tuesday.html


After a brief period with 2.5W TX, I am RX only. So far today (at 0924z)
just G6TUS (18km) spotting me and 15 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost 4I1EBC (10661km).
UPDATE 1217z: 261 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with the
furthermost VK8NSB (13781km).
UPDATE 1350z: 333 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX from all over the world. UPDATE 1520z: 387 stations spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1935z: 494 stations spotted. QRT soon.

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160m FT8 overnight

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 11:51 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/160m-ft8-overnight.html



307 stations spotted on RX on 160m FT8 overnight. The antenna was the 10m
end fed.


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Sunspots - Tuesday February 8th 2022

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 05:47 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/sunspots-tuesday-february-8th-2022.html


At the moment the usual site I get my solar data from seems to be offline.
I shall add numbers as soon as I can.
UPDATE 0930z: This site is still not responding. I shall try again later.
If it still fails, I shall have to find a new source of data. See https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/index.html . It seems the host site
dx.qsl.net is not working at the moment.
UPDATE 0938z: It looks like the NOAA site (where the data comes from?) is undergoing maintenance.
UPDATE 1214z: Well, the dx.qsl site is now working, but the best data is
2115z yesterday, not today. This is what follows.
Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 83. A=8 and K=2. Remember, this is late yesterday, not today.

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160m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 01:19 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/160m-ft8-qrp-monday.html


The 10m antenna turns out to have quite a reasonable SWR on 160m.
Just for fun, I tried a few CQs on 160m FT8 TX with this antenna and was spotted by 2E0VDS (30km) and G0BNR (37km).
On 160m FT8 RX 32 stations spotted by 1955z, after about 15 minutes!
UPDATE 2118z: 157 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX.

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10m WSPR TX (Monday)

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 11:24 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/10m-wspr-tx-monday.html


As usual, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW and the W5OLF beacon. So far just local spots of me by G4KPX (14km).
When not in use for other things like FT8, I use the 10m antenna for WSPR
TX.
UPDATE 1235z: 4 unique stations have spotted me today so far.
UPDATE 1923z: 5 unique stations have spotted me today. Now QRT.

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6m FT8 QRP (Monday)

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 11:25 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/6m-ft8-qrp-monday.html


After a very brief period on TX with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna, I am now on RX only.
So far, just one spot on TX by G0PQO (50km) and nothing yet on RX at 0957z. UPDATE 1326z: 5 stations spotted so far with the furthermost OZ5TG (738km). Judging by the strength (huge!), I suspect this was aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1735z: 14 stations spotted today.
UPDATE 1925z: QRT.

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4m reception

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 02:49 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/4m-reception.html


A local amateur has set up a personal beacon on 4m. He is about 3km away. I have no 4m antenna, so I tried reception with the V2000 vertical omni
antenna and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Good copy was possible despite
the power being only 10mW.
See https://soundcloud.com/user-250132188-848737928/g6alb-4m-beacon?si=94cf74a951194d67a176bca91d1caab9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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8m NoV- update this week?

Posted: 07 Feb 2022 01:51 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/8m-nov-update-this-week.html


It would be great to get an update on my 8m NoV application to OFCOM
submitted last October! It is now 4 weeks since I requested an update on progress.
My NoV application was submitted 4 months ago, and I have still been told nothing. The NoV (hopefully) ran from March 1st 2022, which is just a few
weeks away!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .
UPDATE 1925z: Nothing (again) today. Am I surprised? No. I have written
yet another letter requesting a progress update by return. If this was
private industry, someone would be accountable and either retrained or sacked."Dear xxxxOriginal case reference number xxxxxx - amateur licence G3XBMThe original NoV application was submitted in October 2021. 4 weeks
ago I requested an update, quite reasonably. I have heard absolutely
nothing at all on progress! As this NoV was for a limited duration, with
low power, intended to run from March 2022 (just weeks away) I am asking
(yet again) for a progress update.By return, please give me an update. "

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Improving HF conditions

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 11:22 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/improving-hf-conditions.html


For the next few years we can expect HF conditions to improve. Some days
will be poor but on average things will get better until about 2025. 10m
will be good again and we might even see some F2 openings on 6m. I hope you have fun! 😁😁

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Oscar 100 activity

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 11:22 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/oscar-100-activity.html



As regular blog readers know, I take a peek at activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. My last look was at 1545z on a Sunday. There were
a few QSOs ongoing, but things remain pretty quiet. I am sure the challenge
is that first QSO, then the interest wanes.

It is surprising this is not busier: I guess for most the effort is just
too hard. Many DXers just go out and buy a new rig and linear. Soldering
iron? Which end do I hold? RF - what is that? 😁
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb .

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Sunspots - Monday February 7th 2022

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 11:20 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/sunspots-monday-february-7th-2022.html


Solar flux is 124 and the SSN 83. A=15 and K=2.

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