10m QRPP WSPR (Monday)

 My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR is on again.  No spots.

40.680 MHz QRPP WSPR

My dipole for 8m has still to be replaced, but I am again on 40.680 MHz QRPP WSPR under ISM rules. My power is 10mW ERP.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

7 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR yesterday with the furthermost the north of Scotland.

Wells market last week - NOT amateur radio

 

This colourful display was in Wells market last week.

10m QRPP yesterday

 

People spotting my
500uW 10m WSPR yesterday 

Yesterday was a great day on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW) with some Es around. 

Based on these results, this tiny QRPP power should be copied across Europe when Es is good.

Map courtesy of Phil VK7JJ at WSPR Rocks!

Sunspots- Monday April 29th

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 119. A=6 and K=1.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Sunday)

 

So far today my 500uW has been spotted by 2 stations (see table).

8m - more and more countries on TX

Yesterday a club station in Malawi was reported to be TXing on the 8m band. Several countries have issued experimental licences for the band. Some stations, where the licencing authority is rather poor, have come on the band illegally.

What is becoming clearer and clearer is that more and more countries are supportive of research at 8m. 

It seems odd to me that places like the USA and UK seem so backward on research at 8m. Just a 5kHz slot with limited power by NoV or equivalent, narrow digital only, with no interference created is surely not too much to ask?

Why the negativity?

Xiegu G106 price reduction

Steve G1KQH has pointed out that MLS has significantly reduced the price of this 5W SDR based HF rig. 

It was good value before, but even better value now. I can see many people buying this. Yaesu and ICOM must be seriously worried. Even I am tempted! 

If the quality is good this is a serious player much like the Yaesu FT817 was nearly a quarter of a century ago.

It is my view that within 5 years the Chinese will be very important in the amateur radio market. At the next sunspot peak, it would not surprise me at all to see Chinese products becoming far more common than Japanese. If they are to survive in the amateur radio market, I can see the likes of Yaesu and ICOM designing in Japan, but manufacturing elsewhere where costs are lower.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/g106 .

See also https://www.cqxiegu.com/ .

Wells last week - NOT amateur radio

Last week we had a few days in Bristol and went to Wells on Wednesday. 

The photo shows part of the moat around the Bishop's Palace.