Sunspots - Friday April 3rd

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 152. A=43 and K=4.

10m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

My 10m FT8 was turned on at about 1050z.

UPDATE 1513z: 132 stations have spotted me this afternoon.

UPDATE 1639z:  139 stations have spotted me including Brazil, Thailand and South Africa. See map.

Back to the moon

So Artemis 2 has blasted off to go around the Moon. It seems incredible that the last time humans went there was 1972, not long after I started work.

I have mixed feelings. Clearly many are excited that humans are again venturing into space and this could be a stepping stone to Mars. 

On the other hand the vast amounts of money could have been invested in the real challenges of climate change, which unlike certain leaders in the USA, I believe to be very real and a threat to humankind in the years ahead.

King's, Cambridge, UK across the meadow

As mentioned yesterday, about now is good in Cambridge with few students and visitors. 

The photo shows the world famous King's College Chapel across the meadow. 

There are often cattle in this field.

Just out of view is room K6, which I went to for a meeting when I first came to Cambridge in 1970.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on a few minutes ago.

UPDATE 0820z:  Spotted by 4 stations with the best GW7SMV (242km).  

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE  0816z:  Just spotted by a station in Greece so far.

The windmill next door

This fully restored 200 year old windmill really is right next door.

At a guess, it is about 10m from our kitchen. We can see it having breakfast and from the lounge. 

The sails turn around only on special occasions and sound then like a creaking ship! 

20m FT8 RX (Wednesday and early Thursday)

Since about 1915z last evening I have been on 20m FT8 RX. My antenna is totally unsuitable being an end-fed that hardly matches on 20m and is probably far too low.

UPDATE 0809z: 2 stations spotted. The noise floor on 20m is S9+. Now QRT on 20m FT8.

Sunspots - Thursday April 2nd

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 130. A=8 and K=4.

10m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

 Although I am mostly FT8 RX, I was briefly on 10m 5W FT8 TX at about 1105z.

UPDATE 1117z:  On 5W 10m FT8 TX, spotted by 3 stations and on 10m FT8 RX 12 stations spotted here.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My beacon was turned on at breakfast.

UPDATE 1003z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.

Spring colour

The Backs (literally the backs of the colleges in Cambridge,UK) are a feast of colour in spring. 

This is the very best time of year with new growth and new hope.

Many colleges back on to the River Cam.

Cambridge late March

At this time of year it is usually quieter here as the university has gone down and there are fewer visitors. The photo shows the back of King's with the River Cam.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 1st

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 133. A=7 and K=3.

My war

It would appear that the world is entering recession, has higher fuel costs and Iran will emerge stronger and the USA weaker.

Iran is considered an evil state, but if a war is undertaken it is wise to think about how it might end.

WSPR versus FT8

It is now about 3 months since I got my 10m QDX-M FT8 transceiver and the Zachtek 200mW WSPR TX. Much to my surprise, I am getting more fun from the WSPR beacon than the FT8 transceiver.

There are more people (I think) using FT8, but overall I find 10m WSPR more fun. Most days on WSPR my 200mW gets spotted at amazing distances.

How to win friends

 This was a quote from the BBC website. I will let you guess who said it!!

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8jke9v9xv9t  .

Economic emergency

 It is clear that the war against Iran is having consequences across the planet.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0750z. 

UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2001z: 7 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

In all yesterday I was spotted by 5 stations. 

See map from WSPR Rocks by VK7JJ. 

The spots from the German research base in Antarctica seem almost daily.