Chesterfield Islands

I have to confess I have no idea where these are and the callsign does not help. 

In a short while I shall look them up. This is a QSL card. 

UPDATE  1928z:  It's  in New Caledonia. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_Islands .

Brunch

Today was my University of the Third Age in Cambridge. Before it starts I have brunch.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1950z: 73 stations have spotted me today. See map by VK7JJ.

QRP CW

 

Recently, there was a 50mW CW QSO on 20m using this homemade TX. I forget who designed and built this.

Fog of war

The trouble with wars and conflicts is it impossible to tell who is telling the truth. Both sides in a conflict tend to invoke propaganda to show they are winning or have the upper hand.

Whatever a side says treat it with a degree of skepticism.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 4th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 171. A=5 and K=0. 

Public life

If you are in public life it must be hell. 

Your every move is looked at, photographed  and every little detail picked over. 

Recently, with the release of the Epstein files, several people in public life have found themselves in the public eye. Some of the revelations are eye watering.

Free Scrapbook PDF

This is a gentle reminder that my Project Scrapbook is available as a free PDF download on my main website. 

It is really a dump of my life in amateur radio and you might enjoy some of the projects.  I have had lots of fun and wish you can enjoy it too.

It is time I updated it as some of my recent things are not included!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book

Cambridge art gallery window

This painting was in the window yesterday. It captures the atmosphere. 

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at 0926z.

UPDATE 0940z:  2 stations spotting me (EA8 and OH)

UPDATE 1040z:  Spotted by 5 stations. See map by VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1236z: Spotted by 11 stations. With 6 spots so far, I have concluded that MO04SW is a Russian SWL.

UPDATE 1529z:   Spotted by 44 stations including many in North and South America. See map by VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1951z:   Spotted by 56 stations. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 3rd

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 131. A=6 and K=1.

Portable operation

Many get lots of pleasure from operating in the great outdoors. 

In some countries the Elecraft KH1 is popular. As far as I know, this is not sold in Europe including the UK. It is also very expensive. 

People have had great success on CW using just a small whip antenna on CW. I think it has a built-in auto ATU too. If you operate CW, it means you can be operational in a few seconds.

See https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-transceiver

Soon be spring

These aconites were seen at Anglesey Abbey a few days ago.

You want cheering up?

 

This was found earlier. After all this dull and wet weather in the UK we need cheering up!!

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Monday)

My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1634z:  44 stations have spotted me including North and South America.

UPDATE 1845z:   55 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Monday February 2nd

 Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 97. A=4 and K=2.

AI historical reconstructions

 AI sometimes gets a bad press.  

In the case of historical reconstruction videos some are very good. Occasionally the AI get things very wrong e.g. the reconstruction showing Edinburgh in the 1880s with British Railways engines post 1948!

On the whole I am very impressed.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on late morning.

UPDATE  1616z:  Spotted by 24 stations  See map.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon was turned on around breakfast.

UPDATE 2021z:  Spotted by 48 stations including quite a few in the USA. See map by Phil VK7JJ.

6m FT8 yesterday

Yesterday was quite a good day with spots by 49 stations across Europe spotting my 5W to the omni vertical. See map.