Sunspots and 10m - Sunday March 12th 2017

Solar flux is 69 today and the sun is spotless yet again. A=6 and K=2.

Although I am not expecting great things on 10m, it has a habit of throwing surprises so I shall be on 10m WSPR all day.

Activity today 10m WSPR and 6m JT65

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m WSPR (100% TX, randomised) and 6m JT65 (2W). No spots as yet on either band.

UPDATE 1202z:  Still no spots here on either 6m or 10m.

UPDATE 1540z: Still no spots on either band. Soon be time to QSY bands/mode?

UPDATE 1620z: I have given up as nothing on either band all day today. I have now QSYed to 40m WSPR (2W) although my antenna is very low on that band. For some reason my earth-electrode "antenna" did not want to match on 160m or 80m.

Buying books on the internet - NOT amateur radio

At Christmas, I bought my wife a lovely hardback book filled with colour photos called " English Cathedrals" by Simon Jenkins. I bought it at a Cambridge bookshop where it cost me £30.

The book was a great success so my wife wanted another copy for her brother's birthday. A quick check on Amazon where the very same hardback book was less than £9! It now retails at just over £20 on Amazon. We bought it at less than £9 and it came a few days later.

How can local bookshops survive? We are as guilty as anyone. We see a bargain and grab it.

It is sad as I love browsing bookshops. Maybe the long-term answer is a bit like John Lewis? Browse in stores and buy (increasingly) online? I do not see the future high streets, but the retail trade will change in the future: fewer shops and more cafes? Whoever gets this right will be king. Amazon now, but who will succeed in the years ahead?

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Englands-Cathedrals-Simon-Jenkins/1408706458/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489312522&sr=8-1&keywords=english+cathedrals+simon+jenkins

12W handheld? - no thanks!

Considering the small difference (in range) between 2W and 12W and the very real danger (allegedly) of 12W next to the head and eyes I have no wish to buy a 12W handheld.  Even working professionally on 5W pep PAs I regularly had dry eyes.

Amateur Radio Weekly reports on a Chinese 3 band 12W handheld.

E-Field Probes

Some years ago (in the days when I was fit and well) I tried these compact receive only antennas on 137kHz and higher bands. They work on the principle that S/N matters more than absolute sensitivity, especially on lower bands when external noise is the limiting factor rather than rig noise figure. I recall using an EFP mag mount on the car and driving around picking up my QRSS3 signal on 137kHz at 24km (still a decent signal even with very very low ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  Having great success, I gave up and came home! Just a small whip, very very low TX ERP and 137kHz.  These really work!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/137efp .

Primroses - NOT amateur radio

Every autumn we plant primroses outside our house at the front. These give colour all through winter and look great. Apart from the occasional dead heading, they need very little attention.  We later replace these with small begonias.

Wild primroses are creamy whereas those from the garden centre are in a variety of bright colours. Perhaps these are nuked?

10m JT65 transceive

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m JT65 again (2W). As yet, no spots, but things could well change.

UPDATE 1255z:  No 10m JT65 spots today so far.

UPDATE 1832z:  Still no 10m JT65 spots all day.

Spring - NOT amateur radio

It is starting to feel a bit like spring here. On average, temperatures are milder and there are stirrings in the garden with fresh buds appearing.

Daffodils, that were late, are now everywhere. Another few weeks and it really will be spring again. When the clocks change to BST and the African migrant birds return it really will be spring.

Some people hate fields of yellow rape, although to me it is a sign of warmer days. I like to see this crop.

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday March 11th 2017

Solar flux is 70 and yet again the sun is spotless. A=12 and K=2.

6m MSK144

HB9Q (794km) was spotted before breakfast on 6m MSK144, although I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 transceive.