Lightning risks

At the moment in the UK, the lightning seems to be in Wales and the north of England according to the lightning map. Of course, things can change quite quickly. If the risk increases, everything gets disconnected.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 was turned on at 0830z. 3 UK spots so far. No RX spots yet.

UPDATE 0844z:  6 UK stations have spotted me. No Es here.

UPDATE 1040z: 21 stations have spotted me. There is Es about. Several stations now spotted on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1720z: 84 spots of my 2.5W FT8 from all over Europe. 

Time to update the rig?

Wondering about upgrading my rig, but can't get on with these new fangled things, HI. 

Back in 2012

This was a few years before my stroke. It shows me working on a new 472kHz transverter in the back of the garage in our old house. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 15th 2023

Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 141. A=20 and K=2.

G3XBM Project Scrapbook - Issue 5

My free PDF "G3XBM Project Scrapbook"  is now at issue 5.  I hope to update all links to it.

If you spot errors, please tell me soon.

Pass it on - NOT amateur radio

This was one of my FaceBook memories from 2021. It means a lot to me. We are here for just a short time really.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

As my 8m antenna system is faulty, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 antenna. The gear was turned on at 0850z.  Already spotted by CT1IUA (1814km) in S.Portugal so there is some Es about.

UPDATE 0916z:  Plenty of Es spots of my QRP from Portugal and Spain. Nothing yet on RX, which is surprising.

UPDATE 0939z: Still the same 10 stations spotting my 2.5W on TX and just G3RIK (224km) spotted on RX. Disappointing on RX.

UPDATE 1045z:  5 UK stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 14 stations (G, CT and EA).

UPDATE 1321z:  Still 14 stations spotting my 2.5W QRP FT8 and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. All these on RX were in the UK.

UPDATE 2026z:  24 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today. Now QRT.

Old work colleagues - NOT amateur radio

 

Every month some old work colleagues meet up for a meal at a different place in the area. Last night, we met up in Ely.

Sunspots - Friday July 14th 2023

 Solar flux is 203 and the SSN 146  A=7 and K=3.