Storms - gone QRT for now

We have just had a second hail storm and thunder, so I have disconnected all my amateur radio gear for now. The photo was taken through the window. It feels more like February than nearly May! According to the map, the storms are passing right over us.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en .

UPDATE 1513z: The storms seem to be moving away, but I shall probably stay off the air for a few hours, then return to 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1534z:  An internet friend has reported 5cm of snow in Vermont, USA.  I should stop moaning about the UK weather. :-)

Spring late? - NOT amateur radio

Hail on our front lawn

We had a very mild and wet winter followed by a cold spell in February and March. Here we are at the end of April with a wind from the north, 7 deg C, hail, and now thunder! We have had daffodils in flower since the end of November. The weather is crazy! Because of the storm risks, I have disconnected all my amateur radio gear.

There has just been another hail storm and the grass is white!

10m WSPR so far today

Just G stations spotting me and being spotted here.  

G4WSZ (11km) has copied me several times and G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted once, presumably with the aid of aircraft reflection.

Mount Athos (Greece)

Southgate News reports that there is now a second amateur operating from Mount Athos.

See https://www.qrz.com/db/sv2rsg .

Sunspots and 10m - Tues April 26th 2016

Solar flux is 81 today. This is gradually declining as we slide down the solar cycle. Sunspot number is 38 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation  remains "poor". As if to prove a point FR1GZ (9724km) in the south Indian Ocean was spotted yesterday on 10m WSPR. Yes, the band does open up on N-S paths briefly. Regular WSPR use proves it. We are also seeing the start of the Es season.

I have been on 10m WSPR (TX and RX) since before breakfast.

April 70cm UKAC results

In the AL section, I'm ranked 107th out of 122 entries this year even though I only submitted results for April alone.  Seeing how little time I was active (because of my poor voice), 5W QRP and a 2m halo antenna, I am quite pleased. If you look at just April I am ranked even higher. A far from a serious contester, I do like these VHF/UHF contests on Tuesday evenings as they do encourage SSB activity.

10m Short Skip

At last there was some short skip on 10m today with EA5CYA (1376km) copied here on 10m WSPR. I presume this was Es at teatime.

Alibris UK (what a surprise, NOT) - NOT amateur radio

Well, this must be a bargain! Yet again, they are offering "up to £20 off".

I must get at least 3 a week. Never, ever pay the full price as there is always a "never to be repeated" special deal. What a shower! They surely can't expect the world to be taken in?

See http://www.alibris.co.uk/ .

10m WSPR only from 1325z

At 1325z I switched from my 500mW W0LF TX only WSPR beacon to the FT817ND so I can run 2W and listen for 80% of the time.

So far today, no spots at all on 10m or 6m WSPR. There was no evidence here of short-skip on 10m.

At the moment I am only active on 10m WSPR. I shall return to 630m (472kHz) WSPR tonight.

UPDATE 1336z:   FR1GZ (9724km) has already been spotted here on 10m. This is F2 propagation.

Police and Crime Commissioner - NOT amateur radio

On May 5th we have elections locally for a new Police and Crime Commissioner. I have received no postal correspondence, haven't a clue who holds the post currently, and frankly don't care. I shall not vote as I feel I have no data on which to base my choice. What a shambles! The sad thing is this probably cost us all millions which could have been better spent.