2m UKAC this evening

Luckily I got an email reminder! In the UK, Monday was a public holiday and I feel a day out. Tonight from 8pm UK clock time the 2m activity contest takes place. This is organised by the RSGB and activity levels are usually good.

Normally I manage about an hour or less because of my poor voice. I use 5W and a big-wheel antenna.

UPDATE 2040z: I tried a "wait and pounce" approach, but waited a very long time for my first QSO. In all, 7 QSOs in 5 QTH squares. Best DX was the Peak District.

Needless packaging - NOT amateur radio

It really annoys me when supermarkets "go overboard" and package things far more than is needed. There is an online petition aimed at stopping this. Sign if you feel the same way. In years gone by we managed, so why not now?

See https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-stop-supermarkets-from-selling-raw-fruit-and-veg-in-plastic-packaging?recruiter=32433470&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=des-lg-share_petition-no_msg .

Optical Communications

It is some years (before my stroke in 2013) that I last tried seriously with optical communications using red LEDs that I bought at low cost via eBay. These days, I expect a google will bring up lots of links. This is a fun branch of our hobby, with very low costs and lots of homebrewing. This is a branch of the hobby I'd like to try again. There is much to learn.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical .

10m JT65 again

After some Es yesterday and some 10m DX from Brazil, I am back on 10m JT65 this morning. No spots so far, but it is quite early.

UPDATE 0935z: Some Es already on 10m JT65 with DF4WQ (596km) already spotted this morning.

UPDATE 1534z: No more Es seen here since early this morning. I shall stay with 10m JT65 for several hours still. Es often has a second peak around teatime, although I do not know why.

UPDATE 1720z: Still no further 10m JT65 spots here.

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday May 2nd 2017

Solar flux is 74 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=2.

On yer bike - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live at the end of a quiet Close with no through traffic. It is ideal for our grandchildren to play outside. We always watch over them.

Ferrite rod antennas on TX

It is some years since I tried this, but I remember being surprised how well this worked. As long as the ferrite is not saturated, a ferrite rod will work on TX. I tried it on WSPR with the antenna just on the shack table. Of course, WSPR works well.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/ferrite_tx

Sunspots and 10m - Monday May 1st 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 33. A=6 and K=0. 10m? Who knows. With undisturbed conditions we might see some N-S DX.  Es should also start to get more commonplace in the northern hemisphere.

10m JT65

Rather later than normal, I am on 10m JT65 today (2W) in beacon mode sending "B G3XBM JO02" every minute. So far just G4CJC (73km) in IO91xp square spotted. This is inside the M25 north of London.

UPDATE 1434z: Spots exchanged with G0LRD (25km) but no real DX on 10m today here.

UPDATE 1500z: My best DX today on 10m JT65 is a spot of me by IZ2ODN (1095km).

UPDATE 2020z:  PU9DCB (9884km) was copied on 10m JT65. Real DX and quite late!

Nests - NOT amateur radio

We have (at least) 2 birds nesting. A robin has decided to build a nest in a nest-box (see above) I installed last year. There is also activity in our loft, which may be a blackbird's nest. I suspect there are also nests in our hedges. We see lots of blackbirds and robins.

UPDATE 1900z: Although there are swifts and cuckoos about near here, I have not managed to see any in April.