Burwell Museum and Windmill - NOT amateur radio

Our local windmill and museum (right next door!) is one of the very best local museums in the whole of the UK. It is open 11am-5pm every Thursday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until late October. It is huge and is spread over many buildings. It goes on and on! When my grandchildren can't go they cry. For a few hours out, it is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday June 25th 2017

Solar flux is little changed at 74 today. Sunspot number is 28. A=9 and K=2.

Windmill in summer - NOT amateur radio

This is the view up the lane to "our" 200 year old windmill. On the left is an ornamental cherry tree.

6m JT65

So far today on 6m JT65 transceive, there has been a lot of Es across Europe, but nothing further apart from EA8DRM (3015km) in the Canary Is.

UPDATE 1948z: AA4V (6544km) in South Carolina was spotted. Judging by other spots, I am pretty sure this is genuine.

Convolvulus - NOT amateur radio

This is often known as bind weed. In the garden it is a nuisance, but it has nice flowers and looks good in the wild as here.

Need for 472kHz antenna improvements

Although these days I am very dependent on help with antenna work because of my stroke, I very much hope I can try a better antenna on 472kHz WSPR this autumn and winter. I have been surprised how well the earth-electrode "antenna" works, but another 10dB ERP would be really worth trying. I have in mind a long-wire, which needs a support at the end of the bungalow. I also need a better earth system.

My homebrew transverter for 472kHz puts out about 12W. With a better antenna an ERP around 50-100mW should be possible. At the moment, my 472kHz ERP is around 5mW.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

Low storm risk

It is very unlikely my amateur radio activities will be interrupted by storms today. The nearest storms are way to the south. This morning we have had a few dark skies, but no rain.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=53.2284;x=-7.0347;z=4;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Virtual Amateur Radio

I have to confess, I have not tried "virtual" ham radio for many years. It is a poor substitute for the real thing. Even with my poor voice these days, the real thing offers so much more. Nonetheless, it will appeal to some, especially when HF conditions are poor.  I expect this will become more popular in the next few years. As it name implies, virtual ham radio uses the internet rather than the ionosphere as the medium of "propagation". If all you want is to chat, this may be for you.

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

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday June 24th 2017

Solar flux is 73 again today. Sunspot number is 22. A=5 and K=1. I am not currently on 10m, but there is Es already on 6m.

Rally this Sunday

25 JUNE 2017 : WEST OF ENGLAND RADIO RALLY

Cheese & Grain venue, Market Yard, Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE. Doors open from 10am to 2pm with admission priced at £3 for adults and children under 14 free. There will be inside & outside traders, free car parking, cafe, RSGB bookstall, accessible & facilities for disabled. Details from Shaun, G8VPG on 01225 873 098 www.westrally.org.uk

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/