House Martins - NOT amateur radio

This year, we seem to have had plenty of swifts (now gone south) but fewer swallows and house martins. Mind you, we saw lots of house martins (100+ ?) at Castle Acre yesterday. A few more weeks and these will be off too.

The house martins were in the air and resting on the roof on the left. I hope you can make them out in the photo. You may have to click the photo.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/h/housemartin/

Sunspots - Saturday August 26th 2017

Solar flux is 81 today and the sunspot number 39. A=5 and K=1.

Rally on Bank Holiday Monday

28 AUGUST 2017 : HUNTINGDONSHIRE ARS RALLY
Ernulf Academy, Barford Road, St Neots PE19 2SH. Doors open at 7am for traders and 9am for the public. Admission is £3 with free parking. Catering including hot meals and drinks are available on site. There will be an RSGB bookstall. More from Malcolm, M0OLG on 01480 214 282 or by email to events@hunts-hams.co.uk

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

6m FT8 RX

After a rather disappointing evening on 472kHz WSPR with just PA3ABK/2 (306km) spotted, I have returned to 6m FT8 RX. So far, 3 stations spotted - a couple of Gs and one station in northern France. The latter could well have been aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 2125z: Quite a good Es day as the photo shows. Surprisingly good really.

Back on 472kHz WSPR RX

I have moved to 472kHz WSPR RX having been on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX most of the day. Last evening results were far better than I expected on MF with my compromise antenna.

UPDATE 2015z: Just PA3ABK/2 (306km) spotted so far.

Rally this Sunday

27 AUGUST 2017 : MILTON KEYNES ARS RALLY.
The Irish Centre, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley MK2 2HX (opposite Dobbies) Doors open at 10am. Contact is Tim Cowell, G6GEI on 07976 262 497 or email renegade62@hotmail.co.uk

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

Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk - NOT amateur radio

Castle Acre is a jewel. It is an oasis of calm. The priory there dates back to Norman times, but was sacked in the reign of King Henry VIII.

Sadly, many of the world's treasures have been lost forever by the people of today thinking they know best. However much we may hate some things, we have no right to destroy them. They should remain so that future generations can make up their minds, not have them decided for them.

Last evening on 630m WSPR RX

Well, I was amazed. My antenna was just the feeder to my 2m big-wheel with a mains earth. In all 7  unique stations were spotted with the best DX EA5DOM (1525km). And this was despite my S8 noise floor!

Sunspots - Friday August 25th 2017

Solar flux is 80 today and the sunspot number 43. A=11 and K=1.

6m MSK144 (50.280MHz)

As the Es season is drawing to a close, I am monitoring 6m MSK144. So far this morning, just EA1YV (1320km) spotted.