UK Pound exchange rate with US Dollar - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the UK Pound is worth $1.39 which is the best for a year. Some experts were predicting £1 would be worth $1. Not so.

UPDATE 1555z: Currently $1.3959 to the UK Pound.

UPDATE 1950z: There is a chance the UK Pound will break through the $1.40 barrier. Against the Japanese Yen it has gained a lot at 1.55 Yen to the UK Pound. Not too long ago it was worth 1.36 Yen

Ghosts of monks - NOT amateur radio

Very many centuries ago this was the route taken by monks on their way to Ely Cathedral. It is The Causeway in Burwell, Cambs, UK. Today it is a tree-lined road with its fair share of cars. It would be wonderful to step back over those years and see those monks centuries ago.

136kHz WSPR RX last night

As an experiment, I tried 136kHz WSPR RX last night with my useless antenna and deaf (at LF) FT817. Well, it was a dismal failure with not a single spot!

I was not really expecting to spot anyone, but hoping nonetheless. There were very few this side of the Atlantic on TX and it was extremely unlikely I would copy any USA stations.

So, I tried and failed.

Sunspots - Monday January 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 68 and the sunspot number zero. A=10 and K=2.

136kHz WSPR RX

Even though my FT817 is deaf on this band and my antenna far from ideal, I was considering taking a peek at this band. Sadly, it looks like there are very few active TX stations in Europe. I know WSPRnet does not show unreported stations, but I think my chances of spotting anyone are slim. We'll see.

If I do go on, it will be the first time at this QTH and my first 136kHz outing for almost 5 years.

UPDATE 1718z: Well I am monitoring 136kHz WSPR RX. If I spot anyone it will be a miracle!

UPDATE 1852z: Nothing spotted.

Laid low - NOT amateur radio

For the last couple of days I have been suffering from a head cold. At the best of times I am usually giddy and exhausted, but at the moment I feel really unwell: a walk to the local shop this morning really did me in. A few days and I should be better.

I think this is a cold rather than flu. Plenty of lemon and honey!

Building site - NOT amateur radio

One of our local village pubs has been empty for years. Like many spaces in our village, it is going to be used for new houses. We moved here in 1975 when the village had 3 schools and about 4000 people. Now it has 1 school and a population of way over 6000. Signs of the times. Building work started last week.

10m FT8 RX

Although I have been on 10m FT8 RX since breakfast, nothing at all copied so far. I shall continue until this evening. 10m does throw up surprises!

UPDATE 1256z: Just 2E0XXO (121km) spotted so far on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1610z: F5IGF (547km) spotted.

UPDATE 1820z: no further spots,.The spots I got may have been aircraft reflections? I also see I spotted an OZ calling GD, but this did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps. Now on 136kHz WSPR RX.

Best night ever on 630m WSPR RX

Despite my unbelievably poor 472kHz setup, last night I spotted 18 unique stations on the band including 2 USA stations. WA4SZE (6802km) is the furthermost I have ever spotted on the band.  Running the shack PC off batteries makes a huge difference.

Sunspots - Sunday January 21st 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number zero. A=8 and K=2.