Living where we do, forecasting the UK weather is a thankless task.
Every few hours, it seems, the Met Office, complete with its super-computers, satellites, radiosondes and remote weather stations needs to change the forecast. Personally, it seems the only reliable forecast is to look out of the window and see if it is raining!
We have friends over for lunch today and the forecast has changed so many times this week as to be totally useless. The only reliable thing you can say about UK weather forecasts is they are likely to be wrong and never, ever, plan an outdoor event on the basis of a UK weather forecast.
Yes, I know we are at a complex point where weather systems meet, but please let us not pretend we can forecast. Clearly we cannot. Chaos theory reigns!
UPDATE 1140z: Guess what? The forecast has changed yet again for early afternoon!
2 Feb 2018
Shack PC not charging
After being a bit worried, all is now well. To reduce noise I have been running the shack PC on its internal batteries when trying to receive on 136 and 472kHz. For some reason, the internal batteries refused to charge.
I left the PC on mains power and see it was part way through (yet another) Windows 10 update. This has now fully installed and the batteries seem to be charging OK now. So I put this mystery down to the (partial) update. Why does Windows 10 seem to have updates so often? I thought it was meant to be wonderful?
As the battery was so flat I cannot go on 136 or 472kHz until this evening.
I left the PC on mains power and see it was part way through (yet another) Windows 10 update. This has now fully installed and the batteries seem to be charging OK now. So I put this mystery down to the (partial) update. Why does Windows 10 seem to have updates so often? I thought it was meant to be wonderful?
As the battery was so flat I cannot go on 136 or 472kHz until this evening.
630m and 2190m RX
Last night I did not go on LF or MF as my shack PC was playing up. I intend to go on 136kHz WSPR RX and 136kHz OPERA RX tonight. I need my shack PC on battery power otherwise noise is chronic.
UK Pound versus Japanese Yen - NOT amateur radio
Why has the UK Pound appreciated so much against the Japanese Yen? At the moment it is over 156 Yen to the UK Pound. Not too long ago it was the low 120s Yen to the UK Pound. That is a lot of difference.
Every day, it swings quite widely, but I find this, and the dramatic appreciation, hard to understand. On the face of it, goods made in Japan should get less expensive in the UK.
Perhaps an economist can explain what is going on?
Every day, it swings quite widely, but I find this, and the dramatic appreciation, hard to understand. On the face of it, goods made in Japan should get less expensive in the UK.
Perhaps an economist can explain what is going on?
Sunspots - Friday February 2nd 2018
Time seems to rush by! Already it is the second day of February. In the evening it is an hour later getting dark compared with mid December. Even the mornings are noticeably lighter.
Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.
DX on 10m is now much harder to find, but with FT8 it is still there on many days. In the last week, South Americans have been spotted several times on 10m FT8, even with my useless 10m antenna. Never give up! For several years it is going to be "challenging".
Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 0. A=4 and K=1.
DX on 10m is now much harder to find, but with FT8 it is still there on many days. In the last week, South Americans have been spotted several times on 10m FT8, even with my useless 10m antenna. Never give up! For several years it is going to be "challenging".
1 Feb 2018
EU sour grapes? - NOT amateur radio
Although I voted to remain a member, I detect a note of "sour grapes" on the part of the EU. Do I detect a note of bitterness that the UK will no longer pay some of the budget?
It seems perfectly reasonable to me that the UK wants the same policy to apply to all people who wish to live and work in the UK irrespective of the nation they come from.
It also seems quite reasonable that we would want to start work on trade deals whilst we are in the transition period.
No, I am beginning to detect an air of "sour grapes" on the part of the EU. In the end I think the EU will regret this.
All we really wanted was more control over who lives and works here on this small island. We will still trade with EU nations and others as we choose.
It seems perfectly reasonable to me that the UK wants the same policy to apply to all people who wish to live and work in the UK irrespective of the nation they come from.
It also seems quite reasonable that we would want to start work on trade deals whilst we are in the transition period.
No, I am beginning to detect an air of "sour grapes" on the part of the EU. In the end I think the EU will regret this.
All we really wanted was more control over who lives and works here on this small island. We will still trade with EU nations and others as we choose.
Sub 9kHz amateur radio
Surprisingly, large antennas are not needed for receive and all the software you need is free.
This is one of the true frontiers in our hobby and access is easier and far less expensive than you might think. A perfectly fine RX setup can be made for a few cups of coffee in a café.
Most activity is just below 8.3kHz, which remains unallocated in many countries.
See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/
Help with nests - NOT amateur radio
One of the joys of an English spring is seeing the world "come alive" again with fresh green leaves, blossom and birds singing. We can help birds by making sure they have a variety of things for nest building in our gardens. OK, it is only February, but the signs are there.
See https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/homesforwildlife/b/gardeningforwildlife/archive/2018/01/26/helping-birds-build-a-happy-home.aspx#utm_source=notesonnature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb18
See https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/homesforwildlife/b/gardeningforwildlife/archive/2018/01/26/helping-birds-build-a-happy-home.aspx#utm_source=notesonnature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=feb18
Bill Bryson books - NOT amateur radio
If you like travel books try Bill Bryson. There is a laugh on every page. They are light-hearted and he is very perceptive. He has a dry sense of humour that appeals to my small brain.
It is probably 20 years since I read, "Notes from a Small Island" (about the UK) and I have certainly forgotten it. So, I ordered a copy from Amazon for 1p plus postage. It came today (hardback) and I have already started it. These books are so funny.
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