Simple pleasures - NOT amateur radio

This morning we went to the Kent coast with 2 of our grandchildren enjoying simple pleasures such as hunting in rock pools.

IC7300 book

The RSGB bookshop is now stocking a new book about the IC7300. This is a popular radio with many.

European elections - NOT amateur radio

The results are out and as expected the Conservative party has done very badly with the Liberal Democrats coming second. This shows how divided the country is over BREXIT.

Sunspots - Monday May 27th 2019

Solar flux is 66 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=3.

European elections - NOT amateur radio

Later today when every country has voted we may get the first results of the European elections. In the UK the main political parties are expected to do badly.

Meteor showers

Southgate News has details of an upcoming meteor shower. At peak times the ionised trails support brief VHF propagation. Random meteors support such propagation but openings are far less frequent.

Sunspots - Sunday May 26th 2019

Solar flux is 67 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Solar cycle 25

At the moment experts seem to have differing views on the next cycle. Some people think we have passed solar minimum whilst others think we are still falling. At the moment it is hard to judge.

See https://www.weather.gov

Early 6m Es again

When I looked earlier there was widespread Es on 6m at 0845z, which is early. I can't wait until the band really opens up to long distance E layer DX.

Most July JAs come through to western Europe on 6m. I have a theory this is due to mesospheric E layer ionisation due to noctilucent clouds that form at this time of the year.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/noctilucent

Sunspots - Saturday May 25th 2019

Still rubbish!

Solar flux is just 66 and the sunspot number 0. A=5 and K=1.