Rallies postponed or cancelled

The best advice seems to be assume all rallies are postponed or cancelled at the moment. I have just received this.

Again apologies if the white background renders this hard to read, but this is how I got this news.


Saturday 4 APRIL : POSTPONED

23RD ANNUAL GMDX CONVENTION. King Robert Hotel, Whins of Milton, Stirling FK7 0LJ GMDX AGM, lectures and card checking. See www.gmdx.org.uk.


Sunday 5 APRIL : CANCELLED

YEOVIL ARC QRP CONVENTION. Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open 9.30am to 2pm, admission is £3 (regrettably no dogs except guide dogs). The event is supported by the RSGB, RAFARS and BYLARA. There will be club stands as well as new and 2nd hand stalls. Two talks are scheduled during the day; Getting aerials to radiate well by Rob, G3MYM and The Hentenna by Dave, G3ZXX. Refreshments will be available on site. Bob Harris, G8UED wjh069@gmail.com or secretary@yeovil-arc.com [http:// Yeovil-arc.com].

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

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a walk around the village. We went to the far end of the village and probably covered about 3.5 miles.

Winter colour

Every winter we plant winter flowering pansies and primroses to give a bit of colour. Now are into the spring we shall have to think about plants for the spring and summer. Not sure how we will manage this year.

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

For a little while, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with the tiny indoor loop antenna. At the moment just G4KPX (14km) spotting me (4 spots so far at 0919z). Drift is quite high, but getting better,  probably as both my beacon and his RX are settling.

UPDATE 1235z: So far today just spots by G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT.

2m FT8

Once again, I am on 2m FT8 using 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. So far (to 0912z) 5 stations have spotted me with the best DX being 2 stations in north Devon.

UPDATE 1230z: So far 21 stations in 5 countries have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1430z:  Now 30 stations in 6 countries have spotted my 10W FT8 to the big-wheel omni today.

UPDATE 2120z: Now QRT.  In all, 52 stations spotted my 10W in the last day on 2m FT8 TX with with the most distant being SM0MDG (1364km) in Sweden.

Solar forecast update

My favourite site for solar forecasts has been updated.  It still showa we have just passed the minimum.  See www.solen.info/solar

Reading material - NOT amateur radio

At the moment I am reading this thick book - actually just dipping in and out. It is an account of a trip around the country almost 300 years ago. It is fascinating.

Shopping online - NOT amateur radio

Like many, we had a food delivery at home this week. This was our first. Apart from ordering just one banana by mistake, it was a great success.

Sunspots - Thursday April 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 13. A =6 and K=1.

Budding artist - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson is a talented artist. This is one of his paintings. He is just 11.

Just over a year ago he painted our old house for my 70th. It was very good.