Wisteria - NOT amateur radio

This wisteria was growing up the walls of a cottage we saw on our walk yesterday.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/wisteria/growing-guide

OFCOM's plan of work 2020-21

OFCOM has published plans of work for the next year on its website.

Rally News

The following have been received. Again, my apologies if the background makes this hard to see on some platforms, but this is how it came to me. As I have said before, it is safer to assume the rally is either cancelled or postponed until the current crisis is over.

Saturday 2 MAY : CANCELLED
CDXC CONVENTION, AGM & DINNER. 

Link Hotel, Loughborough. Non members welcome and there will be a partners' programme. Four DX & technical talks. Costs vary. Full details in January CDXC Digest. Chris Duckling, G3SVL Chris@G3SVL.com www.cdxc.org.uk.

Sunday 3 MAY : Delayed until September 2020
THORPE CAMP HAMFEST. 

Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, LN4 4PL Open for traders from 6.30am and the public from 9am. Entry is £4 with children under 12 free. Hot and cold refreshments on site and car parking is available within the grounds. More information and bookings to Sylvia or Anthony on 0795 665 4481.


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

Sunspots - Friday May 1st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 35, which is the highest for some time. A=2 and K=1.

6m FT8

Stations spotting me to 1300z today on
6m FT8 TX with 10W to the V2000 omni

For a few hours now I have been on 6m FT8.

There seems plenty of Es around and my low power (about 10W) to the V2000 omni is getting me plenty of QSOs across Europe.

In all (to 1305z) I have been spotted by 29 stations and I have spotted 41 stations so far on 6m FT8. Best DX spotted is probably EA8JK (3022km) on 6m FT8 RX so far today.

UPDATE 1325z: Now spotted by 32 stations and I have spotted 62 stations on 6m FT8. I keep getting called by Finns!

UPDATE 1745z: Now 46 spots of me so far today on 6m FT8 TX with 10W to the V2000 omni vertical.

UPDATE 2140z:   QRT.

Maggie - NOT amateur radio

This old horse has been part of village life for many years. Children feed her grass which she loves. She is very friendly.

DX Summit

In all my time in the hobby, I don't remember using this site. I was reminded of it by a fellow local earlier this week. It looks like a useful site.

See http://www.dxsummit.fi

Orchids - NOT amateur radio

My wife loved orchids.

They only need a thimbleful of water a week and are therefore easy house plants. We have 7 (I think) and there are usually 3 in flower at a time.

The collage shows the ones in flower at the moment.

The RSGB

Like the ARRL in the USA, the RSGB is the national amateur radio society in the UK. Like all organisations, it is not perfect.

However, they produce a monthly magazine for members and provide a lot of services behind the scenes. Its strength is its members.  They elect officers. I have been a member since 1962 - I must be old!!

See https://rsgb.org/

Sunspots - Thursday April 30th

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 24 (higher than for some time - hopeful!).  A=3 and K=0.