7 Jun 2020

Strange weather - NOT amateur radiio

We had a lovely April and May, but June has been mixed. We mostly avoided rain on our walk this morning but is a real "sunshine and showers" day today, more typical of the UK in April.

Walk - NOT amateur radio

In the last few "lockdown" months we have done far more local walks. Today was no exception. We chose a path which clearly was not well known. We saw just 3 people walking their dog and we all had plenty of space.

My wife took a photo of this flower, which I think is related to the pea. It is a delicate flower called the sainfoin, I think. If you know better, I am happy to be corrected!

10m WSPR TX today (500mW to the indoor loop)

Just G4KPX (14km) spotting me today so far. It is currently 1407z. Early days yet.

UPDATE 1448z:  Just 11 spots by G4KPX so far today.

Sunday on 6m FT8

A few minutes ago 6m FT8 was turned on with 10W and the vertical omni antenna. So far, 24 stations have spotted me (it is now 1405z). Most of these are Europeans via Es. Fewer stations spotted here.

UPDATE 2115z:   Several stations are calling and working Caribbean and USA stations.

Yesterday on 10m WSPR TX (500mW and the indoor loop)

Much of the day I was on 10m WSPR, although storms forced early closure. No great DX spots.

Yesterday on 6m FT8

Much of the day yesterday I was on 6m FT8, although thunderstorms caused me to go QRT on several occasions.

Sunspots - Sunday June 7th 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 15. A=3 and K=2.

6 Jun 2020

Portable operating in the 1980s

The photo shows me operating portable from my parent's garden in the 1980s I think. It is just possible it is the early 1990s. Most of my hair is still there!

Cornwall - NOT amateur radio

Searching through an old box, we came across this old photo of St Ives in Cornwall. I have no idea why we have it or its origin.

Sunspots - Saturday June 6th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 13.  A=4 and K=1.