Facebook memory - NOT amateur radio

This photo appeared as a FB memory. It shows our wedding anniversary 9 years ago with our grandson ogling the cake.

10m report

Some months ago, I mentioned the 10m report on Southgate News. My main complaint was that without being clear where stations were being heard or worked from it was of limited use. For example, if PY is being copied from LU do we care? What really matters is what real DX can be worked from where we live. It would be really useful if it made clear what DX was being worked from the UK.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2020/july/july-16.htm#.XxvpYojYq00

Chromebooks - NOT amateur radio

Late last year I bought a Chromebook. Not a day passes without being very pleased I did. Its battery easily lasts all day, it boots up in seconds,  and it seems to do everything I want.

Yesterday I tried to print a QR code on my Windows PC. Despite several attempts it refused for some reason. Today I tried with my Chromebook and it printed first time.

Stroke and getting older - NOT amateur radio

Back in 2013, out of the blue, I had a stroke that put me in hospital for 3.5 months. It was a shock. For a couple of years I expected to get back to normal. Indeed, most of me works although my voice is poor and I feel giddy almost all the time. Otherwise I am fairly fine. Certainly others looking at me consider me "normal" whatever that means!

Getting older it is harder to tell what is a lingering after-effect of that stroke and what is just old age creeping in. As mentioned before, one's outlook on life changes.  When younger, life seemed endless, whereas as we become older we are more aware of our limited lifespan.

Many of us have seen people of our age, or younger, die. I guess as someone said a few weeks ago, he gets up and says to himself, "I am alive and I going to enjoy today". Certainly each day is a gift.

10m FT8

For a change, I am on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and under 5W. The gear was turned on at about 0550z.No spots yet as of 0605z.

UPDATE 0813z:  No spots yet.

UPDATE 1122z:  15 spots of me on 10m FT8 so far today. 69 stations spotted here.

Stations spotting me today on
10m FT8 QRP with the indoor loop

UPDATE 2039z:  385 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 with the indoor loop with best DX spotted being UN7JOV (5261km). 60 stations have so far spotted me on 10m FT8. I am running about 4W.  Several QSOs had within Europe. Seeing how we are meant to be at the end of the Es season, conditions still seem good to me. For a change I may try 2m FT8 tomorrow with the big-wheel omni.

Transatlantic DX again on 6m FT8

Although the main Es season is meant to be drawing to a close, I still was able to spot WU1ITU (4836km) on 6m FT8 RX yesterday. He was a very strong signal, suggesting Es. Maybe this was just a short burst, but it shows that the path opened albeit briefly.

Sunspots - Saturday July 25th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=11 and K=2

Eating out - NOT amateur radio

We ate out tonight for the first time since March. Everything seemed totally normal. Food was excellent as was the service. In all, 4 tables were occupied.

OFCOM and WiFi

Today, OFCOM announced it is allocating more spectrum for wi-fi. See the OFCOM website for more details.

What a difference! - NOT amateur radio

A year ago our local museum had its fete (see photo). Until August 6th this year it has remained closed. They are reopening Thursdays only for a few hours with donations only. Normally they open Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays. It is staffed largely by volunteers.