Windmills - NOT amateur radio

We live next door to the only remaining windmill in our village. At one time there were four.

More accurately, some of these were windpumps, not windmills, as they were used to pump water and not grind corn. The photo shows two of these that have now gone.

Sunspot minimum

My favourite site for solar data has changed the wording giving the months when sunspot minimum occurred.  Previously it was hedging bets using works like "probable". 2 dates are given as the date depends on how the averaging is done.

The climb begins....

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png for a graph showing how the transition to the start of the next cycle is expected pan out.

See also https://www.solen.info/solar/ for more general information.

Isleham walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a nice walk around the village of Isleham. The photo shows a cut cornfield.

10m WSPR TX

About 10 minutes ago I turned on the little W5OLF 10m WSPR TX beacon which runs 500mW to the indoor loop. It is now 1100z. Just a single spot by local G4KPX (14km) so far.

UPDATE 1320z: 4 spots of me so far today.

UPDATE 2050z: In all, I was spotted by 18 stations. Now QRT.

6m FT8

At about 1045z, I turned on my usual 6m FT8 gear (10W and the V2000 vertical). It is now 1056z. So far, 4 stations have spotted me and 2 Hungarians spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1325z:  15 spots of my 6m FT8 today so far.

UPDATE 2100z:  In all, I was spotted by 30 stations today across Europe. Now QRT.

Facebook memory - PW

7 years ago there was a review of mine in Practical Wireless. It was quite a surprise to see my bald head and garden on the cover!  Since then PW has changed owners.

See https://www.warnersgroup.co.uk/hobbies-crafts/practical-wireless/

Wicken windmill

The photo shows the windmill in Wicken village. We went for a walk around the village recently.

Sunspots - Sunday August 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 22.  A=3 and K=1.

Busier Oscar 100

Just a few moments ago I took a peak at the narrowband section of Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. Last time I looked it was exceptionally quiet. Today, at a weekend, there were 7 QSOs going on which is typical of the last year.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Patio rose - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of the roses on our patio earlier. My wife took the shot.