Sunspots - Friday February 5th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

 As 10m FT8 have been abysmal here today, I shall be QSYing to 2m FT8 shortly using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 2046z:  So far this evening I have been spotted on 2 FT8 QRP TX by 18 stations in 4 countries. Furthermost is EI2FG (565km). It seems every evening my 2m FT8 QRP TX reaches EI and GI. 5 stations spotted on RX and no QSOs.  ON6LEO (392km) has called me a few times, but we did not complete the QSO.

Kingsbridge - NOT amateur radio

Kingsbridge, Devon is where I lived in my teenage years. 

Kingsbridge is at the top of the estuary and Salcombe at the other end. 

Snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw plenty of snowdrops this morning. They are a sure sign of hope for better days ahead. 

According to the UK Met Office spring starts March 1st which is only a few weeks away.

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At about 1247z, I turned on 10m QRP FT8 with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1535z: No spots here all day. 

UPDATE 1807z:  No RX spots here today, but just a single spot of my QRP by M0NKR (27km).

UPDATE 1842z:  Just 1 late spot of EA5ASQ (1367km) on 10m FT8 RX. Overall today, pretty poor.

Collapsing White Cliffs of Dover on video - NOT amateur radio

One of the UK's icons are the "White Cliffs of Dover".  Apparently these are receding at about 12 inches a year because of erosion. They are made of chalk, hence the white.  A recent fall was captured on video. Quite spectacular footage.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-55931406

Hare Park Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge  earlier. 

The snowdrops here are stunning.  The grounds are only open at certain times of the year.

Early optical experiments

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my 481THz optical beacon tests in daylight over a 1.6km line of sight path. Later I did much further at night "over the horizon". For the avoidance of doubt, that was 20dB S/N - so very strong. 

Sunspots - Thursday February 4th 2021

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 11. A=14 and K=3.

FT991A versus FTDX10

About 18 months ago, I bought a Yaesu FT991A.  I thought about part-exchanging this for an ICOM IC-705 as a dedicated QRP man. 

Since then the 100W Yaesu FTDX10 has launched. This does not have 2m or 70cm, but does have 4m and an auto ATU. It is more expensive. For 2m and 70cm my FT817ND is probably fine.

Knowing my luck, just after I bought an FTDX10, they would launch a QRP version!

For now, I may just stick with what I have unless I get a very tempting offer.