Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I give an update on activity through the geosynchronous satellite Oscar 100. I take a peek at the narrowband transponder by looking at the Goonhilly based web SDR. Today I looked at 0930z on a Friday morning. As there are fewer Europeans, there is probably less activity than at a weekend. Activity levels were quite low, but greater than I was expecting. There is still plenty room.

Southgate News reports on the first activity from Indonesia via the satellite.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/first-qo-100-satellite-contact-from-indonesia.htm#.YB0S0vGTLrc

Hare Park - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows some of the masses of snowdrops at Hare Park yesterday. At a guess I'd say there are over 1 million there. It is the best array of snowdrops  have ever seen.

Grand start - NOT amateur radio

Pretty sure this photo has been on before but I get amused telling my friends that I was born in a stately home! At the time this was a nursing home and we lived in a council house. 

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.