Perspectives on old age - NOT amateur radio

Next birthday I shall be 73. Both my dad and granddad died in their sixties. I could die tomorrow or live for many years. 

On the balance of probabilities I probably have not got many years left. Certainly I am more aware than ever that the years are passing by.  

Some of the things I could so easily do are now impossible. I am giddy all the time and driving is no longer a pleasure. 

Someone once advised me to enjoy things before it is too late. Maybe they are right. One thing is certain: the future is unknown.

Angry sky - NOT amateur radio

Angry sky

We have just got back from a walk around Anglesey Abbey. It tried to rain! 

Rally cancelled

The Callington Rally in Cornwall has been cancelled. Many years ago I went to this when I lived in Devon. It should have been March 28th, which is this Sunday. Hopefully it will be on again in 2022. 

 Probably many more rallies will be postponed or cancelled this spring and summer.

2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

Since before breakfast I have been on 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, at 0947z, I have been spotted by 13 stations in 2 countries with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX 20 stations in 4 countries spotted with the furthermost DJ9ON (489km).

UPDATE 1025z:  One QSO with a station in IO70.  15 spots of my QRP.

UPDATE 1648z:  3 QSOs today.  My 2.5W FT8 to the big-wheel has been spotted by 25 stations and I have spotted 55 stations in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1830z:   29 stations in 3 countries have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP today on TX. 65 stations spotted on RX in 7 countries.

OFCOM spectrum negotiations

OFCOM has announced that its next stage of auctioning 700MHz and 3.6GHz spectrum has moved to the negotiating stage where bidders can trade spectrum between each other. See the OFCOM website for more details. It makes sense for bidders to have contiguous chunks.

472kHz WSPR last evening

Continued monitoring overnight has not been that productive on previous occasions , so I went QRT in the late evening having spotted 4 unique stations. As usual, using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Earning a cup of tea - NOT amateur radio

Our son weatherproofing our garden shed yesterday. 

It looks much better now after a coat of preservative used for sheds and fences.  I shall ask him to do the garden benches soon.

Sunspots - Thursday March 25th 2021

Solar flux is 84 and the SSN 26.   A=10 and K=4.

472kHz WSPR RX

At 1844z, I QSYed to 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX. Once again, I am using the FT817ND and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 2211z:  G0MRF has been a huge signal this evening. Furthermost is LA8AV (1012km).

UPDATE 2300z:  QRT

17m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

A few moments ago, I QSYed to 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 1111z. So far 6 stations have been spotted on RX with nobody yet spotting my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 1127z:  So far today, 15 stations spotted here on RX, and still nobody has spotted my QRP FT8 on TX.

UPDATE 1421z:  105 stations in 5 continents spotted on 17m FT8 RX today and nobody has spotted my QRP TX.

UPDATE 1806z:  139 stations spotted on RX. Nobody spotted me on TX.