Sunspots - Monday April 19th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 15.  A=16 and K=4.

IC-705 firmware upgrade

The micro-SD card for the IC-705 has arrived. Tomorrow, I may try a firmware upgrade. Others tell me this is straightforward. I certainly hope so!  I am not sure of the latest firmware (1.24?), but I am sure I shall find the latest on ICOM Japan website.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

At about 1900z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 1915z and I have been spotted by 5 stations on TX and I have spotted 4 stations on RX.

10m FT8 RX

At 1419z, I turned on the FT817ND and the indoor loop tuned to 10m  As yet (it is now 1432z), no spots. 

The sunspot count is slightly lower than yesterday and conditions more disturbed.

UPDATE 1730z:  Just G0LRD spotted here and on PSKreporter by me. A PY seen mid afternoon, but this doesn't appear on PSKreporter. Overall, this has been disappointing. I'll give it a bit longer before QSYing.  Looking at all the results David G0LRD has got (111 10m spots!!) he is certainly being widely spotted on 10m FT8 today. Not sure what David is using for antenna and power.

If you are looking for a 10m grabber, check this one out in Alaska at http://kl7l.com/28Alaska00000.jpg . If you know of others, please let me know. I see there is a 10m QRSS grabber at https://qsl.net/g4iog/ .

The 4m (70MHz) band

 

At one time very few countries had access to this band and there was no commercial gear.  Now it is widely available, especially in Europe and several transceivers now include 4m.  One place for data is the 4m website that has quite a bit about the band. It is some years since I was active on 4m.

In Es openings, many European countries can be worked with simple antennas and low power. One possibility is my simple transverter.

See https://70mhz.org/ .

Homemade pasties - NOT amateur radio

Don't laugh. 

This morning I felt inspired to have a go at making some pasties using up some of the food that might have been wasted. I am quite pleased. The photo shows the results. Mostly cheese, mushrooms and onions. 

They taste good too.

Sunspots - Sunday April 18th 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 28. A=29 and K=3.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At 1820z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far (it is now 1830z) 3 stations have been spotted on RX and 6 stations have spotted my QRP TX.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/ . This is the FT8 grabber at G0LRD.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

These flowers were seen at Anglesey Abbey a few days ago. My wife did the collage.

Royal Funeral - NOT amateur radio

Like millions around the world, we watched the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh from Windsor Castle. 

I am not a great royalist and cannot imagine the royal family surviving another 50 years unless it changes. When the queen dies the English royal family will be in mortal peril. No, I think what was really being mourned was the end (or very near end) of an era.

Privilege, as a result of who you are, will end. Minor royals who live wealthy lives off UK taxpayers will end. I think the royal family has to evolve. I cannot think of a suitable president should we become a republic. No, I think we will still have a royal family, but very different.

I feel very sorry for the queen who has lost a lifelong husband and companion. They we married for 73 years, which is a long time!