Museum - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday our local museum and windmill opened for the first time this year. We were on duty in the kiosk where we take entry money and sell some gifts as shown in the photo. 

We live next door to the windmill and museum.

10FT8R active

At 0800z, I again turned on my 10m FT8 RX using the homebrewed 10FT8R RX and the tiny indoor loop. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0826z:  So far 1 spot on RX probably by Es - OE3FVU (1189km).

UPDATE 1334z:  25 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the 10FT8R RX and the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1424z:  Still 25 stations spotted.  It would appear this Es opening has stopped although I noticed a Swedish station a few minutes ago.

UPDATE 1950z: 27 stations spotted today on RX. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Friday May 21st 2021

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 13. A=24 and K=2.

QSY to 160m FT8 QRP

At 1919z I QSYed to 160m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Already there are Germans coming through strongly after just a few minutes. I guess it is now dark over much of the path.

UPDATE 1948z: One spot of my QRP TX by G4UDU (160km) and 9 spots so far on 160m FT8 RX.

10m Lesser Chirpy CW transceiver

It is hard to think I did this 9 years ago! It has been copied across the Atlantic, although as a "compromise" rig I would not use it on the air that much. My main concern is you may miss stations on the channel as the RX is not as good as many. It is all too easy to call on top of a weak QSO.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-lesser-chirpy .

Compost - NOT amateur radio

As we ran out of compost earlier, we went shopping and bought more as well as other stuff.  

It was not busy.

Frangipani - NOT amateur radio

 

This was seen on our walk at Anglesey Abbey yesterday.

New website feedback

A reminder that the new website pages "went live" a few days ago. It would be good to hear of any omissions, errors or improvements needed. It is early days still, so any things I can do I shall.

See www.g3xbm.co.uk .

10m FT8 RX (Thursday) with the 10FT8R and the tiny indoor loop

At 0745z, I turned this kit on. Already, 10 stations spotted by Es. 

UPDATE 0847z:  48 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1113z:  141 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. 

UPDATE 1651z:  251 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today so far. Not bad for such a simple RX and tiny antenna! The furthermost is KP4UA (6841km). The map shows the stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1904z:  For some time now, I have been stuck on 252 RX spots on 10m FT8 today suggesting that is it for the day. I shall probably go QRT shortly on 10m.

Swifts screaming - NOT amateur radio

When gardening a few days ago I heard swifts overhead screaming. This a very English sound of spring and summer. They feed on the wing and are often heard before being seen.