Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon in January. Most of the visitors are not here. 

Last evening on 70cm FT8

As reported yesterday, last evening was the FT8 activity session on 70cm. Activity levels were good. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 13th 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN is 68.  A=4 and K=0. 

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned many times, we live next door to a fully restored windmill that is 200 years old. 

Every single day someone comes to take a photo! This is not surprising. 

This is the view from the lounge window.

I am looking forward to making some bread rolls this summer with flour milled here.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

Every winter, we plant amaryllis bulbs. Most come out, although occasionally we just get leaves. This year, we have a very tall one. In a few days it will be past its best, but it has been fun to watch. They shoot up very fast!

70cm FT8 activity contest this evening

At 1900z, for 2 hours, is the RSGB organised 70cm FT8 contest. 

I shall be on with the V2000 vertical and 2.5W TX. On 70cm the FT8 frequency in Europe is 432.174MHz USB. 

There are often quite a few stations in the Netherlands on vertical FT8. 

Rules may be found on the RSGB site. This is designed to coincide with contests in continental Europe. Activity should be good. If you enjoy FT8, give it a go this evening. Standard FT8 exchanges are expected (no serial numbers required). ADIF files may be uploaded.

UPDATE 1918z:  29 stations spotted including 5 in the Netherlands. 1 QSO. Not bad with a vertical omni!

UPDATE 2100z:  58 stations spotted on RX with the V2000 vertical omni on 70cm FT8. Several stations have spotted me on 2.5W FT8 TX and I have had a couple of QSOs although I was mostly RX. The FT8 activity was great. I think several of these must have been scatter. It would not surprise me if scatter was better on 70cm than on 2m.

6m FT8 (Wednesday)

 I am on 6m FT8 QRP. Apart from a very brief 2.5W TX period (no spots) I am RX only. As usual, the antenna is the V2000 vertical omni. So far (at 1016z) no spots.

UPDATE 1447z:  6 stations spotted with the furthermost LB6D (1030km).

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 Yet again, I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far (at 1011z) spots by G4KPX (14km) and nobody else. The usual pattern is being followed: at first the crystal is settling, then the drift is essentially zero. So far, 25 spots by Richard.

UPDATE 1511z:  5 stations have spotted me with the furthermost FY5KE (7110km). 

70cm activity contest yesterday

Last evening I had a go at the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) with 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. After 3 QSOs, I had to stop because of my poor voice. If I had been able to stop on longer, many more stations would have been worked. 

A station in Shropshire (IO82) copied me, but we were unable to complete the QSO.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 12th 2022

 Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 51.  A=5 and K=1.