Solving the climate crisis? - NOT amateur radio

There is no doubt that in the coming years we will all be searching for answers to the climate emergency. Put simply, if we just carry on as we are, then all human life will go extinct.

But don't panic. 

On all things like fossil fuels, plastics and food supply, we may already have solutions. For fossil fuels we may be able to generate biofuels from algae. They may also provide alternatives to some of the materials used in plastics. We may also be able to add to cow's feed to dramatically reduce methane. We may well be able to synthesise proteins for food additives from algae. I quite expect there will be breakthroughs in battery technology in the next few years, so we can avoid lithium mining. I can also see solutions to renewable energy storage.

Basically we need to invest in solutions.

Cavendish, Suffolk, UK - NOT amateur radio

If things had gone to plan, my grandson was due to ring the bells here on Friday night. The rehearsal was cancelled due to the strong winds. 

He rang at nearby Clare yesterday and has rung bells in 4 towers this week. The photo is of Cavendish church.  

Pargeting (decorated plasterwork) is an East Anglian speciality. There are good examples in Cavendish and Clare.

Clare is a fine town with lots of old buildings.

See https://www.visit-clare.co.uk/. 

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pargeting .

10m QRP WSPR TX 500mW (Monday)

As the 10m antenna was free, I decided to go on 10m WSPR TX again with the W5OLF beacon. Local spots by G4KPX (14km), but nobody else yet. Perhaps Richard was away at the weekend?

UPDATE 1144z:  Still no DX spots of me.

UPDATE 1407z:  Just 93 spots of me by G4KPX (14km). No DX.

UPDATE 1725z:    W4WLO/B11 (7271km) just copied me.

UPDATE 1755z:   Now IW2NKE (1350km) spotting me.

UPDATE 2000z:   QRT.

70cm FT8 QRP (Monday)

After a brief period on 70cm FT8 TX with 2.5W to the 2m big-wheel omni, I am on RX. No spots, unsurprisingly. Still it was worth a try. I may try transmitting on 70cm FT8 again later today.

UPDATE 1324z:  Just before 1200z, I went on TX again. Still no spots on TX or RX. 

UPDATE 1345z:  Trying TX and RX with the vertical omni V2000.  Very strongly copied by G8CRB (14km). Thanks Steve!

Iris - NOT amateur radio

Winter can be very dark and long, so potted plants can brighten things up. 

Last week, my wife bought a couple of pots from a local shop. On had miniature daffodils and one iris. All the iris plants are now out and they look good on the kitchen windowsill.

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. As far as I can tell, activity levels are broadly similar to a few weeks ago i.e. fairly quiet with plenty of space. My snapshot is not at all scientific! It is more of an impression.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Monday February 21st 2022

Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 49. A=13 and K=1.

70cm FT8 QRP (Sunday)

One QSO with a local when using 2.5W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 

Best spotted on RX was DF2VJ (570km). 70cm in truly awful weather!! Amazing. Is this scatter? No beams here.

This is a revelation: I went on 70cm FT8 expecting to find nobody, but instead had a QSO on FT8 and spotted a German station further away than Luxembourg and all with a 2m omni antenna!

10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)

It is now 1504z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW with the W5OLF beacon for about 10 minutes. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1615z:  It helps to connect the PSU! Still no spots of me yet.  

UPDATE 1705z: Still no spots.As it is dark here shortly after 1700z, this may be a day with no spots of me.

UPDATED 1850z:  QRT. No spots all afternoon.

2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

After a few minutes on 2.5W TX to the big-wheel omni antenna (5 UK spots of me), I am RX only. So far, at 1500z, just 4 UK stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1644z:  14 stations so far spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 7 stations spotted my QRP earlier. As far as I am aware, conditions are flat with strong wind and rain.