10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

Today I decided to go on 10m FT8 QRP with 2.5W. The gear was turned on at 1002z. So far (ar 1014z) my signal has been spotted in Kenya by 5Z4VJ (6858km). No QSOs . On RX 2 spots so far. 

UPDATE 1447z: A brief QRP transmission just before 1400z resulted in no spots of me. On 10m FT8 RX today 60 stations spotted so far. I get the impression that 10m conditions are not as good as they have been?

UPDATE 1532z:  A brief 10m FT8 QRP transmission just now resulted in nobody spotting me!  On RX 63 stations have been spotted.

Rust - NOT amateur radio

The town of Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk UK.  

It has some fine old buildings and on the waterfront old warehouses are being replaced with luxury flats.  

This means it is a place where old meets new.

Guided bus - NOT amateur radio

The old railway line between Cambridge and St Ives has been converted into a guided bus route. The route is very rural going past lakes and villages. St Ives is a very nice place. 

Sunspots - Thursday February 24th 2022

 Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 38. A=6 and K=3.

Ipswich - NOT amateur radio

As I do not like driving very much these days, we went to Ipswich on the train from Newmarket. I went there a very long time ago. 

We had been told it was a dump, but our impression was different.

There are some fine old houses and the area by the docks looks quite good these days. People on the train and in Ipswich were kind and friendly. In all, a good day out.

The photo shows The Ancient House.

6m FT8 QRP TX

Very briefly I was on 6m FT8 TX with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 antenna and was spotted by GB0SNB/SDR (65km). I am now QRT on 6m. 

10m WSPR TX beacon

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far, at 0857z,  7 local spots only by G4KPX (14km).

Sunspots - Wednesday February 23rd 2022

Solar flux is 95 and the SSN 38  A=16 and K=0.

Independent shops - NOT amateur radio

Sadly, walking down many UK high streets and you see shops that could be anywhere. 

Independent shops seem rarer. This one in Cambridge is there and I hope it stays. It is not far from St John's College. 

OFCOM - thank you

It is not often I say nice things about OFCOM. 

However, since submitting my application form for an Innovation and Research licence, I have nothing but praise. The person at the other end of my emails responds quickly and he seems to be genuinely as helpful as possible. Thank you.