Sunspots - Thursday March 17th 2022

 Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 41. A=4 and K=1. 

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Iran - NOT amateur radio

It sounds like the detained dual nationality Briton is (eventually) being released from Iran and is on her way back to the UK. It appears the Iranian authorities were holding her because the UK government was breaking international law for withholding £400M from a cancelled tank order in the 1970s.

Several things come to mind:

    1.   The UK government should always operate within international law.

    2.   The Iranian government has no right to hold an innocent mother all this time as a hostage and bargaining chip.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60756870 .

UPDATE 1340z:  She is on the plane. I hope she is soon reunited with her family.

Bark texture - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw the bark in the photo in the Abbey Gardens in Bury-St-Edmunds yesterday.

10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since about 1005z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today (it is now 1018z) already 46 stations have been spotted. Very encouraging.

UPDATE 1206z:   215 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1336z:   347 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1843z:   717 stations spotted.

Geosynchronous Oscar 100

Every few weeks I give an update on the activity levels on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. 

My last peek was at 0910z on a weekday. Activity levels were lower than I have ever seen. No doubt activity levels would be higher at a weekend or in the evenings in Europe where most of the activity comes from.

If I was a satellite manufacturer, launcher or AMSAT, I would spend money some other way.

160m FT8 RX overnight

In all, 141 stations spotted on RX in the last day on 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna. 

No transatlantic signals. Is this just a blip or is it the end of the season for me? 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 16th 2022

 Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 71.  A=6 and K=0.

Says it all? - NOT amateur radio

This waste bin expresses what many feel probably.

I can't understand how so much suffering can be inflicted on fellow Slavs who share so much history. 

It is hard to see how in the future there will be warm relations between the Ukraine and Russia.

Linkedin and contacts I do not know - NOT amateur radio

Every week I get asked if I would like to connect someone I do not know! I am not sure why these people ask. 

I only use Linkedin rarely and when I do it is usually to keep in touch with old work colleagues . 

If I don't know you I will not connect with you ever.

OFCOM and space spectrum

OFCOM is consulting on the use of spectrum in support of new space technology. See the OFCOM website for details.