Near us - NOT amateur radio

 

This is the village of Lode, about 4 miles from us. At the moment, the magnolia and daffodils look a picture.

That time of year - NOT amateur radio

It is lovely to be in the garden again in spring, but the grass does grow!

In these troubled times it is great to take pleasure in ordinary things. We have a nice home and food. Some do not. 

6m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At about 0940z my 6m FT8 system was turned on.  After a few minutes on TX with 2.5W and the vertical omni V2000 (2 G spots, but no QSOs) I am again RX only.

UPDATE  1015z:  Just 3 G stations spotted.

UPDATE 1410z:  11 Gs spotted. No DX.

UPDATE 1952z:  14 Gs spotted today. QRT later.

Sunspots - Thursday March 24th 2022

Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 27. A=7 and K=2.

Anglesey Abbey with old friends - NOT amateur radio

We first met these friends at university in 1968. We met at nearby Anglesey Abbey and they came here for lunch later. 

There were loads of daffodils out and carpets of a blue flower I had not seen before. These had star like petals but they were not aconites. At least, if they were they were a very strange variety.

8m TX permit has arrived!!

 All being well, I should start sending 8m FT8 from April 2nd on 40.676kHz (or close to it). I am also allowed to send CW.  Some crossband QSOs are expected!

WSJT-X and 8m

OFCOM has told me my permit to TX on 8m is coming. My intention is to send FT8 most of the time, with the occasional CW and WSPR.

I know my widebanded FT817ND produces power at 8m and is clean. I also know PSKreporter supports 8m. Then, last night, I had a sudden panic. Did WSJT-X support 8m?  

This morning I checked - it does! I am sure with a hack it would have been possible, but in its standard form it does already. 

I hope to do some local CW crossband tests as well initially. My permit should start in early April and last for a year. 

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories for today was from 10 years ago with me on one of the seats in Devon in 2012. It was erected in memory of my dad who died in 1987. After he retired, he ran a job creation team for the National Trust.  The odd thing is if he walked in the door now, it would seem natural!

6m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

 At just before 0900z I decided to go on 6m FT8. With my 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni I was called by G3XDV (45km).  A nice surprise QSO resulted. In all, 4 Gs spotted my QRP CQ.

At the moment, I am RX only.

UPDATE 1026z:  6 Gs spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1716z:  20 stations in 5 countries spotted today. 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 23rd 2022

 Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 81.  A=8 and K=2.