St George's Norwich - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows St George's Church in Tombland, Norwich that we passed on Friday.  

It is not far from the cathedral. Sadly it was locked. 

2m FT8 RX in the last day

77 stations spotted on FT8 RX in the last day with just the omni big-wheel antenna. 

Did someone say 2m is dead?  Try FT8. I suspect more people are choosing to use FT8, so the rest of the band appears quiet.

The furthermost is F8BON (684km).

10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)

 When I am using 2m FT8, the 10m antenna is available. I keep forgetting that I can still go on 10m WSPR TX using my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. This morning, I shall go on 10m WSPR TX. I must remember this when I get active on 8m.

UPDATE 0830z: WSPR TX turned on at 0825z. Just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. 

UPDATE 1500z: 3 unique stations spotting me.

Sunspots - Sunday March 27th 2022

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 48.  A=7 and K=2.

Summer migrant birds - NOT amateur radio

It is fair to call me a fair weather bird watcher. I are very unlikely to look for birds in the rain! 

There have now been a couple of reports of swallows (to some they are known as barn swallows) in South Devon. The earliest I have seen them in East Anglia is April 7th. Last year there were very few.

Already returning chiffchaffs can be heard and sand martins seen in Devon.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/.

Dipole calculator

In the next few days, I have to make a dipole for the 8m band on which I have special permission to TX for 12 months. At my QTH, the most suitable antenna is a simple wire dipole. You may be interested in this calculator.

See https://www.wireantennas.co.uk/dipole-calculator . 

Burwell ( Lincolnshire) - NOT amateur radio

We live in Burwell, Cambridgeshire. There is a much smaller Burwell in Lincolnshire shown in the photo. 

UK 8m permits

As I understand it, 3 people in the UK have already got 8m TX permits. Others could follow. 

The coming Es season could be interesting. Certainly at least 2 will be on FT8 and a single USB dial setting will be needed, so just monitoring this should help with reports and QSOs. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .

Spring in the garden - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been warm and sunny, so we have done some jobs in the garden and had some meals in the sunshine. 

Later next week it is expected to be much colder! 

Norwich tapas - NOT amateur radio

Tapas, as far as I know, is a Spanish invention. Instead of a large meal, you are served several small dishes of your choosing, all of which you can share. We had a lovely tapas lunch in Norwich yesterday and the price was extremely reasonable. I was just about to pay a tip when I was told the bill included the tip!

See https://www.dontxoko.com/ .