Duxford - NOT amateur radio

In WW2 my dad was a Pathfinder on Lancasters. I had no idea how brave and scared he must have been. Back in 2019 my son and grandson went to the museum at Duxford and went on a Lancaster.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity levels

My most recent peek at activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite at a weekend afternoon in Europe found activity levels on the narrowband transponder still low. I am sure people lose interest. 

I can imagine the scenario: those keen enough assemble the dish, feeds, TX and RX and carefully align the dish. They work some DX, tell them all about the gear.....then lose interest. 

Imagine the difference if a "black box" was available from a Japanese manufacturer. Of course, they are looking for volumes and a return on their investment - neither of which is likely. They are also worried that Oscar 100 might suddenly stop working.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Monday April 11th 2022

 Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 13.  A=34 and K=4.

Village Cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage is in our village. We have a real mix of old and new houses. 

Steam trains - NOT amateur radio

Back in the late 1950s these were a common sight in my trainspotting days in Devon. 

This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Sunday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. So far just local spots. 

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations spotted. Furthermost is TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 2200z:  QRT. 

8m tests continue

At the moment I am on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, just 1 local spot of me. Later I shall be just on RX. 

UPDATE 0836z:  RX only now on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Nobody spotted. I hope more stations in Europe manage to get 8m permits this Es season.

UPDATE 0941z:  Nobody spotted.

UPDATE 1135z: G9PUV (158km), near Brighton, spotted on 8m FT8 this morning.  At the strength I got him (off the side of the dipole) I don't think he would spot me. Maybe on WSPR?

UPDATE 1507z:  Still on 40.680 MHz (8m) FT8 RX. Just 1 station spotted today so far.

UPDATE 1947z:  QRT soon. One possible first (to be confirmed) is the reception on 8m of an EI station by VP8ADR/40 in the Falkland Islands. It would be good if VP8s could TX on 8m, but I am not sure what the law there says.

Redundant church - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago, I did a blog of the local churches that we visited. It is some years since I updated the blog.  One visited was this one in Cambridge.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk

UPDATE 0948z: Church blog updated!

Sunspots - Sunday April 10th 2022

 Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 37.  A=19 and K=4.

Crazy? - NOT amateur radio

This week, my watchstrap broke. It was cheaper to buy a new Casio digital watch than the wrist strap alone for the old watch! If the battery on the old watch needed replacing, the Casio watch makes even more sense. I am not after a fashion statement and any watch is fine.

I now see I could have bought one £2 less!!