Precious moments - NOT amateur radio

Last evening we had a BBQ with our sons and all the grandchildren. A famous philosopher once said (and here I paraphrase as I cannot remember the words) something like enjoy the simple things as you don't know they will be precious moments until later.  Last evening felt like that: our sons, all the grandchildren, blossom and a lovely sunset. 

Sunspots - Saturday April 16th 2022

Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 35.  A=21 and K=2.

8m WSPR test - 1500z Friday

 At 1500z I shall be doing a WSPR test transmission on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This is NOT the usual 8m WSPR frequency.

UPDATE 1535z :  Sadly nobody spotted the WSPR TX test. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 I am on 10m WSPR with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1042z:  So far today, 2 unique stations have spotted me with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km). 

8m testing (Friday)

After a brief TX period on FT8 (one local FT8 spot) and then Q65, I am now on FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1044z:  Nobody spotted on 8m FT8 RX. 

View from the shack window

Spring is a great time of year with lots of fresh growth and blossom. The photo shows the view looking down the garden from the shack. 

Sunspots - Friday April 15th 2022

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 37.  A=38 and K=4.

Simple 10m FT8 RX

In the Northern Hemisphere we are entering the Es season with DX up to about 1500km on most days. The season usually lasts most of the summer.  Also the sunspot count is climbing, so next autumn should be good on 10m too.

If you want an FT8 10m RX, you may want to take a look at my 10FT8R receiver.  This is very effective and does not miss much.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

Boris - NOT amateur radio

Boris Johnson is the UK Prime Minister. He has recently been fined for parties during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is under a lot of pressure to resign as he set the rules.  The Ukraine war has helped delay the inevitable. 

Minehead - NOT amateur radio

Ten years ago were on holiday in North Devon and went to Minehead in Somerset where we saw lots of steam trains.