Swallows (Barn) - NOT amateur radio

At one time, these were a common summer migrant bird wintering in South Africa. They usually arrive here early in April.  In 2021, I only saw 2 all year. 

Swifts are also meant to be getting rarer, but we seemed to have similar numbers here to previous years. I have yet to see a single swallow here, which is very late. In the past, they were common by now.

My son, who has been wild camping, has seen and heard several cuckoos, but no swallows. Times, they are a changing...

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

Sunspots - Friday April 22nd 2022

Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 119. A=10 and K=1. 

Upcoming rallies

As far as I am aware the following rallies are happening, but it is always worth confirming with the organisers before travelling any distance. All are on Sunday April 24th.

Cambridge repeater Group Rally, Foxton near Cambridge. rally2022@cambridgerepeaters.net 

Northern Amateur Radio  Societies Association, Norbeck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool.  dwilson@btinternet.com

Andover Radio Club Spring Boot Sale  Wildhem Villlage Hall (just north of Andover) arac@arac.org.uk .

Lyrid Meteor shower

Now and for the next few days were are experiencing the Lyrid meteor shower. Such showers often give rise to decent pings off the ionised trails, leading to short-lived, but strong, VHF signals. Things are often best in the early morning, but I am no expert.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ .

10m Tenner transceiver

With the Es season just starting in the Northern Hemisphere, perhaps now is the time to think about rigs. Some years ago I designed and built the Tenner which is a 500mW CW transceiver for 10m.

During the Es season, you should have no trouble at all working stations 1500km away with it. In the past, it has got far further!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-tenner-qrp-cw .

The Wren Library, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

There are some world famous buildings in Cambridge, UK including this library, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, which houses some of the most valuable books in the whole world.

Our church at night - NOT amateur radio

 

Our church is illuminated at night, as the photo shows. It can be seen for miles around. It is a very fine old building.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. It is now 0815z and, so far, just 37 spots from local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 2122z:  QRT.  5 stations spotted me today.

Swans - NOT amateur radio

These swans are very determined. 

Until quite recently, builders were making a facility for National Grid (electricity) storage batteries within a few metres!  It is good to see them trying again rebuilding their nest.

8m experiments (Thursday)

For about 1 hour I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8. Sadly nobody spotted  me. It is 0800z and I am FT8 RX only on 8m. No RX spots. 

UPDATE 1205z:  EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me.

UPDATE 2120z:  QRT. No other spots, but I feel certain that I will reach Slovenia this Es season.