Sunspots - Wednesday April 27th 2022

 Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 126.   A=3 and K=2.

10m WSPR QRP TX

 At 0852z, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. Nobody has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 1902z: 5 unique stations spotted me today with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).

8m experiment (Tuesday)

 At 0845z, i went on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1857z: Disappointing. No spots today on RX or TX.

Family history - NOT amateur radio

My family history can be traced back continuously to the mid 1500s in South Devon. One of my earliest ancestors was William of Hope. The photo shows the village of Hope Cove probably in the late 1800s or early 1900s. There is an Iron Age fort on the promontory nearby known as Bolt Tail. It is quite possible that one of my ancestors helped man it.  Quite humbling.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_Tail .

Sunspots - Tuesday April 26th 2022

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 94.  A=5 and K=0.

Saffron Walden - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday, we went to Saffron Walden and Audley End in Essex as the collage shows.  At one time it was famous for its saffron - hence the name. 

The door in the top middle led to Oliver Cromwell's HQ at one time.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

At the moment (0946z), I am on 10m WSPR TX at 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 2 unique stations spotting me so far with the furthermost TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

8m experiment (Monday)

 After a period on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680MHz USB dial, I am now on RX. No spots. It is now 0950z. 

At the moment I have been spotted in 3 countries despite my QRP and low wire dipole. During the Es season, I hope to increase this. Es openings can be very strong.

UPDATE 2030z:   QRT.

Sunspots - Monday April 25th 2022

Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 112.  A=5 and K=1.

Lightning risks

The chances (in the UK) of being hit by a direct lightning strike are (thankfully) low, but not nil. Many years ago a work colleague in a very ordinary house was struck and he had a lot of damage.

More common issues are power surges of the mains supply when lightning and thunder are nearby.

Perhaps I am paranoid, but if there is a threat of lightning nearby I unplug PSUs from their sockets and disconnect all antennas. If a power surge is around my gear is not going to experience it!

Unless you have a very good grounding systems, it is very unlikely your gear will survive a direct hit.

Now, I am no expert on lightning protection, so please make your own judgements on this by reading expert opinion. DO NOT rely on me!!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .