Sunspots - Friday April 29th 2022

 Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 118. A=14 and K=4.

Rally news

The following rallies have been notified to me.  As always, it is worth checking with organisers to ensure that the information is correct and the rallies are taking place.

       Sunday May 1st - Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre (not sure of the name). Contact 07956 654481

       Monday May 2nd - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon. Contact 2E0RPH@gmail.com. 

Still no swallows (barn) - NOT amateur radio

Last year I saw just 2 all year.  It is already April 28th and I have seen none at all. In the past I had definitely seen some by the middle of the month. Perhaps it is climate change or fewer nest sites? 

The next milestone will be the swifts arriving. They are usually a common sight and sound by mid-May. Will they be here next month? 

There are some swallows around, but I suspect there must be far fewer this year.

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

Shack 2015

 

When clearing some old photos yesterday, I cam across this photo of the shack in 2015. 

How time flies!

10m QRP TX (Thursday)

 Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far just local G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1033z: Just local spots still. I think even Richard has given up!

8m experiment continued (Thursday)

My 8m TX experiments are continuing today with FT8 transmissions on 40.680 MHz USB dial regularly. 

UPDATE 0903z:   Sadly no spots given or received so far. Currently on RX, but expect to be on 8m FT8 TX again at 0930z.

UPDATE 1030z:  Still no spots.

UPDATE 1702z: FT8 exchange with 9A2Y (1567km).

Sunspots - Thursday April 28th 2022

Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 95.  A=21 and K=3.

Grand Arcade, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

The Grand Arcade in central Cambridge is a covered, pedestrian only, shopping area. 

It is one of the few places with a Raspberry Pi shop. Well, it is Cambridge!

80m FETer transceiver

It seems like yesterday, but this was designed in 2008. Starting from the 40m design by W2UW (SK) I wanted to see how simple a transceiver could be made for 80m. The result was the 1 FET FETer transceiver. My main issue was netting on RX. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver  .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 As my 10m antenna is again available, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far just 1 spot by TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 1617z: Just 3 unique stations spotting me all day. Nothing further than the TA4 above.