481 THz "over the horizon" communications

Since my 2013 stroke, I have felt too wobbly to do field work. One of my great pleasures was trying optical communications over the horizon where I was astounded by what was possible, even though there was no sign of any light visible. Had I been fit, far further would have been possible.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/optical-nanowaves/over-the-horizon for some ideas. 

In many ways optical communications are easier than microwaves as all the gear (test gear and working kit) may be homemade at low cost.

The photo shows my first tentative steps in daylight along a road. Little did I realise what fun was to follow!

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We see the windmill right next to us at breakfast and from the lounge. 

This photo was taken yesterday when we had showers and sunshine. Well worth a visit as it is fully restored. The museum is excellent. 

Few people have a fully restored windmill right next door!

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

At 0956z, my 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on.

UPDATE 1808z:  30 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX today as shown below in the table.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

It is now 0950z. In a few moments I expect to be on 8m TX on 40.680 (TX first) with my 2.5W FT8 QRP and low dipole. 

UPDATE 1101z:  On now. No spots.

UPDATE 1335z:  G0HVQ (181km) has spotted my QRP 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1452z:  EI9KP (649km) has spotted me ....again ... on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1815z:  S50B (1220km) has now spotted my 2.5W FT8 on 8m today. Today is probably my best day on 8m for several months. Winter Es for S50B? The propagation to EI9KP still puzzles me. It must be some sort of scatter - aircraft, random MS or tropo?

Grandson's bellringing videos - NOT amateur radio

Our elder grandson has a video channel about bellringing. He has new rung in well over 80 towers in London and in the Cambridge area. His channel is called StedmanTriples783.

See https://www.youtube.com/@stedders783.

Sunspots - Sunday January 8th 2023

Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 104. A=6 and K=1.

King's College Chapel in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Even though much of it has scaffolding on it, it is still a wonderful building. 

WSJT-X 2.6.0 on general release?

I have been told that WSJT-X has been generally released as V2.6.0. I use WSJT-X for both FT8 and WSPR. Later today I expect to download this version if it is generally released. 

On the official website, it is still shown as a release candidate. Usually a new version is released about now, so perhaps my informant has advanced information?

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on the internet yesterday and shows where I come from in South Devon. Salcombe is left and this shows the Kingsbridge Estuary as the main focus. It is still a very beautiful part of England, and still very rural.

Rain gauge - NOT amateur radio

One of my wife's Christmas presents was a rain gauge, so we can record the rainfall over the year. I have created a spreadsheet. The biggest issue is to record the rain each day and empty it!

Apart from today and yesterday, we have had very little rain. More is forecast later.