Solar data

The latest information on solar cycle 25 is out. It still shows the peak as November this year, which is early.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ . 

OFCOM updates

 Every week, OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc..  See the OFCOM website for the latest.

Savoury biscuits for dips - NOT amateur radio

On Monday our son popped around for "University Challenge" on TV.  He brought some dips and biscuits for dipping. 

Inspired by these biscuits, I made my own this morning. They worked out really well (see photo). I shall have to make them again adding a few more dried rosemary herbs. Looking at the recipe, I suspect any herbs could be substituted.

See flatbread crackers recipe.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

At 0852, my W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. Already, plenty of spots from the Canary Isles.

UPDATE 1204z:  61 spots of me by EA8/DF4UE (2876km) today.

UPDATE 1255z:  USA starting to spot me now. See http://wspr.rocks/ .

XBM80-2 transceiver

One of my Facebook memories this week was of some QSOs over 100 miles by AA1TJ using my little XBM80-2 transceiver in 2010. I did not realise it was that old!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .

Early start on 8m QRP FT8

Earlier than normal, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W and dipole. It is now 0914z and, so far,  no spots. I seem to get my spots via aircraft reflection mainly at this time of year. There was some winter Es earlier, but I think that has largely gone.

UPDATE 1200z:  No spots on PSKreporter. QRT for a while as things cool. Back on 8m QRP FT8 this afternoon. Sometimes I notice a delay with PSKreporter.

UPDATE 1355z:  Now on 8m FT8 again.

ATV via Oscar 100

Typical TV picture via Oscar 100

Every Thursday evening at 2000z, BATC has a TV net on Oscar 100. I am disappointed that the only people I have seen are UK stations, but this confirms that there are some very bright people about. I am very impressed.

See https://batc.org.uk/live/oscar100net .

Sunspots - Friday February 3rd 2023

Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 56. A=6 and K=1.

Emanuel College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

This is the annex to Emanuel College in Cambridge. It is about 200m from the bus station.

See https://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/ .

That darn book!

Current email footer

In my email footer are links to my various websites. For the life of me, I cannot see why putting a link to the shared file of my free PDF book always included the file as an attachment as well!  

As this is a 12.8MB file some emails may reject it!  I searched the settings, but cannot see why it does this.

Instead, I have put a link to the book page on my website. So, clicking there is a link to the latest edition. This seems fine.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book .