Sunspots - Thursday February 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 140.  A=29 and K=3.

Springtime? - NOT amateur radio

Central Cambridge earlier 

It is just mid-February, but here it felt very spring-like today. There are far more daffodils in flower and the birds are starting to repair nests. Yes, the weather can turn far colder again, but there is a hint of spring on the way.

8m FT8

After a few minutes on QRP FT8 TX, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX. So far (at 0918z) no spots. 

UPDATE 1448z: 4 unique stations spotted today on 8m FT8 RX (see map). Now on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1540z: 5 unique stations have been spotted today. Nobody has received my QRP 8m FT8. Back on 8m FT8 RX only again. 4X1BG (3532km) spotted. Is he legally on the band?

10m QRP WSPR TX

Just before 0900z my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m was turned on. Spots from a local and an Italian so far. 

UPDATE 1512z:  29 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR today.26z: 

UPDATE 1626z:  35 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR with the furthermost F61695 (9729km).

UPDATE 1921z:  36 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR TX.  QRT soon. Spots of my 10m WSPR QRP are shown on the map from wspr.rocks.

Wednesday plans

My current plan is to go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon and 8m FT8 RX. 

Old relative? - NOT amateur radio

We found this when clearing my mum's house years ago. It was a Facebook memory. 

Staggering numbers - NOT amateur radio

Continuously, I get amazed by the number of planets in the universe. One estimate puts the number of planets as 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, which is totally mind blowing. 

At the same time SETI has been searching the universe since the 1960s and have found not a single sign of intelligent life. To me, I find this odd. In the early days, equipment was not as sophisticated as today. However, by now, I would have expected to find something.

My only conclusion is that our view of the universe must be flawed or that we are somehow missing something important.  

To me, all our religious beliefs are too "Earth centred".

I look at the heavens and feel awe.

See https://www.seti.org/ .

70cm activity contest

Last evening, I took part in the 70cm UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. As I had just sold my IC-705, I had to use my FT817ND at 2.5W without the speech processor. 

To my surprise I worked 6 stations and some good DX as the map shows.

Once again, my antenna was the 2m big-wheel omni.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 15th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 206.  A=8 and K=4.

Hawkedon, Suffolk NOT amateur radio

The photo shows two of the grandchildren on a walk at Hawkedon in Suffolk today.  

Our son says it is a lovely walk we must do.

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