Tulips - NOT amateur radio

These are colourful flowers in the spring. Sometimes they are floppy and an aspirin in the water makes them stand up again. I have no idea why! My wife likes flowers in the house.

QDX coming

This morning, I had an email from QRP Labs and the carrier saying that my QDX is on its way. It is due this week. It covers 20-10m at 5W FT8.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

UK winter 1947 - NOT amateur radio

The winter of 1947 was very harsh. This is a photo of my cousins outside their house. Some years later we lived a few houses down. In Salcombe, snow is rare.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Been on 8m FT8 early (since just before breakfast). So far, no spots today.

UPDATE 0955z:   Still no spots. OFCOM has confirmed that my new T&I 8m licence has all I asked for.

UPDATE 1639z:  7 stations have spotted my QRP 8m FT8 today with 4 being in the Caribbean. It seems that if the F2 MUF is high enough, I get spotted across the Atlantic even with QRP.   At one time to be spotted "across the pond" was magic on 8m, whereas now it seems quite commonplace.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on before breakfast. It is now 0912z and all the usual reports including many from the Canary Isles, which I assume is F2 propagation.

UPDATE  1658z:  So far today, my 500mW WSPR has been spotted by 19 unique stations with the furthermost WA2N (6488km).

UPDATE 1837z:   22 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 21st 2023

Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 135. A=8 and K=3. 

Woke - NOT amateur radio

Today I heard that Puffin books is sanitising Roald Dahl books so that they do not cause offence. Now, he was far from an angel, but kids love his books and do not need wrapping in cotton wool. 

In my view, the world is going stark staring mad!! 

Should we pull down the pyramids because they were built by slaves? Should many UK country houses be pulled down because money was made by slaves workers in the West Indies? Many street names in big cities were named after slave merchants.

I am all for a fair world, but where does this end? 

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This path at nearby Anglesey Abbey is lined with snowdrops. On the trees, buds are appearing. It can turn much colder, but there are signs of spring all around.

New T&I 8m TX permit approved

Just heard from OFCOM that they have approved my T&I 8m permit for when mine runs out in April. I have asked for a provisional copy to check over. Assuming this is OK, it means I have broadly the same as currently until April 2024.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

It is now 0950z and I have been on since 0900z. Spots of me by a local and from the Canary Isles.

UPDATE 0959z:   4 unique stations spotting me now. Most are probably via F2.