Sunspots - Tuesday March 21st 2023

Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 75. A=13 and K=1. 

Plans for the day (Monday)

As we are out some of today, I shall probably go on 472 kHz WSPR RX this evening. It is getting later in the season, so I have no idea how it will go. I shall probably have to use the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna with some loading.

Muntjac deer - NOT amateur radio

For the 5th time recently in our garden, a Muntjac deer scampered away. These are dog sized deer that look nice, but nibble away at some plants. In recent years, these introduced deer have become far more common here.

See https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/muntjac-deer .

2m FT8 QRP

In my view  2m FT8 has been transformational with DX possible at any time with QRP.  Yes, SSB activity has declined, but I feel sure some sort of scatter is being tapped into. 

This is not aircraft scatter as planes are not needed. Personally I think this is troposcatter made possible by the far better sensitivity of FT8. 

The photo shows the received stations on typical day with flat conditions. This was 2019 with just an omni antenna! 

Hallsands Devon - NOT amateur radio

This painting was done in 1884. It shows the coastal village of Hallsands that was washed away early in the 20th century. Dredging offshore for Plymouth Dockyard was blamed. Previously this had been a thriving village famous for crab fishing. 

Sunspots - Monday March 20th 2023

 Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 73.  A=10 and K=1. 

Kindness

Many times in the last 10 years I have been reminded of the kindness shown to me. 

Complete strangers have offered me help and several have sent me gifts, purely out of kindness, things to make life better. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  All I can say is the true spirit of amateur radio is alive and well.

It is my belief that there are many more kind people in the world than bad ones. It is just that kindness is, sadly, not sensational or newsworthy.

At some point, I hope that I am able to be as kind to somebody else.

23cm QSO this week?

If he is around, I may try a 23cm SSB QSO with G4BAO. John has a superb 23cm station, so I should certainly be able to copy him. 

My station has an ERP about 40dB less than his. I hope he can copy me! I am still using 2W pep to my 2el beam pointing out of the shack window.

Breaking down barriers

Many years ago in the so called,"cold war", we had many contacts on amateur radio with stations across the world  including many stations that, at that time, were in the USSR.  Some of my best QSL cards are from those years.

I would like to think that these QSOs helped to break down barriers between people. Amateur radio has no interest in politics and never should. We can be black, white, yellow or even green, male, female or in between, left wing, right wing, capitalist or communist. It matters not. We are all just humans with an interest in radio.

Sunshine twins - NOT amateur radio

As teenagers a very long time ago, my wife and I had yellow jackets. Years later we bought some more.

Back in the 1960s my uncle called us "the sunshine twins".  Can't think why!!! 😄