Spring - NOT amateur radio

The green in spring always looks fresh whereas later it looks tired. This horse chestnut tree looks splendid. 

8m QRP FT8 TX (Thursday)

Earlier. I got my first 8m FT8 report for a while. This was Martin's SDR at WESSEXSDR (265km) at a respectable - 17dB S/N. 

They have arrived - NOT amateur radio

The swifts are back. This morning 2 were spotted. I have yet to hear them screaming in feeding parties, but the cycle that has been around for thousands of years continues. 

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swift/ .

160m QRP FT8 last evening

Spots of my QRP FT8 on 160m
with the earth-electrode "antenna"
in the ground last evening

Using just 2.5W FT8 on 160m last evening to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground 14 spots of me (as the map shows) were obtained. It works remarkably well with the FT817ND with just the 3C90 transformer and no ATU. I guess the SWR is between 2:1 and 3:1.

Sporadic E (Es)

We are just entering the Es season in the northern hemisphere. DX out to about 1500km with low power is common on the lower VHF bands. The photo shows my V2000 omni in 2020. On 6m even QRP SSB is enough to work DX. 

Sunspots - Thursday May 4th 2023

Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 143. A=4 and K=1. 

160m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

It is not dark here for about 90 minutes, but my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted on 2 SDR's in the west country the furthermost WESSEXSDR (265km).

UPDATE 2108z: 11 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8.

Still waiting - NOT amateur radio

Today, for only the second time, we had a cup of tea in the garden. Despite looking (and listening) for about a hour, no swifts seen or heard. This is a bit early. Hopefully within a few weeks we will hear the screams, look up and see some. Numbers are meant to be down, although locally they seemed as numerous.

Laburnum - NOT amateur radio

 This is now out. Spring is here! This was out where we vote tomorrow.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 For the last couple of hours I have been on 8m QRP FT8 again on 40.680 MHz. No spots.

UPDATE 1641z:  No spots.