Sunspots - Tuesday May 16th 2023

Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 103. A=6 and K=1.  Numbers look back to normal.

No amateur radio today

Today we went on the train to Norwich where we met my wife's brother and his wife. We treated them to high tea as it was their 50th wedding anniversary. We also went to Norwich Castle to see a special exhibition on HMS Gloucester which sank off the Norfolk coast in the 1600s. 

So, no amateur radio today!! It is a tough life, but someone had to eat it 😉😋

Where I come from in South Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon. It was a Facebook memory from a few days ago. 

12 years ago on 137 kHz

 

This was my 50uW LF signal 12 years ago. 

Sunspots - Monday May 15th 2023

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 109. A=8 and K=1.

Leaving 8m?

Never thought I would say this, but I am seriously thinking of quitting 8m. 

I thought this would be the year when lots of stations would come on 8m. This could either be at very low power under ISM rules without a licence or by gaining temporary permission from a national authority, perhaps for the Es season or until the next solar peak has passed. At the moment (I may be wrong) it looks like just the old faces are active with few new people.

This next week is critical. Unless I see many more coming on to 8m TX, I think my experiment has to close for now, sadly. My only "new" thing will be working more stations or getting FT8 reports.

If I leave 8m, I shall concentrate on 10m FT8 QRP.  I may also try FT8 on 4m during the Es season.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

At about 1300z I QSYed to 10m FT8 with 2.5W. 8m seemed hopeless. My QRP has been spotted by a local and I have spotted 3 stations so far. 

UPDATE 1542z:   As there was a little bit (I think) of 10m Es, I have gone QRT on 10m and QSYed to 8m QRP FT8 ever hopeful. Several spots on RX and on TX (2.5W) 3 spots including a couple of Italians.

Yesterday's walk - NOT amateur radio

 

Yesterday we walked to Wicken Fen passing this boat.

BBC Weather - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, the cloud was meant to burn back to reveal the sun and light clouds according to the BBC weather app. It was cloudy all day. 

Today (according to the BBC), the cloud should have again burnt back to reveal the sun by now. Of course, it is still cloudy. 

Sorry, but as a forecast it is hopeless!! 

OK the UK weather is complicated, I know, but if you are unable to make an accurate forecast, just don't bother and I shall just look out of the window.

BBC =  better by cod (i.e. with a wet fish).

UPDATE 1046z:  Sun has appeared!

10m WSPR TX with 500mW

At 0630z my QRP 10m TX beacon was turned on.

UPDATE 1040z:  No spots. 

UPDATE 1633z:   On 10m QRP WSPR again, but just spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1905z:   DX today (actually the ONLY station spotting me!) was G4KPX (14km). All in all, a really awful day. Tomorrow has to be better!

UPDATE 2045z: QRT.