Eddystone EC10 receivers

From time to time these still appear on auction sits like eBay, commanding ridiculous prices. As a young person these were highly coveted. In reality they were unbelievably poor. These days a low cost SDR dongle offers far superior performance for far less than the 1968 new price!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/eddystone-ec10 .

Keeping an eye on Es in Europe

Following Hugh's (HC02) suggestion, I am now looking at this map of 8m Es in Europe.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/8m-40mhz-spot-band/

On the same site is this map showing live Es data for other bands. I get the feeling 8m Es could be promising later.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0820z. 

UPDATE 0924z:   So far just local spots.

UPDATE 1326z:  3 unique spots so far with the furthermost being deep in the Indian Ocean.

UPDATE 1903z:   7 unique spots today. I do not think there was any Es today.

UPDATE 2040z:  QRT.

Royal Gloucester Bell - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to the exhibition at Norwich Castle Museum of the Royal Gloucester ship. This is the ship's bell. 

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

As I was not on the air yesterday, I intend to go on 8m FT8 later. As the 10m antenna is available I will be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW too. 

UPDATE 0927z:  Gear turned on about 0820z. No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 2044z:   QRT. It is now some days since I have had any spots on 8m FT8. Es seems to have been poor so far this season.

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.