Barnacle geese - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken a few years ago in Helsinki. It shows barnacle geese with young. They were just outside the opera house. In the UK we may see barnacle geese as adults in winter. We don't see them as young in summer. 

They look a bit like small Canada geese. 

Ten years ago

Ten years ago I was experimenting with a loop antenna and QRP in the garden of the old QTH. 

Sunspots - Sunday June 25th 2023

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 200. A=16 and K=5.

DX soundbites

It is fun to listen to DX sound bites from long ago.  Try these from 2004:

http://hamgallery.com/dx2004/

ICOM future plans

On Amateur Radio Weekly there was a bit about the future plans of ICOM.

Amateur Radio Weekly comes to me each Saturday as a free email newsletter.

See https://www.icomjapan.com/api/download.php?post_id=3823&fl=JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRmNvbXBhbnklMkZJY29tJTIwSW5jJTIwTWVkaXVtJTIwVGVybSUyMEJ1c2luZXNzJTIwUGxhbiUyMDIwMjZfRU5HX01heTIwMjMucGRm. 

Es season

This is a site I find quite useful. It gives an instant view of the Es situation in Europe. Often Es drifts, so paths that are not open open up and vice versa. What I find quite useful is seeing how active 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m are. It is not foolproof, but it is useful. If a band is "open" in a certain direction, then it is worth not missing the fun.

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

UPDATE 1500z:  Es today looks poor.

8m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

My QRP (2.5W) FT8 has been on since about 0900z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1736z:  No spots still. So far, today has been really poor on 8m FT8 for me.

UPDATE 1103z:  Spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.

UPDATE 1313z: Still just HC02 spotting me on 8m FT8 today. Nobody spotted on RX.

OFCOM publications

 Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0900z. So far today, local G4KPX (14km) and OE3XOE (1233km) and IV3DXW (1200km) have spotted me.

UPDATE 1410z:  9 unique stations have spotted me.

Herbaceous Border - NOT amateur radio

This was the herbaceous garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. The border displays look wonderful, if short lived. We will blink and the herbaceous garden will be closed and looking dead. They will be tended and look good again next year.