Sunspots - Monday July 10th 2023.

Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 183. A=8 and K=1.

German postboxes? - NOT amateur radio

We were in Berlin for a week and had a great time. We posted just one physical postcard from the hotel sending our other friends a digital postcard with a collage picture we hoped they would enjoy.

In all our time there we did not see one postbox. 

I know they are yellow. If they were there, they were not obvious! I don't mind as it probably saved me many Euros in postage and postcards. Also, from abroad some postcards take ages. By email, they got them very quickly.

St Ninian's Isle, Shetland - NOT amateur radio

 

One of the people I follow posted this photo on 365project today. 

Shetland is the most northerly point in the British Isles. It is often subject to gales and colder weather than places further south.

2m Es (Sunday)

Stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today 

My 2.5W FT8 to the big-wheel omni antenna was spotted by 2 stations in Italy, although no QSOs were managed. On RX, the furthermost was SV8PEX (2039km) on Corfu. A useful 2m Es opening. The station in Greece was very strong at +11dB S/N. 

40s day at local museum - NOT amateur radio

Today, our local museum had a "40s day". Many people dressed up in 40s clothes for the occasion. It was really well attended with lots of stalls, music and dancing.

Good European Es day?

It would appear that Es has been good in Europe today. Until I mend my 8m antenna and coax and the BNC plug on the coax to my V2000 vertical, I am confined to 10m.

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

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

10m QRP
FT8 at 0800z

I have been on for about 2 hours and my 2.5W has been spotted by 11 unique stations around Europe by what looks like Es.  

On RX, much further afield spotted.

Stations spotted
on 10m FT8
RX at 0950z 

UPDATE 0951z: 19 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 52 stations so far today.  

UPDATE 1106z: 47 stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1441z:  66 stations have spotted my QRP today.

UPDATE 1607z: Still 66 stations have spotted my 2.5W FT8 and I have spotted 194 stations today on 10m FT8. At some point my PC must have gone off as I had a message saying "error in soundcard".

Screaming swifts - NOT amateur radio

 

As I write this, it is July 8th. It is not uncommon to hear feeding parties of swifts. Look up and there they are. Tonight there was a party on the wing of about 20 birds.

Suddenly they will all be gone. They fly south to central Africa, where insects are more plentiful. It beats me why they migrate as I would have thought there would be a plentiful supply of flying insects there all year around. The journey is a hazardous one crossing deserts and much of Europe.

Numbers seem to be holding up here. There is a concern about losing nest sites on old buildings and barns. I can't say numbers appear lower here. Indeed I have also seen more swallows than last year.

Once they have gone it takes a few weeks to realise they are not here. In this part of the UK most are back by mid May. When they are here they are one of the most common birds seen. They feed and sleep on the wing. It gladdens my heart when they return. They have been making his journey for thousands or even millions of years completely oblivious of wars that trouble humans.

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

Sunspots - Sunday July 9th 2023

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 197. A=8 and K=1.

10m FT8 on Sunday

 Tomorrow, I hope to go on 10m FT8 with 2.5W using the FT817ND.