Amused - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon from many years ago amused me. It still does! 

Sunspots - Wednesday July 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 227 (high). A=8 and K=2. Pretty sure this is the highest this cycle. 

Swifts still here - NOT amateur radio

Certainly yesterday, most swifts (birds) were still here. Sometime soon, we will realise they have gone south until next spring. Au revoir.

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

My scrapbook must be updated

It is some time since I updated my G3XBM Project Scrapbook. This is available as a free PDF download. 

My last update was back in January. This page should always link to the latest available version. At the moment it is at Issue 4.

8m QRP FT8

It looks like I need to re-do the antenna and coax for 8m. Someone suggested, (Paul I think) that I might have water in the coax. If this is the case, the minimum would be to redo the coax. Not being great at all on ladders (!) this is easier said than done!

For now, I shall have to remain QRT on 8m, although I must get back on again before the autumn F2 season.

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

So far today, (at 1100z) my 2.5W has been spotted by 47 unique stations with the furthermost FR1GZ (9719km).

Stations spotting me at 1504z

UPDATE  1120z:  53 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1245z:  60 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1636z:  131 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 2.5W QRP.

Our garden in summer - NOT amateur radio

Usually, our grass turns brown about now. At the moment, it is still largely green as we have had a few useful showers. Our borders are mainly perennials with a few bedding plants to add colour. We are not keen gardeners. I usually cut the grass each week and water when needed.

Coax plug on V2000 vertical fixed

 Following Paul's suggestion, I ordered a PL259 plug and BNC adaptor. This seems to have been correctly fitted with a very low SWR on 6m, 2m and 70cm. All being well, I shall be on the CDARC 2m FM net on Wednesday evening at 8pm.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 11th 2023

Solar flux is 191 and the SSN 181.  A=5 and K=2.

Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio

These wild flowers are about 5m from our house. They are by the path to our local museum and windmill next door.

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .