Sunspots - Sunday July 23rd 2023

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 103. A=8 and K=0.

Ely thistle - NOT amateur radio

This splendid thistle was in the Almonry Garden at Ely Cathedral last Tuesday.  You can just see Ely Cathedral behind.

OFCOM publications

This is just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc. every week. Check the OFCOM website for details. The latest versions of their publications are also there too.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

As mentioned before, my 8m antenna system is faulty and needs replacing. As an experiment I tried my V2000 vertical omni on 8m. The VSWR is over 3:1 so not really suitable. I gave a few transmissions but am currently on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1144z:  I must mend my 8m antenna system!

UPDATE 1600z:  As an emergency measure I am using my indoor loop on 8m. The SWR is higher than I would want, so I am mostly on RX.

Amateur Radio Weekly newsletter

This comes as a free email newsletter. It is a good source of amateur radio data.

See https://hamweekly.com/ . 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

Since just after breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. At 1058z, 16 stations had spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Switched on the 6m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast. Looks like there is Es, but no JAs spotted here although I see them being worked from Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1130z:  64 stations have spotted my 2.5W 6m FT8 today.

Poldu, Cornwall

A few weeks ago some friends called at the Poldu radio museum. They mentioned that I used to work for Philips and the person there said he knew me. It was Terry who must have retired to Cornwall. Small world. 

Sunspots - Saturday July 22nd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 121. A=13 and K=2. 

Bee patient - NOT amateur radio

This morning, I tried to take a photo of a bee on a thistle. I waited and waited, but the bee refused to make itself visible. In the end I gave up! The bee is the black blob in the right hand thistle. Well, I tried.