Poking over the fence - NOT amateur radio

This rose was poking its head over the fence.

Rallies this weekend

The following have been notified to me. It is advisable to check details are correct.

Sunday August  20th - Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally, Rugby, CV23 9PY. Contact rally@rugbyats.co.uk .

Sunday August 20th - Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally,  Marken Rasen, LN8 3HT. Contact m5zzz@outlook.com  .

Sunday August 20th - Red Rose Summer Rally, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. See http://www.wmrc.co.uk  .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Once again, I am on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Most days even my 2.5W to the dipole is spotted across Europe by about 3 stations.

UPDATE 1740z:   No spots.

European Es season

It looks like the main Es season in the northern hemisphere is just about over but, as I remind people, Es can occur at any time. OK, the days when 10m or 6m may be open for hours may be over for this year, but there will still be times.

This is why FT8 can be so useful, sniffing out very brief openings that in the past would have gone unnoticed. Frequently, the 27 MHz CB band is busy, yet 10m is quiet. This suggests decent propagation, but a lack of activity. These days, there is little excuse. Just 15 seconds of FT8 transmission is all that is needed to prove a path is "open".

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

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0850z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1034z:  Just spots by local G4KPX (14km). No Es.

UPDATE 1741z:  Spotted by 3 stations. Marginal conditions.

Sunspots - Thursday August 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 140.  A=8 and K=1.

ATS120 Receiver

This is a handheld radio available from AliExpress for less than £67. I have no idea how good it is. The Chinese will soon will be a real challenge to the Japanese in the years ahead. In my view the Chinese have more work to do on quality control, but they will get there.

Any ideas? - NOT amateur radio

Most definitely I am no flower expert! We saw this on our walk this morning. It had flowers about 5cm long. I expect some expert will say it is "common xxx" and they are widespread!! 

Wicken Fen walk - NOT amateur radio

One of our favourite walks is to Wicken Fen where we get a coffee and something to eat. At least the sun was shining today! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0900z. At 1217z, 4 stations have spotted me

UPDATE 1555z: 38 unique stations have spotted me today.