24 Aug 2023

Old university friends - NOT amateur radio

Today, we met up with old university friends that we have known since the late 1960s. We met up in Anglesey Abbey and they came back here for lunch. 

With old friends we pick up where we left off as if we last met just yesterday.

Rallies this (long) weekend

In England, Monday is a public holiday. I have been notified of the following rallies. As always, I advise checking the information is correct and the rally not cancelled before driving a long way. Where possible, I add contact details.

Sunday August 27th - Torbay Annual Communications Fair, Newton Abbot Racecourse, TQ12 3AF.  Contact  01803 864528.

Sunday August 27th - Milton Keynes ARS, Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, MK8 9AA. No contact details given.

Monday August 28th - Huntingdonshire ARS, St Neots, PE19 2SH. Contact events@hunts-hams.co.uk .

More crapapple jelly - NOT amateur radio

After all the effort I managed just 2 very small jars of crabapple jelly. Really not worth the effort. As my wife said quoting Shakespeare "Much ado about nothing". 

10m QRP WSPR TX ( Thursday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on for about 20 minutes. Spotted by 3 stations. 2 look like F2. 

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 Been on for about 20 minutes. No spots yet. 

Sunspots - Thursday August 24th 2023

Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 99. A=4 and K=0.

23 Aug 2023

Russian plane crash -- NOT amateur radio

It must be clear that Vladimir Putin would never harm his once hero, Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66599733 .

Crapapple jelly - NOT amateur radio

Yes you read correctly. 

Yesterday I picked the crabapples on our tree. It looked a good crop. Following the recipe in BBC Good Food, I simmered them and dripped them through muslin overnight. The resulting juice was ....... pathetic. If I get just one very small jar I shall be amazed.

I am seeing if I can salvage something, although I am not holding my breath. Perhaps I should stick to radios?

Reach walk - NOT amateur radio

 

We did a nice walk around the village of Reach about 3 km from us. My wife created this collage. Fields of corn are cut and there are blackberries in the hedges.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on just after breakfast. At 1050z, only spotted by WESSEXSDR (266km). I assume this is aircraft reflection. 

I am sure the many spots in the past by EI9KP (649km) must be by aircraft reflection. These appear random as there are many so many aircraft on this route.

UPDATE 1254z:  No further 8m spots.

UPDATE 1820z:  Just 2 G spots of my QRP.  Aircraft scatter?