Rowan tree - NOT amateur radio

We have 3 rowan trees in our front garden. The one nearest the drive is filled with berries that fall everywhere. It is also leaning heavily. 

8m 2.5W FT8 (Monday)

 My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole on 40.680 MHz was turned on about 0830z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1206z:   2 Polish stations have spotted my QRP 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1544z: No further stations spotting me.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

 

My 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0830z. 

UPDATE 1546z: 31 stations have spotted me. No further stations spotting me recently.

Sunspots - Monday August 28th 2023

Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 69. A=11 and K=2.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - NOT amateur radio

Until this year, most had not heard of AI. Now it is widespread.  

There is no doubt that with big computers that learn we can all benefit from the huge processing power. What a human brain can do in days could be done by an AI computer in seconds. This could really help in such things as fast cancer diagnosis.

At the same time it could be a great cause of harm in the wrong hands. 

Some time ago, I did an experiment with AI. I put my name and callsign in and within seconds it produced line after line about me, most which was accurate. I then put my son's name in (he is an internationally famous jazz musician) and it came back with rubbish. The danger is that people may accept what AI tells them as absolute truth. Imagine a hostile power using AI. We can be sure the military services both east and west are "on the case".

I can see both good and bad. We have interacted with AI for years e.g. with chat bots and phone chats that, for example, ask you to "press 2 if you need to discuss future cruises".  In the future they will be far better.

At the moment, I am reserving judgement.

Crabapple jelly (continued) - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I mentioned that I had made some crabapple jelly from the crabapples on our one tree. Despite a good crop, the amount of jelly produced was very small.

Yesterday I tried some and it was very good. It is just a pity there is so little!

European Es

The main Es season is now over, but Es is still with us. I find this site extremely useful to get a snapshot of conditions. It looks like there is a good opening in Eastern Europe this afternoon.

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

Ickworth (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we visited this vast estate near Bury-St-Edmunds. It must have cost an enormous amount to own and run it centuries ago. 

I have no idea where this wealth came from, but I hope not slavery. These days it can be enjoyed by everyone.

In praise of Chromebooks - NOT amateur radio

For almost 3 years now I have mostly used a Chromebook. It has been truly excellent and does almost everything I can ever want and is blisteringly fast. 

Mine is an Asus and came with a 3yr "at home" warranty. It is an 11.6 inch model with rubber bumpers. The Chrome updates and virus protection are valid until next year, when I shall probably get the latest version. 

It was about a third the price of the nearest Windows machine. The battery still lasts for hours. It really is very good and I have not once regretted buying it.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

Although my QRP beacon has been on since breakfast, no spots yet.  It is now 0942z.

UPDATE 1005z:  Doh!! It helps if you turn the PA on too! Without this, I was probably running a just few microwatts. PA now turned on and resynced time.

UPDATE 1047z:   The map shows the stations that have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon in the last few weeks.

UPDATE 1328z: 23 spots of my 500mW WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1937z:  26 spots when I went QRT.