Sunspots - Wednesday September 6th 2023

 Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 121. A=10 and K=2. 

2m activity contest UKAC

This evening was the 2m activity organised by the RSGB. Conditions were "up", but this makes it harder for QRP stations to get through the wall of stations. 

With my 10W pep and big wheel omni antenna, I managed 9 QSOs in about 45 minutes before I had to go QRT. Best DX heard was an OZ in JO46 square.

Faroe Is - NOT amateur radio

This photo was put on 365project back in August by a friend.  

I have an affinity to wild places.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My 500mW 10m beacon was turned on at about 0855z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1626z: 2 stations have spotted me so far. No Es today.

UPDATE 2048z:  Spotted by 4 stations (see table). Now QRT.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 8m 2.5W FT8 was turned on at about 0855z. So far (not exactly unexpectedly!) no spots.

UPDATE 1005z: Local G4WSZ (12km) has spotted me. No further spots today.

UPDATE 1315z: EI9KP (649km) has again spotted my 8m QRP FT8.   This must be aircraft scatter surely?

UPDATE 2044z:  No further spots. QRT now.

European Es

At the moment this looks poor. See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

UPDATE 1642z:  Conditions are still dire.

8m yesterday

Yesterday was surprisingly good for me on 8m. In the end I was spotted by 4 stations including Poland that I was not expecting. Days of wall to wall Es have ended but clearly openings still occur, assuming it was Es!! 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 100. A=8 and K=1.

Sunflower - NOT amateur radio

We put some supposedly giant sunflower seeds in the garden. They were pathetic. 

At the weekend my wife bought some cut sunflowers. This is one of them.

Media and stories - NOT amateur radio

OK, I can only speak of what happens in the UK, but similar probably happens in many countries.

Have you noticed how the media grabs a story and sticks with it for days on end? 

The latest is RAAC concrete in schools. In the UK this lightweight concrete was used as a cheap material in schools and other public buildings. It was used extensively after WW2. It has been found to have a life of 30 years if poorly maintained and buildings can be vulnerable if water seeps into the concrete. Before this, something else was the focus of the media. Things that were once in our focus just drop out of the news.

I am worried that the media sets the agenda. 

Back in the late 1960s we were told that the Vietcong were evil and those defending South Vietnam were heroes defending democracy from evil communists. Now, no-one is perfect, but we were fed a line. With the luxury of history we can now see through to the truth.

What would be good is neutral, unbiased, news. The best I have found is "The Knowledge" which is a free email, daily, newsletter.