10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at 0804z this morning. No spots yet. I guess the stations in the Canaries have not yet fired up.

UPDATE  0820z: Spots from ODESSA and EA8/DF4UE.

UPDATE 1518z: 34 spots of me with many from North America. Also spotting me was J41PAN a special call from Greece to celebrate operation from Paneio Mountain.

UPDATE 1941z:  47 stations spotted me today including 2 spots from Antarctica. 

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

Ely is about 20 minutes away from us by car. The cathedral, which is very old, dominates.

See https://www.elycathedral.org/

Plans for Tuesday

I shall try 8m FT8 QRP again and 10m QRP WSPR TX as the antenna is free with the beacon. 

Village cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage was extended some years ago. The new part matches the old very well.

630m WSPR RX (Monday evening)

 6 stations were spotted last evening on 630m (472 kHz) WSPR RX. 

Sunspots - Tuesday October 3rd 2023

Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 146. A=9 and K=1.

630m WSPR RX (Monday)

 At 1920z, I turned on my 630m WSPR RX using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Lightning stops play

Just now, we had a lightning flash and clap of thunder. Judging by the time delay, I would imagine it is 10km south of here. 

Just in case, I have disconnected PCs, PSUs and antennas in the shack. 

If it looks like the risk is going away, I shall probably reconnect things.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0; 

Inertia

 Maybe it is because I am retired? Maybe it is because I am old? Maybe it is related to my 2013 stroke?

Whatever the reason, I am always very tired and get exhausted very quickly. Jobs that would have once taken a few minutes take ages. As examples I have had an SDR and a tiny spectrum analyser for ages and they have still to be used. My 630m transverter that needs fixing still needs fixing. 

It is as if there is no urgency. Perhaps this is a good thing. There is always tomorrow...

Working Russian stations

If you are old enough, you will remember working lots of stations in the old USSR. We were able to share our hobby on equal terms with people who were really the same as us. 

I feel the same now about Russia. I hate that they invaded Ukraine, but I hope that via amateur radio we can all share our common humanity. Incidentally, one of my old neighbours was Russian and nicer person you could never meet.  Since leaving work, I have had regular contact with a Russian who has always been the same.