Sunspots - Friday October 13th 2023

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 126. A=4 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 43 spots of me.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Although I have been on most of the day, no spots on TX or RX.  There are quite a few monitors. I expect they are expecting F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1325z:  It helps if you connect an actual antenna and not a dummy load!  Until a few minutes ago, my 8m antenna was not connected and I was wondering why the match was very good, but I was getting no spots. Once the 8m antenna was connected, local G4WSZ (12km) immediately spotted me!

UPDATE 1530z: ZR1ADI (9777km) in Western Cape, South Africa copied well on 8m FT8.

Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 149.  A=4 ad K=1

Israel and Hamas - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that recent incursions of Israel by Hamas caused widespread outrage. However, for more than my lifetime, the people of Gaza have been treated as prisoners by the Israelis.  Cutting off all supplies to Gaza is in danger of backfiring on Israel. I understand their view of Hamas, but does making innocent women and children suffer advance peace? I think not.

I do not have the answers.

630m QRP WSPR

At 1740z, my QRP 630m WSPR was turned on. 2 G stations have spotted me so far this evening.

UPDATE 1941z:   5 stations have spotted me so far this evening (4 Gs and 1 GM). Wet outside. 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"  in the ground. See http://wspr.aprsinfo.com/.

Hedging bets? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, all retailers are having a hard time with the growth and convenience of online shopping. John Lewis in Cambridge seems to be hedging its bets by having a Halloween and Christmas display within metres! 

Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This group of islands (Shetland) is the most northerly in the British Isles. 

At one time, Shetand.belonged to Norway. This group of islands is far nearer Bergen in Norway than London. Shetland has long summer days and long winter nights.  This photo was posted on 365project recently. They often get strong winds.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

I have received spots from 3 stations (2 G and 1 in ON).  My 40.680 MHz 2.5W FT8 was turned on at about 0630z.

UPDATE 1453z:  5 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 today including the USA and Canada. The F2 season is in full swing.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at about 0630z. 

UPDATE 0936z: Already spotted by 16 stations, with again spots from Antarctica.

UPDATE 1129z:  21 spots of me today, with 10 Antarctic spots today alone!!

UPDATE 1508z:   57 spots of my 500mW today with plenty from "across the pond".

UPDATE 1812z:  66 spots of my 500mW today (see map).