Sunspots - Friday October 20th 2023

 Solar flux is 129 and the SSN 39.  A=10 and K=2.

Rally

The following rally has been notified to me. In view of the weather warnings, I strongly advise checking before travelling.

    Sunday, October 22nd, Galashiels, TD1 3JX. I do not have contact details.

Quote from "The Knowledge" today - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, Mrs Thatcher was the first women Prime Minister. She had very definite views about what had to change. She was very strong in UK politics. She was in charge of the Conservative government. Many hated her and she has a lot to answer for.

This appeared in "The Knowledge" today.

Quoted

“If you have to tell people you are powerful, it means you aren’t.” Margaret Thatcher

Fan vaulting - NOT amateur radio

Being local, we can go into King's College Chapel in Cambridge for free whenever we want. 

People travel across the planet to see it. The fan vaulting is the best example in Europe I believe.

Look Down! - NOT amateur radio

We have been walking through the Grand Arcade in Cambridge for years.  Only recently had we noticed that the floor tiles have lots of fossils in them. I expect many thousands besides me have just walked on and never noticed.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

 At about 1245z, my QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. So far, just G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1422z:  11 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon this afternoon.

Living in the moment - NOT amateur radio

As recent events have taught us, we have no idea what is just around the corner. More than ever we must enjoy the now. We spend a lot of time worrying about the future and not enjoying the now. Yes, we have to keep an eye on the future, but it can consume us in lots of unnecessary worry too.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 As the storm risk seems low, I turned on my 2.5W 8m FT8 to the dipole at 1245z.

UPDATE 1304z:  2 stations have spotted me - 1 local G4WSZ (12km) and one in Spain EA3ERE (1153km).

UPDATE 1400z: Spotted in South Africa by ZR1ADI (9777km). He called me, but conditions had changed and we were unable to complete. Still, this was the first time I have been spotted in the Southern Hemisphere on 8m.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

10 stations spotted my QRP WSPR on 630m overnight including (yet again) OH1LSQ (1733km) .

Thunder risk (Thursday)

 Although I think the risk of thunderstorms this morning is low, I am taking no chances. I shall be out until lunchtime, so I have disconnected, antennas, PSUs and plugs from the mains to minimise risks of static build-up causing damage. So, I am not on ANY band this morning.

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