Good HF conditions

My main HF band is 10m. I mostly go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. At the moment conditions on 10m seem to be good. I suspect all the higher HF bands are good too. We have (maybe) just passed the solar maximum. Conditions may not be this good again for a while, although I hope to be around for the peak of solar cycle 26!

2200m RX?

 It occurs to me that my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground should work well on 2200m RX. Apart from my CW/QRSS beacon, I have no means of TXing. Looking at the WSPRnet, it would appear there is very low WSPR activity on the band in Europe. 

This begs several questions. 

*  Should I try monitoring the band?
*  What time in the UK is best?
*  What mode?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0930z. Already a couple of F2 spots.

UPDATE 1000z:  Already spotted by 6 stations.

UPDATE 1222z: So far today, spotted by 18 stations .

UPDATE 1952z:  Spotted by 28 stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on about 0930z. No reports yet.  It looks, to me, as if there are more monitors on 8m in Europe.

UPDATE 1430z:  4X1BG (3532km) has been a big signal on 8m FT8 this afternoon.

Brain filters? - NOT amateur radio

Recently, I have had some thoughts about the brain. 

In recent years, possibly as a result of my 2013 stroke, I have become very fearful of driving. In the early years after my stroke this was not an issue. It is as if my brain has to work far, far, harder assessing potential risks.  Touch wood, I have never had an accident.

I wonder if normal brains have a filter to allow information to be processed without overload? Perhaps this does not work properly in people with dyslexia or certain brain injuries? Maybe this changes with age?

Certainly, most people are able to block out certain traumatic events. If we worried about everything, life would be incredibly hard.

Sunspots - Sunday November 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 95.  A=14 and K=2.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

12 stations spotted me overnight with the furthermost Norway.

630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

At about 1845z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Two stations spotting me so far. Both were G stations.

UPDATE 2224z:  7 stations have spotted me so far this evening (see table).

Evil - NOT amateur radio

One thing history teaches us - we never learn from history!  

Shortly after WW1 we were fighting in WW2. At the moment, there are 2 major conflicts in the world. All these conflicts have their roots in injustice. It pains me that humans seem incapable of living peacefully with others. Inevitably this hate boils over.

Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that human beings are evil. At one time, I thought we were all good at heart. Recent events make me doubt this.

Pampas Grass - NOT amateur radio

 

Some of our neighbours have some very successful clumps of pampas grass. At our old house I was very unsuccessful, although I have never tried growing it here. I guess the soil is different. Maybe I should give it a try next year?