Sunspots - Friday November 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 28.  A=8 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on at 1642z. So far, after 1 transmission, 3 UK stations have spotted me. No great DX, but it works!

UPDATE 2015z: 7 UK stations have spotted me.

Rally news

The following rallies are due this weekend. If you are going a long way, I always advise contacting the organisers first. 

Saturday November 18th - Rochdale and District ARS Winter Rally, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR.  Contact dave@cardens.me.uk .

Sunday November 19th  - Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society (CATS) Bazaar,  Old Coulsdon, CR5 1ES. Contact bazaar@catsradio.org.uk .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on at 1413z.  No spots at 1617z.

Fog of war - NOT amateur radio

When there are wars on it is very hard to discern the truth as all sides tend to distort the truth. This was true in the Vietnam war and was certainly true in WW2. 

At the moment, in the Middle East, it is hard to untangle the facts. Clearly Israel wants to eliminate the threat from Hamas. At the same time, many innocent people are being killed or maimed and their homes destroyed. The best way I have found is to listen to the news from both angles and try to make up your mind on the truth. With the "fog of war", this is hard.  

The only thing for certain is that all involved bend the truth!!

10m uW WSPR (Thursday)

My 10m WSPR beacon is still turned on but with the PA turned off. No spots. My beacon is pre-programmed to say 0.5W, even though the power is actually about 500uW.

UPDATE 1630z:  Unless things dramatically change, I think spots of my 500uW on 10m WSPR TX are very unlikely today. Tomorrow, I shall probably revert to 500mW, i.e. QRO for me! I guess the issue for many is now a high local noise floor.

630m overnight

With 15 stations spotting me overnight (on 630m WSPR with 10mW ERP) this is my best this season. Once again the best were 3 spots  by OH1LSQ (1733km).

Sunspots - Thursday November 16th 2023

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 41. A=12 and K=2.

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on shortly after 1730z.

UPDATE 1736z:   2 spots of me so far.

Fungi - NOT amateur radio

 

This fungi was on a log at Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge, earlier.  At one time there was a hornet's nest here.