Interesting tree rings - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw this on our walk last week. Something looks odd with the tree rings. You may need to blow up the photo. Why are some rings white?

Sunspots - Saturday December 2nd 2023

Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 140. A=56 and K=4.

A better way? - NOT amateur radio

It is understandable that the people of Israel were deeply traumatised by the Hamas attacks on October 7th. 

However, by attacking the Gaza Strip as they have been must surely be self-defeating. Many in the world will resent the Israeli actions for generations. Even if Hamas was completely eliminated, a new group would appear still hating Israel.

The only solution cannot be won with war. The solution has to be one based on negotiations and fairness in which everyone is respected mutually and is free to worship as they want.

In my view, what is happening now is genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Jaw, jaw, not war, war.........please!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67584895 .

Tenbox 10m AM QRP

Way back, one of my (many!!) projects was this simple AM transceiver for local natters on 10m, such as at sunspot minimum or at night. The RX is very sensitive, but quite broadband, so not really suitable for DX.  

Because of my 2013 stroke, it never got finished. It was based on the 2m Fredbox. I just wish someone would do a PCB and finish it. It could make a nice club project.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-am-tenbox .

COP28 Dubai - NOT amateur radio

The latest COP meeting (mostly of world leaders) has opened in Dubai. We are on target for a far warmer world. Hopefully renewables, like wind and solar which are now far less expensive, will help. We need a low cost way of storing this energy. We also need a much better way of powering cars with far more range. 

All these could be transformational if they come soon. There was a point when everyone swapped to digital cameras and flat screen TVs. If this happened with energy, it could make a huge difference. Investment is needed and fast.

Nuclear fusion may help in the future, although people having been trying to make this commercially viable since I was in infant school!

10m 500uW WSPR experiment (Friday)

 Although my beacon, with the PA off, has been on all morning, no spots today. Output is about 0.5mW (500uW).

UPDATE 1429z:  Still no spots.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 8m 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 1240z. Just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me so far today.

UPDATE 1505z:   4 stations have spotted me (3 in the Caribbean) on 8m FT8, with one QSO with a station in the Cayman Is..  At the moment, my 2.5W and dipole seem to cross the Atlantic most days.

UPDATE 1547z:  I have to pinch myself to remind me this is with 2.5W and a low dipole on a VHF band!  The table shows the stations that have spotted my QRP 8m FT8 to 1545z today.

UPDATE 1657z:  17 stations have been spotted on 8m FT8 RX today.

Stations received on 8m FT8 today

Cold!!! - NOT amateur radio

For the third morning in a row we have had a frost. For us, it is very cold. Although 1011z, it is still below freezing. The photo shows our back garden.

Solar data

It looks like the peak of solar cycle 25 may have been reached. November 2023 was the month shown as the predicted peak of this cycle. This has not changed for months on my favourite site for solar data.

We can expect conditions to be for several more years.

Rallies this Sunday

 The following have been notified to me. As I always say, check before travelling any distance.

Sunday December 3rd - Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur  Club Rally Spennymoor Co. Durham, DL16 6DB. Contact bdingle@hotmail.co.uk .

Sunday December 3rd - Royal Wootton Bassett Swapmeet and Auction, , Swindon, Wootton Bassett, SN4 8EN. Contact  not given, but check website http://www.bvws.org.uk .