SETI (the search for intelligent live in the universe) - NOT amateur radio

To the best of my knowledge this has been going on since the mid 1960s at least, without success. 

Now AI has been brought in to help data processing. According to the BBC there are potentially 10-50 billion places where intelligent life could exist just in this galaxy alone. 

There are so many variables like where do you look in the electromagnetic spectrum. Indeed, is this the best place to look? 

If we found signs of intelligent life, it could have profound effects on this small blue dot.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68346015 .

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Thursday)

With the sunspot number being so low compared with a few months ago, I think it is very unlikely I shall be spotted today with this tiny power. As a sucker for punishment though my 10m WSPR beacon is again on without the PA.

UPDATE 1710z:  No spots all day. Am I surprised? No.

2200m transverter

Last night I gave the latest version of Google's AI tool (now called Gemini) a try. I tried various family names, without being impressed. Basically, compared with ChatGPT4, it was hopeless. They have a long way to go to catch up in my view.

I then tried G3XBM and it came up with a French site that had a copy of my 137kHz transverter from 2011. I think it was a prototype (no RX preamp) and I cannot even remember producing the circuit. The schematic is the best I have. It shows the loop antenna that I used. Zooming in on the schematic makes it a bit clearer. As I recall, the furthermost I got was the Netherlands on QRSS3.

630m WSPR overnight

 

23 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR overnight.

Unsafe? - NOT amateur radio

On Monday there were no punts visible on the River Cam. I wonder if they were banned as it was unsafe?

Sunspots - Thursday February 22nd

Solar flux is 170 and the SSN just 45. Pretty sure this is the lowest for many years. A=4 and K=0. I seem to recall at the peak of the last cycle there were days with very few sunspots.

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been on since about 2130z. So far, I have been spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost LA3EQ (769km).

UPDATE 2313z:   16 stations have spotted me this evening.

Gaza- Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Enough is enough.  

The fighting has to stop as too many innocent people are being killed, traumatised, injured or made homeless. Whilst I think it is entirely right for Israel to defend itself from Hamas, one could be forgiven for thinking this is now genocide.

I understand that Israel wants to prevent future incursions and massacres like October 7th, but is the fighting in Gaza the way to forge long-term peace? We now have generations that will grow up hating Israel.  OK, Hamas might be weakened, but the cycle of violence will go on.

As I have said before, my friends include Jews and Muslims. We need a just peace.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-68358053

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni was turned on at about 1340z. So far, just one UK spot received.

UPDATE  1428z:  6 English stations have spotted me today so far.

New UK amateur radio conditions

From today, new UK amateur radio licence conditions come into effect.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/278345/amateur-radio-general-notice-decision.pdf