Rallies this weekend

 The following rallies are due this weekend:

   Sunday March 24th - Dover ARC. See https://darc.online/rally

   Sunday March 24th - Ripon Rally Great Ouseburn, York,YO26 9RL.   See https://radars-g4sim.club.

Sunspots - Saturday March 23rd

 Solar flux is 198 and the SSN 171. A=11 and K=4.

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR has been on of about 30 minutes. So far 5 stations have spotted me.

10m QRPP WSPR (Friday)

As I was spotted again yesterday with 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR, I am trying yet again today, although I am not too hopeful.

8m WSPR RX (Friday)

Once again, I am monitoring 8m WSPR hoping to spot the Canadian trying some tests. It is possible I may also copy some Irish and Belgian stations who were on 8m WSPR yesterday.

Brain functioning - NOT amateur radio

It is about 10.5 years since I had my stroke and these days I cannot tell what is as a result of this and what is just old age.

One thing I am aware of is what happens when I mishear words. Sometimes I think I hear something and my brain tries to make sense of it.

Another thing I am aware of is problems driving: everything seems to be much faster than it really is. I have experienced this for several years. Everything (to me) seems to be going about 20mph faster than it really is. Also when driving (or being driven) it is stressful as I am constantly on the lookout for hazards.

On an intellectual level, this is interesting. On a personal level it is hard.

Profits? - NOT amateur radio

Retailers are having a hard time. More of us are buying things online and we can expect our high streets to be very different in 10 years' time. 

This was at the entrance of a large food shop in Newmarket. I guess they are trying to get us to part with our money.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Disappointing with just 11 spots of my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight. This is the poorest this season. Either people are trying something new, or conditions were poor. 

Sunspots - Friday March 22nd

 Solar flux is 127 and the SSN 141. A=27 and K=3.

More LF spectrum for amateur radio?

There is a very interesting piece on John EI7GL's blog about the demise of BBC Radio 4 on 198kHz long wave. 

Gradually, long wave AM broadcast stations are going. There are now very few radios covering LW broadcast bands. The present date for switch-off could be June 2025.

With so much LW spectrum becoming free, I wonder if amateur radio could get any?