Still to see one - NOT amateur radio

Swallows are returning from Africa. There are some about in East Anglia, although I have yet to see one. 

Last year there were fewer. Swift numbers seemed to hold up.

Western values? - NOT amateur radio

In the "west" we seem to value democracy, although the rich get richer and the poor poorer.  Unfettered capitalism is overdone. 

Yes, people cannot rely on hand-outs from a welfare society - they have to forge their own paths and work hard - but in my view, poorer people are getting a raw deal. 

It is my view that the days of those of us in the "west" thinking we are always right are drawing to a close. I hope a fair and just world comes sooner rather than later.  

All systems have faults, but let us get the best from each so that all of mankind can benefit.

70cm activity contest last Tuesday

My entry (never a winning score with just 2 QSOs, 10W, short period on air and a 2m omni antenna!) was submitted this morning. 

It is my view that this 70cm UKAC is on the wane with fewer people active. The 70cm FT8 activity contest on the other hand is "humming". It looks like many people prefer FT8 to SSB these days. FT8 works with far weaker signals, but like so much these days, it has less human interaction. 

We seem to becoming a society with far less human contact sadly.

Am I alone in thinking impersonal AI call centres are a pain?  "Say in your own words what you are calling about". "You want to talk about xxx. Is that correct?".  Say "yes" or "no". Actually I would rather speak with a human being!

Spring flowers - NOT amateur radio

It is great to see the spring flowers. If I am honest, this is my favourite season, although every season has good points.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0755z. So far (at 0806z) 4 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1143z:  9 spots of my QRP including one from Germany.

UPDATE 1535z: 13 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today (see map).

500uW 10m WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon (with the PA off) was turned on at about 0755z.  I wonder if I shall be spotted in the USA today with QRPP?

UPDATE 0900z: Just a single spot by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1548z: 9 spots only from the Canaries so far today (see table).

UPDATE 2155z: 22 spots of me today but all from the Canary Islands.

Marconi

 Without this man things would have been very different. I often wonder, say, if radio had been been discovered centuries earlier.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

13 stations spotted me overnight. Quite a decent session for my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Trade mark - NOT amateur radio

When thatchers put new thatch on a roof they often leave a trade mark such as a pheasant, fox or dog made from straw on the roof apex. We saw this on our walk around the village on Saturday.

Sunspots - Sunday April 14th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 115. A=6 and K=1.