Oscar 100 activity

It seems ages since I gave an update on Oscar 100, which is the Qatari geosynchronous satellite. When I looked mid afternoon UK time there was some activity, but it was hardly busy. 

I look on the narrowband web SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall, UK.

Probably the lack of "black box" solutions puts many off, although it allows much of the planet to be worked without QSB and with a small fixed antenna at any time. I remain surprised that it is still so quiet. No need for linears or towers!

Sadly, many in the amateur radio community are "black box" operators who would rather spend money than experiment. In my view this will lead to the death of the hobby.

Solar predictions

Usually, near the start of the month my favourite site for solar data has a major update. This last few weeks have seen days with high solar flux and sunspot numbers, so it will be interesting to see if forecasts have changed much.

Internet speeds - NOT amateur radio

When I first had the internet and a website (mid 1990s) my download speed was 2.5k and I had to pay for a phone connection (long distance) to London.  My website is still on the Wayback Machine. It was first created in 1996.

My download speed is now over 100M and many with full fibre have download speeds of around 500M or even greater. How times change.

One wonders what our grandchildren will experience. My father, who died in 1987, would have had no concept of the internet or mobile phones. It is impossible to conceive of something we can have no concept of at all.

Leak - NOT amateur radio

We have a leak in the pipe between the meter in the pavement and the house. It is not covered by my insurance so we are having a new pipe fitted. Tomorrow (all being well!) the plumber is coming to fit the new pipe. Oh joy! 

UPDATE 1332z:  It looks like it could be an issue with the water meter, so no new plumbing may be needed.

Still no swifts - NOT amateur radio

 

They usually arrive here soon and stay a few months. Every day I scan the skies, but nothing yet. 

Once they arrive they are very common overhead. 

Often they are heard screaming first.

Many of their traditional nest sites have gone and numbers are down. Once they arrive, I feel life is still OK.

Shetland spring - NOT amateur radio

One of my friends on 365project recently posted this photo. The idea is to post a photo each day. 

Some use it to improve their photography. We use it as a visual diary. 

It is totally free, although access may be made private for a small annual fee. 

My wife and I have each done it for 13 years. It is good to look back over the years. I love it.

630m interest waning?

Last night I was spotted by only 5 stations. I was late on but the impression I am getting is interest in the band is waning as we approach the summer.

10m WSPR at 10mW (Tuesday)

Late yesterday afternoon I decided to try 10m WSPR at 10mW which is some 13dB up on the power used in recent weeks. Spotted by EA8BFK (2880km) yesterday. I think the extra power must help. Probably stay at this power level to see how it goes in the Es season.

UPDATE 0821z:  No spots this morning.

UPDATE 1325z:  Spotted by 4 stations. Interestingly, at 10mW all 4 copied me, whereas at 500uW (0.5mW) only EA8BFK would probably have spotted me.

UPDATE 1442z:  Now 5 stations are spotting me with 10mW. Note my beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W, even though with the attenuator in it is actually 10mW.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 30th

Solar  flux is 138 and the SSN 88.  A=6 and K=0.

How it was

We can imagine this is how amateur radio looked 100 years ago. 

All gear was homemade back then. No Japanese or Chinese transceivers!  Real experimenters.