Last post about Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio

On Sunday we went to see the famous Sacred Lamb altarpiece in the cathedral in Ghent painted by the van Eyck brothers. In the crypt is an audio visual presentation introducing it.

Amusing - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife took this photo of 2 geese in Citadel Park in Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪. It looks like they are discussing if they should sunbathe!

10m QRP WSPR late yesterday

My 10mW WSPR on 10m was turned on late yesterday. 11 stations spotted me suggesting the Es season is in full swing.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

As we returned from our holiday in Belgium 🇧🇪 I returned to 630m QRP WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode “antenna“ in the ground. Spots from 3 stations.

Eurostar - NOT amateur radio

We came back from Belgium 🇧🇪 yesterday by Eurostar which is 30 years old this year. It’s a very civilised way to travel and the journey back from Brussels to London passed very quickly.

Everyone we interacted with in Belgium was extremely kind. In fact this is probably what I shall remember most.

A piece of history

One of my first professional jobs at Pye Telecom was re-banding the PF70 to the band that included 2m. 

In those days crystals were quite inexpensive, so I made one with crystals for the fledgling GB3PI, 145.50MHz simplex and 145.55 MHz simplex. I think I added a 1750Hz tone burst as well.

They were bodyworn radios with a LS/mic. A handheld version was also made.

These radios are hard to find these days and batteries rarely work.

Sunspots - Tuesday May 14th

Solar flux is 215 and the SSN 207. A=30 and K=2. 

Conditions still look disturbed. I don't know how this affects Es.

10mW 10m WSPR (Monday)

Once again I am on 10m WSPR with 10mW. There is Es about as I have been spotted in less than an hour by 3 stations.

10mW ERP 630m WSPR (Tuesday)

After a break of a few days, I am back on 630m QRP WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It has been on for about 30 minutes. So far, 6 spots by G8OCV/SDR (65km)

Bruges, Belgium 🇧🇪 - NOT amateur radio

We last visited Bruges in October 2001. We visited here last week and it was heaving with people, so much so that it had lost its charm. It is doubtful if we will ever return, but perhaps in winter?