Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I lived as a young child. At the time we just took it for granted. Salcombe is in the distance on the left.

Much later, I realised just how lovely it was. These days it is a very expensive place to live with many second homes. House prices are ridiculously high, so much so that locals are priced out.

2200m beacon

Looking through some old photos, I spotted this one from 2012 showing my beacon for 2200m (137kHz).

As I recall it produced about 8W although the ERP was in the microwatts as my antennas were not very good.

Sunspots - Thursday May 30th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 131. A=6 and K=1.

6m FT8 on 2.5W (Wednesday)

At about 1916z, I decided to go on 6m FT8 with QRO (for me!) of 2.5W.  Lots of Es around Europe. 

The furthermost was a spot of me by PY2DS (9583km) in Brazil. This looks like Es linking with TEP.  On 6m FT8 RX loads of stations in Brazil spotted.

Pretty sure this is the third time I have reached South America on 6m in the last few weeks. One was with just with 10mW!

UPDATE 2117z:   115 stations have spotted me so far. Es in Europe seems to be good. My gear will be on overnight hoping that I might be spotted in the USA.

2m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

About 15 minutes ago I switched to 2m FT8 with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 

So far, at 1131z, 16 stations have spotted me with the furthermost F6DBI (501km) in Brittany.

UPDATE 1345z: 23 spots of me so far on 2m QRP FT8 (see map). Furthermost is EI9KP (649km).

2m QRP FT8 spots
 of me today

UPDATE 1648z:  35 spots of me in 7 counties. 43 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1850z:   39 stations have spotted me.

2m Es (Wednesday)

Es on 2m is rare. I see that 2m Es is occurring in the east of Europe. Maybe it will spread further west? 

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

6m 10mW FT8 (Wednesday)

My 10mW 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on for a few hours. Already spotted by 7 stations. This is far easier than I was expecting. Every time I go on it works at 10mW. 

The map shows the stations that have spotted me.

10m 500uW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 500uW  beacon is synced to internet time and on again. No spots at 0837z.

UPDATE 2055z:  2 stations in Europe have spotted my 500uW 10m WSPR.

Far East on 6m

Even with my attenuator in, I was spotting a Japanese station on 6m FT8. At first, as it is very early in the season for this, which happens every year in late June/early July, I assumed this was a pirate. 

However, when I spotted a second one I began to believe this could be real. 

It is believed this propagation is linked to noctilucent clouds which form usually in June and July. With climate change these seem to be more common.

Sean Henry statues, Ely - NOT amateur radio

At the moment there is an exhibition at Ely Cathedral of statues by Sean Henry. 

These are large and small and some are very realistic.