Old QSL cards

Amateur Radio Weekly pointed me in this direction. 

Although I have not looked exhaustively at the site, it seems to be an extensive collection of old USA and Canadian  QSL cards. 

I expect somewhere on the net is a collection of old QSL cards from the rest of the world.  UPDATE: See http://www.qslcollection.co.uk/ .

See https://www.oldqslcards.com/ .

Sunspots - Sunday August 11th

Solar  flux is 291 and the SSN 234. A=6 and K=2.

Solar activity "explosion"

In the last few weeks solar activity has gone mad with very high numbers. See the chart on my favourite site for solar data. See https://www.solen.info/solar/ . I highly recommend the data on this website.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)

At 1534z I decided to QSY to 10m QRP FT8.  Although I spotted a PY station immediately, nothing has yet appeared on PSKreporter. Maybe they have a delay?  I re-synced to internet time before I QSYed.

UPDATE 1700z:  Spotted by 18 stations with the furthermost A65MR (5475km).

UPDATE 2031z:  spotted by 135 stations with the furthermost PU5FLP (10086km). Now QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Although, at 0835z, my 2.5W 6m FT8 has only been on about 10 minutes, already 10 spots of me with several being from Scandinavia. 

UPDATE 1044z:  40 stations have spotted me this morning.

UPDATE 1355z:  54 stations have spotted me today.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0825z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1005z: 6 stations have spotted me - all German. A patch of Es?

After death - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned a few days ago one of my wife’s closest friends is dying of cancer . She is expected to die within days. 

As well as being very sad for all concerned it makes you think about what lies beyond. 

Most world religions talk of some sort of afterlife. Perhaps we just die and that is it? Somehow I can’t believe that is it. With our limited human brains it is hard to envision such a state much as someone who only knows two dimensions cannot imagine three dimensions .

Perseids Meteor Shower

This peaks early next week and it can lead to enhanced VHF conditions with signals reflected off ionised meteor trails. The peak is August 12/13th.

See https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see .

Oscar 100 Satellite

Every few weeks I try to assess the activity on the narrowband transponder of this satellite. The last time I looked was about 1845z on Friday, which is mid evening in Europe. 

Activity is still disappointing.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ 

Village cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage in our village has had its rendering removed to reveal its clunch (a kind of chalk) walls. Clunch was widely used locally.