Sunspots - Thursday August 29th

 Solar flux is 212 and the SSN 163. A=26 and K=2.

Flightradar24 - NOT amateur radio

Our younger son is returning from a few weeks with his in-laws who live in Australia. They had a few nights in Dubai to break the journey otherwise it is a very long way! 

We can track the trip with Flightradar24 which is a free app paid for by adverts. With a paid subscription you can get extra features.

See https://www.flightradar24.com .  There are a number of very similar named apps. Be sure to get the correct one! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

Although my QRP beacon has been on most of the morning, no spots. I suspect there’s a problem with WSPRnet. Someone mentioned a radio blackout today. if correct, this might have been the reason?

UPDATE 1953z:  4 stations spotted me in the end today. See table.

Old School Lane, Cambridge -NOT amateur radio

This is Old School Lane in Cambridge, home of the of the original Cavendish Laboratory where many Nobel prizes were won.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 28th

 Solar flux is 212 and the SSN 170. A=28 and K=2.

4m on the Yaesu FTX-1F

According to something I was sent by Steve G1KQH and the MLS pages, it looks like this new radio will ship with 4m.This must be a good USP along with 2m and 70cm.

UPDATE 1442z: Steve has pointed out that Bangood sell the MCHF radio for £264.52.  I think this is made in China. Pretty sure this is a clone.....but the price! I am always nervous about Chinese quality control, but they will get there and really frighten the Japanese. We already buy most of our consumer goods from China.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/ftx-1f. 

Kings College Chapel, Cambridge NOT amateur radio

 

This is King’s College Chapel from an unusual angle.  

We go here most weeks.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 1245z. It looks like I caught a small patch of Es to Portugal. 

UPDATE 1826z:  Spotted VE1SKY (4730km) on 6m FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. Not sure if this was F2 or a brief patch of Es.  15 stations have spotted me today.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 

My beacon was turned on at about 1245z. So far, spotted by 3 stations.

UPDATE 1822z: Spotted by 4 stations today. I think these were mostly F2.

Lego dolphin - NOT amateur radio

In the Grand Arcade in Cambridge is a series of animals made from Lego.