Cranefly? - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife thinks we have seen these before, but I am not sure. It was on our front wall as I was doing some weeding. 

It was different from the usual "daddy long legs" which are common at this time of year.

QMX+ SSB

This has been promised in a later software update. I have not seen any formal announcement about this yet. 

For many people, this would be a reliable and low cost introduction to QRP operating. 

Hans Summers makes some superb kit.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html .

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Although my 2.5W FT8 has been on since just after breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 1015z:  Just EI2IP (607km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1130z:  EI3KF (574km) also spotting me.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 My beacon has been on since just after breakfast. 

UPDATE 1235z:  No spots. Is there a blackout on HF?

Dodging showers - NOT amateur radio

In between showers, I cut the front lawn this morning. 

The grass was very wet! If I had waited any longer, I would have had to wait a long time.

Thunder and lightning risk

 At the moment, the risk seems low, so I have gone on the air. If this changes, I shall go QRT.

See  https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;

UPDATE 1025z: It looks like the storms are creeping into SW England. Currently it is sunny and dry here in East Anglia.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 8th

 Solar flux is 277 and the SSN 164. A=55 and K=3.

8m FT8 (Monday)

 After returning from Cambridge I decided to try 8m QRP FT8 . Nobody has spotted me but I have spotted G4FKI (60km).

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 

When I got back from Cambridge, I turned on my little stand-alone 10m WSPR TX beacon. Just F2 spots (see table).

Radio magazines

Today my U3A courses restarted and I had some time to kill in Cambridge Library. I was quite surprised to see a copy of Practical Electronics. 

It got me wondering what electronics magazines can still be bought in newsagents?  

There were few adverts so I think their business model must rely on the sales of PCBs for the projects they feature.