Programming languages

Yesterday I came across a site that showed the progession of programming languages from the time I started working to today. Some of the languages I had never heard of!! Just as well I was not a software engineer!🥴

Sunspots - Monday December 23rd

 Solar flux is 223 and the SSN 176. A=14 and K=2.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon has been on since this afternoon. So far, 13 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 

My QRP 6m FT8 has been on since mid-afternoon. At 1648z,  9 stations had spotted me.

"At home" - NOT amateur radio

Every year at Christmas we have an "at home" day when the neighbours come in for drinks and nibbles. It is always a happy occasion.

Plans for Sunday

 Probably the same as yesterday with QRP WSPR on 10m and 6m QRP FT8 

SAQ VLF

As is often the case, the historic alternator TX in Grimeton, Sweden on 17.2kHz is sending a CW test message at 0800z on Christmas Eve. It is often used by people to test their VLF receiver systems. Sometimes they issue a QSL card. The power is 200kW.

See https://alexander.n.se/en/ .

Sunspots- Sunday December 22nd

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN 152. A=16 and K=2.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband activity on Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. My own view is activity is pathetically low. As I have said many times I think the main issue is the lack of a volume market in the USA and Japan as these are outside the footprint of the satellite. This means no interest by the big manufacturers.

My last peek was lunchtime in Europe on Saturday.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio

How to be cheered up for Christmas (NOT). Saw this on The Knowledge earlier:

"Scientists who are trying to create microbes that present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. That’s according to an international group of Nobel laureates and other experts, says The New York Times, who warn that so-called “mirror bacteria” – synthetic organisms made from mirror images of natural molecules – could evade the immune defences of natural organisms, causing an “unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems”. "

As my father-in-law once said, "I'm glad I am on the way out".