Tree root - NOT amateur radio

 

This was a tree root seen a few days ago.

8m activity level

It is fascinating to see how interest in 40.680MHz FT8 has increased. Whereas this was a band hardly monitored, quite a few stations are monitoring it nowadays. 

It is a great pity that so many PTTs cannot see fit to allocate a few kilohertz to the amateur service to allow genuine research to be progressed. Instead, many PTTs seem brain dead. 

The map shows the stations monitoring this afternoon. There are probably more as I don't think PSKreporter shows spotters unless they have recently received something or just come on.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

 In a few moments I expect to turn on my 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1008z:  My beacon was turned on about 1000z. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1639z:  25 stations have spotted me today. Plenty of spotters in the USA.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to go on 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1004z:  My 8m gear was turned on at about 1000z.

UPDATE 1638z: No spots.

And the sun appeared - NOT amateur radio

Sometimes you strike lucky as I was a few days ago when the sun briefly appeared. For some reason, just this clump of snowdrops was illuminated and I managed to catch it. 

This photo is totally untouched and this is exactly as it was.

Sunspots - Sunday February 16th

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 153. A=28 and K=3.

The sun (briefly) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday. the sun appeared in the afternoon. Today it is dull and wet again. The photo shows the sun yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

Anglesey Abbey yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we had a brief  glimpse of the sun when we went to Anglesey Abbey.

My wife took this photo. It was bright, but very cold.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Once I had resolved my "finger trouble", I went on 10m QRP FT8 with my tiny QDX transceiver. Lots of RX spots and 5 spots on TX, although I think I am being clobbered by a strong station. I had better QSY!

UPDATE 1825z:  15 stations have spotted me.

Finger trouble resolved

I keep forgetting that when the audio is muted it also mutes the audio coming in on the USB port! Once mute was turned off, RX audio was received.