Archetypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Whenever you think of Cambridge you may think of punts and fine weather. Well, today we had the punts, but not the fine weather! It was very cold.

Bite sized chunks - NOT amateur radio

 One of the things I remember from a time management course at work a long time ago was to think of issues in bite sized chunks. Every problem has a solution.

I am reminded of a famous quote by Descartes:

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible to resolve it"

See https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/rene-descartes-quotes.

Basically every problem, however complex, can be solved.

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 Today, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705 at 5W.

UPDATE 0915z:  59 stations spotting me with the furthermost ZD7GB (7606km).  An SV has his locator wrong as it appears he is in the Pacific Ocean!

UPDATE 1405z: 442 spots of me today. I doubt it can get much better with 5W FT8.

UPDATE 1625z: 625 spots of me today.

UPDATE 1900:  QRT soon.  755 stations have spotted me today. 

Chippenham Park, near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went to Chippenham Park near Cambridge to see the snowdrops. There must be well over a million there.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 19th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 187.  A=14 and K=3.

Famous quote - NOT amateur radio

Saw this earlier:

“The world is not static, and the status quo is not sacred.” Harry Truman

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I peak at the activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. As before, I find activity levels disappointing. 

I gather someone in the UK is selling a transverter now. Unless and until a "big name" does this, I cannot see activity levels increasing.

This is disappointing. By now, I was expecting the satellite to be really busy. The fact it is not says a great deal about the state of our hobby today.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Looking around, there are other tranverters on offer. For example, see https://www.leijenaarelectronics.nl/downloads/LE016-R5_System_Manual_13-09-2021.pdf .

See also https://www.passion-radio.com/satellite-qo-100/pack-dxpatrol-100-880.html .

Some have come up with "all in one box" solutions, but I guess this is too hard for most sadly. It requires engineering, rather than a cheque book. Engineering is a dying art these days in the amateur community. Full marks for those prepared to do it.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This was Anglesey Abbey last week. 

For once it was sunny.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 Using my IC-705 at 7W, I am on 6m FT8. It was turned on just before breakfast

UPDATE 0923z:  16 stations spotting me with the furthermost EI3KD (583km) and the station in Brittany.  No "earth-shattering" DX today.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1608z:  36 stations spotting me. It looks like F2 propagation. Furthermost is Brazil.