Oscar 124

This is an FM satellite announced by AMSAT-EA.  It has an upload on 2m and download on 70cm. In all my time I have only had one QSO via a satellite. This must have been in the 1980s as it was (I think) a 10m uplink and 15m downlink at a time around solar minimum. I cannot remember the satellite.

See https://www.amsat-ea.org/ .

Perhaps this should be my new challenge - work a few stations via satellites?

See also https://launch.amsat.org/ .

Sunspots - Monday March 3rd

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 139.  A=6 and K=1.

Antenna farm

 Really, I don’t go for big antennas. This is my current “antenna farm“ with the windmill in the background.

A just peace - NOT amateur radio

Enduring peace is clearly the aim of both the USA and Ukraine.  Ukraine is worried about Russia taking a pause, regrouping and attacking again. They do not trust Russia and at the moment it appears the USA does trust them. At the same time Russia is paranoid about being attacked!  

I hope this can be overcome, so this needless war ends and everyone feels secure.

Cambridge Botanic Garden - NOT amateur radio

My wife made this collage of the orchids seen yesterday.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 After breakfast I intend to turn on my QDX transceiver running about 2-3W on 10m.

UPDATE 1005z:  15 stations have spotted me (I guess by F2 as most are in eastern Europe) and 133 stations have been spotted around the world on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1012z:  If all you are really after is digital modes on the HF bands then the tiny QDX is really all you need. It really is amazing at about the same size as a pack of cards! See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx. .

UPDATE 1642z:  53 spots of my QRP and 791 stations spotted here on 10m FT8 RX today. The map shows the stations spotted here today on 10m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 10m
FT8 today with the QDX

UPDATE 2027z:  53 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 and I have spotted 1054. QRT.

VK3YE videos

VK3YE produces many good videos. This is just one of these. To me, he embodies all that is good about amateur radio.

FT891 100W transceiver

This is probably the best value "old" technology transceiver made by Yaesu. It has a detachable head that adds flexibility when fitting it into a car. 

If you don't want to buy a Chinese radio, it is probably one of the lowest cost new HF/6m 100W radios on the market.

Sunspots - Sunday March 2nd

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 105. A =19 and K=1.

Cambridge Botanic Gardens - NOT amateur radio

As today was sunny and dry we went to the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.