Sunspots - Tuesday March 4th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 99. A=5 and K=2.

Each to their own

It has always been my view that we each enjoy amateur radio in the way we want to. Nobody has to impose our own views on anyone.

However, nothing stops me having a view! A large UK dealer is selling a new Flex SDR radio at £5599.99 plus delivery. No doubt purchasers will also want a linear, a tower and an HF beam. I am sure this new radio is  excellent, but it is not for me.

This is not my personal idea of amateur radio. My QDX is about a fiftieth of the size and very inexpensive as a kit. Even built it is not expensive. As I said, each to their own. 

Having said all this I would happily accept one if someone bought me one!  Probably very very unlikely!

By the way what does this mean please?

"Economical SO2R Solution: Support (OTRSP) in One Radio"

10m QRP FT8 ( Monday)

My QDX (at about 2W) was turned on at about 0745z.

Stations spotting my
10m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1335z:  107 stations have spotted my QRP and I have spotted 615 here on 10m FT8 RX.

First grass cut- NOT amateur radio

 

This weekend I cut my grass for the first time this year. At first the blades are set high. They will gradually be set lower.

Spring light - NOT amateur radio

We have moved from meteorological winter into spring. It is good to see signs of new life emerging and birds signing for mates.

I guess it is the light we notice. The sun is higher in the sky and everything looks brighter. I expect painters notice this.

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.