Not for me!!

This array of G0KSC antennas was seen earlier. It is not for me!! An impressive array nonetheless.

Sunspots - Sunday March 9th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 90. A=21 and K=5.

RX noise

An increasing issue especially in built-up areas is noise on receive. Increasingly, people are using switched mode PSUs with, for example, TVs. Also, there are inverters with solar panels. The result of all this is the noise floor, especially on the lower HF bands is going up and up. 

One solution is to use a separate antenna for receive and transmit. One approach is a low dipole for RX and a vertical on TX as in this video. Vertical antennas can pick up lots of local noise.

Anglesey Abbey walk - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife made this collage of our walk earlier this week.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My QDX at 2W has been on FT8 since breakfast.

Stations spotting me at 1030z

UPDATE 1050z: So far today, 21 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1147z:  43 stations have spotted me and 187 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 2325z: 168 stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP FT8. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday March 8th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 109. A=20 and K=4.

15m QRPP FT8 (Friday)

As I was having no luck with 63mW 10m FT8, I QSYed to 15m at 1658z, where I have been spotted by 1 station in Estonia so far .

UPDATE 2140z:  7 stations spotted my 63mW 15m FT8. QRT now.

Landwade earlier this week - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week we did a walk around Landwade in the spring sunshine. 

Landwade is not far from Newmarket, the home of horseracing.

Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

There were a couple of new patches of daffodils at Anglesey Abbey yesterday that looked stunning in the spring sunshine.

Better late than never

Just submitted my entry into the 2m activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB.  In all, 6 stations were worked with my 10W and omni antenna in 45 minutes before my poor voice screamed,"stop". I usually come way down, but it is good to try!