Signs of spring - NOT amateur radio

 

There are definite signs of spring in our village. 

All the snowdrops have been replaced with yellow daffodils.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

I went on 10m QRP FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W at about 0650z.

UPDATE 1405z:  290 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP. See map.

UPDATE 1413z: Just for fun I have reduced my IC-705 to 500mW FT8.  It will be interesting to see how this goes.

UPDATE  1502z: Already 37 spots of my 500mW 10m FT8 with the furthermost N4LR (7277km).

Stations spotting my
500mW 10m FT8

UPDATE 1817z: 104 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW FT8. Furthermost is HK4R (8498km). See map.

Sunspots - Monday March 24th

 Solar flux is 168 and the SSN 110. A=10 and K=3.

Intelligent life in outer space - NOT amateur radio

One of the points which I picked up from my recent University of the Third Age course in Cambridge was about the advances in AI. 

Within a few years AI is likely to exceed the intelligence of human beings. When we scan the skies for intelligent life elsewhere we may come across civilisations (e.g. via SETI) that may not be sentient. 

What is consciousness? I think it is beings that are self-aware.  Although vast computers may have vast amounts of knowledge, this is not the same as self-awareness and consciousness. 

I can imagine some planets even slightly more advanced than ours which have AI far more advanced than ours.

Interesting viewpoint - NOT amateur radio

This was an interesting direction to view Tower Bridge in London. 

On the right of the photo you can see part of the Tower of London.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on mid-morning. 

18 British Isles stations have spotted me so far. 

UPDATE 2155z: 24 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8. This includes some in mainland Europe. See map of stations spotting me up to teatime.  QRT soon.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on after breakfast. Three stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2150z:   15 spots of me today. QRT shortly.

New life - NOT amateur radio

After what has seemed a long, dull winter there are signs of spring and new life. There are lots of daffodils, nest building and fresh green leaves appearing,

2m QRP FT8

 

Yesterday late I decided to go on 2m QRP FT8. I was on the vertical V2000 omni antenna. Quite amazing.

Sunspots - Sunday March 23rd

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 177. A=33 and K=1.