Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

Until I left university, I lived in South Devon, not far from where the photo was taken. I have definitely been hereabouts since the mid 1500s (family history research) and probably for thousands of years before that.  On the promontory in the distance is an iron age fort. One of my distant ancestors probably manned it!

Although I have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, I still feel my spiritual home is in South Devon.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_Tail .

zBitx

This radio represents incredible value for money. It is available ready built from India. Even if you add duty and VAT it is still remarkable value.

Satellites

 Years back I recall receiving North Americans via Oscar 6 and 7 late at night when the passes were favourable, tracking the passes with a hand made device that showed the passes and what I might expect to hear. Usually the passes were brief of about 10 minutes.

Apparently Oscar 7 is still working after all this time.

OFCOM's 3 year plan

Perhaps I am getting even more grumpy in my old age! OFCOM has published its 3 year plan and I am not impressed. To me it is full of "motherhood" statements: the sort of thing you would expect to see in a quango trying hard to justify its existence. 

Bring back the GPO with adults.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0925z.

UPDATE 1541z:  93 spots of me. 

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 164 stations. See map.

Friday plans

Today I think I’m going to be on 10m QRP FT8.

Old bakery - NOT amateur radio

This property in a nearby village has been empty for some years. A long time ago it was a bakery. If sensitively restored it would make a fine home. Not much seems to be happening.

Sunspots - Friday March 28th

 Solar flux is 153 and the SSN 72. A=33 and K=3.

Thatched cottages - NOT amateur radio

 

As mentioned, we did a walk around Lode. It has no shortage of "chocolate box" thatched cottages.

Lode walk - NOT amateur radio

For the first time this year, I did not need to wear a coat. 

We went for a walk around the nearby village of Lode, with plenty of thatched cottages and daffodils.