Sunspots - Saturday May 3rd

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 38  A=39 and K=5.

Lilac in full bloom - NOT amateur radio

The lilac in next door's garden looks at its best now. 

In a few weeks time the flowers will be past their best until next spring.

Laburnum - NOT amateur radio

 

This is about 300m from our house and is now in full flower and looking at its best especially against a blue sky.

Yorkshire pudding - NOT amateur radio

My wife always makes her own Yorkshire Pudding. For those readers who are not familiar with this English food, it is like a thick pancake, usually savoury.

It was traditionally eaten as a first course to help "fill you up" so you needed less meat. 

These days it is often served with the main course. 

Our 17 years old grandson loves it.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0830z. Already spotted by 2 stations in central Europe, probably Es.

UPDATE 1034z:  Spotted by 5 stations. 

UPDATE 1350z:  Spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost Namibia. See table.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 8m gear was turned on at about 0830z.

UPDATE 0934z:  Already spotted by 5 stations on 8m FT8!  Thank you.  

UPDATE 1423z:  Spotted on 8m FT8 by 7 EU stations, mostly I assume by Es.

UPDATE 1438z:  I just cannot understand the totally blinkered and very negative attitude in the UK and USA to even a very tiny 8m amateur band, digital only, time limited around sunspot maximum, by application only. The impression you get is they just do not understand and are stupid in the extreme! It is not that they are neutral: the impression you get is that the RSGB and ARRL are dead set against this!!

UPDATE 1645z:  Spotted by 8 European stations.

 

Friday plans

Although conditions look disturbed, my plan is a repeat of yesterday with QRP 8m FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR. 

Sunspots - Friday May 2nd

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 59. A=28 and K=4.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is near where I come from in South Devon. In the distance is Bolt Tail with an Iron Age fort. One of my ancestors probably helped man it. 

Lunch in Ely - NOT amateur radio

This week, we have had our wedding "best man" staying with us. 1971!! He always treats us to lunch out as a way of saying thank you. 

He is a very old and good friend. 

We ate by the river in Ely.