10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned  on at 1311z .

Slapton Sands - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a long sandbank with a road on it dividing the freshwater Slapton Ley in Devon from the sea. In the next 50 years I expect the road to be moved to the land side of the Ley. This is a massive task.

In WW2 it was used as a practice area for the D-day landings in France. 

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 1311z . So far just English spots.

Sunspots - Friday May 9th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 84. A=12 and K=2.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 Unlike yesterday, 8m has been very quiet, so I have QSYed to 6m FT8 with 6W from the IC-705. Just English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 stations so far.

Behind closed doors- NOT amateur radio

 For Catholics around the world, the conclave of cardinals is a serious business of electing the pope. 

This is a very ancient and secretive thing done behind locked doors . 

This humorous photo was sent to me by G1KQH. I am sure this doesn’t happen but it’s always good to laugh 😆.

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on about 0625z.

UPDATE  0851z:   No spots.

Brave hero - NOT amateur radio

During WW2 my dad was a Pathfinder flying Lancasters. Pathfinders were considered the elite and many did not survive the war. My  dad did survive and died in 1987. He hated the war. 

He dropped food over Holland and repatriated PoWs from Lubeck (see top right), "stealing" officers' newspapers to give to the PoWs! 

He  talked little about the war. He was very brave and must have been so frightened every night.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My QRP FT8 was turned on at about 0625z. Already spotted by EI3KF. Is this some kind of scatter?

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

When I remember (!) I give an update of activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Although activity was a bit higher than the last time I looked, it is still far lower than I was expecting.

See QO-100 / Es'hail-2 Narrowband WebSDR