Sunspots - Tuesday May 27th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 113. A=8 and K=2.

Internet archive - NOT amateur radio

In looking for something else I came across the Wayback Machine. This is a vast resource of old internet material. 

Just one example is this broadcast by Lord Haw Haw from Germany to England during WW2.

Can AI be conscious? - NOT amateur radio

Human consciousness is a real puzzle.  We are aware of ourselves but do not know how.  

Some think AI can be conscious. If true, this makes world religions even more of a puzzle. Some religions believe that something that makes us "us" continues after our bodies dies.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k3700zljjo .

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Stations spotting
me this morning

My 5W FT8 was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1027z: 24 stations have spotted me this morning with the furthest Switzerland.

UPDATE 1241z: 46 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1842z: 94 stations have spotted my 5W 6m FT8 today. All were European.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

My QRP beacon has been on since just after breakfast

UPDATE 1739z:  14 stations spotting me.  Furthest is the German research base in Antarctica.

1923 crystal set

This was crystal set was made by BTH . 

Imagine the thrill in those early days of radio. 

When I retired some years ago I was bought a Gecophone 1920s crystal set that worked.

I had a webpage for the Gecophone on my old website that I must put on my more recent site.

My old website is still there, but the links may not work as this site is not being maintained.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/home/other/gecophone-crystal-set

Sunspots - Monday May 26th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 90. A=6 and K=1.

R1155 receiver

With its companion TX the T1154, these were the main radios in Lancasters in WW2. I expect they were a familiar sight to my dad!

In the years following the war they were popular with radio amateurs on the surplus market.

This is a photo supplied by John G3ZTY of it installed in a Handley Page Hampden (on its side as space was so tight!).

Internet time

Many digital modes need the PC to have accurate time. For several months now I have just used the Windows 10/11 system of linking to internet time. As far a I can tell, this works perfectly.

How do you do this?  On Window 10 there is a time/date shown on the bottom right of the screen. I cannot speak for Windows 11, but I assume this is similar. RIGHT click and the select "adjust time and date". Select "sync now" in the box that appears. I do this every morning, but I doubt you have to do it this often. Once the tick appears your PC is synced to internet time. Easy.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

When on 6m, it means my 10m antenna is free, so I go on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon (if I remember!). This does not need the PC. Once the time is set (I use an atomic clock) it is entirely stand-alone.

UPDATE 0921z:  No spots.