6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 was turned on at about 0755z. Already spotted by 36 stations this morning.

UPDATE 1237z:  Spotted by 193 stations, mostly I presume by Es.  See map.

UPDATE 1727z:  Spotted by 222 stations today. A very good 6m Es day.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on at about 0755z. 6 stations spotting me via Es already.

UPDATE 1100z: 26 stations have spotted me. Furthest is Namibia.

Goodbye 8m

My 8m TX permit expires soon.

As it would cost me £50 annually to continue my research and the RSGB, OFCOM and others seem so against (not even neutral) even a small band, I have taken down my 8m dipole and have no intention of carrying on. Sad. 

As I have said many, many times, the best time for research would have been around the solar peak, which has passed. Instead I am concentrating on 6m and 10m.

Life is too short to battle on. 

I hope in the end we will see a very tiny allocation at 8m, but I can't see this happening soon. If it does come about, I shall return to 8m.

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.