10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0645z . No spots.

UPDATE 1542z: 23 spots of me.

No mow May - NOT amateur radio

 

In the UK we have had a campaign to avoid cutting the grass in May to encourage wild flowers. We have been pretty good. 

I have left a small patch.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My 5W was turned on at about 0645z .  13 UK stations have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1108z: 37 stations spotting me today. Some Es to Iberia and France. 

UPDATE 1550z 106 stations have spotted my 5W 6m FT8 today. See map.

UPDATE 1803z:  116 stations have spotted me today. Quite decent Es today.

Central Cambridge yesterday - NOT amateur radio

This was central Cambridge yesterday.

Sunspots - Friday May 30th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 122. A=65 and K=5.

New firmware for the Yaesu FTX-1

 Yaesu has released some firmware updates to the FTX-1F. In my view it is FAR too expensive and under-featured.

Old windmill - NOT amateur radio

At one time there were 4 windmills in our village This is the base of one that has long gone. The only remaining one is about 15m from our kitchen!!

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My W5OLF beacon was turned on at about 1356z.  

UPDATE 2020z:  20 spots of me today Most look like Es.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My IC-705 at 5W was turned on at about 1355z.  6 stations have spotted my 5W FT8, but I have spotted 2 stations in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. Some think this is multi-hop Es. I think it is more likely to be some sort of chordal hop Es.

UPDATE  1438z:   20 spots of my QRP. See map.

UPDATE 2205z: 149 stations spotted me today.

Early Yaesu 6m rig

 

The FT620 was an early 6m transceiver when Yaesu were market leaders.