Birmingham New Street station - NOT amateur radio

We have been through this UK railway station quite a few times in recent years.

I think it was modernised some years ago and I quite like it. 

The photo shows the entrance on the Moor Street station and bus stop side.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 Despite what I said earlier, I decided to go on 10m QRP WSPR after all.

UPDATE 0933z: So far, just a spot by EA1FAQ (1249km). There is some Es.

UPDATE 1245z:   23 stations have spotted me.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

My QRP gear was turned on at breakfast time. 

UPDATE 1515z: So far, 412 spots of me with the furthermost South Korea. 397 stations spotted here.  Judging by this station's other spots, I think this is genuine.

UPDATE 1935z:  When I first saw that I had been spotted again in the USA I was excited at first. Then I saw the call P5KY in North Korea, so I knew it was a pirate! Otherwise lots of European Es around.

Hope Cove, Devon webcam - NOT amateur radio

 

My family history can be traced continuously to Hope Cove, Devon in the mid 1500s. That is a generation before the Spanish Armada!

I check the weather there on the webcam at the Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove. The photo is a snapshot from the webcam. I have had lunch there and it was very good.

See https://hopecove.com.

Wednesday plans

 Today I think I am going to give 10m WSPR a miss and just go on 6m QRP FT8. On 10m it tends to follow a predictable pattern with few spots early on, some Europeans later (if there’s Es) and V51RS and the Canaries later.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 18th

 Solar flux is 139 and the SSN 97. A=9 and K=3.

Sporadic-E (Es)

 A reminder that this is the best time of year in the northern hemisphere for this kind of propagation. It frequently affects 10m and 6m, sometimes 4m and Band II FM and occasionally 2m and even higher on VHF. Signals can be very strong. 

It is not unheard of for Es to link with other modes meaning far greater distances are possible. I am also a believer in chordal hop E layer propagation, which I believe is responsible for some, not all. very long paths.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 

This was consecrated in 1967 and known locally as “Paddy’s wigwam”. 

From the outside it looks like a concrete edifice but inside the light is spectacular. Whatever your faith, or none, it is well worth a visit.

 It has been upgraded to Grade 1 status, meaning it is one of the most important buildings in the country. Well worth it.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on very early, but I doubt I will get any spots for hours! 🥴

UPDATE  0922z:  No spots of me this morning.

UPDATE 1410z:  5 stations have spotted so far today.

Snail - NOT amateur radio

This was taken some years ago and appeared as a memory today.