IC-705 remote

My main rig is an IC-705. I have never tried this using wi-fi or Bluetooth. 

Apparently there is an iOS version to remote the rig using Bluetooth and I hope there is one over wi-fi allowing the rig to be used from an iPhone. There is a video that show the Bluetooth version of this. I must try this.

Sunspots - Wednesday July 9th

 Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 88. A=13 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 My beacon has been on since late morning.

UPDATE 1502z: Spotted by 58 stations today.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My 6m QRP FT8 was turned on late morning.

UPDATE 1630z:  345 stations have spotted me today, mostly via Es.

VLF Sferics RX

 Listening to the natural emissions at VLF can be fascinating.  Not much is needed as this video shows. Of course, if the recorder does not provide DC power, you will need a source. In this case DC is provided by the recorder, so only 3 parts are needed.

I think this audio recorder is available on Amazon. On the DXexplorer site is another sferics receiver to drive headphones.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 8th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 111. A=22 and K=3.

Wild blackberries - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to have a wild blackberry bush within a few metres of our home. 

I usually pick a few to have with breakfast. 

They are nearly ready to pick.

UPDATE 1432z:  Picked first 6.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

My W5OLF beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1411z:  34 spots of me already, presumably by Es.

Fossil sponge - NOT amateur radio

About 12 years ago I found this fossilised sponge inside a piece of flint in Kent. 

Experts at Cambridge University confirmed it. 

It is many millions of years old. I had no idea you could get fossils inside flint.

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

My 6m FT8 was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1707z:  233 stations have spotted me, most I think by Es. Furthest on RX is Kazakhstan.