22 Sept 2025

Decreasing human contact

Just now I was invited to check my PayPal balance. They wanted to send me a code to my phone to verify it was me. I doubt a human was involved. 

Most chat bots are computers rather than real people.  At supermarket checkouts you are encouraged to use automatic checkouts.  Most bank transactions are getting cash from an ATM. If you are lucky you may get a call centre somewhere on the planet, where a person might understand you and you might understand them! You are just a sort code and account number - no personal contact.

More and more there is less human contact. All this is done in the name of "progress" and to save money or increase profits. 

In my view we are going backwards.

Monday plans

As I now know how 10m WSPR works, my plan is to continue on 6m FT8 QRP as well as 10m QRP WSPR .

Grandson sailing

 


It seems a blink of the eye since he was born! Now he’s sailing like a champ!

10m conditions

It seems we are moving to autumnal HF conditions with afternoon openings across the Atlantic with my 10m 500mW WSPR. These openings seem almost daily. 

I  think it’s very unlikely that my 6m 5W FT8 would make it this autumn, but you never know!

Sunspots - Monday September 22nd

 Solar flux is 176 and the SSN 157. A=6 and K=2.

21 Sept 2025

Windmill fantail shadow

When the sun shines we get some great shadows from the windmill right next door. 

This was the shadow of the fantail on the museum.

4m FT8 RX?

Even though I have no antennas for 4m, I am tempted to try 4m FT8 RX at some point. My recollection was that activity outside of the Es season was low though. I am also unsure of the 4m FT8 frequency these days. 

I might be just wasting my time. I would have to use the V2000 or 2m big-wheel.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at 0932z.

UPDATE 2143z:  Spotted by 24 stations. Now QRT .

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at 0932z.

UPDATE 2130z:  37 stations from all over western Europe.  I am sure FT8 is catching very brief patches of Es. Now QRT. 

Sunspots - Sunday September 21st

 Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 158. A=5 and K=1.