2 Apr 2026

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on a few minutes ago.

UPDATE 0820z:  Spotted by 4 stations with the best GW7SMV (242km).  

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE  0816z:  Just spotted by a station in Greece so far.

The windmill next door

This fully restored 200 year old windmill really is right next door.

At a guess, it is about 10m from our kitchen. We can see it having breakfast and from the lounge. 

The sails turn around only on special occasions and sound then like a creaking ship! 

20m FT8 RX (Wednesday and early Thursday)

Since about 1915z last evening I have been on 20m FT8 RX. My antenna is totally unsuitable being an end-fed that hardly matches on 20m and is probably far too low.

UPDATE 0809z: 2 stations spotted. The noise floor on 20m is S9+. Now QRT on 20m FT8.

Sunspots - Thursday April 2nd

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 130. A=8 and K=4.

1 Apr 2026

10m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

 Although I am mostly FT8 RX, I was briefly on 10m 5W FT8 TX at about 1105z.

UPDATE 1117z:  On 5W 10m FT8 TX, spotted by 3 stations and on 10m FT8 RX 12 stations spotted here.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My beacon was turned on at breakfast.

UPDATE 1003z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.

Spring colour

The Backs (literally the backs of the colleges in Cambridge,UK) are a feast of colour in spring. 

This is the very best time of year with new growth and new hope.

Many colleges back on to the River Cam.

Cambridge late March


At this time of year it is usually quieter here as the university has gone down and there are fewer visitors. The photo shows the back of King's with the River Cam.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 1st

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 133. A=7 and K=3.