Wicken Fen again

 

This is another view of Wicken Fen,UK. 

It is a wild place and very good for birds.

10m 1W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0700z and so far just local spots of me.

UPDATE 0825z: Just 1 local spot of me still.

UPDATE 1820z: At about 1230z I returned to 10m 1W FT8. So far today, spotted by 21 stations. See map. 

15m 1W FT8 (Sunday)

Just 2 Russian stations spotted so far this morning although it is early.

UPDATE 1251z: Spotted by 30 stations with the best JE6WOJ (9302km). See map.

Sunspots - Sunday April 12th

 Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 42.  A=12 and K=2.

15m 1W FT8 and WSJT-X 3.0.0

Amateur Radio Weekly reported that WSJT-X is now on general release 3.0.0 so I have upgraded.

HF conditions must be poor today. Having failed on 10m 200mW WSPR, I am now on 15m 1W FT8. I am being spotted in Europe, but even on 15m FT8 RX things don't seem exactly wonderful.

Electric Bikes

The recent Iran crisis has brought into sharp focus how exposed we are still to shortages in fossil fuels. 

Also, with the advent of electric cars with far greater range, home charging, and lower costs, I expect we will soon be at a "tipping point". In my view we are almost there and I would certainly expect this soon.

I did a quick search on Amazon for electric bikes out of curiosity. Amazingly, there was a very wide choice ranging from about £290 to £1400. These days I am far too wobbly to get on a bike, but if I was younger I might have been tempted.

In my view, as an "oldie" I think they should be subject to motor cycle rules and crash helmets and insurance made compulsory as they can be very fast and very quiet and should not be allowed on pavements (sidewalks).

Wicken Fen, UK

Yesterday, we went for a walk at Wicken Fen and saw our first returning swallows here for the summer before flying back to southern Africa.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0712z.

UPDATE 1004z: No spots.

Sunspots - Saturday April 11th

 Solar flux is 94 and the SSN 48. A=18 and K=2.

Iran - a very old and beautiful place

Last night I watched a YouTube video about Iran, I had absolutely no idea what a beautiful country this is. It would appear some idiots want to bomb it back to the Stone Age. 

We always see a biased version of facts. I am sure, like many countries, Iran has many faults. However, I always find it sad when idiots want to bomb history they don't like out of existence. 

I felt this about King Henry VIII, Palmyra in Syria and the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan. There are some very stupid people.