The joys of homebrewing

This video is several years old. The message is clear: don't be afraid to "roll your own". It may not work first time and you may have to find out why. There are a whole variety of things you can try. 

Speaking from personal experience, start with something simple. This is more likely to work first time. If not, it will be easier to find out why.

Overall, have fun!!  It is much more satisfying than "flashing the cash".

King's College Chapel, Cambridge, UK

People come across the planet to see this fine building that is centuries old with amazing fan vaulting and stained glass windows. 

Living near Cambridge we can see all this for nothing, every day if we want. 

It is all too easy to take this for granted, but we do not.

Often when we go away we comment on how good the place is. 

Then we joke that we must go to a nice place called Cambridge sometime!! I suppose we could even be back for lunch!

10m 200mW WSPR yesterday

You can tell we are now in the Es season with 25 (mostly European) stations spotting me yesterday. 

I like 10m WSPR as I just switch it on and observe elsewhere in the house by looking at WSPRnet.

In the last 12 hours 21 stations have spotted my 200mW!  See chart.

First swifts seen

Although they have been around for about a week, yesterday I saw my first swifts this season. 

They are back from Africa, but stop just long enough to breed, i.e. just a few months. By mid July most have gone south again until next spring.

Often they are heard before they are seen. They scream around the sky in feeding parties.

Sunspots - Friday May 8th

 Solar flux is 117 and the SSN 59. A=7 and K=2.

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

 Very briefly, I went on 10m 3W FT8 just after breakfast, although I have been on 10m WSPR most of the day including now.  It is evident that we are now in the Es season.

Trump and Times Radio

It appears President Trump thinks a peace deal in Iran is very close. 

I seem to remember he said he could stop the Ukraine war (sorry special military operation) in 24 hours. Four years later we are still waiting....

Politics is complicated and advisors advise for a reason.

Anglesey Abbey, UK

 

This is Anglesey Abbey this morning. This is the water mill and its mill leat.

What is the best entry level HF transceiver?

People often question what HF transceiver is the best to buy at entry level. Now the IC7300 is available as a Mk2, the Mk1, which has sold over 100k units worldwide, is available readily on the second hand market.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

Most of the day I have been on 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1725z: 16 stations have spotted me, mostly European by Es. Furthest is 4X1DA (3592km).  See map.