6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 1017z. Just 7 English spots so far.

UPDATE 1514z:  Spotted by 19 stations. See map.

Faroes - NOT amateur radio

 

One of my friends on 365project posted this photo recently from the Faroe Islands.

Optical Communications

 Before my 2013 stroke I enjoyed doing experiments at 481THz (red light). Although my main interest was "over the horizon" digital communication, I had one line of sight AM QSO over about 11km. 

On YouTube is a video of a German optical communicator that was used in WW2. As the beam was very narrow it was ideal for secret communication up to 5km. Mechanically it was a work of art.

Sunspots - Saturday March 15th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN (still shown as March 8th on my source) 90. I am sure this is wrong. A=24 and K=3.

I went looking for today's sunspot number. It was very hard. Please tell me the best source!

UPDATE 1646z:  A Google AI search said the SSN today was 147.

Treeless beauty - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives up in Shetland Islands. Up there it can be very beautiful, although there are few trees and it can be very bleak and windy.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0915z. So far just 3 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2118z: 22 stations have spotted me. See map.  QRT soon. .

10m 500mW beacon (Friday)

My beacon was turned on about 0915z. EA8BFK (2880km) is spotting me.

UPDATE 2128z: Spotted by 31 stations today. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Friday March 14th

 Solar flux is 175. My source for sunspot data has not been updated since March 8th for some reason and is still showing SSN=90 which must be wrong!  I have no idea why it is not being updated. I shall try to find today's figure from somewhere else.  A=42 and K=3.

New homes - NOT amateur radio

It would appear that any patch of land is being used in our village for new houses. Someone has a terraced house with a very long garden. The owner has sold the land and the developer has built 6 new homes. These look nearly finished now. No doubt the builder and terraced house owner will have made plenty.

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

My 500mW was turned on at breakfast time.

UPDATE 1325z:  17 spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km) plus TA4/G8SCU (3010km).