2m activity contest

Last night was the 2m UKAC (activity) contest. As usual, I was running 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna and I could only stay on for about 30 minutes because of my poor voice. 

In all, 5 stations were worked with some at quite decent range. See map.

Enjoying the sunshine

Yesterday in Cambridge, it was sunny and warm. For the first time this year, I abandoned the jumper! 

At this time of the year people do not know what to wear. Some have heavy winter clothes, whereas others are wearing shorts and short sleeves.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 8th

 Solar flux is 109 and the SSN 110. A=9 and K=1.

Trinity College, Cambridge, UK

 

This photo was taken in a previous year. It shows the flowers outside Trinity College.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

Very shortly I shall be on 10m WSPR QRP TX.

UPDATE 2025z : Spotted by 6 stations. See table. Now QRT. Furthest is again Antarctica.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 7th

 Solar flux is 116 and SSN 112. A=10 and K=2.

Lighter evenings

We are now in British Summer Time (BST) and nights are getting shorter and the days longer. 

This was about 7.30pm last evening from our house. We have about 3 months of evenings getting lighter.

70cm modules

For a very long time I have held the view that these inexpensive modules could form the basis of a 70cm transceiver. Indeed somebody may have already done so. If my fine motor skills were up to it (they’re NOT anymore sadly), I would have done so. Even as they are, they could make useful local communicators with an external antenna.

There is a wide choice of modules available via Amazon.

If you know of any work published on the internet please let me know.

Horse Chestnut trees

These 2 trees were planted in our churchyard in the 1800s to celebrate the battle of Waterloo in 1815. They are just coming in to leaf. 

For years our children and grandchildren have collected conkers from them as children have for very many generations.

President Trump on Truth Social

On Sunday, the US president published an expletive laden post on Truth Social, threatening Iran with dire consequences if the Strait of Hormuz was not re-opened. 

In my personal view, this was not the sort of post I would have expected by a US president.

Many consider attacks against civilian targets a war crime. This would be contested I expect. 

In my view, this will make the Iranian people more angry and less likely to side with the USA. If you dislike a regime in power, why take it out on ordinary folk?

What is certain is that this is an asymmetric war with might against cunning.

I fail to understand why people cannot live in peace and harmony with everyone. Wars cost a great deal and rarely achieve much good. The common person rarely really wants war. Those that stand to gain have shares in companies supplying weapons and ammunition.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cm29zmpdj3vt.