8m experiment (Monday)

 With just one station spotting me yesterday and nobody on RX, it is getting harder now the main Es season is coming to an end. Later I hope to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 again. 

UPDATE 1220z:  Turned on QRP TX at 0833z. Nobody spotting me. 

Kingfisher - NOT amateur radio

It is now rare to see a kingfisher in the UK. When seen, they are usually a flash of iridescent colour skimming low across the water. Occasionally they perch on a low branch thinking about their next catch. They are totally unmistakable. This photo was posted on Facebook earlier. Brilliant. 

Sunspots - Monday July 25th 2022

Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 80. A=9 and K=1.

Married 51 years today

We got married in a church (now a roundabout!) in 1971 in Yorkshire. 

This photo was taken today by Richard G3TFX at our local museum. Many thanks Richard. 

30 years old - NOT amateur radio

Our local museum is 30 years old and they celebrated the occasion today.

Consciousness - NOT amateur radio

As human beings we all experience consciousness. To us, this means experiences and memories. We have no comprehension of how other sentient creatures think. What does a pigeon or an ant think? Do they think? What is consciousness?

Linear time? - NOT amateur radio

We experience time as linear, running from the past into the future. 

We assume our brains store our memories. All this could be an illusion, with our experience just of now being fresh every time. We could have no knowledge of anything other than our experience right now. 

So, it is possible that we could unknowingly wake up as a Polynesian in 2000BC!! To us, this could be normal and totally real. We could also be a resident of the planet Zog in a distant galaxy millions of years in the future.

All I am saying is we could experience things very differently and must keep an open mind.

Extra Link

My free PDF book entitled "G3XBM Project Scrapbook" has been added in the Links sidebar of the blog. Feel free to download and enjoy.

https://tinyurl.com/y56vjhd6

10m WSPR QRP TX (Sunday)

As the 10m antenna is available I hope to be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW after breakfast.

UPDATE 0900z:  QRP WSPR TX turned on. One spot of me from Switzerland.

UPDATE 1224z: 4 unique stations have spotted me today. 

8m experiment (Sunday)

After breakfast I hope to be on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 QRP.  We are still in the Es season, so I hope someone spots me. 

UPDATE 0900z: FT8 turned on.

UPDATE 1037z:  EA3ERE (1153km) has spotted me again.

UPDATE 1217z: QRT whilst rig cools and we are out. Hope to be on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial this evening.

UPDATE 1442z: On 8m FT8 TX again. 

UK otters - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was on Facebook earlier. 

Sunspots - Sunday July 24th 2022

Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 96. A=9 and K=3.

10m QRP WSPR TX

As I am on 8m, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. It is now 1509z and spotted by 13 unique stations so far today. 

UPDATE 2045z:  27 unique stations have spotted me today. Now QRT.

8m experiment (Saturday)

After being in Cambridge most of the morning, I am again on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. No spots yet.

UPDATE 2147z:  Just a spot by EA3ERE (1153km). 

 

Archetypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

It is good to see people enjoying Cambridge again. It felt like old times. 

My free PDF Project Scrapbook

The first edition is now ready. Click the link to gain access and download.

If I make any corrections or additions, I hope to use the same link so you are always pointed to the latest version. 

https://tinyurl.com/y56vjhd6

Sunspots - Saturday July 23rd 2022

Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 107. A=11 and K=3.

OFCOM updates

 OFCOM has updated the information it holds on us. See the OFCOM website for details.

10m QRP WSPR TX

Since 0726z, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my tiny 500mW W5OLF beacon. It is now 0840z and, so far, 6 unique stations have spotted me. This looks like Es in the main.

8m experiment (Friday)

Much to my surprise I was spotted by 3 unique stations yesterday on 8m FT8. Shortly, I hope to be on 40.680 MHz USB dial QRP FT8 again.

Full FT8 reports and locations (I cannot call this a QSO because of OFCOM - what utterly crass stupidity!!) were exchanged with one station in central Europe.

UPDATE 0937z:  Spotted by HC02 (1808km) in southern Portugal.