Thatched cottages - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows some of the thatched cottages at Lode, about 8km from here.

10m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Stations spotted at 0930z

My current plan is to go on 10m FT8 RX for now and 8m FT8 QRP TX later if F2 to the USA looks promising. I am sure some of the problems are too few monitors over there on 8m as even the best stations were not spotted. 

UPDATE 0851z:   75 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0955z:  181 stations from all across the world spotted on 10m FT8 RX. It looks again like conditions on 10m are excellent again today.

UPDATE 1354z:  750 stations spotted today on 10 FT8 RX. As 10m is looking very good, I may QSY to 8m FT8 QRP TX later, when there is a chance of being spotted in the USA....if anyone is looking! The most likely time to QSY to 8m QRP FT8 TX is just after 1400z.

Sound advice - NOT amateur radio

Saw this on Facebook yesterday. 

Sound advice for us all. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 2nd 2022

Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 100. A=3 and K=2. 

8m QRP FT8

On 40.680 MHz (first) QRP FT8 hoping for the USA. 10m is excellent.

UPDATE  1944z:   No spots. Now QRT.

Village butchers closing after 150 years - NOT amateur radio

The last independent butcher in our village has closed today. The person who runs it is retiring and nobody is replacing him. 

There are still 3 shops in the village selling meat. After 150 years, this shop will be missed. 

People are eating less meat these days, which can't have helped. At one time I think we had 4 butchers in the village.

He sold very good bacon. 

10m FT8 RX

I am on 10m FT8 RX at the moment.

UPDATE 1114z:  401 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1242z: 586 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today (see map). As you can see, 10m is in excellent shape.

Solar data

Early in the month the solar data at https://www.solen.info/solar/ is updated with the latest information. This usually happens on the first or second day of the month.

East Anglian skies - NOT amateur radio

This part of the UK is flat, but we have some great skies. 

Book plug ......again

This is yet another plug for my free G3XBM Project Scrapbook. 

It is a free download and you may find some parts of interest. 

I am not in the least bit interested in any money. My aim is to share the fun I have had with others. 

If you just want to look online, that's fine. Alternatively you may want to print out anything that interests you.

See https://tinyurl.com/y56vjhd6 

Sunspots - Saturday October 1st 2022

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 74.  A=13 and K=1.

Approaching Ely - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we got the train back to Ely. This was the view through the train window showing the cathedral and boats. 

Ely is a surprisingly busy station where many lines meet. It is rare to not see something going on there.

Fredbox in Eire

Recently, I was asked permission to reproduce the Fredbox in a PDF magazine in Eire. It was nice to be asked and, of course, I said yes. It is now available.

See https://www.docdroid.net/SgtShtb/crnews1022-pdf .

Geosynchronous Oscar 100

It is some weeks since I last peeked at the narrowband transponder of this satellite. Activity remains very low when I last looked on a Friday afternoon in Europe. Overall, my recommendation is still "don't bother".

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Gloucester cathedral glass - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week, we stayed in Gloucester and visited the cathedral. It has some of the finest medieval glass in the UK, and probably the world. Some examples are here. 

The bottom right is from the great east window which was erected in 1350 whilst the others are in the cloisters.
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OFCOM updates

As usual, OFCOM has revised the figures it holds about licences etc.. Check the OFCOM website for details.

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

At the moment, I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far, after 10 minutes, at 0856z, 5 stations spotted with the furthermost D2UY (6525km) in Angola.

UPDATE 1527z:  816 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1803z: 1103 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).

UPDATE 2045z:  1202 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Friday September 30th 2022

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 56.  A=7 and K=4.

Rally

I have been notified of the following rally on Sunday. As always, make contact with the organisers before travelling any distance.

Sunday October 2nd - Welsh Radio Rally, Newport,  NP18 2YE . See gw6gw.co.uk .

How simple can you make a transceiver?

Many years ago, I built the XBM80-2 80m CW transceiver. It never got cased, but shows how simple a transceiver can be! Somewhere recently I was told that it is a good idea to keep DC from hitting the crystal earpiece. If this is the case, it is probably worth adding a DC blocking capacitor between the audio transistor and earpiece. I have no idea if this is an old wive's tale or fact.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .