Common darter (I think) - NOT amateur radio

We saw this some years ago I think this is a common darter, but I am no expert! 

Sunspots - Friday October 7th 2022

Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 139.  A=18 and K=4.

Optical communications 2012

10 years ago I got 3 phlatlights from the USA with the intention of doing more "over the horizon" (NLOS) optical tests at 481 THz. Then my stroke got in the way. There are 3 in the drawer unused. 

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Norwich Cathedral
West Window

We went to Norwich by train today. We like Norwich a lot. On the train with our senior railcard, it is probably as cheap going by train. I enjoy trains as you can just sit back and enjoy the journey. 

We went to the market, up Tombland Alley,  down Elm Hill, in the cathedral and a nice walk beside the River Wensum where Caen stone was brought up years ago from France to build the cathedral.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

We spent the day in Norwich, but I turned on 8m FT8 QRP shortly after we got back at about 1630z.  At 1827z no spots.

HF conditions

We can all agree that HF conditions are good on the whole. The higher HF bands are suitable for worldwide contacts and conditions are likely to get better still as we run up to the next solar maximum. At the moment this is forecast to be over a year away still. Bands like 15m, 12m and 10m are good again.

You may get some ideas from my Pipit 15m rig that dates from about 30 years ago.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .

Sunspots - Thursday October 6th 2022

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 151. A=14 and K=3. 

2m FT8

A few minutes ago, (about 1715z) I turned to 2m FT8 RX.  

There is an RSGB FT8 activity contest starting at 1900z, but I think there is a European contest earlier.

UPDATE 2021z:  86 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening (see map). I was spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost G7RAU in Cornwall.

2m RX this evening

After the rain - NOT amateur radio

We have just had a rain shower passing through. This is the windmill after the shower. The windmill is right next door. This photo was taken from the kitchen window. 

The case for a small 8m amateur band

In my view, the case for a tiny 5 kHz wide amateur band at 8m is overwhelming. Such a narrow allocation has many, many merits:

These are my proposals:

• 40.680-40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz in total)
• 50W maximum (even less would be OK, personally I would settle for 10W)
• Only narrow, digital modes (no speech)
• Only allocated by notice of variation or equivalent
• Strictly non-interference (any trouble, reduced power or be closed down)

Please try to persuade your licencing authority to support this, even by individuals seeking permission in the early years. 

8m is on the very boundary between HF and VHF and radio amateurs could contribute so very much and gain self training.

Seagulls - NOT amateur radio

Seagulls are everywhere now. They even go well away from the sea, with rubbish dumps being favourite places. 

They also like to flock behind tractors on farms after seeds as in this photo that was posted on 365project earlier by one of my friends, Susan Wakely. 

I like the clever use of black and white with just a pop of colour.

Southgate amateur radio news

One of the places I look at from time to time is the Southgate News. This often has amateur radio news of interest.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/ .

Alstroemeria - NOT amateur radio

My wife loves these flowers, which last a long time and are colourful. We have some in the garden, but these are in our hall.

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/alstroemeria .

2m activity contest last evening

As usual, I entered the low power section of this contest last evening. I get the impression that there are fewer people taking part. 

I only stayed on for under an hour (poor voice), but there seemed fewer people on even though conditions were better than normal. 

Perhaps more people prefer FT8 for contests than SSB? I think the 2m FT8 activity contest is this evening. I often come on, but do not submit a result.

Next Tuesday evening is the 70cm activity contest. Most use SSB.

Windy - NOT amateur radio

At the moment here in East Anglia it is windy, but dry. I know there is rain coming later. Although our brown lawns have recovered somewhat, we still need rain. It was interesting seeing how the flowers perked up with rainwater rather than tap water.

10m FT8 RX

The sunspot count and the solar flux are high, so I am on 10m FT8 RX for signs that is it worth me trying 8m FT8 later for the USA with my QRP FT8. So far, after about 30 minutes, 32 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. 

UPDATE 0949z:  55 stations spotted including China and Mongolia.

UPDATE 1027z:  90 stations spotted today.

UPDATE 1217z:  173 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1715z:  659 stations spotted so far today.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 5th 2022

Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 153. A=16 and K=2.

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

The ruling Conservative party is holding its annual conference this week in Birmingham. 

The prime minister, elected about 4 weeks ago, is having a very hard time along with her chancellor of the exchequer, who is in charge of the money. 

She has gone for a policy to stimulate the economy, and reduce energy bills and inflation. However, she is borrowing money to pay for this and markets don't like this. She is taking a gamble. In the past, these gambles have not worked. 

She also looks to be turning her back on those in our society who are the most vulnerable.

At this rate she could be ousted as party leader quite soon, along with her chancellor.  Unless things rapidly change, I suspect the Conservative party will lose the next general election due in 2024.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Tuesday)

Judging by results on 10m FT8 today, I think it is unlikely I shall try on 8m QRP FT8 today on 40.680 MHz. 

Of course Murphy's law will say, "you should have seen 8m on Tuesday - it was amazing".

Getting ready for winter - NOT amateur radio

It is surprising how quickly the nights get longer and we switch to "winter mode" with the curtains drawn and nights by the fire (assuming we can afford one!). 

In the next few weeks we dig up the bedding plants and put in daffodil bulbs and winter flowering plants like primroses.

This year we may put in some pansies, as our local nursery had some good, colourful ones (see photo). If these flower over winter, we may get some.