Just received an email from Dropbox saying my free account is over limit. The page is very intimidating and almost forces you to pay an extortionate £95 plus a year for extra space. All their stuff seems designed to take money off you or send you emails you really do not want. Even cancelling is made difficult.
I think I have deleted my account. I do not like their approach at all.
For information, Google offers all the file storage that I need for far, far less.
Despite my 2.5W FT8 to the dipole on 40.680 MHz being on since mid morning, no spots at all have been recorded on PSKreporter. I think this is the situation, although it could be delays at PSKreporter.
UPDATE 2148z: QRT. No spots all day.
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacom by W5OLF was turned on about 1010z. So far, at 1045z, spotted many times in the Canary Isles.
UPDATE 1229z: So far today, my 500mW 10m WSPR has been spotted by 5 stations.
UPDATE 1712z: 20 stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR on 10m today.
UPDATE 2150z: QRT.
Many years ago (5?) a doctor said these words to me. I replied "of course not".
Now I am less sure. As I get older, I feel my strength waning, people around me are dying (friends and family) and I live in an almost constant state of near exhaustion and giddiness. Life is no longer such fun. As a younger person, all my life was ahead of me. My sex life was healthy and meant a lot. These days, my drive is no longer there. Ahead of me is (probably) ill health and death.
We once went to a party, mainly of older people. The host said, "you are not allowed to discuss your illness or medication". She was very wise!
Most of the time, I remain positive doing what still gives me fun, and there are plenty of things. On the whole, I am a "glass half full" sort of person i.e. positive.
..... but I now know what that doctor meant.
Every few weeks I take a peek at activity levels on the narrowband transponder on Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down. Although I cannot comment on the wideband transponder, the narrowband transponder is very under used. My last look was early weekend in Europe.
This was a whole 11 years ago. Later, I went on to much further over the horizon.
It has long fascinated me that many RF modules for various bands are available at low cost. People have used these for low cost 5.6 GHz ATV links. In fact a whole /P culture has grown around /P ATV at 5.6 GHz.
At times, PSKreporter seems not to work. Sometimes there is a great delay adding spots and at other times it seems unresponsive. I don't think this is an issue with my end. I think it is at the PSKreporter end.
Sadly, this makes it a far less useful site as you sometimes have to wait hours before you know if you have been spotted.
I am currently looking for 8m FT8 spots.
The bird migrants from Africa usually arrive in April.
The latest information on solar cycle 25 is out. It still shows the peak as November this year, which is early.
Every week, OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for the latest.
Inspired by these biscuits, I made my own this morning. They worked out really well (see photo). I shall have to make them again adding a few more dried rosemary herbs. Looking at the recipe, I suspect any herbs could be substituted.
See flatbread crackers recipe.
At 0852, my W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. Already, plenty of spots from the Canary Isles.
UPDATE 1204z: 61 spots of me by EA8/DF4UE (2876km) today.
UPDATE 1255z: USA starting to spot me now. See http://wspr.rocks/ .
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .
Earlier than normal, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W and dipole. It is now 0914z and, so far, no spots. I seem to get my spots via aircraft reflection mainly at this time of year. There was some winter Es earlier, but I think that has largely gone.
UPDATE 1200z: No spots on PSKreporter. QRT for a while as things cool. Back on 8m QRP FT8 this afternoon. Sometimes I notice a delay with PSKreporter.
UPDATE 1355z: Now on 8m FT8 again.
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| Typical TV picture via Oscar 100 |
There is no way I would be climbing through narrow, dark, wet tunnels deep underground, but I have always been fascinated by underground c...
