Liverpool trip - NOT amateur radio

We have just returned from a long weekend in Liverpool. 

We were there for a reunion of old friends who were all university students in the late 1960s. I had hair back then!

6m QRP FT8

Since returning home today, I am on 6m QRP FT8  with my 2.5W and vertical omni V2000 antenna. At 1555z: 68 stations have spotted me. Furthermost is a spot from the northern tip of Norway.

UPDATE 2044z:   217 spots of my 6m FT8 so far.  Furthermost is a spot by UN3M (3553km) in Kazakhstan. I think most of these are Es.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 4th

 Solar flux is 192 and the SSN 208. A=12 and K=0.

Are we heading for a second peak?

Liverpool big wheel - NOT amateur radio

 

When I was a student in Liverpool in the late 1960s the dock area was abandoned and grim . It has been redeveloped and now is lovely filled with places to eat and museums. Like many big cities it has a big wheel.

Hot Iron 125

 For those that don’t know this,it is an online magazine in PDF format for constructors. Most editions have interesting content or links.

See https://www.w4npn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hot-Iron-125-May-2024.pdf

Sunspots - Monday June 3rd

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 186. A=5 and K=2.

When was/is solar maximum?

My usual site for solar data usually has a major update at the start of the month. Last time they were predicting the smoothed peak of solar cycle 25 was November 2023. It will be interesting to see this month's prediction. Sometimes we have a second peak.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots - Sunday June 2nd

Solar flux is 188 and the SSN 194. A=5 and K=1.

Train - NOT amateur radio

 We are in Liverpool for a reunion with old university friends. 1967 seems a long time ago!! This was our train at Liverpool Lime Street station.

UK General Election, July 4th - NOT amateur radio

Why is it that all major parties make promises in the run-up to a general election, but always find a reason to break them? In my old age I must be getting very cynical, but I do not trust any of the big parties.

With a month to go in a seat that is staunchly Conservative, I shall probably vote Green. It is almost certain they will not win, but it shows the way I think.

6m QRP FT8

 My 6m QRP FT8 was on overnight. In the last day and overnight it was spotted by 184 stations mostly by Es. Furthermost was EA8/DF4UE (2876km).

Sunspots - Saturday June 1st

 Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 135. A=12 and K=2.

Fan Vaulting - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the roof of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge which is very many centuries old. King's was founded in the time of King Henry VI.

As a local resident, we can go in whenever we like with a resident' pass. My son has an alumni pass which he can use with some guests.

See https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/visit-kings.

10m 500uW WSPR (Friday)

Although my beacon has been on all morning and synced to internet time, no spots of me today.  I have lost count of the countries that have spotted my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

48 spots of my 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna so far. Most of these look like Es (see map).

Sunspots- Friday May 31st

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 144. A=8 and K=2.

Rally News

 The following rally has been notified to me. As always, I recommend contacting the organiser to check details.

Sunday June 2nd - Spalding and District ARS Annual Rally, Spalding, PE12 6AF. Contact rally2024@sdars.org.uk .

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Today, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 omni vertical antenna. At 1400z, 33 stations had spotted me. Most look like Es.

UPDATE 1517z:  40 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 today so far (see map).

500uW 10m WSPR (Thursday)

 No spots of my 500uW (0.5mW) beacon today.

Brunch in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

One of the benefits of being old is free bus travel. This is us having brunch in Cambridge before shopping and sitting in King's College Chapel. Free entry to King's as a local. 😉