Time synchronisation

All this with Windows 10. I have no idea what happens in Windows 11.

For years I used an internet time service to ensure my PC time was accurate. A few months ago Steve G1KQH pointed out that internet time sync is built in to Windows 10 and I assume Windows 11. 

Just right click on the date and time in the bottom right of your screen. Choose "adjust date/time" from the menu that appears. 

A box appears and select "sync now". When the tick appears you know your PC is synced to internet time. 

I am not sure how long this syncs for, but on my PC I have had absolutely no issues for a whole day at all using modes in WSJT-X making additional programs for time sync unnecessary. 

Although I am unsure how often you should re-sync, I do this whenever I turn on my PC i.e once a day.

Sunspots - Monday March 17th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 185.  A=10 and K=3.

Quatermass and the Pit - NOT amateur radio

When this was first broadcast as a series on BBC TV in 1957, I recall being terrified. 

It was produced as a DVD and we are watching it again. 

It still is pretty good even now. It raises the possibility of a racial memory that is deeply buried within us all, perhaps for millions of years.

Best SDR transeivers

This is a Chinese video (I think) promoting Chinese SDR transceivers. Many (including me) are still a bit concerned about Chinese quality and reliability in amateur radio products.

They have definitely "got there" in many consumer products with most goods bought these days having a "Made in China" label. We are addicted to low costs with labour costs in China (at the moment) much lower than in Europe or the USA.

When it comes to SDR transceivers, the Chinese offerings are much lower cost than the Japanese offerings. In the future this is the competition. 

As labour costs in China go up, I can see people scanning the world to see where labour costs are lower, or adopting more automation to compete.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 My IC-705 at 6W  has been on since breakfast.  11 spots (G, and GW) so far at 1036z.

UPDATE 1632z:  18 stations spotting me.  All G and GW.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon has been on since breakfast. Plenty of European spots of me. 

UPDATE 2113z:  42 stations have spotted me with the furthermost Brazil.

Sunspots - Sunday March 16th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 187. A=18 and K=3.

The (UK) Times newspaper - NOT amateur radio

One of the many sources from which I get news is The Times, which is a UK newspaper, also available online. I also listen to Times Radio.

This weekend you can download or share anything on their site.

See https://www.thetimes.com/

Konik ponies - NOT amateur radio

These were at Kingfisher Bridge nature reserve near Ely UK as well as water buffalo. They’re wild ponies used to keep the grass short.

Ut I Vorid - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago when we were on holiday in Iceland we went, by chance, to a concert in a small church in northern Iceland and heard some of the best singing we have ever heard. 

It was a singing group called Ut I Vorid. I have just chanced upon them on YouTube. I have no idea if they still exist. We have several of their CDs.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My QRP WSPR beacon was turned on about 1016z. No spots of me yet.

UPDATE 1052z:  10 spots of me by EA8BFK (2880km). 

UPDATE 1515z:  Spotted by 24 stations. See table.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 1017z. Just 7 English spots so far.

UPDATE 1514z:  Spotted by 19 stations. See map.

Faroes - NOT amateur radio

 

One of my friends on 365project posted this photo recently from the Faroe Islands.

Optical Communications

 Before my 2013 stroke I enjoyed doing experiments at 481THz (red light). Although my main interest was "over the horizon" digital communication, I had one line of sight AM QSO over about 11km. 

On YouTube is a video of a German optical communicator that was used in WW2. As the beam was very narrow it was ideal for secret communication up to 5km. Mechanically it was a work of art.

Sunspots - Saturday March 15th

 Solar flux is 180 and the SSN (still shown as March 8th on my source) 90. I am sure this is wrong. A=24 and K=3.

I went looking for today's sunspot number. It was very hard. Please tell me the best source!

UPDATE 1646z:  A Google AI search said the SSN today was 147.

Treeless beauty - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives up in Shetland Islands. Up there it can be very beautiful, although there are few trees and it can be very bleak and windy.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0915z. So far just 3 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2118z: 22 stations have spotted me. See map.  QRT soon. .

10m 500mW beacon (Friday)

My beacon was turned on about 0915z. EA8BFK (2880km) is spotting me.

UPDATE 2128z: Spotted by 31 stations today. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Friday March 14th

 Solar flux is 175. My source for sunspot data has not been updated since March 8th for some reason and is still showing SSN=90 which must be wrong!  I have no idea why it is not being updated. I shall try to find today's figure from somewhere else.  A=42 and K=3.

New homes - NOT amateur radio

It would appear that any patch of land is being used in our village for new houses. Someone has a terraced house with a very long garden. The owner has sold the land and the developer has built 6 new homes. These look nearly finished now. No doubt the builder and terraced house owner will have made plenty.