Sunspots - Saturday May 3rd

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 38  A=39 and K=5.

Lilac in full bloom - NOT amateur radio

The lilac in next door's garden looks at its best now. 

In a few weeks time the flowers will be past their best until next spring.

Laburnum - NOT amateur radio

 

This is about 300m from our house and is now in full flower and looking at its best especially against a blue sky.

Yorkshire pudding - NOT amateur radio

My wife always makes her own Yorkshire Pudding. For those readers who are not familiar with this English food, it is like a thick pancake, usually savoury.

It was traditionally eaten as a first course to help "fill you up" so you needed less meat. 

These days it is often served with the main course. 

Our 17 years old grandson loves it.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0830z. Already spotted by 2 stations in central Europe, probably Es.

UPDATE 1034z:  Spotted by 5 stations. 

UPDATE 1350z:  Spotted by 8 stations with the furthermost Namibia. See table.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 8m gear was turned on at about 0830z.

UPDATE 0934z:  Already spotted by 5 stations on 8m FT8!  Thank you.  

UPDATE 1423z:  Spotted on 8m FT8 by 7 EU stations, mostly I assume by Es.

UPDATE 1438z:  I just cannot understand the totally blinkered and very negative attitude in the UK and USA to even a very tiny 8m amateur band, digital only, time limited around sunspot maximum, by application only. The impression you get is they just do not understand and are stupid in the extreme! It is not that they are neutral: the impression you get is that the RSGB and ARRL are dead set against this!!

UPDATE 1645z:  Spotted by 8 European stations.

 

Friday plans

Although conditions look disturbed, my plan is a repeat of yesterday with QRP 8m FT8 and QRP 10m WSPR. 

Sunspots - Friday May 2nd

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 59. A=28 and K=4.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is near where I come from in South Devon. In the distance is Bolt Tail with an Iron Age fort. One of my ancestors probably helped man it. 

Lunch in Ely - NOT amateur radio

This week, we have had our wedding "best man" staying with us. 1971!! He always treats us to lunch out as a way of saying thank you. 

He is a very old and good friend. 

We ate by the river in Ely.

Back on 8m FT8 QRP TX (Thursday)

 For the Es season I am back on 8m FT8 (40.680 MHz) QRP TX with 2.5W to a low dipole. DF is about 1950 Hz.

UPDATE 1516z: Just spotted by EI3KF (574km).

UPDATE 1937z: QRT.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since mid-morning.

UPDATE 1510z: 4 spots of me with the furthermost Namibia.

UPDATE 1942z:  QRT.

Rallies this holiday weekend

The following have been notified to me:

• Sunday May 4th - Hamfest 2025,Tattershall Thorpe, LN4 4PL.
• Monday May 5th - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL . Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com.

Thursday plans

 I think it’s time to try 8m again, so will probably try QRP 8m FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR later.

Sunspots - Thursday May 1st

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 77.  A=12 and K=3.

Newcastle markets - NOT amateur radio

Last week we spent a few days in Newcastle and Durham. 

We were very impressed with the fine indoor markets in Newcastle and the food prices there.

Overall, Newcastle was a pleasant surprise.

Ferrite rod antennas on TX

It is many years since I tested my own ferrite rods as transmit antennas. Quite by accident I came across this photo from 2012.

In my view these will work as TX antennas as long as the ferrite does not saturate. With modes like WSPR and FT8 on very low power I would expect to be spotted, even though the antenna might be well down on a "proper" antenna.  

As an E-field antenna made of ferrite sort of magnifies space within it it acts like a bigger antenna.

See G3XBM4 - Ferrite Rod TX antennas

It gets worse (Google AdSense) - NOT amateur radio

Every now and again I get a message from Google AdSense. Most of these messages mean nothing to me! Take this one received today (attached). 

Basically, I just ignore these. I am awaiting a message in plain English. No doubt I shall be dead before this comes!!

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My IC-705 at 6W FT8 was turned on mid-morning. 

UPDATE 1428z: 90 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1636z: 105 stations have spotted me today. See map.

UPDATE 1934z:  115 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1943z:   QRT.

Wednesday plans

 Probably 10m QRP FT8 later.