6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

Already lots of spots from Europe. If this is Es, it is very late in the Es season. Could it be scatter or aircraft reflection?

Stations spotting me on 6m FT8

UPDATE 2047z:  Spotted by 92 stations in the last day on 6m FT8. Now QRT.

Amsterdam cheese shop

The Netherlands is famous for cheese. This was a cheese shop in Amsterdam last week.  Heaven for a cheese lover.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

Already 9 stations spotting me with a surprising number of Europeans. I an unsure of the propagation. Furthest is V51RS (8481km) with very early spots of me.

UPDATE 2052z:  14 spots of me in the last day with 500mW 10m WSPR. Now QRT.

More Apple Day

 As mentioned yesterday our neighbour next door invited us around to pick apples. 

The photo collage shows more of this happy day.

Sunspots- Monday September 8th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 83. A=5 and K=2.

PSKreporter maps

 Most days I us this to see where my 5W 6m FT8 reaches. Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch, but mid afternoon in the UK on Sunday, this was not working,

Yes, the world is going mad

Usually I do not buy a Sunday newspaper preferring to watch TV and go on the internet. Today, for a change, I bought one.

On one of the pages was a photo of a model wearing some clothes: a tweed jacket over £12k, a tweed coat over £12k , some shorts £1.3k, and a shirt £1.23k. 

All told, this outfit would be approaching £30k. Does anyone actually buy this crap? All I can say is there must be some very, very, stupid people around. 

I also think this is grossly immoral when people are starving.

UK dealers

At one time there were many UK dealers, whereas now there are far fewer. 

In the end these are businesses whose aim is to generate profits for their shareholders. To succeed, you have to provide customers with what they need at a price they can afford.

Sometimes rigs seem to be at daft prices, yet people still buy for something they must have. Those dealers that remain on the scene are desperate to please their customers as they may stay loyal in the future. One of the most successful UK dealers is MLS who have a video on their origins.

One thing I always say is will they still be around to honour their guarantee?

In the past I have dealt with several UK dealers that still remain.

Shack

This is most of what I need at present.  Currently I am not on 8m or 630m.

Just out of shot is my 10m WSPR beacon that is about the size of a pack of cards on the shelf below producing 500mW.

Also out of shot it the small PC used for FT8.

The IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted across the planet on 6m FT8.

Postcards

People are sending fewer this days. We sent a few, but most people keep in touch and send pictures by digital means. These are the physical ones we posted .

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My beacon has been on since just after breakfast.

UPDATE 0929z:  Spotted by 5 stations with the furthest EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 2015z: Spotted by 8 stations with the furthest  ZD7GB (7611km).

6m 5W FT8 ( Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0959z: Spotted by 22 stations.

UPDATE 2010z:  Spotted today by 39 stations. See map.

Apple 🍏 Day

Our neighbour next door has an old orchard and far too many apples! 

Every year he has an apple day when the neighbours can have as many free apples as they want. It’s a lovely occasion.

Sunspots - Sunday September 7th

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 108. A=26 and K=0.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on since just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1356z:  9 stations have spotted me today

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear has been on since just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1936z:  71 stations have spotted me. Mostly continental Europeans. See map.

QSL Card bug?

In the last few months I have received several QSL cards by email which were useless as the QSO was dated 0000-00-00!

Caveat emptor!!

Back home

After our brief trip to Amsterdam by Eurostar (through train from London), we are now back home, so the usual things have to be done like unpacking, washing etc 😢. 

We love Amsterdam and have been there many times. 

Even though there are cobbles and trams and lots of bikes 🚲 as well as driving on the wrong side of the road (!!) I actually found it easier than the last time.

Sunspots - Saturday September 6th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 128.  A=8 and K=3.

Saturday plans

 Now we are back home I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR tomorrow.