Seasonal photobooks

For many years, my wife has produced a photo-book each season.  It documents what we, our children and grandchildren have been up to. It's surprising how soon you forget.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon has been on since about 1330z.

UPDATE 1739z: So far, 19 spots, all transatlantic apart from a couple in the Canary Is.. and one in Austria.

UPDATE 2017z:  23 stations have spotted me with the furthest  K6VZK (8719km). QRT soon.

6m 5W FT8 ( Friday)

My gear has been on since about 1330z.

UPDATE 1735z:  So far, 19 stations spotting me. Furthest is I3VWK (1105km).

Quiet time

In Cambridge this is a quiet time. There are fewer visitors and the university students are not back yet.

Sunspots - Friday September 19th

 Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 119. A=6 and K=0.

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon was turned at about 1140z.

UPDATE 1805z:  Spotted by 8 stations with several in the USA. QRT soon.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 1140z.

UPDATE 1804z: 14 stations have spotted me. See map. QRT soon.

Seccumbed

In the end I ordered a UV5r mini (transparent). At the very low price with a discount it was a bargain. Even if it goes wrong after a while it is far less than one meal out. 

Talking of meals out we really like Cote Brasserie which does an excellent fixed price menu.

Thursday plans

10m QRP FT8 yesterday

Yesterday my 10m FT8 QRP was spotted by 63 stations on 4 continents. See map.  

I have not yet decided what to do today, but my inclination is to try 6m FT8 later.

Sunspots - Thursday September 18th

 Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 119. A=12 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 When I am on 6m FT8, like now, I can go on 10m QRP WSPR as my antenna is available and my beacon does not need the PC.

UPDATE 1343z:   No spots.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

 At 1330z, I switched to 6m QRP FT8 from 10m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1344z: Spotted by 4 English stations.

Early Halloween?

This was a shop window in our village earlier this week. It looks like this is a Halloween display. Personally, I think it is far too early.

Beofeng UV5R-mini

This product s available at ridiculously low prices (from China I think), although I have no personal experience. 

Looking at Ali-express, the price varies depending on the colour, accessories and whether you want 1 or 2 units. I am very tempted!

10m 3W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear has been on since about 0545z.

UPDATE 1236z:  59 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 17th

 Solar flux is 135 and the SSN 130. A=21 and K=2.

Sunflowers dying

These have been a real surprise. The seeds came with some flowers my wife got for Mother's Day. I planted some in a tray and some in the ground. Most germinated and have looked good for several weeks, but they are now dying.

Some of the seeds will be kept for next year and the birds will have the rest.

Better Regen RX

Dave Richards AA7EE who makes some excellent projects very neatly has done a regen RX which he will add to his blog soon. He is a real experimenter!

If you want to see neat layouts without a PCB, look at Dave's blog and be inspired.

See https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/

More autumnal

 

The grass has just been cut and it feels more autumnal. We have had high winds and showers and there are more leaves on the ground.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 At about 0930z I decided to try 10m WSPR as the antenna was free when I went on 6m FT8.

UPDATE  1030z:  No spots yet.