Reverse beacon network

This is a useful resource that I have used infrequently, probably as it does not monitor the modes I most use. It can tell you where your CQs get, even if nobody replies. I think it supports CW, RTTY and PSK.

See https://www.reversebeacon.net/ .

6m 5W QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1008z.

UPDATE 1139z: So far, spotted by 8 English stations. 

UPDATE 1218z:  Spotted by 16 stations including Eire and Germany.

UPDATE 1607z:  24 spots of my QRP today including some in mainland Europe. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at about 1008z.

UPDATE 1612z:  So far, spotted by 22 stations. Several from North America with one in Brazil.

Sunspots - Sunday November 2nd

 Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 24. A=14 and K=2. 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

The stand-alone beacon was turned on just before tea.

UPDATE 1914z:  7 stations have spotted me with several in North America.

6m 5W QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 

As we were in Cambridge, my gear was not turned on until shortly before teatime.

UPDATE 1907z:  18 spots of me so far including 3 in Scandinavia. See map.

Where we live

 

This is the view from our lounge window down our close. In the other direction is the windmill. 

CQWW SSB contest - LAST weekend

At one time I never missed this as a chance to work a few new countries and states. Since my voice has been poor I rarely go on this contest now. In fact I totally forgot it was on last weekend!

To me DX chasing is no longer important. I worked 10m QRP SSB DXCC back about 40 years ago, so I leave it to others these days. 

Solar data

It is good to see the updated solar data. We are now clearly on the downward slope of the solar cycle, although we can expect conditions on the higher HF bands to be good for quite a while yet.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ . 

AI dangers

Recently I have been watching several videos on YouTube supposed to be the sayings of Albert Einstein. The trouble is we can’t be sure he ever said these words! 

It is now very easy to make videos, photos and texts with AI, The trouble is these AI generated images and words are often believed. So, disinformation is spread. 

I am sure there are lots of good things that become possible with AI where lots of data has to be processed quickly, but there are also great dangers. 

We now have to treat EVERYTHING we see with scepticism sadly. 

Sunspots - Saturday November 1st

 Solar flux is 125 and the SSN just 34.  A=25 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at 1339z.

UPDATE 1730z: Several stations from the USA and Canada spotting my QRP as well as V51RS (8481km).  See map from WSPRrocks.

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 My gear was turned on at 1340z.

UPDATE 1729z: So far, spotted by 28 stations in the British Isles. No continental stations have spotted me yet today.

8m operation

Although I did not renew my UK 8m TX permit, there is still activity with stations in the Caribbean getting licences and Spain getting permits for another 18 months.

Instead, I have QSYed to 6m FT8 and been surprised to find real continental DX stations spotting my 5W FT8 to the omni vertical antenna on every day I have been operating. The moral is do not give up on 6m.

In my view, 8m deserved special permits in very many countries around solar maximum to allow real propagation research. Instead, very very few bothered. I was disgusted.

Friday plans

As I am out this morning, I cannot be on until after lunch. As we may get some thunder, I may not go on today. 

Albert Einstein on God

This is a long YouTube video in which Albert Einstein talks about God.  In essence, he argues that we see through the perspective of space and time, whereas the essence of "God" is outside of these.

Sunspots - Friday October 31st

 Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 68. A=38 and K=4.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 

My beacon was turned on at about 1200z.

UPDATE  1825:  So far spotted by 24 stations. See table.

UPDATE 2219z:   QRT.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 

Yet again, what looks like Es to the Balkans.

UPDATE 1222z: 10 stations have spotted me  today. My gear was turned on at about 1200z.

UPDATE 1820x: 75 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 2220z: QRT.

YouTube videos

There are huge numbers of videos on YouTube. Many people now watch YouTube on TV which is a recent change. 

Whatever your interest, you are almost certain to find a video. If you do a search I can almost guarantee you will find something. 

Last night we watched a video about transport in the time of Queen Victoria in the UK. This was on the TV.

If you want videos about Russia I have found TimesRadio and Joe Blogs videos informative.