Thunder and lightning risk

 At the moment, the risk seems low, so I have gone on the air. If this changes, I shall go QRT.

See  https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;

UPDATE 1025z: It looks like the storms are creeping into SW England. Currently it is sunny and dry here in East Anglia.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 8th

 Solar flux is 277 and the SSN 164. A=55 and K=3.

8m FT8 (Monday)

 After returning from Cambridge I decided to try 8m QRP FT8 . Nobody has spotted me but I have spotted G4FKI (60km).

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

 

When I got back from Cambridge, I turned on my little stand-alone 10m WSPR TX beacon. Just F2 spots (see table).

Radio magazines

Today my U3A courses restarted and I had some time to kill in Cambridge Library. I was quite surprised to see a copy of Practical Electronics. 

It got me wondering what electronics magazines can still be bought in newsagents?  

There were few adverts so I think their business model must rely on the sales of PCBs for the projects they feature.

Expanding - NOT amateur radio

When we came to this village in 1975 the population was just over 4000. Now it is approaching 8000. Some prefer to expand their homes rather than move. It still has a village feel.

Sunspots - Monday October 7th

 Solar flux is 265 and the SSN 167. A=16 and K=4.

Blacksmith - NOT amateur radio

This was the blacksmith with his son at our local museum Sunday.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 Although my 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since just after breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 0926z:  Just WESSEXSDR (267km) has spotted me.

UPDATE  1754z:   8 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 today. See map. Pretty sure this is the best this season.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 

My beacon has been on since just after breakfast. Several spots via F2 propagation. See table.

UPDATE 1024z:  11 stations have spotted me so far with the furthermost PU5ALE (10191km) in Brazil.

UPDATE  1800z:  84 spots of me today.

Sunday plans

 Later I expect to go on 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR again.

Sunspots - Sunday October 6th

 Solar flux is 277 and the SSN 173. A=7 and K=2.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

In a word - pathetic.

Every few weeks I take peek at activity of this geosynchronous satellite. It is very very low. I cannot say how disappointing I find this.

Bah humbug - NOT amateur radio

Not sure why, but I hate seeing Christmas things too early. If I had my way, all things Christmas would be banned until December. 

All this strikes me as pure commercialism with nothing at all to do with the true meaning of Christmas.

Rallies this weekend

 The following have been notified to me. Always check before going far.

• Sat Oct 5th - Carmarthen ARS Surplus Equipment Sale, Cwmduad, SA33 6XN. Contact G0JLX @gmail.com (shown as ....@mail.com which I think is an error?).
• Sun Oct 6th - Welsh Radio Rally, Newport, NP18 2YE. Contact welshradiorally@gmail.com. 

A full list of rallies is at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies .

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My tiny stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR beacon was turned on about 0812z. 

UPDATE 0851z:  Plenty of (I think) F2 spots.

UPDATE 1720z: So far today, 66 stations have spotted me.  See map.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My 2.5W to the horizontal low dipole was turned on at about 0812z. The usual "watering hole"  for both FT8 and WSPR is 40.680 MHz USB dial. If you set your receiver here you will catch most of the activity.

UPDATE  0951z: G0KTN (211km) has at last spotted me. Pretty sure he has been trying for some time. Not sure if he has a better antenna, higher antenna, more sensitive RX or if conditions were up. Also spotting me was EI3KF (574km).

UPDATE 1000z:  It would appear that every time I try 8m QRP FT8, I get spotted by several stations. If I get spotted with my very tiny power (2.5W) and low dipole then imagine the results with 50W and a beam. There  have been some amazing 10mW FT8 QSOs. Under ISM rules many countries can TX on the band  without a special permit or even a licence. Check what the rules are in your country.

Stations spotting
my 8m FT8 today

UPDATE 1817z:  No further spots on TX. Slovenia spotted on 8m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Saturday October 5th

 Solar flux is 291 and the SSN 180. A=8 and K=1.

Windmill - NOT amateur radio

This was "our" windmill next door this morning. 

Kings College Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 This was King’s yesterday in the sunshine.

6m 2.5W FT8 ( Friday)

Just UK spots so far.

UPDATE 1309z:  22 spots of me with several in mainland Europe.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

Looks like F2 spots.

UPDATE  1931z:   80 spots of me today including many in the USA.

Sunspots - Friday October 4th

 Solar flux is 312 and the SSN 229. A=8 and K=1.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand-alone W5OLF 10m QRP WSPR beacon has been on most of the day. 45 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 1807z: 62 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR today with the furthermost ND7M (8408km).

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Having been on most of the morning I have been spotted by 32 stations so far today when running 2.5W FT8.

UPDATE 1805z:   So far, spotted by 36 stations. 

Remind me of the month? - NOT amateur radio

Both in John Lewis and Marks and Spencer they have Christmas stuff on display. 

Anything to increase profits. 

Personally I find this sick. I know retailers have it hard, but early October?  Really?  Give us a break.

Duck supper - NOT amateur radio

 

Last evening, our son cooked us duck. 

It was very good with all the trimmings.

8m improving?

Based on the last few days, it would appear 8m conditions are improving. F2 propagation is getting better, and more frequent. 

Yesterday, my 8m FT8 2.5W to a low dipole was spotted across the Atlantic by 2 stations. We can expect  8m F2 propagation to be good at this time of year with high sunspot numbers.

Plans for Thursday

 Today I think I shall try 6m FT8 as 8m was good yesterday so I am wondering if the F2 MUF will exceed 50MHz.

Sunspots - Thursday October 3rd

Solar  flux is 275 and the SSN 194. A=7 and K=1.

Oil price - NOT amateur radio

 Despite the increasing tension in the Middle East, the price of oil seems remarkably stable.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 After all, I decided to try 8m QRP FT8 today. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1202z:  So far only G4BAO (8km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1229z: My first 8m spot from "across the pond" this season by WW1L (4976km).

Stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8

UPDATE 1252z: Now spotted by 3 stations.

UPDATE 1342z: Spotted by 4 stations and PJ4MM (7483km) spotted on RX for the first time this season on 8m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted on 8m FT8

UPDATE 1717z:  Spotted by 8 stations on 8m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and a low wire dipole. Best day yet.

Stations spotting me
today on 8m QRP FT8

Nearby floods - NOT amateur radio

 

To the west of us, there has been some widespread flooding. We have avoided it over here thankfully. One of my friends on 365project posted this photo of her local park flooded and closed.

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My stand-alone 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon is on and there looks like plenty of F2 propagation to Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1048z:  Now, quite a few stations via F2 (I think) spotting my little beacon. 21 spots of me so far.

UPDATE 2107z:  82 stations spotting me.

Middle East - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I posted my views on the situation in the Middle East. Overnight, I received a comment that may be pure sarcasm. If this was not intended, please accept my apologies and resubmit a comment. For now, I am not publishing the comment.

My views have not changed: the only long-term solution must be diplomatic with everyone treating everyone fairly and with dignity in peaceful coexistence.

UPDATE 1026z:   Lots of military aeroplane activity overhead from the US airbases at either Lakenheath or Mildenhall. 

European openings (Wednesday)

The impression I have is that things are not as good as yesterday on 10m and 6m as far as propagation in Europe is concerned. Unless things get better, I think I shall give 8m FT8 a miss today.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Green tomatoes - NOT amateur radio

This year, we have had a good crop of tomatoes. I have now dug them up and those that don't turn red will come for green tomato chutney.

See https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/green-tomato-chutney .

Sunspots - Wednesday October 2nd

 Solar flux is 245 and the SSN 196. A=6 and K=2.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

This evening was the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. 

As usual, I was running 10W PEP to my big-wheel omni antenna. 

Because of my poor voice I was only on for 30 minutes. 4 QSOs were made. See map.

Middle East - NOT amateur radio

The only long-term solution to the long-running situation over Israel seems to me to be a political solution that allows Israel and the people of Palestine to live in peace. 

This endless cycle of violence may achieve something in the short-term, but just increases bitterness. Everyone has to compromise for the long-term good.