Sunspots - Thursday April 2nd

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 130. A=8 and K=4.

10m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

 Although I am mostly FT8 RX, I was briefly on 10m 5W FT8 TX at about 1105z.

UPDATE 1117z:  On 5W 10m FT8 TX, spotted by 3 stations and on 10m FT8 RX 12 stations spotted here.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My beacon was turned on at breakfast.

UPDATE 1003z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.

Spring colour

The Backs (literally the backs of the colleges in Cambridge,UK) are a feast of colour in spring. 

This is the very best time of year with new growth and new hope.

Many colleges back on to the River Cam.

Cambridge late March

At this time of year it is usually quieter here as the university has gone down and there are fewer visitors. The photo shows the back of King's with the River Cam.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 1st

 Solar flux is 141 and the SSN 133. A=7 and K=3.

My war

It would appear that the world is entering recession, has higher fuel costs and Iran will emerge stronger and the USA weaker.

Iran is considered an evil state, but if a war is undertaken it is wise to think about how it might end.

WSPR versus FT8

It is now about 3 months since I got my 10m QDX-M FT8 transceiver and the Zachtek 200mW WSPR TX. Much to my surprise, I am getting more fun from the WSPR beacon than the FT8 transceiver.

There are more people (I think) using FT8, but overall I find 10m WSPR more fun. Most days on WSPR my 200mW gets spotted at amazing distances.

How to win friends

 This was a quote from the BBC website. I will let you guess who said it!!

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8jke9v9xv9t  .

Economic emergency

 It is clear that the war against Iran is having consequences across the planet.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0750z. 

UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2001z: 7 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

In all yesterday I was spotted by 5 stations. 

See map from WSPR Rocks by VK7JJ. 

The spots from the German research base in Antarctica seem almost daily.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 31st

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 143. A=12 and K=2.

Zachtek WSPR beacon

I have a 10m 200mW WSPR beacon by ZachTek in Sweden. 

What I really like is that, apart from switching it on, nothing at all has to be done, Maidenhead locator and timing are all done by GPS. 

There is a much cheaper product from China, but this is inferior.

With a very average wire antenna it seems to get spotted widely around the world.

EV batteries - revolution about to happen?

It looks like the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has over 50% of the market share in sodium based batteries and the price of these will fall dramatically in the next few years. The battery life is greater too by a factor of about 2. 

Whatever happens with solid-state batteries, it looks like fewer EVs will need lithium. 

There is a great danger the USA will simply be left behind.

Time for a new reserve currency?

In my lifetime the US dollar has been the reserve currency. It has been regarded as a safe haven to invest in. Oil has been priced in US dollars.

It would appear the era of US dominance is drawing to a close and the USA appears to want a more isolationist stance. This appears to be the choice of the current US government, elected by the people.

If this is the case I can see the world looking for a new reserve currency. This would not happen overnight, but I can see things changing.

Whatever your views, certain other nations seem to be in ascendancy whilst the USA slowly declines. If I was a third world country I would not be looking towards the USA for inspiration.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on at 0836z.

UPDATE 0844z: Immediately spots by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1946z:  Spotted by 5 stations with the best Antarctica.

Sunspots - Monday March 30th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 125. A=14 and K=2.

Internet archive

In case you have not come across this treasure trove, the Wayback Machine has many snapshots of websites dating right back to the very early days of the internet. I managed to find a 1996 snapshot of one of my very first websites.

One amazing resource is the DLARC collection of amateur radio related documents. It truly is amazing. If you have not looked before I highly recommend it.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1942z:  Spotted by 10 stations with the best Antarctica (again). Now QRT.

British Summer Time

This is 1 hour ahead of GMT meaning we get lighter evenings. It changed last night. I think it was first created in WW2 so farmers had light in the evenings to grow food. It always takes me a few weeks to get used to BST rather than GMT .

Sunspots- Sunday March 29th

Solar flux is 162 and the SSN 116. A=10 and K=3.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon is on.

UPDATE 1318z:  Spotted by 5 stations.

Trump Report

These videos are on most days I think. Usually some high profile people are interviewed. 

Does he know his plan?

One could be forgiven for thinking the US President does not fully appreciate the implications of the war in Iran. 

Maybe I am totally wrong and there is some incredible plan being enacted. After all, I am a minion not privy to intelligence and security briefs.

These facts are clear already:

1.  Inflation is likely to rise across the world including in the USA.

2.  Many (most?) face shortages of fuel and many other things.

3.  This is an asymmetric war between those with power and those with certain levers.

4.  Many innocent people will suffer.

10m 200mW WSPR to Antarctica (Thursday)

Yesterday my tiny WSPR beacon was copied in Antarctica 11 times in 12 hours. I think this is a record.

Sunspots - Saturday March 28th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 152. A=6 and K=2.

Joe Blogs videos

 

These videos are on YouTube and are very informative.

Sibling reunions

My wife's elder brother died last November and we have her remaining brother staying with us with his wife for a few days. 

He is 80 in a few weeks so my wife made him a present of photos from our sibling reunions which we managed to hold every year for 22 years.

The photo shows my wife's brother holding the photo with my wife and I.

Wood spurge?

Most definitely I am not a plant expert. When it comes to trees, I am even worse! 

This plant, about 2cms across each flower head, was seen at Anglesey Abbey earlier. I think it is called wood spurge.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon has been on since before breakfast.

UPDATE 1540z:  Spotted in Antarctica yet again today several times.

UPDATE 1630z:  5 stations in 4 continents have spotted me.

Antarctica again

 Yet again my 200mW WSPR was spotted at the German research base in Antarctica. It has been reported many times recently on 10m.

Sunspots- Friday March 27th

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 113. A=10 and K=2.

Brunch

My wife has a balance class in nearby Soham, so I do some shopping and have brunch. 

It is always very good.

See https://aromacafesoham.co.uk/

Joe Blogs videos

These are usually about economics and politics, but I watch them most days and enjoy them. This one was a bit different.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0850z.

UPDATE 1231z:  Just one spot by a station in Kenya.

How?

AliExpress is selling a G106c HF QRP transceiver for £42.99. I think I read this correctly. The shipping cost is nearly as much as the rig! 

Even with VAT and any duty, this is still very low cost. 

I know labour costs in China are very low (the old joke about a bowl of rice...) but 2 companies are supposed to be making profits.

UPDATE 0912z:  Is this just the straps? It would seem not. See https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010477508773.html

Sunspots - Thursday March 26th

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 103. A=17 and K=1.

First female archbishop

For the Church of England, this was an historic day. 

The very first female Archbishop was enthroned in Canterbury Cathedral.  

Many die-hard Anglican priests will be horrified, but many priests are now women. 

Whatever your beliefs (or none!) this is a moment in history.

Windmill fantail

We are lucky enough to live right next door to a fully restored 200 year old windmill. The fantail ensures the main sails always point into the wind. Today, the shadow of the fantail was on the museum next door (see photo).

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/