Sunspot going?

The only sunspot on the side of the Sun facing us looks like it is rotating out of view. When I looked last night it was still there, but about to disappear. Unless there are others rotating into view or others bubbling up, we could be in for a quiet few weeks.

Sunspots - Monday June 15th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 11. A=2 and K=1.

6m FT8 (10W and V2000 vertical omni)

At about 1530z, I turned on 6m FT8. So far, nothing spotted on RX and 2 G stations have spotted me. No QSOs yet.

UPDATE 1803z:  Now spotted by 52 different stations so far.

UPDATE 2035z:   QRT.  In the end I was spotted by 84 different stations.

2m - signs of the times?

The 2m PW QRP contest netted me just 3 local contacts. With the same power and antenna (10W and the big-wheel omni antenna) 2m FT8 got me 19 spots with best DX being PE1OPK (378km) within a few minutes. Sad.

UK hereditary peers - NOT amateur radio

Heard today that most UK hereditary peers with vast riches are still living off their compensation for having to free slaves years ago! And they get paid for turning up to the House of Lords!! I am not in favour of revolution, but hearing this crap you do wonder. Personally I would put a windfall tax on all major landowners.

Pre-war TV in the UK - NOT amateur radio

At first, the BBC broadcast 30 line TV.  Later in the 1930s (1936?) they started 405 line transmissions which closed during WW2. Most viewers were in London. YouTube has some historical stuff from 1937.

Polish - Czech border "incident" - NOT amateur radio

The BBC has a piece about a strange incident that was a misunderstanding and was easily fixed. By mistake, Polish guards were guarding a Czech church!!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53034930

Optical communications

One of my Facebook memories today was from 7 years ago when I had built the Finningley optical transceiver. Shortly after this I had my stroke, so it never got used.

Yesterday on 6m FT8 TX

Last evening my 10W to the V2000 vertical omni was spotted by FG5GH (6691km) in the Caribbean. On 6m FT8 RX the best DX was W2AAU (5424km).

Early start on 10m WSPR TX

As I was awake early, the 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. Even at this hour (it is now 0505z) I am getting spotted by G4KPX (14km). No Es yet.

UPDATE 0726z:  Still just G4KPX so far spotting me.

UPDATE 1245z: 5 spots of me so far today.

UPDATE 1928z:  I wonder if the small amount of drift seen on some spots is due to Es clouds moving? Usually my drift is highest for the first 20 minutes as things settle, but after than it is very stable.

UPDATE 1950z:  7 different stations have spotted me today so far.

UPDATE 2055z:  QRT.