Thunderstorms?

It has been hot all day. According to the weather forecast we could have thunderstorms later. If so, everything will be disconnected in the shack.

UPDATE 1845z:  QRT on all bands as it looks stormy.

UPDATE 2025z: Just a very slight rain shower. I think the storms passed us by.

Lunch in the garden - NOT amateur radio

Today the temperature is 32 deg C right now. Lunchtime we ate in the garden. This is me tucking in to pasta. We came in later as it was too hot.

QSY to 2m FT8

Stations spotting my
10W FT8 on 2m today

At least for the moment, the 6m Es here seems to have stopped, so at 1358z I QSYed to 2m FT8.

So far, my 10W to the big wheel omni antenna has been spotted by 16 stations in 4 countries (it is now only 1406z) with best DX a spot by GI6ATZ (479km). Not bad in just 8 minutes with low power!

MLS IC-705 unboxing video

MLS has got hold of an IC-705 ICOM transceiver. On the "something for the weekend" video they do an unboxing. See the MLS website.

Distant Kings - NOT amateur radio

On our walk earlier this morning we could see Kings College in the far distance.  The university library is also visible. Sorry the photo is so poor!

10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)

At 0833z, the W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon was turned on. Already spotted by a Swiss station by Es.

UPDATE  1409z: Spotted by 3 unique stations so far.

6m FT8

At 0833z, my 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on. So far, I have been spotted by 8 stations already, many by Es.

Early walk - NOT amateur radio

As today is supposed to get very hot, we did a very early morning walk. We set off at 0545z! The photo shows me on the walk around the nearby village of Reach. This is a delightful walk with a mix of views. At one point we could just make out the roof of Kings College Chapel, about 10 miles way in Cambridge.

Gone? - NOT amateur radio

As the weather was hot in the east of the UK yesterday, we spent some time in the garden in the late afternoon. What was different?

In May, June and July the screaming sound of swifts feeding on the wing was very common. Yesterday was different. In nearly an hour I saw just 1 swift.

The impression is that younger swifts hav seen overheade already started their migration back to central Africa. Normally most adult birds leave by mid-August spending just a few months here to return next April/May.

They are ephemeral birds: when they are with us they are very common - usually the screaming is heard first - then they are gone again and the skies are quiet. On better evenings 20 plus birds can be seen overhead.

To me, they are symbols of a UK summer and I miss them when they go and eagerly look forward to their return next spring.

UPDATE 0840z:  6 swifts seen overhead this morning.

Sunspots - Friday July 31st 2020

Hopeful signs. Solar flux is 73 and the SSN still 11.  A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8

Just after 1900z, I QSYed fron 6m FT8 to 2m FT8. I am using 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna. So far (it is now 1908z) My signal has been copied by 19 stations in 3 countries. Best DX spot of me was by GD3YEO (384km).

G4CLA (106km) is getting me at an incredible +14dB S/N.  I suspect he must have a very big antenna and a superb take-off. In most 2m and 70cm activity contests he works me even though I only run 10W and a 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 2052z: QRT.

Wineberries - NOT amateur radio

On our visit to nearby Anglesey Abbey we noticed these berries. They looked like raspberries (perhaps a bit smaller) but were in clusters. Investigations suggest these are wineberries which came from Japan. I am told they are edible (but do check as I am no expert!). I had not seen them before.

10m WSPR beacon (500mW to the indoor loop)

At about 0845z I turned on my little W5OLF 10m WSPR TX beacon. Yesterday was amazing. Nothing yet so far today.

UPDATE 1145z:  11 unique stations have spotted me so far this morning. Not bad.

6m FT8

At about 0845z, the 6m FT8 gear was turned on (10W to the V2000 vertical omni). Already there is lots of Es around. Already spotted by 6 stations in southern Europe.

UPDATE 1145z:   So far this morning I have been spotted by 15 stations and I have spotted 30 stations. Just 1 QSO so far.

UPDATE 1417z:  The Es seems to have stopped for now. 16 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 and I have spotted 36 stations.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This photo (shown before) shows where I come from in South Devon. We owned some land here in the 1400s.

Oscar 100 - SO quiet!

Yesterday lunchtime I took a listen on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite. When I listened to the narrowband transponder on the web SDR at Goonhilly I was amazed how quiet it was. The only QSO was one between a G and an F.

Especially with so many at home, I was expecting it to be quite busy by now. I think people lose interest after they make their first QSOs.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Yesterday's walk - NOT amateur radio

Sugar beet (I think) 

Most days since Covid-19 forced us to stay at home, we have tried to do a walk.

Yesterday was no exception so we walked up to the Devil's Dyke, an ancient man made structure in Cambridgeshire built about 1400 years ago. It is about 7 miles long and is a defensive earthwork. How did they get the manpower?

There is another earthwork with the same name near the south coast of the UK.

On our way we saw fields of sugar beet (I think) and sweetcorn. Years ago you would not have seen sweetcorn. Nowadays you see fields of sunflowers and sweetcorn. These are crops that grow well here due to the climate warming.

Because of my giddiness, each walk seems a lot longer. All the time I feel as if I am about to fall so I have to watch each step. This is particularly hard on pavements (sidewalks) as it seems as if I am about to fall into the path of cars. When cars are coming up from behind it is particularly unnerving.

70cm activity contest results

The results of the RSGB organised activity contest have published.

It shows my position in the low power section has improved.

I am only using 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Because of my voice I stay on for less than an hour.

Sunspots - Thursday July 30th 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 22. A=5 and K=1.

Zoom meetings - NOT amateur radio

Since the lockdown many of us have had to rely on Zoom to see friends and family.  I have been impressed. The photo shows a Zoom meeting earlier.