10m WSPR beacon (500mW to indoor loop)

Since about 0530z, I have been running my little 10m WSPR beacon. Apart from a couple of early spots by local Richard G4KPX (14km), no spots. There is certainly no early Es evident here today on 10m.

UPDATE 0923z: No Es here yet today.

UPDATE 1822z:  Just G4KPX spots today and no Es here.

6m FT8

Just before breakfast, my 6m FT8 kit was turned on. As usual, I am running 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna.

So far, just a G and GW copied on 6m FT8 RX and not a single spot on TX. I re-did a time re-sync just in case the internet had gone off and I had lost timing. It can happen. Very quiet so far today. Just now I restarted the PC too and did another time re-sync.

UPDATE 0920z:   Just UK spots today so far on 6m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1823z:  8 spots of me today. Some late evidence of Es in the last hour or so.

8m tests

John EI7GL has news on his blog of 8m tests using FT8 with stations in Europe.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/08/ft8-experiment-on-40-mhz-1st-to-15th.html

Where we used to live - NOT amateur radio

We moved to our present home seven years ago. Recently I came across this aerial photo which shows where our old house was built when it was still a field.

Behind us was Spring Close meadow which has the remains of a Roman villa as well as the remains of Burwell Castle from the time of King Stephen about 1000 years ago.

Sunspots - Monday August 3rd 2020

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 22.  A=9 and K=4.

Windmills - NOT amateur radio

We live next door to the only remaining windmill in our village. At one time there were four.

More accurately, some of these were windpumps, not windmills, as they were used to pump water and not grind corn. The photo shows two of these that have now gone.

Sunspot minimum

My favourite site for solar data has changed the wording giving the months when sunspot minimum occurred.  Previously it was hedging bets using works like "probable". 2 dates are given as the date depends on how the averaging is done.

The climb begins....

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png for a graph showing how the transition to the start of the next cycle is expected pan out.

See also https://www.solen.info/solar/ for more general information.

Isleham walk - NOT amateur radio

This morning we did a nice walk around the village of Isleham. The photo shows a cut cornfield.

10m WSPR TX

About 10 minutes ago I turned on the little W5OLF 10m WSPR TX beacon which runs 500mW to the indoor loop. It is now 1100z. Just a single spot by local G4KPX (14km) so far.

UPDATE 1320z: 4 spots of me so far today.

UPDATE 2050z: In all, I was spotted by 18 stations. Now QRT.

6m FT8

At about 1045z, I turned on my usual 6m FT8 gear (10W and the V2000 vertical). It is now 1056z. So far, 4 stations have spotted me and 2 Hungarians spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1325z:  15 spots of my 6m FT8 today so far.

UPDATE 2100z:  In all, I was spotted by 30 stations today across Europe. Now QRT.

Facebook memory - PW

7 years ago there was a review of mine in Practical Wireless. It was quite a surprise to see my bald head and garden on the cover!  Since then PW has changed owners.

See https://www.warnersgroup.co.uk/hobbies-crafts/practical-wireless/

Wicken windmill

The photo shows the windmill in Wicken village. We went for a walk around the village recently.

Sunspots - Sunday August 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 22.  A=3 and K=1.

Busier Oscar 100

Just a few moments ago I took a peak at the narrowband section of Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. Last time I looked it was exceptionally quiet. Today, at a weekend, there were 7 QSOs going on which is typical of the last year.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Patio rose - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of the roses on our patio earlier. My wife took the shot.

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

The 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0843z. So far, nobody has spotted me.

UPDATE 1149z: 4 stations have spotted me so far today as the table shows.

UPDATE 2007z:  5 stations spotted me today. Now QRT.

6m FT8 (10W and the V2000 vertical omni)

At about 0842z, I turned on the usual 6m FT8 gear. So far, at 0846z, just one G has spotted me.

UPDATE 0900z: Just 2 spots by Gs of me, with no signs yet of any Es. 1 G spotted on RX. No QSOs.

UPDATE 2007z :  QRT.

Short-term Aims? - NOT amateur radio

Perhaps this is a natural feature of old age? I seem to have aims that are more short-term these days. Perhaps I am more aware of the finality of life than I was and every day is a gift to be enjoyed. Life is never perfect or easy, but there is so much to be thankful for.

International Short Wave League (ISWL)

For two periods I was an ISWL member. When I first joined in the 1960s it was a thriving club. I rejoined many years later but then must have had far fewer members. These days it must be struggling unless it has had an influx of new members, that I doubt. In its day it served a real purpose.

Sunspots - Saturday August 1st 2020

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 23.  A=4 and K=0. Past the minimum?