Yesterday, we went to Ely with a friend who is staying with us.
19 Apr 2024
Sunspots - Friday April 19th
Solar flux is 227 and the SSN 247. A=4 and K=2.
Are we seeing a second peak?
18 Apr 2024
Rallies
The following have been notified to me. As I always advise, check before going a long way.
- Saturday April 20th -Yeovil ARC 38th QRP Convention, Sherbourme, DT93AA. Contact derekbowen1949@talktalk.net .
- Sunday April 21st - Andover ARC Boot Sale, SP11 0JE. Contact admin@arac.org.uk.
- Sunday April 21st - NARSA (Blackpool Rally}, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. Contact dwilson@btinternet.com .
10m QRPP WSPR (Thursday)
My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon has been on again today.
UPDATE 1822z: 15 spots (again) by EA8BFK (2880km).
At last a swallow! - NOT amateur radio
Today was a definite spotting low over the River Great Ouse.
OFCOM microwave auction changes
OFCOM is making changes in its auction for 26GHz and 40GHz spectrum to protect radio telescopes near Cambridge. See the OFCOM website for details.
17 Apr 2024
Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds, UK - NOT amateur radio
8m FT8 RX
UPDATE 1642z: ZR1ADI (9777km) in South Africa was the only spot today. I guess this is TEP.
10m QRPP WSPR (Wednesday)
No luck yet today with my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR today.
Yesterday there were quite a few spots of my 500uW WSPR by EA8BFK (2880km). The impression I am getting is this ultra low power works on single hop F2 as long as things are settled, but multiple hop F2 is far harder. Based on these results, I am expecting European spots via Es later.
UPDATE 1545z: No spots today.
UPDATE 1618z: I spoke too soon! 3 spots late afternoon from the Canary Islands (again).
UPDATE 2050z: EA8 (probably F2) ,OE and DL (probably both Es?) spotted my 500uW QRPP WSPR. If these two were Es, this is probably the start of the Es season.
16 Apr 2024
6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My 2.5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical antenna is on, but just 5 English spots so far.
10m QRPP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon has been on all day. I suspect conditions are not good enough.
UPDATE 1354z: No spots.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
An average session last night with 8 stations spotting my 10mW ERP (measured) WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with no DX.
Foxton CRG rally postponed this weekend
Because of the ground being waterlogged, the Foxton (near Cambridge) CRG rally has been postponed until the summer.