Sunspots - Friday September 11th

 Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 90. A=9 and K=1.

Blackpool Sands, Devon

This is near where I lived as a child. Blackpool Sands is in the South Hams in Devon, UK and nowhere near the town of Blackpool which is in N.W. England. 

It is a very beautiful spot, not far from Dartmouth.

Lounge view at sunset

 

This was the view last night.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE 1003z:  2 stations spotting me - F2?

Chrome issue?

 For some reason (starting yesterday) I have been unable to upload locally stored photos to my blog using Chrome. I have failed on my usual Chromebook and on a different Windows 11 PC. I have not yet tried with other browsers like Firefox.

It may be a temporary glitch at the far side that may resolve itself?

If other users have seen something similar, I would be interested.

UPDATE 0948z:  Tried Firefox.  Same issue - no upload of local photos since yesterday.

UPDATE 1026z: Uploads fine from Google Photos.

UPDATE 1047z:  It seems to be a common (recent) glitch at their end. Going to HTML view rather than compose view seems to work fine uploading pictures for now.

Oil price shock

Everyone can see that the disruption to oil exports from the Middle East is causing shocks to the world economy. Fuel prices have risen and there is a likelihood that interest rates, food prices and inflation will rise.

The answer has to be a lasting peace in the Middle East and in Ukraine.  No nation is perfect and, sadly, peace in these conflicts looks elusive.

6m 1W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1045z:  11 stations have spotted me in 5 countries including GI, GM and OZ. See map.

UPDATE 1244z:  14 stations have spotted me today. I wonder if the EI, who recently spotted me, was by aircraft reflection? That may account for some other DX spots.

70cm FT8 activity contest

It never fails to amaze me how far I can copy stations on 70cm FT8 RX. Last night was the UKAC FT8 activity contest and 30 stations in 7 countries were spotted despite me having just a 2m big-wheel omni antenna! See map. 

Sunspots - Thursday September 10th

 Solar flux is 109 and the SSN 107. A=12 and K=2.

70cm activity contest (September)

Every month I try to go on the 70cm activity contest with 10W SSB to my 2m big-wheel omni. 

It is hard work with my voice, power and antenna, so I do not stop on for long. 

I am always surprised how well I get on. Last evening I managed 5 QSOs whereas last week in the 2m contest I only managed 2 QSOs! Some must have very good ears!

The map shows the QSOs managed.