Free AVOs

My local radio club is advertising some faulty AVOs for free. I have no idea what is wrong, but this looks like a steal. At one time AVOs were considered the "Rolls Royce" of multi-meters.

Far East 6m openings

So far, with my set-up, I have not managed to catch any Far East openings on 6m FT8 this summer. They occur as regularly as clockwork about now.

These amazing openings seem to be linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere. Apparently, with global warming, these are becoming more common.

i guess compared with a beam at a decent height I could be down 10-15dB with my V2000 omni fed with CB coax. This means I could well miss some weak signals. I have spotted 6m Japanese signals in some years.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctilucent_cloud .

Patio

Every summer I grow tomatoes. It is probably far easier and cheaper just to buy them in the supermarket, but I like the smell and fun. We have plants growing in pots too. Sadly, until these last few days we have not had the weather to enjoy them.

6m 3W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 0840z.

UPDATE 1106z:  So far, spotted by 40 stations. 

10m 200mW beacon (Friday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0840z.

UPDATE 0957z: No spots still.

8m FT8 RX yesterday

After a very slow start 2 Spanish stations were spotted later. There is FAR more activity on 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Friday June 19th

 Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 46. A=6 and K=3..

Hoisted by your own petard?

It seems to me (I admit I may be wrong) that the US administration has emerged from the Iran war weaker than when it went into the war.  

The USA as a whole has few friends left in the world and cannot be held up as a great model to follow. At one time the world admired the USA. Instead the USA is laughed at by many.

At one time I would have been gagging to visit the USA where I have had nothing but kindness. Not any more. It will take years to mend the hurt and damage of the last few years.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8j2ewl0dpxt .

8m love affair?

 At about 1350z, I turned off my 10m 200mW WSPR TX beacon and 3W 6m FT8 and went on 8m FT8 and WSPR RX on 40.680 MHz. At best, activity on 8m is very low sadly.

UPDATE 1600z: Nobody spotted.

6m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 0600z.

UPDATE 1340z: 148 stations spotting so far.