630m WSPR RX (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 1825z (coax to 2m big-wheel via ATU and a mains earth).

UPDATE 2010z:  So far, 5 stations have been spotted with the best OH6OHX (1736km).

UPDATE 2044z:  So far, 6 stations have been spotted with OH6OHX spotted 5 times.

Slowing?

These days I feel my age.   

Yesterday and today I cut the lawns for the first time this year. The first cut is often harder as the grass is longer, but I really felt tired afterwards. 

Also, as mentioned before, driving is stressful and I only drive locally and avoid driving at night. For many years I think my appreciation of speed has changed in that 45mph seems like 65mph to me! I am unclear if this is as a result of my 2013 stroke or just old age. 

Luckily, apart from my constant giddiness and poor voice most of the conditions of old age, like arthritis, have not caught up with me ...... yet!

The Trump Report

 This comes out (I think) every day from Times Radio. I watch it most days.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

At 1106z, I QSYed to 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1830z:   No spots all day. QRT now. I suspect this will be my last test on 8m until the Es season.

10m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on just after breakfast. I was on TX very briefly (7 spots) but I am mostly RX only. 

It is amazing that something this small works so well.

See https://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdxm

UPDATE 1056z:  395 stations spotted here on RX with the best H44MS in the Solomon Islands (14814km) in the Pacific Ocean.

Chromebooks

For many years I have used an Asus Chromebook. I am using one now. Mine has been brilliant. They use Chrome OS rather than Windows. This means that they do not run Windows programs. 

Despite that, they boot very fast and I have found nothing that I cannot do. I have created web-pages, presentations, letters and spreadsheets using the Google tools and surfing the web has been a dream using Chrome. 

I have never had a virus issue as virus checking is done in the background. Chromebooks are less expensive than Windows machines.

With all these things going for them, it would appear that John Lewis (a major UK retailer) has stopped selling Chromebooks. Why? Maybe they make less profit?

Out of choice my next PC would have been from John Lewis as they include a decent warranty on every PC. Ideally I would have bought another Chromebook.

Sunspots - Friday March 6th

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 73. A=4 and K=2.

Lode cottages

 

We went for a walk around this village near us after lunch. It has many fine cottages. Nice to see the sun.

WhatsApp "share location"

Yesterday I was in Cambridge for much of the day and turned on WhatsApp "share location" feature. I usually use the Apple "Find my iPhone" feature.

The battery drain with the WhatsApp location feature enabled was very high. In fact I was worried that the battery (which was 100% when I left home) would be flat. I shall not use this feature again.

Iran war

Everyone knows that Iran is treated as the pariah of the Middle East and that a more "western leaning" Iran  would be more supportive of President Trump and the Israeli government.

What I do not understand are the true motives and end game in this current conflict. President Trump was allegedly voted into office partly on the grounds that the USA would stop getting involved in "forever wars". Hmmm....

If he stops the threat from missiles, drones and nuclear weapons threatening Israel will he stop and walk away?  This war could end quickly or it could go on for years. In my personal view the USA could have done far more good peacefully in the world. As it is the Middle East (possibly elsewhere) has been turned into turmoil.