Endings

 Like many, I find endings hard: life goes on along without much change and suddenly something is different. It may be something small or big, but things are different and we have to adapt. In truth, we are always in a state of flux and are always having to adjust. This is life.

Sunspots- Friday October 30th

Solar  flux is 89 and the SSN 22. A=4 and K=1.

Broadstairs, Kent

 Our younger son drove us to Broadstairs in Kent. This is an old fashioned seaside town .  We were blessed with mild, sunny weather . Charles Dickens lived here at one time.

Sunspots - Thursday October 29th

 Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 12. A=7 and K=2.

Smart phones

 I often think what my father would have said about life today. He died in 1987 and had no knowledge of the internet or smartphones!  On a train journey now most people are on their phones!!

That season

 

It's that season when we see lots of fungi in the UK.

At last - 160m FT8 transatlantic

 As usual, I was on 160m FT8 RX last evening and overnight with the IC-705 and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

UPDATE 0942z:  In all, 366 stations spotted including 3 from the USA. Best was  NE6I (8778km). See map of stations spotted here.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 28yth

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 25.  A=6 and K=2.

The world order

 We live in changing times. In many cases there is a backlash to the right wing parties.

POTA

In the USA, POTA is very popular. The video shows an operator on a POTA activation trying out a new antenna.

10m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Stations received today on 10m FT8

My gear was turned on at breakfast. Today, I decided to go 10m FT8 RX only.

UPDATE 1557z: 346 stations spotted here. See map.

160m FT8 RX overnight

 Last night was the best yet with 430 stations spotted mostly in Europe. No  USA or Canadian stations.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 27th

Solar flux is 91 and the SSN 25. A=4 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX (Monday)

 As I often do, I am monitoring 160m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2004z:  So far, 247 stations have been spotted. I suspect a pirate YE1BON (11833km) who seems to be very strong.

English Lake District

Last week, one of my grandsons was here doing walks here as part of his Duke of Edinburgh gold award. This is a popular award in the UK, with several elements such as social care, physical endurance etc.. It is a good grounding and helps with CVs!

Over the weekend they had over 100mm of rain here, which he just missed! This is Borrowdale.

10m 1W FT8 (Monday)

My gear was turned on at about 0900z.

UPDATE 0913z:  7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1058z:  22 stations have spotted me and 77 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1425z:  60 stations have spotted me. See map.

160m FT8 overnight

 As I often do, I monitored 160m FT8 RX last evening and overnight.

In all, 286 stations were spotted with the best UN0GY (5538km) in Kazakstan.

Russian diesel?

 Allowing Russia to sell its diesel on the world market and in the USA is questionable.

Sputnik day

This has been on many times.

I am not sure if this still occurs, but in 2011 a group of us built a 15m CW TX using the same type of valve used in the first Sputnik satellite in 1957. 

One of the group G4NUA is now a SK. The rig was built by G4ALB and I was chief operator!

Within minutes we had a good QSO with a station in the USA despite only 400mW.

Sunspots - Monday October 26th

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 22. A=5 and K=0.