Cycle 25?

From regular visits to my favourite site for solar data, it looks far more likely that we have passed solar minimum. Most days now we see some sunspots and indicators are increasingly good.

As mentioned before, it could be some time before HF conditions get noticeably better. With luck we should see more openings to "real DX" on bands like 10m, 12m and 10m.

This is the first time we will have had FT8 available as a tool on the climb up to solar maximum. It is probably worth monitoring the FT8 frequencies on 10m, as I suspect the band is open far more often than is realised.

US Masters (Augusta) - NOT amateur radio

As a teenager I played golf regularly (16 handicap at best) although it is many years since I played. My brother still plays regularly. Both my parents were keen golfers. Now, with my cerebellum brain bleed, these golfing days are probably gone forever.

This does not stop me enjoying the US Masters from Augusta on the BBC each April. The course is always perfect and the flowers around the course are a real joy. As I write this Justin Rose, England,  if he holds his nerve, is in 2nd place and still in with a real chance.

The final round is tomorrow - I shall be staying up to watch it.   The US Masters is one of the TV highlights of the year. I know my younger son, currently on holiday in Australia with his in-laws, will be watching it too, but over breakfast!

See http://www.masters.com/index.html .