Sunspots - Tuesday October 6th

 Solar flux is 100 and the SSN 58. A=24 and K=3.

RAF Fairford

The USA has evacuated all its bombers from RAF Fairford. It looks like their intelligence has indicated a possible terrorist threat, presumably from Iran. They were using the UK base as a staging post to bomb Iran "for defensive purposes". Personally, I am glad that they have gone.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy56yvv1kxxo .

160m FT8 RX (Monday)

In a few moments I propose to try 160m FT8 in the evening and overnight with my earth electrode antenna in the ground. 

In theory the loop should get better as the frequency decreases and the skin depth increases.

UPDATE 1613z:  My RX was turned at about 1605z.  No spots.

UPDATE 2130z: 90 stations spotted.

80m and 20m FT8 RX

 At the moment I am on 80m FT8 RX using the electrode antenna in the ground. I think 80m is probably the highest frequency where it will be any good as an antenna.

Maybe I should try 20m FT8 RX with the endfed antenna?

UPDATE 1545z: So far, 428 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX. It's too easy on 20m FT8 RX.

How far we have come

In the early 1990s (I think) my Psion 3a seemed the height of perfection. 

It had no internet and the additional drives that plugged in were I think 125k, which seemed huge back then.

At the time it felt a great leap forward. It had a monochrome display, but we knew no better.  

These days it looks very backward. I think somewhere I still have mine.

Trump speech

 Recently President Trump made a speech in Ohio.

Museum cafe

About once a month we volunteer in the museum cafe across the road. 

The museum is amazing and must be one of the best local museums in the country. 

We enjoy chatting to visitors who, without fail, are amazed by the extent and content.

When little, our grandchildren always wanted to go. One even thought the grass outside the windmill was part of our garden!

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/

Fungus

 

We saw this recently in the local area. I am not sure what it is called.  

A Google search is called for!

Monday plans

 At the moment I fancy trying something different. I am not sure what. 

Maybe a different band for FT8? 

I shall probably still go on 10m WSPR TX with my beacon.

630m WSPR receive

 As is usual now, I was on 630m WSPR RX last evening and overnight and spotted CU8 for the first time. 

This is the furthest I have spotted on the band in many years at 2799km. The map shows where I spotted stations.

Permanence

 One of the lessons getting old teaches you is nothing lasts for ever. 

Things that have always seemed the same change. Grandchildren grow up, people die , places change.

 At one level things seem the same but always things are changing.

The passing of time is very odd. Nothing is for ever, except perhaps love.

Sunspots - Monday October 5th

 Solar flux is 92 and the SSN 55. A=36 and K=4.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0645z.

UPDATE  1548z:  6 stations spotting me with the best 5Z4GO (7269km). See table.

UPDATE 2034z: I see I was spotted by V51RS in Namibia which is the best DX.

St Ives near Cambridge

Last week we went here on the guided bus from Cambridge. It is a great ride. 

St Ives is on the River Great Ouse.  The chapel on the bridge in the photo dates from the 1400s.

We had something to eat then sat by the river in the sun.

6m 1W FT8 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0745z.

UPDATE 0817z:  Spotted by 5 stations with the best GI.

630m WSPR last evening and overnight

My 630m WSPR RX and earth electrode antenna in the ground was on. 

In all, 10 stations were spotted with the best in Poland and Norway. See map by Phil VK7JJ of WSPR Rocks.

Sunspots - Sunday October 4th

 Solar flux is 93 and the SSN 53. A=7 and K=3.

Electric truck batteries

We are approaching a tipping point with EVs. With the price of diesel and supply security, this may make this happen sooner.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My TX beacon has been on since about 0945z.

UPDATE 1022z: So far, spotted by I0UVN (1542km) 5 times.

UPDATE 1824z:  15 stations have spotted me with the best PY2NMB (9542km) in Brazil. See table. One of the spots was from Svalbard way up in the Arctic. Brrr!

6m 1W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0945z.

UPDATE 1019z:  5 English stations spotted.