Solar forecast update

My favourite site for solar forecasts has been updated.  It still showa we have just passed the minimum.  See www.solen.info/solar

Reading material - NOT amateur radio

At the moment I am reading this thick book - actually just dipping in and out. It is an account of a trip around the country almost 300 years ago. It is fascinating.

Shopping online - NOT amateur radio

Like many, we had a food delivery at home this week. This was our first. Apart from ordering just one banana by mistake, it was a great success.

Sunspots - Thursday April 2nd 2020

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 13. A =6 and K=1.

Budding artist - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson is a talented artist. This is one of his paintings. He is just 11.

Just over a year ago he painted our old house for my 70th. It was very good.

10m WSPR TX

Once again, I decided to stick the W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon (500mW) on using the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far, several spots by G4KPX (14km), but no real DX.

UPDATE 1440z: Just spots from G4KPX today so far on 10m WSPR. I can't remember what S/N he was giving my last year on the outside wire, but I don't think it was much better, if anything, than the indoor loop.

2m FT8 again

Every time I go on TX, I get spotted at great range, even though I only use 10W to a big-wheel omni antenna. So far this morning (at 1047z) 32 stations have spotted my 10W in 4 countries including DL, GI, GC and G. Best DX spot was (again) by GI6ATZ (479km). Although some reports might be random MS, flat band tropo and aircraft, I suspect most are some kind of scatter, as this sort of range seems to be possible at any time.

UPDATE 1310z:  Now spotted by 41 stations in 5 countries in the last 12 hours.Did someone say 2m is quiet?

UPDATE 1507z:  Now 50 spots of my 10W in 6 countries on 2m FT8 in the last 12 hours. It would appear lots are watching 2m FT8!

UPDATE 2112z:  Now 70 spots of my 10W in 7 countries in the last 12 hours.

Quiet walk - NOT amateur radio

This lane is about 0.25 miles from where we live.

Nature carrying on - NOT amateur radio

On our walk yesterday we saw this plant growing. Nature carries on.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 1st 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=14 and K=3.