Early start on 10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on early today.  Already at 0943z I have been spotted by 3 unique stations.

UPDATE 1202z:  The stations in the table have spotted me this morning. 

UPDATE 1322z:   USA stations now spotting me.

UPDATE 1926z:  18 stations spotted me today. Now QRT.

Ends of the spectrum

This was a Facebook memory from 2012 and shows my 481 THz optical beacon from then. I always enjoyed experimenting at the ends of the spectrum!! 

Sunspots - Sunday January 29th 2023

 Solar flux is 138 and the SSN 76. A=10 and K=0.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 5 stations have spotted my 500mW QRP WSPR today. I was on from about 1600z. Now QRT.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Despite being in for several hours late this afternoon, no spots on RX or QRP TX today.

Big British Garden Birdwatch 2023 - NOT amateur radio

This is organised by the RSPB every January. The idea is simple. You count the maximum number of each species seen at the same time in your garden, park etc. for any hour over the weekend and submit this. From these returns, the RSPB can learn a great deal about the birds around.

Certainly here, there are fewer smaller birds around. It is not uncommon to see 6-12 different species, but it is unusual to see that many different small birds. There are far more pigeons that in the past.

I do it every year. It is surprising what appears over the hour.

UPDATE 1625z:   Just 6 species seen!  Way down on previous years. Most of these were larger birds. Some very common birds were missing. Overall? January!! Dull and cold.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ .

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 For a change, I am on 10m QRP FT8. The band is very busy.

Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today

UPDATE 1317z: 28 stations have spotted my QRP and 411 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).

Ely Cathedral in the mist - NOT amateur radio

You can see why they call this "the ship of the fens". This photo was on social media recently. 

Apparently there are hardly any foundations. Remember, there were no JCBs when this was made in medieval times. It is the only medieval wonder of the world in the UK I think. 

Ely cathedral is built on high ground above what was once marshy ground. Hence the name "isle of Ely".

2013 - 136 kHz QRSS

 

This was 10 years ago when I was doing QRSS tests on 2200m.

Sunspots - Saturday January 28th 2023

Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 84. A=9 and K=2.