Dayton Hamvention - reminder

This is mid-May in Ohio USA. It is one of the biggest amateur radio gatherings in the world. It is often the place where major manufacturers announce new products, even if they are still some way off. I have never been. Let's hope Yaesu do not miss the boat again, or I fear curtains.

See https://hamvention.org/ .

Progress report

 Some weeks ago, these were my aims. Some have been achieved.

Done

• Put Spectran software on the shack PC.
• Been on 80m and 160m with the earth-electrode "antenna".
• Local 481 THz tests.

Not done

• QRSS tests on 136 kHz.
• 481 THz QRSS tests with Spectran.
• Yet to restart 8m tests.

Trinity flowers - NOT amateur radio

These were the flowers on the path to Trinity College, Cambridge earlier this week.  Last year we were too late.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Since 0915z, I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with the QDX transceiver. Poor conditions?  At 0928z, just 2 stations spotted and just one local has spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1208z:  15 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today.

30m FT8 RX in the last day using the 20-10m QDX

As stated yesterday, my QDX covering 20-10m is used with a 10m end-fed antenna. As an experiment I wanted to try it on 30m FT8 RX. I am amazed. Having been on since last evening only, with a totally non-resonant antenna, 654 stations have been spotted!!

Sunspots - Friday April 28th 2023

Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 136.  A=21 and K=3.  Conditions seem poor.

30m FT8 RX with the 20-10m QDX (Thursday)

My 10m band end-fed antenna is way off tune on 30m. As an experiment, I tried my QDX for 20-10m on 30m FT8 RX this evening.  I have no idea how sensitive it is on 10.136 MHz. So far, 384 stations have been spotted at 2131z. The map shows the stations spotted here by 1935z.

15m QRP FT8 with the QDX (Thursday)

Stations spotting my QRP FT8 on 15m today

As 10m FT8 is so poor, I have QSYed to 15m. So far, I have been spotted by 14 stations with the furthermost WA4MIT (7015km) and I have spotted 21 stations.

UPDATE 1643z: 45 stations spotted and I have been spotted by 41 stations.

Adder snakes - NOT amateur radio

At 74 years old, I just realised I have never once seen an adder snake in the wild! 

I believe they bask in the sun, but they cannot be that common. They are most often seen on heathlands and woodlands. They are the only venomous snake in the UK. They are also known as vipers.  Their venom is rarely harmful to humans although medical treatment is advised. The photo is attributed to Benny Trapp on Wikipedia.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus .

See https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/reptiles/adder .

Ely yesterday - NOT amateur radio

This was Ely yesterday by the River Great Ouse.  Ely is a nice place with a cathedral on the hill and an attractive waterfront. The railway station seems always to be busy.