Tree Hole - NOT amateur radio

This was in a tree at Anglesey Abbey seen last week.

One wonders what lives within! I expect the kids love it and imagine all sorts!

Sunspots - Monday February 17th

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 271 (high).  A=18 and K=2.

World order - NOT amateur radio

It would appear a new world order is emerging.  For over a century the USA was seen as the dominant world power. We are now seeing this change as China comes to the fore.

At one time the USA was seen as a beacon of democracy and one that could be aspired to. 

Recently, I cannot see many in the world wishing to follow the USA.

No political system is perfect.

Tree root - NOT amateur radio

 

This was a tree root seen a few days ago.

8m activity level

It is fascinating to see how interest in 40.680MHz FT8 has increased. Whereas this was a band hardly monitored, quite a few stations are monitoring it nowadays. 

It is a great pity that so many PTTs cannot see fit to allocate a few kilohertz to the amateur service to allow genuine research to be progressed. Instead, many PTTs seem brain dead. 

The map shows the stations monitoring this afternoon. There are probably more as I don't think PSKreporter shows spotters unless they have recently received something or just come on.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

 In a few moments I expect to turn on my 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon.

UPDATE 1008z:  My beacon was turned on about 1000z. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me so far.

UPDATE 1639z:  25 stations have spotted me today. Plenty of spotters in the USA.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to go on 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1004z:  My 8m gear was turned on at about 1000z.

UPDATE 1638z: No spots.

And the sun appeared - NOT amateur radio

Sometimes you strike lucky as I was a few days ago when the sun briefly appeared. For some reason, just this clump of snowdrops was illuminated and I managed to catch it. 

This photo is totally untouched and this is exactly as it was.

Sunspots - Sunday February 16th

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 153. A=28 and K=3.

The sun (briefly) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday. the sun appeared in the afternoon. Today it is dull and wet again. The photo shows the sun yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey.