Sunspots- Thursday May 22nd

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 88. A=13 and K=2.

Gaza - NOT amateur radio

My long-term desire has always been for everyone to live in peace, even though we may believe in different things, or nothing. We are all different, but all human beings. We are basically all the same.

Clearly what happened in Israel on October 7th 2023 was horrific. Nobody in their right mind would think otherwise. Israel has a right to defend itself from attack.

What I do not understand is Israel's response. Very many innocent people have been killed, maimed and made homeless. Their homes have been destroyed. Many are starving. Foreign journalists are unable enter Gaza to see for themselves.

What I cannot understand is how a people that suffered so much in WW2 can be so cruel to the people of Gaza. For every bomb and killing, more people will be recruited by Hamas! 

Surely the killing and starving of a people has to stop.

What is needed is everyone to change:  Hamas and the others in the region must recognise Israel. Israel must live in peace with it's neighbours.  Israel is fast becoming a hated state.

Many of my best friends are Jewish. To me this whole thing is senseless and ultimately fruitless.

Adsense crappery - NOT amateur radio

 As a blog owner I can see how many people are supposed to look at my blog every day. At breakfast time I was supposed to have had more visitors today already than some whole days last week!  

It seems a healthy dose of disbelief is needed when looking at these figures. 

Basically I do not believe them!

Chromebook - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned, my wife found my old Asus Chromebook yesterday. It was like an old friend returning. 

As a Chromebook it does everything I need in the lounge: browsing, blogging, YouTube, letters, spreadsheets and emails. It is very fast. 

I am using it now.

RSGB YouTube taiks

 Although I confess to watching few of these, the RSGB does regular live talks on Mondays at 1900z.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0829z: No spots.

UPDATE 1037z: Widespread Es with 23 stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 6W from the IC-705 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0815z.

UPDATE 0824z:  6 English spots so far. See map.

UPDATE 1016z: 34 spots of me. Widespread Es.

Ferrite rod TX antennas

At some point in the near future I want to do more tests at very low power with a ferrite rod TX antenna. I have a small manual ATU which I can use. 

The best bands to try is 40m or 30m. Best mode would be WSPR but I want to try FT8.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/ferrite-rod-tx-antennas

UPDATE 0830z:  I have dug out the ferrite rod and ATU in readiness. Maybe tonight?

UPDATE 1628z: On 30m FT8 TX with the ferrite rod (vertical) matched via the Z match ATU. No ground.

UPDATE 1950z:  Although plenty of RX spots, nothing on 30m FT8 with the ferrite rod, so I have decided to try 30m WSPR.

Wednesday plans

 Weather permitting, I plan to do the same as yesterday going on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 21st

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 46. A=13 and K=1.