10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon has been on much of the morning.

UPDATE 2040z:  3 stations have spotted me with no sign of Es. Furthest is V51RS (8481km). QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 5W to a V2000 vertical antenna was turned on at about 0845z: 

UPDATE 1409z:  26 spots of me so far. Yet again, more northern stations see to be most prominent. This puzzles me: it seems a pattern that repeats towards the end of every Es season. I would be interested to hear any theories as this is too common to be just random.

UPDATE 2043z: 33 stations have spotted me today. If some were Es, it is now less widespread and strong. QRT.

“Blossom always returns”

 This is the motto of a football team. It is a reminder that whatever pain we may be in, life carries on.

Being satisfied

There is a temptation to always lust after the newest shiniest transceiver. 

Steve G1KQH was looking at the ICOM Japan website where they have announced the IC7300Mk2. I think I shall resist it and try to be satisfied with what I have.

Pomegranate

 The photo shows a pomegranate growing at nearby Anglesey Abbey. I have not seen one growing in the UK before. 

No second peak

 It looks like we’re on the downward slope of the solar cycle and there’s little chance of a second peak which sometimes happens. Never mind.

Sunspots - Saturday August 23rd

 Solar flux is 136 and the SSN 51. A=8 and K=2.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon was turned on late morning.

UPDATE 1130z:   No spots of me. I get the impression there are fewer WSPR users and more FT8 users.

UPDATE 1150z:  Just 3 spots by V51RS (8481km). No Es. 

UPDATE 1844z: 9 stations have spotted me.

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

 My gear (IC-705 and the V2000 vertical omni was turned on late morning after we had been for a walk. 

UPDATE 1127z:   16 stations have spotted me. A very non-scientific observation is that stations in Scandinavia are more common late in the Es season. They are not alone with others elsewhere in Europe if the band is open, but I have observed this now quite often. I wonder if some other mechanism is in play?

UPDATE 1855z:  36 stations have spotted me today.

Our local church

 

The photo shows the inside of our local church. It was probably designed by the same man responsible for King’s College Chapel in Cambridge. Most dates from the 1400s but some parts are centuries older.