Pirate?- I think so!

At totally the wrong time of day and an unbelievable strength, I was supposed to have spotted a station in North Korea on 10m FT8 RX. 

I think we can assume this was a pirate, probably in Europe.

Little things please little minds.

Punting on the Cam

When people come to Cambridge, UK they often like to go on the River Cam in a punt. Even better is to be gently punted by a guide whilst you sip a glass of Pimm's. There are even punts selling Pimm's!

QMX from QRP Labs

 This is a tiny transceiver that now includes SSB. Many are using it for SOTA and POTA activations.

Where are they?

For years we had red-legged partridges in our garden. 

For a long time now, they have not been seen. 

Apparently these introduced birds were bred and released a few miles away, but this has now stopped.

Trump Report

Some think President Trump was insane to go to war with Iran. Many were upset by some of his "falling out" with the Pope. Many in the MAGA movement want him not to get involved in foreign wars and concentrate instead on the USA.

Solid state batteries?

A lot of excitement  (and incredulity!) was created at CES26 when a small start-up company announced it had created a sold-state battery with amazing claims. 

Many just don't believe it, when huge companies with massive manpower and investment have failed. They also claim the battery does not use lithium!

Since then, they have been using an independent lab to carry out a series of "drip feed" tests. The only real test will be a tear-down of an actual production battery. If solid state batteries with enormous ranges come to market soon, this could be truly trasformational.

If true, many would be interested in the IP. Tests so far suggest it is indeed a solid state battery. I think "the jury is still out" although we should soon know.

10m 2W/3W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 0505z.

UPDATE 0810z: Just spotted by just one local. Nobody spotted here on RX.

UPDATE 1101z: Increased the power slightly to 3W and back on TX. I have been RX only most of the morning, but still no stations on RX. 2 stations have spotted me with one in Denmark.

UPDATE 1825z: Spotted by 11 stations (see map) and 28 stations spotted here. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Friday April 17th

 Solar flux is 108 and the SSN 65. A=3 and K=0.

15m 5W FT8 yesterday

 Yesterday I spotted 198 stations on 15m FT8. 

At the moment we seem to be between pretty good winter F2 conditions and the Es season. 

It looks like people have started to move lower in frequency to chase DX.

15m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 After a very brief TX period (no spots - RF feedback from the end-fed?), I am RX only on 15m FT8. 

Although things are better on 15m, I am still convinced that conditions are not great. So far, just 14 stations spotted . See map.

UPDATE 1750z: 147 stations spotted here.