Es in full swing

This morning, I am on 10m 3W FT8. It is clear, with lots of spots on TX and RX, that the Es season is well underway.

UPDATE 1640z:  184 stations spotted here on RX and I have been spotted by 112 stations.

Wetherspoons

In the UK, this is a popular pub chain selling food. It is low cost and often gets a bad press. I stayed at a Wetherspoons in central Salisbury and was impressed by the accommodation, food and location. 

I see from this video that the presenter was also impressed with this Wetherspoons in London.

Just because it is low cost do not write it off.

See https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/

Another new transceiver

 

This VHF/UHF transceiver is being sold by Moonraker in the UK.  I see that some other dealers are selling it too. Are they linked up? 

This news came to me via Steve G1KQH.

Declining sunspot numbers and solar flux

This is just a reminder that the downwards slope of the solar cycle is usually much gentler than the climb to the next maximum. 

This means the higher HF bands remain good for quite a while after the maximum. 

Just a reminder, I have worked South America right at the solar minimum on QRP (10W) 10m SSB with simple wire antennas. Never give up!

The MUF is often higher on N-S paths. Occasionally you get Es linking with F2 nearer the equator.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/

Hamvention next weekend

A reminder that next weekend sees the Hamvention in Ohio, USA.   This is, I think, the biggest amateur radio gathering on the planet.  

It is often the place where new radios are seen for the first time. Often these are very early prototypes to test the market.

I have never been and probably never will now.

See https://hamweekly.com/

Sunspots - Sunday May 10th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 81. A=5 and K=0.

Very old videos

 Some of these have been colourised in part. I hope they are genuine. They look as if they are real.

No mow May

Many stick with this so flowers can pollinate and spread.  Also many places look much better with the wild flowers. 

Some cut their lawns around the edge, but leave the middle to grow. This way lawns look still tended.

The photo shows the green in our close this morning. I hope it is not cut.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at 0528z.

UPDATE 0959z: 5 stations have spotted me this morning. See map by VK7JJ of WSPR Rocks.

New life

 

One of my friends on 365project posted this photo. 

It shows a baby bird in Iowa, USA.