10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0820z.

UPDATE 2215z:   Spotted by 22 stations. You can tell we’re well in the Es season.

Always changing

For several mornings we’ve been woken early by a tuneful blackbird singing the first lines of “Lavender Blue”.  I have not heard it for several mornings. 

It may have moved, started to sing something else, stopped singing or been killed by a cat or something else. 

One thing is certain: nothing is forever. We enjoyed it for a few short days.

Sunspots - Wednesday May 20th

 Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 72. A=19 and K=3.

Windswept lupins

One of my memories of our trip to Iceland in 2011 was seeing lupins all over the place. I was expecting a wild, volcanic landscape.   Instead it was green with lots of flowers and very unspoilt.

These lupins were in London yesterday. Normally, the collective name is a "choir of lupins". I don't think these were told!

IC-705 versus FTX1

In my view there is no contest at all. The IC-705 beats the Yaesu rig hands down. 

Following recent price drops the IC-705 is even better! The ICOM rig has far more features in the product already that you have to buy as extras in the Yaesu rigs.

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

It looks like Iran has woken up to the power it has by controlling the Strait of Hormuz. This could have enormous impacts on the world economy.

Victorian train - London to Edinburgh

This is an AI video showing a train journey from London to Edinburgh in Victorian times. There are some clear errors but, overall, it is very good. 

I am very impressed with these historical AI videos as they give a good insight to what it must have been like.

Apparently you have to watch the video on YouTube.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon has been on all morning.

UPDATE 0930z:  4 stations spotting me so far, all by Es I think.

UPDATE 2124z:  Spotted by 12 European stations. Now QRT. We have a friend staying until Saturday so my PC issue will have to wait 🥴. 

Free project scrapbook PDF

My interest in radio started in the early 1960s. It has given me a fascinating and varied hobby, and a career. I hope others can get as much fun as I have had.

To this end I created a PDF project scrapbook that is a free download. It contains the projects that have fascinated me over the years. It needs updating!

My aim has never been to make money. All I want is to share the enjoyment I have had. Feel free to take a look and print out anything you want. My message has always been to have fun! 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book .

Sunspots - Tuesday May 19th

 Solar flux is 105 and the SSN 77. A=9 and K=3.