RSGB Monday talks

On Monday nights at 8pm, the RSGB gives a series of talks with people expert in their field. 

I have seen some, but manage to miss quite a few. 

Some are talks at past RSGB conventions. Many (all?) have to be watched on YouTube.

Iran war - Trump Report

 This was posted about 17 hours ago, which would have been Wednesday afternoon in the UK.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My TX beacon was turned on at about 0755z.

UPDATE 1510z:  No spots all day, so QSYed to 15m 5W FT8.

Proctors

 

This was Trinity College in Cambridge, UK. 

Proctors are like college policemen. They wear bowler hats.

Heathkit Twoer 2m AM transceiver

It is amazing how your wishes change! 

Back in the 1960s I really wanted a Heathkit Twoer transceiver. In those days most people on 2m used AM and the band was quiet. It used a sensitive super-regen RX, but these were broad. In their day they were fine. Looking back I am amazed how bad they were!

Versions were made for 10m 11m CB and 6m too.

To this day I still like the style. They were known as the "Benton Harbour Lunchboxes"  as they resembled a lunchbox.

In their day they were "state of the art".

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/hw30

Sunspots - Thursday April 16th

Solar flux is 105 and the SSN 57. A=4 and  K=1.

Es yet?

Today there were a couple of southern European stations spotted on 10m FT8. 

It is about now that Es (sporadic E) starts to happen in the northern hemisphere. I guess they could have been all sorts of modes.

In the next few months we can expect lots of stations via Es short skip in the northern hemisphere. At times far further is possible via E layer, either by multi-hop or chordal hop.

Chinese receiver

This RX is called the K3.  This is not to be confused with the Elecraft K3. Certainly I was confused!  

It is available from AliExpress at about £60.  There seem to be a lot of these low cost Chinese receivers about.

When the diesel runs out?

Trinity College, Cambridge, UK has quite a few of these bikes saying Trinity College on the side. 

Perhaps they will be useful when we are returned to the Stone Age!

10m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

After a very brief period on TX just before breakfast when two English stations spotted me, I have been RX only.

UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotted here. I still get the impression that conditions are not good.

UPDATE 1502z: 6 stations spotted here on RX including South Africa and Reunion.

UPDATE  2125z: 21 stations spotted here today. Now QRT. See map of stations received here.