Breakfast with old friends - NOT amateur radio

We had breakfast with old friends today.

Rally

MAY 2018 : THORPE CAMP HAMFEST (formerly DAMBUSTERS HAMFEST)

Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincoln LN4 4PL. For more information please go to the events page on http://thorpecamp.org or email secretary@thorpecamp.org or phone Anthony on 0795 665 4481.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Battery power suggestions

Thank you for your suggestions This sounds like something I should try. Now  I need recommendations for battery packs and chargers! I expect eBay will be the best source at the right place.

Sunspots - Friday May 4th 2018

Solar flux is just 66, which is very low. Sunspot number is zero. A=4 and K=1

Battery power?

Most of my operating is QRP, mostly 2.5W and occasionally 5W. On 472kHz my transverter produces 12W for an ERP of 10mW. Although I currently use an old linear PSU, perhaps I should use a battery pack with a charger to use when the pack is not connected to the rigs. Mains borne noise is likely to be less of a problem. I'd be interested to hear your views.

Puzzled about 10m

Every week Southgate News has a piece about 10m DX. The trouble is it takes reports from all over the world, so what is DX to some is quite inaudible to others. OK, it is a useful indication of stations that were active, but there its usefulness stops.

In my (limited) experience from here in the UK, 10m FT8 often brings in South Americans, but rarely anywhere else that I would call real DX. In my view, this would be more useful if it reported DX being worked by region e.g. from the UK.

See http://southgatearc.org/bands/10metres/2018/may/may-03.htm#.WurJ6ExFzIU

Sunspots - Thursday May 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 67 today. Sunspot number is 0. A=4 and K=1.

The South Hams - NOT amateur radio

I originate from the South Hams in Devon, a most beautiful part of England. The town in the centre is Kingsbridge (shown in the photo). It is a small market town at the head of an estuary.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

Many times now I have shared photos of our windmill next door. It really is "over the garden wall".  This photo was taken on May 1st when it was sunny. Most times this year, it has been wet.

Sails usually turn only when the museum is open on Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays. When they do, it is a great sight.

The video shows the official opening after restoration. The chap front left is Richard G3TFX, an old work colleague. The address was given by our local MP.

Sunspots going faster than expected?

According to a report in Southgate News the sunspots are going at a faster rate than expected. They point to Spaceweather.com as their source. According to http://www.solen.info/solar/ sunspot numbers rose in May! Of course we are dealing with averages and we have to look a bit longer to see the trend downwards. I have no idea if this bodes well (or not) for the next solar cycle!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/may/sunspots-are-vanishing-faster-than-expected.htm#.WunsGUxFzIU