472kHz WSPR overnight

472kHz is definitely going "off the boil". Yet again, more stations copied me than I copied. Earlier in the "season" I always copied more stations than copied me.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Clunch outhouse - NOT amateur radio

For weeks now they have been rebuilding a clunch (kind of chalk) outhouse not far from our home. As I passed today, I noticed they had put half the roof on. The other half of the roof has still to be tiled.

Sunspots - Thursday April 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 17. A=6 and K=3.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

At 1900z (8pm UK local time) is the 2m activity contest. I usually take part with 5W and my omni antenna for about an hour. It is not essential to send in a contest log, but it is a fun contest and activity levels are usually high.

UPDATE 2028z: In all, 10 QSOs in 50 minutes (see above).

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Of late, 472kHz WSPR has not been at its best, but it has to be better than 10m FT8 today! So, about 30 minutes ago I returned to MF WSPR. Already I have spotted others and I have been spotted.

Blossom - NOT amateur radio

The garden next door has several apple and plum trees. At the moment, they look great as they are in blossom. In a few weeks this will all be gone.

Oscar 100 - still very quiet

Just a few moments ago there was an OE6 calling CQ via the satellite and getting absolutely no response. At most there were perhaps 3 SSB signals. There was one PA on Hellscreiber, so you could read the callsign and QTH locator by looking at the waterfall.

By now, with more people building gear, I was expecting it to be very busy. If anything, I suspect there are fewer users than a few weeks ago.

OK, this is a weekday. Perhaps people are tired of working the same people and telling them about their dishes and LNB? Maybe the challenge was getting that first QSO and now the interest is waning? Maybe just talking through a geosynchronous satellite is no challenge? Perhaps every QSO is just like another?

Perhaps this is all too premature. Having DX QSOs and local QSOs with no QSB at any time day or night takes some getting used to?

Lightning

At this time of year and in the summer, I regularly check on the possibility of nearby storms. If there is a chance of danger, I disconnect antennas and power sockets "just in case". Years ago one of my work colleagues house, on a very ordinary housing estate, was struck by lightning and he suffered great damage. Ever since, I have been a bit paranoid. OK a direct strike is rare, but power surges can and do occur.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en

Heron - NOT amateur radio

For about a week now, we have had a heron in our area. I suspect it is circling around looking for a quick fish meal from garden ponds. They are big birds that are unmistakable in the air.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/grey-heron/

OFCOM

OFCOM has published its Communications Monthly update for March. See their website.