Sunspots - Wednesday August 12th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=0.

70cm activity contest

Tonight is the RSGB organised 70cm activity contest (UKAC). This starts at 1900z.

UPDATE 2205z: In the end I managed 45 minutes with the 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 6 contacts. My best DX has still not been worked out although it is probably G4CLA (105km).

PSKreporter and 8m + 5m

Today I learned that PSKreporter now supports 8m and 5m. 8m is just beginning to become active in some countries.

Old bank - NOT amateur radio

The only bank in our village closed 2.5 years ago. Today it looks like it is being gutted. I have no idea what is going on.

Autumn already? - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we went to Cavenham Heath. Quite a few of the ferns were looking autumnal already.

Sunspots - Tuesday August 11th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 12. A=3 and K=1.

Rear garden in August - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our rear garden in August.

We get most colour in Spring and about now. Our grass is suffering in the heat. They used to say, "don't water the grass as it will recover".

Until recently, I followed this advice. Then in 2018 a third of my front lawn just died and never recovered. Since then, I have watering particularly dry patches for almost an hour most dry nights. Hopefully my lawns will recover in the autumn when the dew returns.

More damselflies - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I showed a photo of two damselflies. Today, here are two mating. This was again at Cavenham Heath yesterday.

Amateur VLF

There is a myth that VLF antennas are big. For RX they can be very very small!! So, for RX only, amateur VLF is remarkably accessible.

For TX high power and big antennas certainly help.   DK7FC has had some excellent results with long distances using earth probe antennas. These don't require very huge loading coils.

VLF amateur work requires dedication, although VLF earth-mode can give good results with quite simple kit. This is certainly one of the frontiers ripe for experiments.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf

Stone curlews - NOT amateur radio

Stone curlews (see the poor photo) are rare in the UK. Cavenham Heath where we walked yesterday is one of the best places to see them. Most migrate in October. We saw 12 yesterday.

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