Local museum - NOT amateur radio

We are very lucky to live right next door to a windmill and local museum. These are open Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until the end of October.

Recently, the vehicle shed has been redone. There are plenty of old vehicles in here!

The photo shows me volunteering at the museum cafe yesterday.

See https://burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

10m Es

For about an hour, I have been on 10m WSPR QRP TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. Already, there have been 9 unique people spotting me. The Es season is underway!

UPDATE 1130z:   12 unique stations have spotted me so far. Definitely mostly, if not all,  Es.

Low cost modules for experimenters

My Facebook memories for today showed the low cost 70cm AM modules that you can buy on eBay. Others have used the HB100 10 GHz Doppler radar modules. Others have used 5.6GHz modules for TV. I am sure there are others. 

Since my 2013 stroke, I have been unable to do much building work. For serious experimenters there is a lot of choice.

These modules could form the heart of many projects and are well worth a look.

8m experiments (Friday)

My QRP signal has now been copied in 4 countries (UK, Eire, Portugal and Croatia).  With the Es season upon us now, I should reach Slovenia OK. If I am copied further, that would be an unexpected bonus.

Earlier today (around 0650z) my 40.680MHz FT8 gear was turned on. This was spotted by EI9KP (649km). It is now on RX only (no spots).

My rig is a widebanded FT817ND and the antenna a low wire dipole.

UPDATE 1232z:  S59F (1205km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX. Definitely Es.

UPDATE 1527z: EI9KP has copied me more than once today and at times very strongly Currently QRT (TX cooling!), but will be back on FT8 TX shortly on 40.680 MHz USB dial.

Sunspots - Friday April 29th 2022

 Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 118. A=14 and K=4.

Rally news

The following rallies have been notified to me.  As always, it is worth checking with organisers to ensure that the information is correct and the rallies are taking place.

       Sunday May 1st - Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre (not sure of the name). Contact 07956 654481

       Monday May 2nd - Dartmoor Radio Rally, Yelverton, Devon. Contact 2E0RPH@gmail.com. 

Still no swallows (barn) - NOT amateur radio

Last year I saw just 2 all year.  It is already April 28th and I have seen none at all. In the past I had definitely seen some by the middle of the month. Perhaps it is climate change or fewer nest sites? 

The next milestone will be the swifts arriving. They are usually a common sight and sound by mid-May. Will they be here next month? 

There are some swallows around, but I suspect there must be far fewer this year.

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

Shack 2015

 

When clearing some old photos yesterday, I cam across this photo of the shack in 2015. 

How time flies!

10m QRP TX (Thursday)

 Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far just local G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1033z: Just local spots still. I think even Richard has given up!

8m experiment continued (Thursday)

My 8m TX experiments are continuing today with FT8 transmissions on 40.680 MHz USB dial regularly. 

UPDATE 0903z:   Sadly no spots given or received so far. Currently on RX, but expect to be on 8m FT8 TX again at 0930z.

UPDATE 1030z:  Still no spots.

UPDATE 1702z: FT8 exchange with 9A2Y (1567km).