Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity levels on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite. Activity levels seem very low. My peek was at breakfast time in Europe on Sunday when I thought it might be better. 

It seems to me that this has not "taken off" (no pun intended!). When it was first put in orbit, people had high hopes that, alas, have not been matched. 

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

St Ninians Isle (Shetland) - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on 365project yesterday. 

Solar forecast

My favourite site for solar data is usually updated early in the month. Based on the last few days, things are looking promising. It has been updated earlier today.

At the moment, this solar cycle looks a bit better than the last one.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

Sunspots - Sunday May 1st 2022

Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 50. A=18 and K=3.

Fuel prices - a con? - NOT amateur radio

Since early March fuel prices have dropped considerably. Have retail prices followed suit? NO!!! 

Whilst I can understand retailers trying to claw back losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope retailers follow suit and drop their prices too.

It seems to me that consumers are being taken for a ride - well actually not as the fuel is too expensive!! 

The last ones - NOT amateur radio

These daffodils were at Anglesey Abbey yesterday. I suspect these will be the last ones until next winter. Anglesey Abbey is owned by the National Trust and has extensive grounds.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)

For about 45 minutes (it is now 0901z) I have been on 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW W5OLF beacon. Just local G4KPX (14km) currently spotting me.

UPDATE 1304z:  Still just G4KPX (14km) spotting me. So far, Richard has spotted me 123 times today.

8m experiments (Saturday)

It is now 0857z. I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.  No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 0941z:  Currently RX only. As far as I know the following countries have granted limited access to TX on 8m:

  USA (a limited number of special permits issued by the FCC)

  Canada (1 special permit)

  South Africa (special permission?)

  UK (a limited number of special T&I licences)

  Slovenia (allocated 40.66-40.70 to amateurs on a secondary basis)

  Croatia (special permission?)

  Eire (full allocation to the amateur service)

  Denmark (beacon only).

Others may be active, but I am unsure of their legality. I am unsure of the legal position of operating with very low ERP in the ISM band in almost any country.

UPDATE 1220z:  Still no spots today.  Will be on FT8 TX at about 1240z.

UPDATE 1243z: Now on 8m FT8 TX (40.680 MHz USB dial). Reports welcomed.

Shetland sunshine - NOT amateur radio

There cannot be many perfect days on the Shetland Islands. Often it is cold and windy. This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

Yesterday on 10m WSPR TX

Yesterday, I was spotted by 15 stations on 10m WSPR TX when running 500mW. The Es season really has started.