Rally this weekend

 The following rally has been notified to me.  As always, it is a good thing to contact first before travelling a long way.

Sunday February 5th 2023 - Canvey Rally, Essex, SS8 9QA. Contact sears.enquiries@gmail.com .

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

 It is now 1105z. So far om 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW beacon, spotted by 2 unique stations.

UPDATE 1352z:   6 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 It is now 1102z. Having been on 8m QRP FT8 for about an hour, no spots on TX or RX.

UPDATE 1355z:  No spots today.

Grim times - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on social media and shows a city street in the 1800s. We forget how grim life really was for most people. 

Sunspots - Thursday February 2nd 2023

 Solar flux is 134 and the SSN 89. A=6 and K=1.

2m FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

Starting at 1900z tonight is the 2m FT8 activity contest. I shall probably go on briefly at 1900z with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for about an hour.  66 stations spotted (see map).

UK strikes - NOT amateur radio

No bus strikes today
in Cambridge

For a long time, people in public services (as opposed to private industry) have had poor wage increases in the UK, if any. 

The UK government's position is that inflation busting settlements just stoke inflation so it becomes embedded for years. This happened in the 1980s and was not good for anyone. The trouble is few working today realise what high inflation and mortgage costs are like!  I seem to remember mortgage rates approaching 17%!!!

UK inflation is expected to fall this year. What is required is fairness for everybody and common sense.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My 8m QRP FT8 was turned on about 1450z.  So far spotted (again) by WESSEXSDR (265km), I think this is aircraft reflection. Nothing on 8m RX.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 My 500mW 10m WSPR TX has been on for about an hour at 0920z. So far, 8 spots from the Canary Isles.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 1st 2023

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 65.  A=9 and K=0.