Backpacker's beach party in Australia - NOT amateur radio

The BBC news is carrying photos of a backpacker beach party in Australia. People are understandably appalled by such stupid people flouting the rules. Many were from the UK. 

Some may get deported. Quite right. So they should for such crass stupidity. 

At the moment there have been new outbreaks in Sydney which the authorities are trying to contain.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-55471235 .

In Australia - NOT amateur radio

One of my sons is with his family staying with the Australian grandparents.

The photo shows one of our grandsons with the local birdlife.

I think you will agree that it is a happy, colourful picture.

Australian friends - NOT amateur radio

Our Australian friends called on their way to York earlier. It was the first time we had seen the grandma since 2014.

The kids loved the windmill next door, which they had to visit!

Son's brother-in-law - NOT amateur radio

The latest bulletin from Australia is "he's hanging on". Slowly dying, but clinging to life. At times our thoughts for his loved ones is totally overwhelming.  And yet, life goes on.

Birds

One of our grandsons in Australia. He loves all animals and looks in his element with these birds.

Kangaroo - NOT amateur radio

My younger son is with his family visiting the Australian in-laws. Here is a shot of one of our granddaughters feeding a kangaroo. Actually, I think the joey is helping itself!

Australian in-laws - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have been hosting our son's Australian in-laws so my amateur radio and blogging have been restricted. This morning, they returned to my son and family in Kent. It was very good to see them.

Australia yet again on 10m WSPR today

Yet again, despite the low sunspot number  and "poor" prediction for 10m propagation, I have been spotted in Australia by VK2KRR (16789km) at 0914z. There has been plenty of short-skip activity from Europe on 10m already. 10m is still good.

Australian 10m WSPR spot

This morning at 1124z, VK5MR (16144km) copied my 10m 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW beacon for what will probably be my best DX today. His report of me was -26dB S/N, i.e. not strong. No other great DX reports received on 10m. First USA WSPR spot of my 500mW was by KC1AWS (5308km) at 1220z. He was spotting me well at -16dB S/N.

So far, 6m WSPR as been a dead loss again. I sync'd to internet time twice today on the 6m kit. Not a single 6m spot given and received since I started just after breakfast. Really I am wasting effort of 6m currently.   I would be better on a totally different band for a change.

10m - Australia late at night

VK7AM (17366km) Tasmania, Australia running 5W was spotted on 10m WSPR at 2208 last night and I am wondering if this was long-path over the Pacific? At this time the WSPRnet database often shows stateside stations being spotted in Australia. This was a total surprise as conditions on the band did not seem that brilliant really. It goes to show that 10m really is a band filled with surprises!  Even from hour to hour, conditions change and results can be surprising. I guess it is a reminder never to give up on the 10m band.

This morning so far just Italians copied, sunspot count is a more modest 105 with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "poor".

VK on 20m WSPR this morning

5 VK (Australian) spots in the very first transmission slot

Whilst waiting for the bathwater to fill, I went on 20m WSPR this morning with the Par 40/20/10 end-fed antenna to see what was about. To my amazement I got no less than 4 VK reports (Australia) in the first transmission plus a lot of other reports too. The little antenna down the garden is certainly working just fine.

A new personal WSPR DX record

This evening I put the WSPR beacon first on 20m and then 30m running 1W into the 5m long vertical matched with the Elecraft T1 auto-ATU. First came a report from a VE6 in Alberta on 20m then a new DX record on 30m with a report from VK2/VK6DI at 16969kms. Not bad going for 1W to an indifferent antenna. Some of the European reports suggest that I'd still have been heard in Europe with just 5mW. VK6DI is a QRSS and weak signal mode enthusiast: see his site at http://www.users.on.net/~davroz/vk6di/