More OFCOM rubbish?

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/undueinterference/statement/ .

See the "note to stakeholders". They can't even get their dates right!!

I very much doubt we'll see them reduce the noise pollution in the radio spectrum. OFCOM - get off your backsides and DO SOMETHING USEFUL.

Pronouncements ring hollow. Actions speak louder than words.

Red legged partridges - NOT amateur radio

We frequently get these birds wandering around our close. There are also 3 Mallard ducks that appear regularly. Red legs now far outnumber ordinary partridges. I think red legged partridges were introduced but they are now widespread in the UK.

Last night on 472kHz WSPR

Last night I was active on TX (5mW ERP) and RX on 472kHz WSPR using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the back lawn. My best DX on TX this season was LA3JJ (993km) who spotted me several times last night. This is the second Norwegian (if I remember rightly) station to spot me on the band this year.

Southgate Amateur Radio News

There is often something of interest here and I frequently link to posts that I found of interest. Check it out from time to time.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/ .

Sunspots and 10m - Sat March 26th 2016

Solar flux is a low 85 and sunspot number is 24 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" again today.

Even with yesterday's "poor" forecast I was spotted in Brazil and conditions today are a bit better today than yesterday. I've been on 10m WSPR for just over 1 hour now.

UPDATE 1346z:  No 10m WSPR spots as yet.

QRP

A bit late to remind you about this Saturday, but it serves as a reminder for the future! From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
new member in the Club 72 -
op. Georgiy R2FAI (# 84)
Also reminder about Saturday QRP Rendez-Vous at 9.00 UTC around 14060,
alternative 10116 kHz if contest QRMs.
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Just after dark, at about 1900z, I turned off the 10m WSPR and QSYed down to 472kHz (630m) where I shall remain all evening and night.  Last night the best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX was EA5DOM (1525km). We'll see what tonight brings. On TX (5mW ERP) and RX I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna". I am on RX for 80% of the time.

To Brazil (again) on 10m WSPR

KD0VWO (7412km) monitoring in Brazil spotted me on 10m WSPR this afternoon. With a low sunspot number, it again shows the value of WSPR. Such brief openings would go unnoticed otherwise.  G3JKV (123km) was spotted. The report from Brazil was better than the report I gave G3JKV.

Spring? - NOT amateur radio

There are probably another 6 weeks before we see the trees coated in fresh green, the blossom well out, and fields of yellow rape. Already the first sand martins are returning to Devon and there has even been a report of a returning swallow in Devon. It will probably be into April before I spot swallows up here in East Anglia. Usually I see my first swallows here April 7-14th. Swifts are not usually seen (by me at least!) until the end of April.

These returning migrants bring joy to my heart: long after I am gone they will still be doing this journey as their ancestors have done for thousands of years. I admit there have been times when I never thought I'd see this spring.

Lackford Lakes - NOT amateur radio

Before lunch we visited Lackford Lakes, a nature reserve not far from Newmarket. There were plenty of water birds plus we heard at least 2 chiffchaffs, which have probably just got back from Africa although some of these now over-winter in the UK.  Driving through Lackford there was a red kite overhead. We also saw a tree creeper in the reserve.