ISWL Callsigns

Southgate News has details of ISWL callsigns in December. Anyone know how many members ISWL has now? I left a few years ago.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/iswl_callsigns_for_december.htm#.WD8M24XXL4g

Frosty Garden - NOT amateur radio

The last few days have been glorious with bright sunshine and little wind, but it has been (and still is) cold. We have had night-time frosts, which have been slow to clear.

The photo shows the slow to clear frost in the back garden. You can see where the sun has reached! The bird bath has been frozen solid for days.

Does all this suggest a cold winter ahead? Met Office winter runs from Dec 1st (tomorrow). To me, December, January and February are winter months and March 1st seems like spring again. So, I agree with the Met Office.

See http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ .

Sunspots and 10m

Solar flux is 85 today and the sunspot number 43. K=2. I hope we see some 10m DX later.

UPDATE 1725z: The K index has dropped to zero.

10m JT65

Around breakfast time I returned to 10m JT65. After a quiet spell, there is short skip around with several stations in Europe spotting me. Is this the start of the small Dec/Jan Es peak? OK it is late November!

I am being widely spotted and I have spotted EU7FBB (1931km) in Belarus.

UPDATE 1656z: No further spots since the Europeans earlier. If I am going to catch South America on 10m JT65 then the next hour will be the best chance. After about 1830z, I think any chances will be gone.

More spots on 472kHz WSPR

Last night PA7EY (306km) spotted me bringing the total number of unique stations spotting my 5mW ERP to 11. I have now QSYed to 10m JT65 for the day.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

About 30 minutes ago I went QRT on 10m JT65 (after a fruitless day) and returned to MF WSPR (5mW ERP).

PA0A (417km) and G3KEV (232km) have been copied even though I have an S8 noise floor caused by the SMPSU for my laptop.

So far, M0FMT (51km) and M0XDK (80km) have again spotted me. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna".

UPDATE 2020z: G8LCO (58km) spotted me at 2008z.

UPDATE 2050z: PA0RDT (243km) has already spotted me. This is my best DX so far this evening on MF.

UPDATE 2100z: G8HUH (250km) and PA3ANG (391km) have spotted me. These are early DX spots.

UPDATE 2108z: PA0A (417km) has just spotted my 5mW ERP.  Best DX so far this evening. Conditions seem to be "up" on MF.

472kHz spots in the first few days this autumn

Sweet peas in the garden still - NOT amateur radio

It is almost December and we have had a few frosts but there are at least 4 sweet pea flowers to cut in the garden! This is very late. We also have clematis in flower.

OFCOM annual plan

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/proposed-annual-plan-2017-18?utm_source=updates&utm_campaign=proposed-annual-plan-2017-18&utm_medium=email

OFCOM has published its draft annual plan for consultation.

"Ofcom exists to make communications markets work for everyone. 

To achieve this, we are proposing three main goals: to promote competition and ensure that markets work effectively for consumers; to secure standards and improve quality; and to protect consumers from harm. Our proposed Annual Plan highlights some of the key work areas that we will seek to deliver in order to meet these goals, across the UK and its nations, in 2017/18. We also outline our broader ongoing work to support these goals, and how we will work for consumers across the UK’s nations.

We will publish our final Annual Plan for 2017/18 in March 2017. The final Plan will take into account responses from stakeholders to the proposed Plan. The closing date for consultation responses to our proposed Annual Plan is 7 February 2017."

Blah,blah,blah, blah........ QUANGOese talk? Cynic, me?

When the BBC wanted to interview OFCOM at breakfast time, no-one was available. I doubt they start work before 9am.

Some think I am being too harsh on OFCOM. Indeed they are, arguably, better than authorities in many other countries. I am only reflecting what I have directly experienced. I was not impressed. This was a few years ago and things may have changed. I certainly hope so.

10m JT65

At around 1045z I went QRT on 630m WSPR and activated my 10m JT65 station and checked PC sync to internet time.

UPDATE 1910z: It looks like no 10m JT65 spots today, sadly. Soon be time to QSY back to MF.

472kHz so far this autumn

So far this autumn (I've only been back on in the last few days) my 5mW ERP 630m WSPR has been spotted by 8 different stations with DL-SWL at 701km being the best DX so far. I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, which is far from optimum.