6m

Outside of the Es season, 6m appears very quiet. With Es, I find that with a few watts and a simple antenna it is easy to work all over Europe and North Africa on SSB. Last year and the year before my 2W was copied in Israel and I copied Kazakhstan on WSPR.

Since discovering 6m MSK144 I have learnt that DX is possible at almost any time. Most of my MSK144 reception has been aircraft reflection, but some remarkable DX seems to have been by random MS. Judging by the reports, I am sure I could work MS DX by MSK144 in a decent MS shower.

OFCOM and 5G frequencies

OFCOM has published a paper outlining its proposed 5G frequencies.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/7261046CD05FE3E5/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

NEXIT? - NOT amateur radio

Will the Netherlands be next to swing to the right along the lines of the UK and the USA? According to the BBC this is possible.

Like many, I feel ashamed about the populist view of immigrants. The USA is a nation of immigrants. In the past the UK welcomed in true refugees such as the Huguenots and German Jews. Yes, there is a difference between a true refugee and an economic migrant. I hope this swing to the right is a blip. Basically a large swing to the right is dangerous. Think of Hitler.

In my view refugees fleeing war, famine, etc. should always be welcomed. These are desperate people who need our love and kindness. How would we feel if the "shoe was on the other foot" and we were the refugee?

The common thread in the UK, USA, The Netherlands and France seems to be a disillusion with globalisation and a wish to control who comes to a particular country, and the fall from grace of career politicians. All need to wake up or this move to the right will gather pace.  I am not a right winger, but I can see the common man at odds with those in power. There is a danger of nations turning inwards.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38891753 .

VHF/UHF DX Handbook

Southgate News brings news of a free digital download of this famous book from the 1990s.

See http://www.trpub.net/assets/applets/VHF-UHF_DX_Book.pdf

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday February 8th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number 11. A=7 and K=1. On average, solar conditions are declining progressively towards the next minimum, although in January conditions improved a little.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .

6m MSK144 (50.280MHz) RX

Overnight I was on 6m MSK144 RX only on 50.280MHz. So far only M6GAN (122km) spotted, presumably by aircraft reflection rather than random MS. This was in the hours before sunrise.

So far, I have spotted 6 countries on 6m MSK144 in totally flat conditions with Italy being the best DX and my 6m set-up is very average, if anything below average!

UPDATE 1930z: Best DX on 6m MSK144 today are EI7BMB (462km) and F4GTG (654km).

Local museum kiosk - NOT amateur radio

As I mentioned yesterday, the local museum and windmill next door had a new entrance kiosk erected yesterday. It has still to be fitted out inside, but they made good progress building it. It was all done within a day.

OFCOM

As usual, they have produced a monthly update.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/075B54357750E53A/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

2m UKAC tonight

Just a reminder than the next 2m leg of the RSGB's monthly activity contest is this evening 2000-2230z. Activity levels are usually high and it is a good chance to work a few new squares. It is preceded by an hour long FM activity contest.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs tonight in 5 squares with 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna in 47 minutes. Then I had to stop because of my poor voice!

2m UKAC - stations worked with 5W tonight in 47 minutes

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .

Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday February 7th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number 15. A=13 and K=1.