Sunspots - Saturday November 25th 2017

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number still zero. A=10 and K=2

Another good night on 630m WSPR

Last night, my 10mW ERP WSPR was spotted by 9 unique stations with the best being LA2XPA (1310km) way up in Norway. He must have a nice low noise floor!

I spotted 9 uniques here too, with my best DX spotted DH5RAE (995km) in Germany.

OFCOM and programme makers

PMSE users will still have access to 700MHz spectrum after 2020 here in the UK according to OFCOM.

"We believe that continued use by PMSE services is likely to secure the optimal use of this spectrum and maximise the benefits to UK citizens and consumers."

Well, they have to earn a crust at OFCOM. Darn quangos!!

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/FE70F7F0AE1D1BFE2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Black Friday emails - NOT amateur radio

When I woke up, there were 10 emails in my inbox. All were about Black Friday deals. They made me sick. Every one was immediately deleted.

This is pure commercialism imported from the USA. It is designed to make us spend more over the thanksgiving weekend. Thankfully, this vomit-inducing commercialism is losing favour here in the UK.

If you good folks in the "land of the free" like it, fine. My personal view is I hate it. Thanksgiving is not celebrated here in the UK. In my view Black Friday has no place either.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42093624 .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42106850 .

The future of our hobby

As always, Southgate News is providing links to some interesting stuff. One such story was about the future of our hobby. Personally, I have grave doubts about the future, as I have voiced before. One thing is certain: the thing that got us interested in radio is unlikely to be the same today. What "turns on" youngsters today is very, very different.

Some would call me a fireside fusilier in that I am "gunner do this and gunner do that". What is certain is that our hobby has to evolve or die out. The future is in our hands.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/november/millennials-are-killing-ham-radio.htm#.Whgjjbp2vIU

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today 2 stations spotted:  MI0RRE (495km) and IW4EGP (1284km). Nothing outside Europe today.

Rally

26 NOVEMBER 2017 : BISHOP AUCKLAND RADIO AMATEURS CLUB (BARAC) 2017 RALLY
Spennymoor Leisure Centre, 32 High Street, SPENNYMOOR, County Durham, DL16 6DB Venue is ideally suited for both trader and disabled as it has good parking and access to a large ground floor hall. There will be the usual radio, computer, electronics stands and a Bring & Buy. Catering facilities and a bar are on site. Doors open at 10.30am (10.15am for disabled visitors). Admission is £2, under 14 free of charge with adult. More details from John, G4LRG on 01388 606 396

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Sunspots - Friday November 24th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today and the sunspot number zero yet again. A=9 and K=2.

QSYed to 630m WSPR

Rather later than usual at about 2000z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR. So far, just 5 unique Gs have spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR and I have spotted 4 unique stations on 630m WSPR this evening. 

So far, this has been an average evening.

Cambridge autumn - NOT amateur radio

This is very similar to a photo I uploaded yesterday. This time, you can see the punt more clearly. Autumn, so fewer people about.