Tree surgeon - NOT amateur radio

This tree surgeon was busy at work in our village this morning. Rather him than me!

I noticed he had a machine to grind up the branches on his lorry. Otherwise there would be a lot of branches to deal with.

In this job a head for heights must help. I'd be useless!

Realtime HF predictions

A reminder that almost realtime HF predictions are available at the convective weather website.

New OFCOM chairman

The government has appointed a new OFCOM chairman.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/5192FE1F35CB87692540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots - Thursday December 14th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number zero. A=7 and K=3.

6m MSK144 RX in the Geminids MS shower

Overnight I was on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX for the peak of the Geminids MS shower. I only have a V2000 omni antenna (no beams) on 6m. All over western and northern Europe copied. I assume many of these were MS.

I shall remain on 50.280MHz MSK144 RX for a few hours at least.

UPDATE 1056z: I think the count is now 13 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 in the last day.

UPDATE 1312z: With 31 unique spots in the last day there is plenty of activity in Europe on 50.280MHz MSK144. I think I shall stick with this band and mode for another day.

UPDATE 1800z:  Best DX on 6m MSK144 RX is SM5EPO (1347km).

Geminids meteor shower

This peaks tonight, so I am monitoring 50.280 MSK144 to see what appears overnight.

OFCOM

OFCOM has published it technical analysis about sharing at 700MHz.

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/C7C5470B2352391A2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Cambridge Pret A Manger - NOT amateur radio

As I was in Cambridge for my U3A course on Samuel Pepys, I called in to Pret A Manger for a coffee and bread roll. Surprisingly it was less busy than last week. I have always found the staff helpful and polite and prices reasonable.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 13th 2017

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is 11. A=13 and K=1.

6m FT8 RX

At the moment, I am monitoring 6m FT8 RX. Nothing yet.

UPDATE 1415z: Just ON8DM (237km) spotted.