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.

630m mistake!

When on 630m WSPR I usually check spots on another machine in another room. I noticed spots stopped around 2130z last night. So, I went into the shack to see the connection to the antenna had fallen off! Luckily, it was easily reconnected. Luckily, the transverter PA was not damaged and full power was restored.

70cm UKAC

Well, I probably have the very worst set-up for this contest: 5W SSB, RG58 (lossy) coax and a 2m halo!! Add to that that speaking is very hard and that I was only on for about 10 minutes and you can see why I never win!

QSYed to 630m WSPR

At 1900z, I QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). 10m WSPR was really not very good.

10m WSPR (2W, 20% TX)

For a change, I decided to go on 10m WSPR transceive today. I am using 2W (instead of 0.5W) and looking for others 80% of the time on RX.

UPDATE 1514z:  No WSPR spots given or received on 10m all day so far. Dire.

UPDATE  1824z: Although no-one spotted me, I spotted DL and OM. Best DX was OM1AI (1269km).