6m MSK144 RX

All morning, I have been on 6m MSK144 RX (50.280MHz). So far, 6 unique stations in 4 countries, all in the British Isles.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 20th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today. Sunspot number is zero. A=6 and K=1.

Hamnet

Before reading about this via Southgate News today, I had no idea about this high speed pan-European network. It is widespread in Germany. Novice licencees in Germany are to be allowed the bands to access this.

630m WSPR

As usual, I was on 630m WSPR overnight (10mW ERP, 20%). An uneventful night. I copied just 6 uniques with best DX LA8AV (1035km) and I was spotted by just 6 unique stations with just G8HUH (250km) as my best report. Unimpressive!

First snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, we saw our first snowdrops this winter at nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday. Another month and there will be carpets of them.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, no spots yet. I was hoping to see a few Gs maybe. At this time of year there is a small Es peak, although I do not know why.

UPDATE 1326z: DG5HR (721km) spotted.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 19th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number is still zero.  A=.17 and K=1

Bath repeaters to lose university site

Southgate News reports that the Bath repeaters are being evicted from their university site next month. I do not know if there are plans to re-site them.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/bath-repeaters-lose-university-site.htm#.Wjgqr0x2vIU .

Amateur TV

There is always something in our hobby that we cannot do. One of these is ATV, which despite being interested, I have never tried. The BATC streams many TV repeaters, so you can take a peak without investing in TV gear.

See http://batc.tv/multi_screen.php .

Daffodils and snowdrops

Most months we visit Anglesey Abbey, which is about 4 miles away. The daffodils, which were out in November 2015, are just coming. Another 2 weeks and these will be out. We saw the first snowdrops out. Things seem much later this winter. Blink and it will be spring though!