Radio Caroline returns - NOT amateur radio

According to Southgate News, Radio Caroline (once a pirate radio station on a ship) is returning to Medium Wave on an old BBC frequency.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/radio-caroline-returns-to-the-airwaves.htm#.Wj0sIUx2tMs

2m UKAC activity contests

Over the whole year I see I am placed 64th out of 205 in the AL section. This is not bad considering the time on the air (usually short because of my voice), 5W and an omni antenna. On 70cms (results next week?) my setup is even worse!

Cyber attacks - NOT amateur radio

From my own limited experience, I know cyber attacks are a real threat.

According to the BBC the UK Foreign Secretary is to warn Russia that the UK will retaliate if the Russians are guilty of cyber attacks that threaten national security. I am sure most governments have a "dirty tricks" department. Some get caught. It is the nature of 21st century warfare.

See www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42450479 .

630m WSPR last night

This was again disappointing.

I spotted just 6 unique stations with best DX LA8AV (1035km) and I was spotted by just 6 unique (all UK) stations with my best DX using 10mW ERP being G8HUH (250km).

Sunspots - Friday December 22nd 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 18. A=3 and K=1.

10m FT8 RX

As there is a mini Es peak around now, I have returned to 10m FT8 RX. Within a short while of turning on I spotted OZ1LXJ (805km). Promising.

UPDATE 1600z: Not a bad 10m day so far. Best DX on 10m FT8 RX is EC5AC (1576km). So far, 7 unique stations in 5 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1715z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX today is EA9CD (1873km) in North Africa. Es? Now 10 uniques in 8 countries spotted today.

UPDATE 1755z: Now the Falkland Is! VP8LP (12772km) spotted, so there is some F2 about on 10m.  Now 15 uniques, 10 countries and 3 continents today on 10m FT8 RX. 10m dead?

UPDATE 2100z: In the end a PY in Brazil too. Altogether, a good day on 10m FT8 RX.

mcHF clone RS-918

The mcHF-QRP rig clone is being sold by XBS Telecom for 585 euros or less. As this is within the EU, no additional VAT needs to be added, I think. This is a nominal 5W SDR HF rig. If my reading is correct, this includes a 2 year warranty.

You may recall that MLS was going to sell this until it found the Chinese "rip off" had not been agreed with the originator.

See https://www.xbstelecom.eu/shop/en/sdr-100-digital/392-recent-rs-918-ssb-hf-qrp-15w.html

UK Pound versus the Euro - NOT amateur radio

OK, I was wrong!

Some time back, I predicted the Euro would lose value against the UK Pound by the end of the year. It looks like I shall be spectacularly wrong. What a surprise!

Perhaps the best advice is to believe the exact opposite of what I think. As said many times, I am no financial expert.

Reflections - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property about 4 miles from here, has beautiful grounds at any time of the year. A few days ago it looked very "wintery" as the photo shows.

Late afternoon return to 630m WSPR

On 6m MSK144 RX I spotted stations in G, GW and GM today on 50.280MHz, but I have now returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) for this evening and overnight.

Spots on 630m WSPR received from M0NKA (154km) and G4ETG (44km), even though the transverter crystal is still settling, so my signal still shows some drift.

UPDATE 1630z: Although my QRPP has been spotted by 3 unique stations, I have spotted none so far.