Ba humbug - NOT amateur radio

Surely I am not alone in finding Christmas stressful? For little ones it is a magic time, but I find the Christmas period hard work. The media portrays it as a time of unremitting joy, but everything seems more poignant at this time. When there is sadness, it seems 100 times worse.

Guess I need to chill and have another drink...

Sunspots - Saturday December 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 76 today and the sunspot number 18. A=2 and K=3.

Market Day - NOT amateur radio

Market Day in Bury St Edmunds is Wednesday and Saturday. Food is fresh and prices are great. We try to use the market whenever we go there. Fresh veg is always good as the photo shows.

MLS winter sale

One of the big UK dealers is holding a winter sale.

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/wintersale.php .

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.