MSF off-air periods

Southgate News has a useful reminder of the days and times MSF will be off-air for maintenance.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/msf-scheduled-maintenance-periods.htm

UK Pound exchange rate - NOT amateur radio

OK, I was wrong about the UK Pound and Euro exchange rate, but the UK Pound has appreciated against the Yen and US Dollar. This should mean goods bought in US Dollars and Yen should get less expensive.

QSYed to 10m FT8 RX

As of 1140z, I have moved to 10m FT8 RX, hoping for some winter Es and maybe some N-S F2 DX. I shall probably be on 10m FT8 until I switch to 630m WSPR after tea.

UPDATE 1545z: Still no spots on 10m FT8 RX here all day today.

Sunspots - Thursday January 4th 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=4 and K=1.

6m MSK144 during the Quadrantids MS shower

Quite a reasonable night with a wide spread of stations spotted, many I assume via MS. My antenna is just a simple omni vertical V2000.

I was only on RX on 50.280MHz, which is where the European 6m MSK144 seems to be.

QSYed to 6m MSK144 RX

At 1706z I QSYed to 6m MSK144 RX. G3YDY (65km) was copied calling CQ almost immediately. I am monitoring 50.280MHz.

Quadrantids MS shower

Southgate News reminds us that the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks overnight. I shall be on 6m MSK144 RX (50.280MHz) looking for European action.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/the-quadrantids.htm  .

Storm Eleanor - NOT amateur radio

We are still being battered by strong winds, although other parts of the UK have been hit much worse.  Parts of Northern Ireland have had power cuts. By comparison, we got off lightly.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42549441 .

Ducks - NOT amateur radio

Every day this year so far, we have done a walk.

Yesterday, on a walk around the village, we spotted these ducks. They went into the drive of a house, obviously expecting to be fed.

10m FT8

Since mid-morning I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, just one UK station spotted - G4HZW (208km).

UPDATE 1615z:  Well, unless things change, this will be the first time in several days without Europeans, or further, DX.

UPDATE 1832z:  In about 30 minutes I am moving to 50.280MHz MSK144 RX. No further stations spotted on 10m FT8 today.