Real time HF predictions

A reminder that almost real time HF predictions are available at http://www.convectiveweather.co.uk/ionosphere/graphs.php?type=live . Earlier today the MUF for 3000km contacts was just above 22MHz.

The USA in 2018 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment President Trump is openly rubbishing a new book just out. In the meantime the US government has to agree its priorities for the year ahead.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42589860 .

UPDATE 1422z:  President Trump has tweeted, allegedly, that he is "a very stable genius".

Spider's Web - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this morning it was misty and frosty, although nothing like the very cold snap in the east of the USA.

My wife took this photo of a spider's web from one of the trees in our front garden. It was covered in frozen dew and quite beautiful.

Each season brings something of beauty and winter is no exception.

6m MSK144

Daytime today I am on 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz.  Any signals received will be by random MS, aircraft reflection or tropo. So far, just GM3NKG (474km) spotted strongly. Remember this sort of path can be bridged at any time in the solar cycle on 6m.

UPDATE 1216z:  No further spots, as yet, on 6m MSK144 RX today.

UPDATE 1322z: Further spots - from Belgium and NE England - on 6m MSK144 today. These were both very strong.

UPDATE 1352z: M1BXF (14km) spotted. He is very local and very strong, HI.

UPDATE 1552z: 6 uniques in 4 countries so far spotted on 6m MSK144 today.

UPDATE 2144z: Overall today 7 uniques in 5 countries spotted on 50.280MHz MSK144. I noticed an SM which did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps.

Last night on 630m WSPR

A better night. 9 unique stations spotted and my 10mW ERP was spotted by 9 unique stations.

Sunspots - Saturday January 6th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number 11. A=5 and K=1.

630m WSPR

At 1846z I QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) after the daylight on 10m FT8 RX. This is a bit of a test as recently activity levels in the UK and Europe on 630m seem to have been dropping.

New Blue Plaque - NOT amateur radio

It appears a famous woman microbiologist was born and raised in our village. A new plaque in her honour has appeared. Unless I missed it before, I think this was put up over the holidays. I have to confess I had not heard of her before. The link seems wrong.

Improved miniwhip active RX antenna

Quite a few people use the PA0RDT miniwhip as their RX antenna. Although tiny, these work remarkably well on the 136kHz and 472kHz bands. They also work at higher frequencies. Now a better circuit has been shared by PA3FWM.

See http://www.pa3fwm.nl/projects/miniwhip/ .

First year in the White House book - NOT amateur radio

There is a new book out, which President Trump has called "a pack of lies" allegedly. I hope the book does well.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42574419 .

See also https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Poetry-Donald-Trump/dp/1786892278/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515149198&sr=1-1&keywords=trump