EME on TV?

According to Southgate News the next Michael Portillo "Great British Rail Journeys" may include a piece recorded at Goonhilly Downs showing him operating 5.6GHz EME under supervision.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/january/bbc-tv-to-show-michael-portillo-moonbounce.htm#.WlIA00x2vIU .

10m FT8 today

Today, I am back on 10m FT8 RX. So far just 2E0XXO (120km) spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: So far, the best DX on 10m FT8 RX is DM1FL (495km).

UPDATE 1625z: 5 uniques in 2 countries so far today.

630m WSPR overnight

As usual, I went on 630m WSPR last night with my 10mW ERP. In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations and I spotted 6. Unusually, all the stations that spotted me were Gs.

Best DX on RX was (again) LA8AV (1035km) up in Norway. He must have a good set-up as he always beats my S7 noise floor.

Sunspots - Sunday January 7th 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number 11. A=3 and K=0.

630m WSPR

Rather later than usual (2145z) I have QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) from 6m MSK144. I have spotted a couple of stations, although no-one has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 2220z: So far 7 unique stations have spotted me with the best DX being G0LUJ (266km).

Free French Mag

The December 2017 edition of the French Radio mag Radio-REF is available as a free download.

See http://www.r-e-f.org/images/201712_INTERACTIF.pdf .

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.