OFCOM updates

As is usual, OFCOM has updated its Communications Monthly for December. It does this every month. See the OFCOM website.

UK Pound up again - NOT amateur radio

The UK Pound is, yet again, up against major currencies such as the Euro, Yen and US Dollar. With a UK General Election next week, I am puzzled. With the outcome so uncertain I would have expected a fall, or at very least, things to be static. It is nearly back to the value last year.

I guess the markets are banking on a Conservative government with a working majority and a BREXIT deal being approved soon.  If there is a hung parliament or a Labour victory, we can expect big falls.

10m FT8

It is now 0910z. For just over 1 hour I have been on 10m FT8, calling CQ initially. Not surprisingly, no spots this early.

UPDATE 1010z: 4 EU stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with best DX being RU2FJ (1396km). My own 2.5W CQ calls were spotted by no-one.

UPDATE 1157z: Now 7 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 1830z:  Now 14 EU stations spotted.

UPDATE 2130z: I went QRT on 10m at about 2000z.

Sensitive Crystal Set

This has appeared before, but may interest some readers. Some years ago a crystal set design using a zero voltage threshold MOSFET appeared in QST. Thankfully that article is reproduced on the ARRL website and accessible to non-ARRL members.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

Billy Bunter - NOT amateur radio

If you live in the UK, you may remember Billy Bunter on black and white TV in the 1950s. At the time we thought it was wonderful.  It looks a bit dated now!

Watching some extracts recently, there are some very young looking actors who became famous TV stars years later.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuVQJdA-z8

UK beginners licence?

This has been touted by the RSGB as a way to get newcomers into the hobby. I have mixed feelings. Yes, we do need more young people and if this could be linked to things like scout badges that could be a good thing, but I am a bit concerned that "dumbing down" is really the answer though.

As I understand it, this would be restricted to 5W commercial gear only on 2m and 70cm.  At this stage I think it is just an idea being tossed around rather than a firm proposal.

See https://www.kb6nu.com/rsgb-vhf-manager-proposes-beginner-license

Sunspots - Tuesday December 3rd 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=0.

Sunrise - NOT amateur radio

Today has been a lovely, cold, early winter day with a brilliant sunrise as the photo shows.

Quieter on 10m FT8

An earlier CQ on 10m FT8 with 2.5W was spotted by no-one. So far today (it is currently 1145z) 3 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with best DX RA2FL (1343km). It is surprising how often some stations are spotted suggesting it is low activity rather than poor conditions that is the main problem on 10m.

UPDATE 1345z: Now 4 stations in 3 countries so far spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1523z: 5 stations in 3 countries so far today on 10m FT8 RX. At this part of the solar cycle 10m seems very variable with some quite good days and others bad. At least with FT8 those who are still active get spotted. Usually there is a small peak in Es at the tail end of the year and in January in the Northern Hemisphere.  I don't know why this is. So, with some luck, Es might liven this up on 10m shortly.

Stations spotted today
on 10m FT8 RX to 1912z

UPDATE 1940z:  At the moment 38 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including PP5VA (9957km). Not too bad in the end.

UPDATE 2142z:  Although I have been QRT for a couple of hours now the final total was 40 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Solar data

My favourite site on solar data has been updated. It still shows we have passed the solar minimum. Although the sunspot count is very low, there have been fewer days with extremely low solar flux.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png