Sunspots - Friday December 5th 2019

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=3 and K=0.

ICOM SDR radios at RSGB National Radio Centre

Southgate News reports that ICOM has provided IC-7300 and IC-9700 SDR rigs to the RSGB's National Radio Centre.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/latest-icom-sdr-amateur-radios-supplied-to-rsgb-national-radio-centre.htm#.XeehfeiTLnE

ABC Classic Sydney, 92.7MHz FM, Australia - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago we bought a Brennan BB1 receiver.  This plays thousands of stored music tracks, Youtube videos and 40000 internet radio stations from around the world. Quality is great and the device small. I am mightily impressed.

At the moment, whilst typing this, I am listening in the background to ABC Classic from Sydney, Australia. Quality is first class, as if I was a local in Sydney!

2m FT8

Just now, I tried to go on 10m FT8, but on 2 rigs it was showing hi-SWR, so something is wrong with the antenna or its connecting coax. I shall have to investigate.

In the meantime I am on 2m FT8 calling CQ initially with 10W to the omni antenna. Now I am 2m FT8 RX only. 16 spots of me including GD3YEO (384km) and 6 on 2m FT8 RX with best DX being F6APE (551km).

UPDATE 1252z:  Now 32 stations in 6 countries spotted so far today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1815z: 87 stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX SM6VFZ (1030km).

UPDATE 1855z: 95 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted so far
today on 2m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2208: 118 stations in 10 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

Narcissi - NOT amateur radio

Recently, my wife bought a pot of narcissi for the kitchen table. It will be great to see them come into flower over the weeks ahead whilst having breakfast. They are a real December and Christmas  plant.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 4th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=2 and K=2.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

Starting at 2000z tonight is the December leg of the 2m activity contest. Normally activity levels on SSB are high. Although I just use QRP and stop on for less than an hour, I frequently manage more than 200km.

UPDATE 2126z: In the end with my 10W SSB 7 QSOs with best DX 243km in the Dales. After about 50 minutes I had to stop because of my poor voice. There were plenty more stations to work.

Stations worked with QRP on 2m SSB

this evening in the activity contest

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.