UK winters - NOT amateur radio

Although we had a few flutters of snow on this day a couple of years ago, most winters in England are just dull. The photo show our local baker and butcher on a typical winter day.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 10th 2019

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=1.

472kHz WSPR TX

For the first time in a while, I am back on 472kHz WSPR TX with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. In the first few transmissions 7 stations spotted me in 2 countries, which is a promising start. No great DX as yet, but I'll leave it running overnight.

UPDATE 2125z: 12 unique spots so far.

UPDATE 2226z: 16 unique spots in 6 countries so far this evening.

AM QSO party - Jan 2020

Southgate News reports on an upcoming AM activity contest towards the end of January. On some bands there is plenty of space for AM. This concentrates on HF AM.  There is little doubt that SSB is a better DX mode and takes up less bandwidth, but there is still a place for AM.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/january-2020-am-qso-party-in-europe.htm#.Xe6ju-iTLnE

East Cambs 2m FM net

At 8pm local time on Mondays we hold a net on 144.575MHz FM vertical. We normally stay on for less than 30 minutes and the technical discussions are pretty basic. Anyone in the area is free to call in.

Later, I might try 630m (472kHz) WSPR TX.

Roses - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken last April when the roses at nearby Anglesey Abbey had not quite come out. Now they have just about all gone. Come next summer, these beds will be a mass of colour.

OFCOM and shared spectrum licences

OFCOM is inviting applications from professional users for shared spectrum at microwave frequencies.  These are shared shortish range services, ideal for local area networks in, for example, farms and factories.

See their website for details.

2m FT8

It would appear there are few stations on 2m FT8 this morning. A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ has been widely spotted with best DX DF6PW (562km). On RX nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 1114z: Although just 2 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX, I have been spotted by 11 stations in 4 countries with best DX spot being by EI2FG (565km).  One G QSO as a result of the CQ.

UPDATE 1435z: A recent 2m FT8 10W CQ was spotted by 10 stations in 5 countries.

UPDATE  1633z: A 2m FT8 CQ (10W to the big wheel) just now was spotted by 9 stations in 4 countries. In the last day 36 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1851z: Now 38 stations in 8 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1938z: A recent 10W FT8 2m CQ was spotted by 11 stations in 6 countries.

Sunspots - Monday December 9th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and and the SSN still 0.  A=3 and K=1.

Sunspots often return for a few days as the more active side of the sun faces us. As we have had a considerable period with no sunspots, I wonder if we are really at the very bottom of the cycle? If so, we can wait for the climb to soon start.  It may a while, but as they say, "the only way is up".  It certainly cannot get any worse!

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

As a child until university days, I lived in South Devon in an area called "The South Hams".  Arguably this is one of the best parts of England.  Even now, I still feel drawn. The photo shows Soar Mill Cove, which is a few miles from where I lived.