Christmas cheer

Some people like to decorate the outside of their homes at Christmas.  By comparison, we must seem very dull!

The photo shows one house in the village ready for Christmas.

Encouraging older people?

It is very clear that the average age of radio amateurs is going up as existing amateurs in the hobby get older. It is also vital that we encourage younger people into the hobby and keep them.

Todd already commented in an earlier post that working DX, which was so exciting for many of us, is less important for many younger people today: the magic to many of us of talking around the world is no longer such a turn-on for many younger people used to talking across the world on video free by Skype and similar.

What the Southgate News piece points out is there are lots of lonely older people who could find companionship through amateur radio. These people should also be encouraged too.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/encouraging-seniors-to-join-ham-radio.htm#.XgSG6-iTLnE

Fifth force? - NOT amateur radio

Southgate News reports that a possible fifth force in nature may have been discovered.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/possible-fifth-force-of-nature-found.htm#.XgSDduiTLnE

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Another pretty good session on 472kHz WSPR TX with 22 stations spotting my 10mW ERP. Nothing from Norway but reports from Poland.

Iris - NOT amateur radio

When one of our sons came up on Tuesday he brought my wife some lovely iris flowers as shown in the photo.

Sunspots - Thursday December 26th 2019

Solar flux is 72 and the SSN 23. A=4 and K=1.

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

After a day on 2m (144MHz) I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). So far, 6 stations spotted me with best DX G4MEM (230km).

UPDATE  2044z: Now 12 unique spots so far with best DX PA3FNY (330km).

Gmail issues - NOT amateur radio

For years I have used Gmail. It has been very good.  A couple of times recently emails or whole folders have disappeared, only to re-appear later. I cannot believe I am alone. Have others had this occur?

Recently a very kind person in Stamford offered to help me with antenna erection. His email was there and I was about to reply. When I looked I could not find it! Recently, a whole folder just disappeared only to be there later. One of my PCs uses Chrome OS, so this is not a Windows issue.

Mystery.

How fast they grow up! - NOT amateur radio

Our younger grandson (see photo) is 11 in February. This photo was taken when he was just 2. You blink and they grow up. I guess in a few years we'll look back and think how young they looked now in 2019!

Christmas Day walk - NOT amateur radio

Although we have had a busy few days, much of today and the next few days are quiet. Then, from Monday, the grandchildren descend and it is busy again! This morning as it was a cold, crisp morning we did a brief village walk. About now, the first snowdrops start to appear. We saw a few about to come out (see photo) but none actually out.