December morning - NOT amateur radio

For several days now we have had mist or fog. Today the sun came out! 

Cold and crisp. 

Sunspots - Tuesday December 8th 2020

 Solar flux is 90 and the SSN 35. A=3 and K=1.

OFCOM and licence exemptions

OFCOM is consulting people about some proposed changes to the licencing of some short range devices. See the OFCOM website for more details.

2m FT8 QRP (Monday)

It is very cold and foggy outside, so I am hoping 2m tropo might be promising. At about 0855z (it is now 0905z) my 2m FT8 was turned on with the usual 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

So far this morning, 2 stations spotted and 2 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0925z: Already spotted by EI2FG (565km) as well as 7 others in 4 countries on 2m FT8 TX. Reports at this distance are usually very similar (--19 to -21dB S/N) suggesting some sort of scatter rather than tropo I think. 1 QSO so far.

UPDATE 1247z: So far today 12 stations in 5 countries have spotted my QRP on 2m FT8 TX z:   9 stations have been spotted here on 2m FT8 RX with the furthermost being DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1644z:  18 stations have spotted my 2m FT8 QRP TX.  22 stations spotted on RX and 2 QSOs today.

UPDATE 2130z:  QRT.

South Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo of a beach in the South Hams was on my Facebook page a few years ago. 

IC-705 desk stand

Several dealers are now selling a desk stand for the ICOM IC-705.  At about £20, this is expensive for a piece of plastic.

It would not surprise me if ICOM launches an IC-705A in a few years time, as the lack of a desk stand is one of the complaints I have seen. Some have also had issues with digital modes using a USB lead. It looks like some ferrite beads and/or isolation could be required in an IC-705A. 

In a couple of years there may be other shortcomings that come to light. 

I hope 4m TX will be added back as a firmware update soon. It would be good to see 630m TX supported without having to wideband the radio.

For the latest IC-705 eHam reviews see https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14776 .

 

Rishi Sunak - NOT amateur radio

I was disappointed to read yesterday that the UK chancellor is married to a billionaire. When someone is that wealthy it is hard to understand the problems of "the common man". This is a free country of course and you marry whoever you like. He has a difficult job. Just that wealth does not help.

Peter Alliss - NOT amateur radio

Many in the UK will recognise the voice of Peter Alliss, aged 89, who commentated on many golf games over many years. In the UK he was the voice of golf. He has died and will be greatly missed.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/55204070

Sunspots - Monday December 7th 2020

Solar flux is 91 and the SSN 25.  A=6 and K=0. Quite surprised how good the sunspot count is this soon after the minimum.

QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP (Sunday)

As 17m FT8 was fading out, I have QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Just 1 local spot so far from G0LRD (26km). Nothing yet on RX. His grabber is useful.

See http://82.71.9.63:8080/cap/

UPDATE 1650z:  5 stations spotted on RX. 8 stations have spotted me with the furthermost EI2FG (565km). See map for spots of me on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1846z:  So far today 11 stations in 5 countries have spotted me on QRP TX and I have spotted 11 stations in 4 countries on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2232z: 16 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening.  QRT.