Sunspots - Thursday December 17th 2020

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 12. A=2 and K=0.

60m (5MHz) operation

Although many countries have allocated the full WRC band to amateurs, the UK has not. Instead, the UK has more allocations, some of which include parts of the WRC allocation. 

Personally, I would settle for the full WRC shared band and lower power with fewer other slots in the UK.

See https://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/hf/5mhz/

Optical Communications

It is many years since I tried any optical communications, because of my poor health:  I have been too giddy for field work.  

Hopefully, the next few weeks will allow me to do some local tests from home.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical

At Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This was me yesterday at Anglesey Abbey. They have erected a Christmas wreath in front of the house that is owned by the National Trust. 

The gardens are open, but not the house at present.

Bottle Boys Christmas - NOT amateur radio

 A friend recently sent me a Bottle Boys video. I later found them on YouTube. Never heard of them before.

6m FT8 QRP

It is now 0940z. For about an hour I have been on 6m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni. No stations yet spotted on RX. My own QRP has been spotted again by G0PQO (50km) on 6m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1020z:  G4FKA (207km) spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1125z:  F6HGB (985km) spotted. This could be Es.

UPDATE 1211z:  3 stations spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1852z:  In the end 2 G stations spotted me. QRT soon.

South Hams - NOT amateur radio

Pretty sure this photo has been on before. It shows where I come from in South Devon. 

Sunspots - Wednesday December 16th 2020

Solar flux is 83 and the SSN 25.  A=3 and K=1.

No 23cm in Finland?

According to a piece in Southgate News, amateurs in Finland lost the 23cm band (apart from temporary access by special permit) back in April. They are seeking alternative spectrum, possibly the 220-225MHz band that is allocated in the USA. The prime driver is amateur television.

The authorities are concerned about future interference with Galileo navigation satellites. It is a pity they could not have retained access to 23cms, perhaps with a much reduced ERP on a "non interference" basis. 

As far as I am aware there are no similar plans across Europe for 23cms. If the Finns get access to the 220MHz band, I think this would be the first in Region 1. 

Personally I would have tried for low band 1, possibly including the 8m band, say 40-45MHz. The bottom could be narrowband and the rest for DATV on a secondary basis. Even if they only allocated 2MHz, this would be useful in under-used spectrum.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/december/finland-radio-hams-ask-for-1240--1300-mhz-replacement.htm#.X9kP9miTLrc

6m FT8

At about 0930z, I went on 6m FT8. Although I briefly went on TX (2.5W and the V2000 vertical), I am mostly RX only. It would be great to spot anyone!

UPDATE 0950z:  Remarkably, G0PQO (50km) spotted my brief 6m FT8 CQ earlier. Nothing spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1332z: 1 G station spotted.

UPDATE 1845z: 3 G stations spotted. 

UPDATE 2052z: At 1915z I returned to QRP TX. Nobody has spotted me this evening.