Sunspots - Saturday December 26th 2020

Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 30.  A=5 and K=2.

472kHz (630m) WSPR

At the moment I have not tried 472kHz (630m) WSPR TX for a while as I need to replace the wire in my earth-electrode "antenna". In past winters I have had lots of fun overnight with low ERP WSPR. I really should try again during January, February and March.

I still have a quiet noise floor on 472kHz WSPR RX. With AM on 160m, 80, and 40m, the noise floor is S8. WSPR being a narrow-band mode seems to do much better.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

The magic of Christmas - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned in an earlier post today, Christmas can be a magical time for children. 

These are some of our grandchildren, and my wife, with some of their presents.

2m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni (Christmas)

Whilst Christmas is going on I am on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far today I have been spotted by 9 stations with the furthermost being G7RAU (461km) on 2m FT8 TX.  On 2m FT8 RX just a couple of Gs spotted. It is now 1045z.

UPDATE 1853z: 15 stations have spotted my QRP on TX and I have spotted 12 stations on RX with the furthermost DL6YBF (471km). As most spots of me are G and near France, these could be flat band tropo.

UPDATE 2220z: QRT.

Christmas Day - NOT amateur radio

Christmas can be a magical time for children. 

As an old man, I find Christmas hard. It is a time when we are expected to be happy, whereas I find everything amplified and pain harder to take. To me, I am glad when it is all over. 

This year is particularly hard with Covid-19 and many unable to meet loved ones and give them a hug. Next year things should be more normal. I hope so. In the next few months we have some hard times ahead. Then we should start to see the light.

Whatever your situation I wish you a happy Christmas. 

2m and 70cm activity contest results

Both the 2m and 70cm activity contest results, run every month on Tuesday evenings and organised by the RSGB, have been published. 

These show very credible scores in the low power (AL) sections, considering I usually stay on for under an hour and just use a 2m big-wheel omni antenna. No beams or rotators here!

See the RSGB contest website for details.

Sunspots - Friday December 25th 2020 (Christmas Day)

Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 25.  A=8 and K=0.  These figures were correct at 2245z Christmas Day.

Gecophone crystal set

When I retired in 2008 I was bought a Gecophone crystal set as a leaving present. This is almost 100 years old and still works.

It is in a polished wooden case and looks magnificent. They don't make things like this nowadays.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/gecophone

BREXIT deal done - NOT amateur radio

So, a deal has (eventually) been done between the EU and the UK. No doubt in the days ahead we will hear the details. I expect, and hope, that both sides compromised and came away feeling the deal was good for all. 

In the 2016 referendum I voted "remain", although I do appreciate that the EU can be protectionist and slow. Whilst we in the UK have vaccinated 500,000 people against Covid-19 the EU has not even started! I can understand the UK does not want to be burdened. On the other hand, the EU has been a power for good.

In my heart I expected a last minute deal: a deal is in the interests of all and there was a degree of brinkmanship to see who would blink first.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news

Online carols - NOT amateur radio

My wife took part in an online carol service with the Run by Singers with people from all over the world. Great. It is so good to think that all over the world people were taking part.

It is available on YouTube, but perhaps not yet.