IC-705 warranty again

It appears that ICOM Australia offers a 5 year warranty if you ask whereas the standard UK ICOM warranty is just 2 years. If all UK dealers offered a 5 year ICOM underwritten warranty this might make buying decisions easier.

See https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-705/Mobile_Amateur_Radio_Ham

Snowdrops - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the snowdrops coming out in our village. They are starting to appear now.

20m FT8 RX

This morning, I am on 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the indoor loop. The gear was turned on at about 0815z.    It is now 0926z. So far today, 257 stations have been spotted already.

UPDATE 1046z: 432 stations spotted so far.

Stations spotted today at 1749z

UPDATE 1749z:  1055 stations spotted today. At some point I may QSY to 2m FT8. All this with just the tiny loop indoors - and it cannot be that good on 20m as it is so small!

UPDATE 1929z:  1117 stations spotted so far. Latest is a South African.

UPDATE 2215z:  QRT. 1152 stations spotted today.

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.