Sunspots - Monday December 28th 2020

Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 26.  A=6 and K=2.

Homemade trifle - NOT amateur radio

My wife likes to make homemade trifle at Christmas as shown in the photo. 

They always taste delicious.

Village houses - NOT amateur radio

We have lots of different house styles in our village as the photo shows. 

Some houses go back many centuries and some were built this year. One old house dates to the 1100s I think.

Muddy walk - NOT amateur radio

We have just got back from a walk. It was very muddy! Part of the walk is through a wood planted for the millennium making the trees about 20 years old. 

I don't get tired walking, just being giddy all the time: it feels like I am always about to fall: this exhausts me.

10m FT8 RX

It is now 1013z. A short while ago I turned on my 10m FT8 gear using the FT817ND at the tiny indoor loop antenna. So far 24 stations spotted here on RX. Winter Es?

UPDATE 1623z:  79 Europeans spotted. Good. 

UPDATE 1724z:  88 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.   Unless there are surprises I expect this is it for the day. Still, this is good for 10m in winter at this part of the solar cycle.

UPDATE 2047z:  QRT.  95 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Sunday December 27th 2020

Solar flux is 88 and the SSN 31.  A=4 and K=2.

Morons? - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon appeared on Facebook earlier. No idea who the moron could be or where the cartoon originated  😉. 

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.