Sunspots - Thursday December 16th 2021

Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 79.  A=9 and K=3.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor Wellgood active loop

I have been on 15m FT8 RX most of the day and 136 stations spotted. It seems to have closed now. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Wednesday)

From about 1340z I have been on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW. So far only spots of me by local G4KPX (14km).

Oscar 100 activity

Every few weeks I look at the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite using the webSDR at Goonhilly.  Activity level remained very very low when I looked, which was 0925z on a weekday morning. Most activity seems to be from Europe, so this was not a great time.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

160m FT8 RX overnight

Using the active Wellgood loop indoors, I was on 160m FT8 RX overnight. In all, 147 stations spotted, but none "across the pond".

Sunspots - Wednesday December 15th 2021

 Solar flux is 89 and the SSN 40. A=5 and K=2.

My Shack

Since moving to the present QTH in summer 2013, I have had a dedicated amateur radio room. Mostly I use digital modes that don't require me to use my poor voice that I have had since my stroke. 

The shack is only about 8m walk from the lounge, so I often monitor on a different PC in the lounge. If I need to go into the shack, it only takes a few seconds. For SSB and FM, I clearly use the shack.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

Covid passports - NOT amateur radio

Several countries have, or are about to, demand Covid-19 passports to gain entry into large venues. Sadly it would appear that previous vaccines do not stop the Omicron variant from being spread. So, after a large event Omicron could still be passed on.

It would appear the real motivation is to get more jabs in arms, especially boosters that appear to work.

So far, evidence from South Africa suggests this is easily transmitted between people, but far less severe. If this proves to be the case, Covid could spread widely, but herd immunity might kick in sooner, which would be good.

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

This morning, I am on 10m FT8. I was briefly on TX and am now on RX only. So far, 4 stations have spotted me (at 0943z) and I have spotted 3 stations. This looks like mid-winter Es.

UPDATE 1120z:  17 stations spotted this morning on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost TA6B (2963km).

UPDATE 1152z:  About 10 minutes ago I tried a brief TX period with 2.5W FT8. Sadly, nobody copied me.

UPDATE 1317z:  So far today 22 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1433z:  Just 24 stations spotted and no "real" DX.  It has been quite disappointing.

Trinity Street, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows Trinity Street in Cambridge which has seen fewer Far East visitors this year.