Sunspots - Friday December 24th 2021

Solar flux is 130 and the SSN 143. A=4 and K=1. 

6m MSK144 RX

At about 1900z I QSYed to 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz, hoping to catch the tail end of the Ursids meteor shower. For the antenna I only have the V2000 vertical omni. No spots as of 2140z unsurprisingly. 

I shall leave it running overnight, just in case, but I am not too hopeful.

I think this is the correct frequency in Europe.

Yet another Covid-19 joke - NOT amateur radio

This was sent to me yesterday and you may have already seen it. I have no idea where it came from originally.  It amused me! 

OK -  less of the "simple things please simple minds"  in the back row!!

SAQ transmission - tomorrow

The historic 17.2kHz VLF alternator CW TX that is a World Heritage Site and almost 100 years old is on the air tomorrow, December 24th with a special message. They will QSL. 

I am a proud possessor of a rare QSL card from them many years ago. I think this was with my VLF converter and loop antenna. I thought this converter was on my website, but it seems to be missing. I shall add it later. For now, see this page.

There is a very good software RX on my video channel. This with a simple antenna and small preamp connected to the PC sound card is all you need. 

The whole thing is being live streamed on YouTube I believe.

See https://alexander.n.se/en/ .

See also the software VLF receiver by SM6LKM on my video channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDxRhQYg7lQ .

UPDATE 1635z: The VLF up-converter should now be available via my G3XBM website (added today).

73s at 73

Today is my birthday and may I wish all blog readers a very happy Christmas and a good holiday. 

This was a mid-winter holiday way before it was adopted as a Christian festival, so enjoy it whatever your faith or none. 

The important thing is always to treat others as you would like to be treated - kindly and respectfully no matter who you are, your race, colour or gender. In the last analysis we are all the same. 

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since about 0900z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. It is now 0944z and so far 99 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1006z:   149 stations spotted with the furthermost BA7IO (9494km).

UPDATE 1853z:   671 stations spotted today with the furthermost VK6XI (14434km). It would appear that is it for the day. I may try 6m MSK144 on 50.280MHz.

Sunspots - Thursday December 23rd 2021

Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 137.  A=11 and K=1 

630m WSPR RX

After 10m closed I tried 630m WSPR RX using the active loop. Just G0MRF(120km) spotted. QRT soon. 

Operating outside

This photo shows me operating from the car some years ago (2012?). From this location on the coast in Devon I have worked the USA with 10m QRP SSB and AM QRP on several occasions. 

Winter walk - NOT amateur radio

This collage is of our walk around the village earlier. It was bright, cold and frosty.