160m FT8 RX (Friday)

 At 1840z, I QSYed from 6m FT8 to 160m FT8 RX using the indoor Wellgood active loop.

UPDATE 1915z:  So far, 25 stations have been spotted on 160m FT8 RX with the furthermost UA4HTZ (3293km).

The Hall - NOT amateur radio

Our village is a mixture of old and new houses. The one in the photo is known as "The Hall". I have no idea how old it is.

6m FT8 (Friday)

As there is chance of mid-winter Es, I QSYed to 6m FT8. On TX (briefly) I was spotted by 1 G station.      On RX (at 1335z) 3 stations spotted with the furthermost F6HGB (983km).

UPDATE 1641z: 5 stations spotted on RX and 2 have spotted my very brief QRP TX sessions. No QSOs.

UPDATE 1835z:   Still just 5 stations spotted. I think I shall QSY to an LF band.

BBC weather app NOT amateur radio

This is useless!! At the moment we're meant to have light cloud and no sun. It's sunny!! As a BBC licence payer, I object to them wasting my money. As a joke it is fine, but it is rarely useful as a forecasting aid. OK the UK weather is changeable, but this is terrible even in real time. In the meantime, the best forecast is Windows - just look out of them!! 😁

10m FT8

At 0634z I turned on my 10m FT8 gear. One station spotted (Es?) and my short transmission was spotted by 1 station in England. 

UPDATE 0946z: So far, 155 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost VK6AS (14459km) in Western Australia.

UPDATE 1156z:  260 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far today.

Excessive? - NOT amateur radio

 

A householder in a nearby town likes to decorate his house with lights at Christmas. 

It must be a hazard for aircraft flying overhead. I am glad I am not paying for the electricity! 

At the moment, we all need cheering up.

6m MSK144 overnight

Well that was a failure! Absolutely nothing spotted! 

Overnight I was hoping to catch the end of the meteor shower. Either I was too late, I was on the wrong frequency, wrong mode, activity was low, or the antenna was not good enough. I have copied DX on 6m with this antenna via MS in the past. 

Ooh ahh - NOT amateur radio

UK readers will get this. 

The man in the photo is Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister.  He is well known for making promises he does not keep. He has charisma, but is fast losing his party votes. He has become a liability.  

My bet is he will be replaced by the spring. 

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.