Christmas birthday - NOT amateur radio

After 73 years, I am used to my birthday being a few days before Christmas.  

This is me with some of my presents. I hold an unofficial birthday in June, but keep forgetting!

160m FT8 overnight

Overnight I left my 160m FT8 system running with the Wellgood active loop RX antenna on the shack window. In all, 265 stations were spotted. 

A cold - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days I have had a cold. Now I have given it to my wife!  Just in case it was Omicron Covid-19 we both have done a couple of lateral flow tests that proved negative. It looks like it is a common cold.

It is several years since I have had a streaming nose and sore throat. I am largely recovered.

Let's hope Omicron turns out to be milder and we can all treat it like a common cold seeking medical help only when needed. Life could then go back to (nearly) as it was.

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Today is celebrated around the world as Christmas Day. 

I am not a strong believer these days, if at all. What I am sure of is all the world's religions are hints at a greater truth. We all need kindness and understanding. 

Whatever you believe, I wish you peace and happiness now and next year.

Sunspots (Christmas Day) - Saturday December 25th 2021

Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 145.  A=5 and K=1. These are quite remarkably high numbers. 

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.