40m FT8 RX (Thursday)

As 10m was so poor, I have QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the indoor active loop. I switched about 1630z. So far today, 35 stations spotted at 1637z.

UPDATE 1813z:  83 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2026z:  126 stations spotted with the furthermost 9K2HN (4567km).

UPDATE 2204z:  250 stations with the furthermost W6IBU (8605km).

Mid-winter Es - poor?

Maybe your experience is different, but  I am seeing very little mid-winter Es here. I have monitored mostly 10m FT8 and occasionally 6m FT8. As yet, very little spotted.

Promises - NOT amateur radio

There are tentative signs of spring around the corner. Yes, we have the worst of winter ahead, but the days are getting longer and snowdrops and daffodils are beginning to appear. Another few weeks and they will be widespread.

Anxiety - NOT amateur radio

Surely I am not alone in feeling anxiety? 

We are all getting older and for most readers, death is an increasing concern. In my case, I am now at an age when the death of people known is more commonplace. At one time life seemed to stretch on, for what seemed like, for ever. Many of us have lost close family members. I am not depressed, but am certainly suffering from increased anxiety. Most of us are keen to see the back of Covid-19 too.

I am not sure what the answer is. It is no use worrying about things that you can do nothing about - doing so just makes your own health worse. Live for the day seems to be the best answer and live each day thankful for all the good things.

One person I know lists 3 good things that happened today. Perhaps I should do this too. 👴

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

 At the moment, I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far (at 1032z) 11 stations spotted with the furthermost 4X1SK (3566km).

UPDATE 1343z: 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost K1CP (4997km). So far, pretty poor.

UPDATE 1625z:  With still just 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today, this must be one of the worst days for some time. Shortly I shall QSY, probably to 40m FT8 TX with the active loop.

2m FT8 UKAC

Last evening was the 2m FT8 activity contest. 113 stations were spotted on RX with 4 QSOs although I was not on TX that much. The band looked more like 20m FT8. 

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was cold and bright, so we did a walk around the village. At this time of year the sun is low and trees are mostly bare. 

We have far more mud these days. It is much wetter in this part of England. I suspect climate change. 

Sunspots - Thursday January 6th 2022

Solar flux is 84 and the SSN 24. A=3 and K=0. 

2m FT8 activity contest

It was so busy that I am now RX only. So far, my QRP (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) has been spotted by 6 stations. On RX, I have spotted 66 stations in 6 countries.

UPDATE 1955z: 87 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.

8m NoV - nothing heard!!

It is now about 3 months since I applied for a low power, 8m permit to TX during the Es season. So far, I have heard absolutely nothing! Am I surprised? No. You would have thought by now, they would have said "no" or "yes" or asked a few questions.

OFCOM obviously has a hard job allocating me a low power, time limited, permit to carry out valuable research, when they can allocate 2MHz of "precious" VHF spectrum, seemingly indefinitely, for DATV experiments! My opinion of OFCOM remains low. Unless it is going to make them billions, they are not really interested.

Come on boys and girls - playtime over.