8m article in February RSGB RadCom

It was good to see my 8m article in the latest RadCom. 

In the years ahead, I can see a small amateur allocation at 8m. At the moment a few dedicated experimenters are ploughing a furrow. In years ahead I can see more applying for special permits. This really is at the boundary between HF and VHF and some serious propagation research is possible.

NoV application with OFCOM? Despite chasing for almost 2 weeks I have no news!! What a shower! 

Sunspots - Saturday January 15th 22nd 2022

 Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 23. A=8 and K=2.

160m FT8 RX (Friday)

This evening and overnight, I hope to be on 160m FT8 RX using the coax tp my 2m big-wheel and a ferrite rod ATU. I have been on for about 20 minutes. At 2043z, 79 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2200z: 169 stations spotted with the furthermost JI1APQ (9263km)

Brother's visit 2014 - NOT amateur radio

In 2013 I was in hospital for 3.5 months with my stroke and was out again in January 2014. My brother visited me frequently in hospital despite living nearly 300 miles away. He came again in early 2014 on my return home. The photo shows one such visit. 

Building

The photo shows me building something. 

This must date from before 2013 when we moved QTH.  This was at the back of the garage where most of my building was done.

At the present QTH I have positions in the shack for both operating and building, although I have done little building since my stroke.  I find my fine motor skills and eyesight are not good enough these days.

Operating is mostly with digital modes as I find speaking hard these days. I use SSB and FM/AM, but mostly FT8 and WSPR.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

At about 0845z, I turned on my 10m FT8 system. A brief 2.5W TX period was spotted by G8DX (197km). On RX just one spot so far probably aircraft or tropo from a station in the Netherlands.

The last 12 hours on 472kHz WSPR RX

 Last evening and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU. 8 unique stations were spotted with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km).

Lerwick, Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. It was posted on 365project on January 20th. 

Sunspots - Friday January 21st 2022

Solar flux is 99 and the SSN 60. A=5 and K=0.

472kHz WSPR RX

At the moment I am on 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX using the coax up to the 2m big-wheel antenna tuned via the ferrite rod ATU on the shack bench. So far, 3 unique stations spotted with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km).