Sunspots - Thursday February 10th 2022

Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 78. A=3 and K=2.

Rally news - Orlando HamCation

USA folks may be interested in the 75th Orlando HamCation that runs from February 11-13th in Orlando, Florida. There are 65+ commercial traders and a huge car boot sale area. Do check with organisers first before travelling.

See www.hamcation.com .

OFCOM crappery

OFCOM today emailed me about their latest proposals for mobile spectrum.

Despite 2 further chase emails this week, I have still not heard about how my 8m NoV which I submitted last October is progressing. It seems if you are talking money/revenues they are interested. Otherwise, you just get ignored.  I am totally out of patience with OFCOM, who appear to have zero interest in customer care!

Both my MP and the RSGB have been contacted. OFCOM come over as a totally inept QUANGO. I have had dealings with OFCOM for many years. They seem as inept as ever.

UPDATE 1707z:  Just had a response from my MP who is on the case. Best thing she could do is vote to disband this disfunctional group.  Response from OFCOM? Still nothing.

Blooming lovely - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the daffodils under the tree on our green coming in to flower. Spring is not far away now. 

Anglesey Abbey earlier - NOT amateur radio

We usually have a walk here at least once a month as there is always something to see in every season. At the moment, the main thing is snowdrops. 

70cm FT8 cumulative activity contest

The 70cm FT8 activity contest is tonight starting at 1900z. I can only run 2.5W (10W on SSB) maximum to my 2m big-wheel antenna, but probably will be on for a while. 

UPDATE 1656z:  Just QSYed to 70cm to check SWR etc. All seems fine. Spotted by M0IEP (155km) on TX.  Nothing spotted on RX yet.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsgmac. 

10m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

 At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX only with 16 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1345z:  257 stations spotted on RX today so far. 

UPDATE 1652z:  373 stations spotted. QRT now.

160m FT8 overnight

314 stations spotted on RX overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna. Several in the USA. 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 9th 2022

 Solar flux is 123 and the SSN 86.  A=5 and K=0.

70cm activity contest

This was this evening, although I only stayed on for 28 minutes because of my poor voice. As usual, I was using 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. My biggest "get away" was a station on the south coast. In all, 4 QSOs were had although many more would have been possible had I stopped on longer.